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The first drop in “one” represents the exterior of the north side of Twenty-eighth Street, between Broadway and Sixth avenue, with “music publisher” painted on walls, doors and windows, although no firm is advertised by name. The second scene is the interior of the “room,” with a piano and a young woman player. Again going into “one” for the close, the company of five appear in minstrel parade dress, singing and doing a few simple dance steps.
The majority of the performance consists of singing, and this mostly ballads by Mr. Romain, who has the sort of tenor voice required by a blackface organization, with which he has long been associated.
Minnie Lee also sings and at times dances.
The audience is favorably inclined towards the balladist, but he overworks his welcome, singing three numbers in a string at one time.
There is over much singing, and the act is at least six minutes too long. The music publisher idea is too technical for humor with the ordinary audience, although affording a good background. A rather pretty blonde (Maude Allen) plays the piano and joins in the female, and after a couple of character changes; but more dialogue and a greater diversity of selections would help considerably, together with a better finale.
Source:
Variety 5:2 (05/11/1907)