Drapery in one. 12 min. Singing, talking and dancing act in German character. The talk of a kind, not up to what we expect for this class of artists, the dancing is only fair, and the only remarkable feature of the act is the singing of one of the boys of solos in a soprano voice. It is really a remarkable attempt, and if the young man would leave out his attempts at comedy in this singing, it would be a difficult matter to tell whether a good female soprano was singing or not. The act is hardly strong enough for its present position. Closed to good applause.
Drop in one. 20 mins. Two men in blackface makeup, singing, dancing and talking. Their singing is just passable, their talking is one of old style and introduces nothing new or bright. The dancing is the only redeeming point. This is the first I ever saw or heard of this pair, and as they were booked late to fill a vacancy, we were obliged to keep them on in this position. We are short acts in one, but they do deserve to be moved up considerably on the bill. 3 shows.
Drapery in one, 17 minutes. Woman of fairly good personal appearance, who could dress with more taste. It is the conventional Pickaninny act and her fault seems to be that she allows the Pickanninies to work too much, instead of keeping the centre of the stage herself. She claims to have a cold, but her voice was not bad to-day. Closed to fairly good applause but it might be necessary to lift this act up one or two positions. 3 shows.
Garden in 4. 10 minutes. Man and woman, evidently having circus experience. They work rapidly, cleverly, and accurately, and their closing stunt, an old circus, in which the girl is dropped out over the audience enabled them to close to a remarkable round of applause, in fact it is a good many days since such enthusiastic hand-clapping was gained by an act here. This is an act that would pass with honor and applause in any position on the bill. 3 shows.
Palace in 4. Closing 3 min in one. 16 min. Working on skates, these two colored men present an that is a novelty. One of the men is clever to a degree, and the one on whom the comedy rests is able to evoke very much laughter. Fair applause throughout, but their close in one just barely brought them off with the courtesy hand. 3 shows.
Drapery in one. 18 minutes. Colored comedy couple, man and woman. The male member formerly being of Murphy & Slater. His previous act was considerably stronger than the one presented to-day, and in fact he did not display his cleverness, until copying some of the work he did on his previous visit here. They gained satisfactory applause for a recall but finally made their exit to only light applause. 3 shows.
Special set in 4. 27 minutes. Bond presented his sketch already familiar to the circuit, ‘My Awful Dad,’ is his breezy, clever and pleasing style. In addition, he is well supported. The dialogue throughout was interesting and provocative of laughter and applause. As it was new to our audience here, closed very strong, in fact, it would be difficult to recall a sketch that has been so well received for a number of years back. 2 shows.
C.D.F. 22 minutes. The act that has recently played most of the circuit, ‘Bill Blithers, Bachelor.’ I am sorry to say that the good words said of them at the other houses, would not apply to-day, while Hodge himself was satisfactory, pleasing and the gainer of many laughs, all three of the women were in my opinion bad, enough to be called vulgar vernacular, ‘shines.’ The act is hardly strong enough in this position but will have to keep them here as nothing preceding them would warrant changing places with them. Closed to only fair applause.
Garden in 4, own cottage in centre. 12 minutes. Two men in clown make-up, posing as comedy acrobats, in whose work little comedy and not much acrobatic skill included. They failed to arouse our audience to-day except as the finish which was done in Hanlon’s ‘Superba’ style, which carried then off to fair applause. 3 shows.
19 min, 9 min in one at opening, then to CDF with one minute in one at close. As this is a familiar act over the circuit it would be needless to criticise it. The two women in their tough make-up and in their very pretty dressing afterwards, sing well, dance well and easily do their share of the work. The male member however, was unable to arouse interest by his monologue or bad singing. Their rapid singing and dancing at the close carried them off to good applause, but not as good as if the two women worked alone or a new and good man had replaced the present male member.
