Produced this afternoon a new sketch called, “A Bowery Camille.” This – to my mind – is one of the best, if not the best sketch that has ever been played in this house and no allowance is necessary for its first presentation for it went with absolute smoothness. The story is a very strong and powerful one of a girl of the slums who acts as a model for a painter who falls in love with her and proposes marriage. The painter’s mother discovering this, induces the girl to give him up, by trickery. The situations are exceptionally strong and there is a mingling of comedy to off-set the real tragedy of the little play. In the hands of an ordinary actress of course, the play would not be nearly as good, but Miss Bergere meets every requirement and there is no question but that she has got one of the big successes of the season. Time, 30 minutes, full stage.
Contortionist on slack wire. This is an exceptionally good act and I would have liked to have given him a better place on the bill, but didn’t want to get him too near the O’Meers Sisters. 10 min. full stage, 3 shows.
When these people made their appearance I must say I felt apprehensive but they got away with their turn in first rate fashion, in fact, made a hit. To some extent, I think this is attributable to their having some local following; however the bulk of the audience seemed to enjoy their turn and although they were on the stage 25 minutes they could have come back and given them more. It is a little coarse and I don’t know just what the audience laughed at but it ‘goes’ and I should say that in New York it would be an unqualified hit. 25 min. open full stage, long close in one, 2 shows.
All Japanese acts are good, although I don’t consider this one quite up to some of the others that we have had; still for a three a day act, and amount of time of that is satisfactory consumed and satisfaction given, it must be rated as very good. 22 min, full stage, 3 shows.
Two men and a young woman who have an act that is made up of singing, dancing and acrobatic work, none of which is very well done but it is all right in the three a day section or to open the show at a small salary. 14 min. full stage, can close in 1, 3 shows.
Two local girls who do a very nice act of singing and toe dancing. Their costumes are really magnificent. To do the act properly requires full stage, any less would handicap them. Salary and all things considered, I call it a first-class act. 15 min. Full stage, 3 shows.
Two men who open with a little singing which is not at all good, but who wind up with some most excellent dancing which would class them among the best wooden show dancers in the profession. The act is very short and they have promised to try to lengthen it to-day. On a pinch (where it is necessary to use an act in one) they could with safety be used as late as 8:30. 8 min. in 1, 3 shows.
Fire and Mirror dancer. This woman was particularly handicapped by the fact that she lost her apparatus in Syracuse, week before last, and opened here with an entirely new set and a new man for an assistant, but after seeing the second performance and making all allowances, I still maintain that it is a very inferior act, not at all artistic and belongs essentially in the 3-a-day section where I have placed it. 12 min. full stage, 2 shows.
Veteran violinist. I had the old gentleman up to my house last night picking out a program and was surprised to see how far back he had gone as a violinist and was all last night and today very apprehensive to his success; however much to my surprise he made a decided hit. Got a big reception on his entrance, due in some part I believe to our method of working him up; got great applause on each of his three selections and was forced to come back and play another occupying in all about twenty minutes time. We have had better violinists on the circuit but in view of the way he went today I feel sure that no mistake was made in booking him and that he will draw good money if properly handled. I will cut his act down to about 15 min., 2 shows in 3, using a Grand Piano.
This is a little child whom I have had playing in Pawtucket for me and who is introducing her specialty here. She has a charming personality, quite small, appears to be about eight years old although she was ten, and has lots of ability. To my mind it is a decidedly more desirable an act than that of La Petite Mignon. This little girl does singing, dancing and whistling. 13 min. in 1, 2 shows.
