Good 4, 12 min, 2 shows. Eight men in a camp scene sketch part of which was Gatling gun drill in which they go through the full drill of taking their Gatling gun apart and putting it together with accuracy of movement. The act is a new one to the circuit. As to its value in this town considerable of that was taken away by the work of the Hoosier Zouaves which was at the new house week before last which is a faster and more exciting act. The finish of the act represents an attack on the camp which gives the excuse for grinding out about 100 shots from the Gatling guns, which rather effective.
2 shows, 11 min, full stage. 16 young men in an exhibition of fancy drilling and wall scaling. While they work quicker than the Streator’s Zouaves, whom we played a few years ago, their maneuvers are not so catchy for stage purposes. The act was punctuated by applause all the way through, and which increased during the wall scaling. There was no great hurrah over it, however, such as has been reported from other houses. Perhaps we are a better judge of such things, may amore [sic] blasé.
Seventeen men; sixteen men in actual drill and the commander. I think this is really the best drilled act that we have ever had on stage. At the time I saw it at Hammersteins this summer I was not so favorably impressed. I did not think then that it was as good as the Streeter Zouaves, but they have added several bits since I saw it last and it really went strong this afternoon; in fact, stronger than similar turn that we have played. After their wall scaling they were obliged to take about three curtain calls. They have made a rather strong feature of the wall scaling by the way by making the last manawounded [sic] solider who is entirely helpless and whom they help over wall. It is sure to be a big hit everywhere. 10 min, full stage.
Three man dressed as Timmy Atkins uniforms while the girls are dressed the same wearing knee length skirts.
In attractive costumes, the boys made a scene that won large rounds of applause for a closing number.
Climbed a papier mache wall to the accompaniment of smoke. The red and gold of the uniforms is dulled by wear. Practice has made perfect of these drills
The “American” girls are mostly English and wear sailor suits intead of the zouave dress the billing calls for. Four young men are in the act because he sometimes needs to replace the girls and he does so with his sons until a new girl can be trained. The boys are divided as to hold the girls in line and they do the hardest part of the wall scaling at the finale.
