“The Late Lamented.” 17 min. This is a local act, the comedians of the company being from the Stage Society Players, an organization in this city which presented plays at the Little Theatre. The sketch is an old time farce in one act. As a local offering, it proved interesting, winning a fair amount of applause.
“Prevarication.” 22 min. An old-fashioned farce written in the broadest lines, full of action and comedy from start to finish. It kept the audience in a roar of laughter. Four persons are employed and the sketch gives vaudeville one of the best laugh-winners played here in a long time.
In “Playmates.” 19 minutes f.s. Centre door fancy. Four people in a comedy sketch with a little singing. A wealthy widow hires a youngster from Jerry McAuley’s Mission to play with her little son, “Reggie.” Although bearing all the earmarks of a sissie, “Reggie” proceeds to “clean-up” the newcomer with everything from chewing tobacco to boxing-gloves. A funny act, written along original lines, and got the laughs.
A comedy singing and dancing sketch, called “Hands Across the Street.” While personally I like this act very much, especially the dancing, it went very poorly this afternoon. The reason for this might lie in the fact that it was not quite strong enough to follow an act like Clark & Bergman, a great deal of whose work is made up of dancing.
Playing “Fagan’s Decision.” Of course every one in the audience loves Spareribs. The act has always goes well in Cleveland, and the people here consider it a bit of slang classic. Jean Redini went out scouting and stole the hungriest looking dog I have ever seen—also the dirtiest. He has fed the dog a ton of meat and has a rope round his neck, has named him Spareribs, and rehearsed him all morning he would get acquainted with the footlights. The Ushers did 20 min. C.D.F. Received five curtain calls.
“The Rube.” 3 people in the cast. This is Mr. Barry’s new act and you can put us down as saying that it is their best. Open in one; closes in two.
In “It’s Up To You, William.” 26 minutes f.s. It has been a good many years since we played this sketch, but to-night it proved to be as big a laughing hit as ever. In fact, one of the biggest laughs we have had in a long time.
In a vaudeville skit that gained plenty of laughter and applause. Some of the dialogue I found to be rather blue, but they eliminated it after the first performance with no detriment to the act. 25 Min. Open F.S. Close with about 5 Min. in One.
Presenting the farce “It’s Up to You, William!” It is really remarkable how this comedy goes. No doubt every man in the audience knows every line but he gets the laughs, some advance applause and several curtain calls, and there you are. 26 minutes.
In the “Fakir and the Lady.” Barns is one of the best rapid fire comedians I ever saw and is ably assisted by Miss Crawford. The comedy is one continual round of laughs and they are easily the applause hit of the show up to this time. 16 minutes, full stage. With an encore in one.
