Theodore Babcock, George Harcourt & Co.
Dramatic sketch, “The Littlest Girl” 4 people good sketch and well acted, rather quiet for Vaudeville house but held their situation until finish and got a big hand, 15 min interior, fancy.
Middleton, Spellmyer & Co.
Dramatic sketch “A Texas Wooing” Special act full stage. 14 min. This act is just as it has been for several seasons. A touch of melodrama is just as it has been for several seasons. A touch of melodrama here and there with a death ending. One love song adds some brilliancy to sketch. The drop this act carries is in need of cleaning and repair.
Bertha Kalich & Co.
In the sketch by Mrs. Fiske entitled “A Light From St. Agnes”. 24 minutes, full stage, own set. Mme. Kalich takes the character of ‘Toinette, John Harrington that of Michel Karouse, and John Booth that of Father Bertrand. The curtain rises on the interior of a miserable hut, in the center of which is a cot where ‘Toinette lies asleep. She and Michel Karouse are partners in sin. A priest enters. He awakens her, and tells her of the death of Agnes, a worker in the slums. On a nearby hill is a convent, and in its chapel lies the body of the saintly woman. The chapel is called “St. Agnes”. The priest gives ‘Toinette some wholesome advice, and tells her what a good friend she had in the saintly Agnes. ‘Toinette tells the priest that she is awakened every morning at sunrise by a light which shines through her window and over her couch, being a reflection of the sun from the window of St. Agnes’ Chapel. As the priest is about to depart, Michel Karouse enters, intoxicated. He orders the priest out, and a quarrel ensues between him and the woman. Michel tells ‘Toinette that a valuable diamond cross lies on the breast of Agnes, and that he is going up there to steal it. ‘Toinette protests. She warns him that the nuns of the convent will ring the alarm bell. He seizes a knife and declares he well cut the bell rope to prevent the alarm. ‘Toinette then lures him into the belief that she will help him, and induces him to give her the knife. She departs, ostensibly to cut the bell rope—Instead, she rings the bell for the alarm. Michel rushes out, seizes her, drags her back into the hut, throws her upon the cot, and stabs her to death. As she is dying, she embraces a crucifix, and the reflected light from the window of St. Agnes throws a halo over her body. Curtain. The acting of Mme. Kalich is intense, as is also that of Harrington. Booth, as Fr. Bertrand, also does excellent work. The sketch is a thrilling one, and the audience is under a spell of suspense throughout. Mme. Kalich was accorded many curtain calls at both Sunday performances.
Rowena Stewart & Gladys Alexander
In “Broadway Love” a sketch of stage life. Mighty good dramatic skit; with a few laughs and a good moral. 17 minutes, full stage.
Mr. and Mrs. Edwin Connelly
“Sweethearts”. This offering is a success here, dainty, well presented, good from a scenic standpoint and thoroughly pleased to patrons. F.S.
Andrew Robson & Co.
Presenting a romantic playlet founded on a drama by Alexandre Dumas, entitled “The Denunciation” in two scenes: Scene I, Kean’s dressing room, Drury Lane Theatre, and Scene II, Balcony scene from “Romeo and Juliet”. Mr. Robson has a very carefully selected company and all fully capable. They gave an excellent performance this afternoon. The play is intensely interesting with plenty of action and entirely dramatic, with a little atmosphere of novelty to it. Resembles somewhat the play presented by Edwards Davis & Co.
The story has to do with the love affair of the actor, Kean, with the Countess Felsen. Kean is being sought by officers for daring to strike a member of royalty he places himself as an offender against the law when the play opens in his dressing room at the theatre where he is preparing to go on to play Romeo. The Countess comes to see him, entering his room by a secret panel. She warns him of his danger and beseeches him to flee. At this moment the Prince of Wales and the Count Felsen knock at the actor’s door. The Countess is spirited away and the two men enter. She forgets her fan and it is found by her husband. But the Prince says he dropped the fan; he was taking it for her to have it repaired.
The Prince and Kean are left along [sic] and Kean’s penalty is banishment from England. His resentment runs high. At first he will not play. Then he changes his mind. The scene changes and he is playing the balcony scene with Juliet. In the midst of this his overwrought mind snaps and turns to the royal box and hurls words of denunciation at the prince. It is upon this dramatic denouncement that the curtain descends.
At both performances Mr. Robson received five genuine curtain calls. The play is as good as any dramatic sketch I ever saw and great value from an advertising standpoint. Any manager can go to the limit on the billing as Mr. Robson will make good. 22 minutes full stage.
Ethel Clifton
In her own melodramatic playlet, “Diamond Cut Diamond” was watched with stupefaction, because of the revelation of two feminine burglars. The denouement wherein one proves a beskirted detective still leaving them somewhat beclouded even with the necessary explanations.
Dorothy Shoemaker
Dorothy Shoemaker in her underworld sketch, “Kat,” was the dramatic moment closing the first part. This sketch has improved Immensely since seen in the preliminary stages and several of the present cast look new. It has been a surprise finish, although the basic Idea has been done in vaudeville… Miss Shoemaker as an Italian girl and later as the woman detective is splendid and she is capably supported. The act will hold interest anywhere.
KENT and McGRAVE and Co.
18 Mins
The act did all right it the 58th Street and in similar houses would probably do as well. It seems like, a bad time of the year to put on a dramatic sketch with the warm weather coming on and the general bent toward light entertainment.
SARAH PADDEN and Co.
“Putting It Over” presented by Sarah Padden and a cast of three men, is a melodramatic sketch, be- ginning in a manner that compels interest, and through subsequent rapid-fire developments holds the closest attention up to a point near the finish. Here the interest slackens somewhat because of the story becoming a bit vague. This is regrettable because of the excellent qualities of the foregoing action. Darkened stage at the opening. Man in bed. Clock chimes five times. Light streaming through window indicates early morning. Shot is heard off stage. Sounds of excitement, muffled babel of voices outside. Man Jumps out of bed. Woman (Miss Padden) rushes into room. Occupant (the man) hides her under bed. Cop rushes into room. He’s after the woman. Man successfully stalls the cop, while woman slips under coat on hat rack. Later woman manages to slip into bathroom while cop is looking under bed. Cop off. Woman proceeds to explain why she sought concealment in man’s room.