A most remarkable and versatile artist whose act comprises so comedy and so many novelties with something new every season, that I cannot speak too highly of him. His act consists of comedy juggling, illusions and burlesque on Ching Ling Foo, all which are received with most hearty applause. Full stage.
In a turn of character songs. She did a very strong act, opening with a ‘coon’ song which she did about as well as any woman that I have seen on our stage. She then goes to her husband’s (‘Mr. Morgan’) song which she sings while seated in a chair, and with which she makes a great big hit. Her last song is of the character order, and that was also well received. She does a mighty clever act. 17 min in one.
These people rather unexpectedly put up about as funny an act as I have seen in many a day. The man is a very good comedian indeed. He impersonates as elderly gentleman who has a decided antipathy to women on general principles, and this gives an opportunity for three different women to endeavor to make love to him, the result being a series of funny situations which pleased this audience. Hodge is supported by Miss Lilly May Hall, and two other ladies, and a young man in a small part as a waiter. I don’t see how it can help making a good strong impression in every house on the circuit. 23 min, full stage.
The adverse criticism that has been given this act around the circuit is undoubtedly correct as applied to the various houses, but they are certainly putting up an exceptional good three-show-a-day turn here. They got a whole lot of laughs, and their burlesque opera at the finish sends them off in great shape. They certainly are all right in this house; of course, for a small place on the bill, which is all I expect of them. 13 min in one.
Two young men in black face singing, dancing, and talking act. The talk is very bad – about the worst that I have ever heard in my life – and if the act depended upon that alone I should have been obliged to cancel, but they really do some pretty good dancing, and it was pretty bright opening for the show I cut the talk down as mush as possible and let them continue. They are really very clever dancers. 12 min in one.
Garden in 4, 8 min. Two acrobats one straight, the other in comedy makeup, whose act is familiar all over the circuit and it may be said that even in this difficult place on the bill they have not gone better in this house than they did today and made a very satisfactory closer for us today. Their acrobatic work is rapid and accurate gaining them applause throughout and strong applause at the close. 2 shows.
CDF, 30 min. Two men and a woman in ‘The Saintly Mr. Billings.’ A new sketch well acted by the two principals. The sketck [sic] itself while introducing DeVoy as an intoxicated individual was productive of much laughter and the close won a sufficient amount of applause to recall them 3 or 4 times. It is easily seen that the sketck [sic] has been fashioned after the play ‘Jane’ and while it seemed to me that many of our patrons were familiar with this play and that this would injure this reproduction, I evidently mistaken as it was most satisfactorily received and could certainly get by as satisfactorily in any house on the circuit. 2 shows.
Own set, 14 min, 5 in one. Five attractive girls, possessors of good voices and of good appearance, wearing their national costumes and singing their national anthems, following them with a couple of songs in English and closing with a Swedish dance. Their opening song was well received and while they did not gain a great amount of applause they received some all through their act and closed satisfactorily. The act itself is interesting to the audience and its novelty will add to its value. 2 shows.
‘The Fakir.’ Street in one. 15 min. The act similar to that already played out over the circuit. While not a good singer his style was good and his talk was very much like that from an experienced extemporaneously speaker. While it was somewhat hard for him to get the audience up to his rate of speed as the beginning, before many minutes he had them following him well and closed to first rate applause. 2 shows.
In ‘Why Doogan Swore Off.’ Plain chamber 22 min. This is a pair of performers who have previous to this time made a good impression here, presented sketch which seemed somewhat similar to that recently shown by John & Emma Ray. It did not give Murphy the chance to show his comedy talent, which is well known he is a possessor of. However, the act was greeted with considerable laughter and applause throughout and at the close, but it is not on a par with the previous sketch performed by them. 2 shows.
