Just about passed by, Grotesque one of the trio falls short as a comedian. Straight tenor singer has an elegant voice and carries the biggest part of the act. Barbaric finish just allows them to go quietly to their rooms. An applicant for the mosquito circuit. 10 min, in one.
Supported by a good company he presented ‘PEACHES.’ While there are some strong plays in town against us this week I believe this will be the most popular of them all. It is a pleasure on Saturday night to pay even a large figure for acts like this. Vaudeville will grow stronger and more popular all the time with well played similar dramatic offerings.
A couple of youngsters, a boy and girl about sixteen years of age, and in their imitations certainly did secure the approval of the house. Girl is good and boy is quite remarkable. Comedy prevails. Full stage, closing in one.
Special set in 4. Presenting ‘After the Matinee.” Two men, two women. Time, 20 minutes. Eugenie Blair is a great local favorite, and she scored a big hit. Her sketch, however, is not particularly good, and its fast action is the only thing that carries it through. The pathetic moments ring true only occasionally, and the leading man is a stick.
Musical Experts. Three Alexander Bros. & Brady. Three working straight and the other black-face. They do a little of everything, and it is well done. Went big. 18 minutes, full stage and close in one.
Man and woman in a singing and talking act. Man’s talk is fairly good, and the only fault I can find with him is that he uses too much slang in his act. The woman hardly does anything, and I think he carries her around as an ornament. Went fair. 15 minutes in two. Three shows.
27 min. F.S. close in 1. 2 shows. On at 9:54. This act have been greatly improved since its last appearance here. It is not so obviously a booming medium for music-publishing houses. They introduced many new features and the songs were for the most part new. The comedy, musical numbers and eccentric dancing all combined, make it a very satisfying act. Good applause throughout, and a smashing big finish in one, with five curtain calls, and three encores.
Col. S. & D.: 12 min. in 1. 2 shows. On at 7:35. This is a highly recommended coon act. The singing is only fair, but the comedy introduced into the eccentric dancing catches the gallery. Closed with the best hand I ever heard a coon pair receive in this house. Two curtain calls.
‘Kit.’ 25 min, FS, 2 shows. On at 9.09. Without Miss Spong’s brilliant work in this sketch, I do not think that the audience would care for it. It is the simple story of a Western girl who is about to marry the sheriff of the frontier county where he father is a magistrate. Unbeknown to her, her father has turned train-robber. After a hold-up he returns home and compels his daughter to hide his hat, mask and himself from the sheriff. When the latter, he fiancée, appears she lies to him, but does not succeed in shielding her father. The sheriff discovers him and insists upon taking him, but before he does so, the girl proposes that the father marry them, which, as Justice of the Peace, he has the right to do. The ring is missing, and the girl suggests the pair of handcuffs as a substitute. She locks herself to the bridegroom, throws away the key, and the sheriff’s revolver, then orders her father to ‘run like hell,’ There are two false notes: the girl’s persistent lying totthe [sic] man she loves, and then defeating the ends of the justice, even if it be her father who is the guilty one Miss Spong’s strong dramatic work wins the house over all inconsistencies of playwright’s work. Close was big, with five curtain calls.
Musicians. 16 min, FS, close in 1. 2 shows. On at 8.53. A novel musical act, four ‘cellos and a harp, half enclosed in a shell to emphasize the acoustics. There are three ladies and two men, all of them making pleasing appearance. They show skill and long training their work. Gave several selections, all of which received good applause. Close in 1 brought them back with an encore before curtain. All excellent high-class musical novelty.
N.B. – I doubt the value of the mammoth conch-shell as a sound amplifier. I took pains to hear the selections from various parts of the house and while the shell concentrated the sound to the centre of the house, it was at the expense of the boxes and gallry [sic]. The encore before the drop in one gave the best effect for a big house like this.
