Variety (Dec 1905)

12 VARTETY. The act id a groat big hit, and suffi- ciently strong by itself without forcing the applause at the close by the playing of the national anthem, which leads some persons to stand up. SIME. Wlt-FRED CLARKE AND COMPANY. "NO MORE TROUBLE." i HURTIG & SEAMON'S. f A farcical sketch, adapted from the French by Mr. Clarke, according to the programme. Rather slow at the begin- ning, but soon moves with a rush which is kept up to the finale. A real comedy playlet, with the farcical side always to the fore. Cleverly adapted and a sub- stantial success. Several threads of plot are interlaced and entangled, in- volving too much space for a detailed description. Clarke is the mainspring, and with his legitimate acting keeps the piece continually on the go. Theo. Carew ably assists, doing a fine piece of work as an inanimate person under the in- fluence of a narcotic. Rather large of size, Miss Carew maintained a rigid at- titude under what seemed extreme dif- ficulty. Archie OIUll and Miss E. McDe Mott frorr*»ct polling) contributed their share. Th* farce is superior to Clarke's former offering. "In the Biograph." SIME. METCALF, PADDOCK AND AL. ED- WARDS, y MUSICAL ACT. HURTIG & SEAMON'S. Called a "High Class Musical Novel- ty," but a copy act of Waterbury Brothers and Tenney. Inferior in mu- sic and comedy to the originals. Ed- wards in black face is a more cultivated musician than comedian, and the other members of the act appear very am- ateurish. Customary instruments used with the addition of a 'cello, on which is played "Sweetest Story Ever Told," the "sure thing" of all 'cellists. "The Palms" is also a feature of Edwards' cornet. The brasses are blatant and not in harmony. Fairly applauded. SIME. NAN ENGLETON AND COMPANY. HOW THE WIDOW WAS WON. J TONY PASTOR'S. Nan Engleton, who used to be the junior half of the team of Anderson and Engleton, made offering of a sketch by an unknown author at Pastor's this week. The author is wise onl> in that he conceals his identity. A young widow is pursued by a masher who finally sends her a note that unless she receives him within a half hour he will force his way into her apartments. She has an admirer in the person of a youthful army Colonel ("U. S. A., not Saivation). He brines in a pair of rid- ing boots because the widow objects to the rum blossom at the end of his nose and riding has been advised as a cure. He is also wearing a pair of red flannel plasters inside of his shoes for the same reason. The widow seeks to keep him in the houstf'to ward off the descent of her unknown admirer, while he seeks escape from the plasters. His writhings over the plasters lead her to believe that he is intoxicated, but in an interval she leaves the stage and he removes the plasters and hides them in the boots. These latter he hides behind the por- tieres, and she believing that the un- known has come to fulfill his threat, be- cause she sees his boots, tells the Col- onel of her persecutor, and after lock- ing her in another room the valiant military man pretends to slay the In- truder and so wins the widow. The sketch is utterly lacking in balance and probability, and was not particularly di- verting at any time. Miss Engleton played with a sad lack of restraint, ap- parently imagining that the more noise she made the more successful she would be, in spite of her earlier experiences to the contrary. William L. Sheridan, her support, might have been a good actor, but the author did not permit him to exploit this fact. Miss Engleton will have to have a new act if she wishes to get ahead. This offering will never do. ARTISTS. Mail your personal notices or such items as you desire to see in print. If it resembles "news" in any form it will be printed. Write on one side of paper only, and try to have matter reach us not later than Thursday. CORRESPONDENCE PHILADELPHIA, Pa.—KEITHS.— Valerie Bergere is reviving "Carmen," a short version of Prosper Merimee's story and of episodes from the opera and play of the same name. Miss Bergere is a favorite here and while her latest effort proved interesting, it hardly deserves be- ing called successful. Miss Bergere made good here in "Billy's Experiment" and "His Japanese Wife," which followed in vaudeville after her triumph in "Madam Butterfly," which was seen in the high- priced houses. In the new sketch Miss Bergere proved effective and gave the requisite light and shade to the stormy, passionate, winsome and forceful pas- sages in the text, but she was better liked in her lighter characters. Of the others, but one or two are new. Harry Le Clair presented a specialty founded on the same lines as his old one. His character of a "hag of the streets" was bad. Taylor Holmes got through with a monologue and some imitations, but failed miserably in his attempt to imitate George M. Cohan. There was an extra offering of blackface specialties, of which the Nichols Sisters carried off the honors. Clifford and Burke used a lot of Williams and Walker's stuff and mainly through the singing and dancing of Clifford, managed to do well. The Norcross Minstrel Troupe gave their idea of an old-time "first-part" act. There were several other acts on the bill, all of which have been seen here before. CASINO.—The Trocadero Burlesquers are at the Casino, with the European weight juggler, Brinn, featured. Many of his tricks have been seen performed here, but he is claiming originality and was well received. The show is up to the average and opened to the best busi- ness of the season. TROCADERO.—At the Trocadero Joe Oppinheimer has his "Fay Foster" com- pany, with a big company and a number of entertaining specialties. Business has been big at this house all season and the Foster show has been getting its share. BIJOU.—There has been but little change at the Bijou, where the "Cherry Blossoms" are holding forth, and the bill has not been changed any since seen at the Trocadero earlier in the sea- son. LYCEUM—The "Bowery Burles- quers," who are entertaining at the Lyceum, are also making their second bid for favor this season. The Three Hickmans, in tftVKT wkil specialty, carried off the honors: BON-TON—Dick aridNttte McAvoy, in their sketch, "A Wife's Christmas," are about the only ones worthy of men- tion on the bill in the Bon-Ton. BOSTON, MASS.—KEITH'S (B. F. Keith, Manager).—Foremost among the funmakers on this week's nili are the clever Elinore Sisters, \Tlate and May, late of "Mrs. Delany of Newport" com- pany, whose absence of about four years inspired a rousing reception, and kept the audience convulsed with laughter. That inimitable monologist, James J. Morton, who, by the way, returns to the legitimate soon, with his ridiculous talk, song and recitation, is still a sure cure for the "blues." Ed. F. Reynard, the world famous ventriloquist comedian, with his wonderful mechanical figures, and Sam Watson, wi*h his farm yard, a decided novelty in the way of an animal act, contribute pleasing entertainments. The surrounding show includes such favorites as O'Brien and Havel, in an acrobatic comedy skit, "Ticks and Clinks," with specialties. Tom and Clara are just as funny as ever. The three musical Johnsons, expert xylo- phone players; M. Alphonse Sylvano, a European equilibrist; Mr. and Mrs. Cal Stewart, in a laughable conversational sketch, "Uncle Josh on the Bowery;" Les Durands, Parisian street singers; John F. Clark, monologue; Louis Guer- tin, skillful novelty jumper; Morton Temple and Morton, knockabout vocal- ists and dancers, all have fine special- ties and established themselves anew as prime favorites. Topping the bill, Mr. and Mrs. Gardner Crane present a delightful playlet, "A Yankee's Love for Dixie," which is well acted and worthy of individual mention. As usual the kinetograph shows a complete new list of comedy and interesting motion pic- tures, including "The Reception of Prince Louis of Battenberg in New York," which is a capital film. Crowded houses prevail. HOWARD ATHENEUM (Carl O. Lothrop, Business Manager).—Char- mion, queen of sensational aerialists, is the headline attraction on one of the best bills ever seen at this house. Of course, she throws out "personal" sou- venirs as usual. Charmion is the strong- est single drawing card the old Howard has ever known but she is not the only "topnotcher" the excellent programme includes; Emil Hoch, Jane Elton & Co., in "Mile. Ricca," a bright comedietta; John D. Gilbert, monologist with songs and steps that are the "limit" for laugh creators; Leona Thurber and her Four Black Birds; Marvelous Frank and Lit- tle Bob, with their wonderful dog "Tip;" Dolly Jardon, balladist; Delmore and Darrell, singers and dancers; Allaire and Lind, club Jugglers; Connelly and Rowe, vocalists and pedalists; the Bal- ancing Stevens; Anger and Hanley, dancers; Henella, magician, and the Howardscope pictures scored in accord- ance. The burlesque entitled "The Win- ning Warblers" made a fine showing. This big company of pretty girls are all winners. Immense business. COLUMBIA (Harry N. Farren, Man- ager).—"Simple Simon and Simon Sim- ple," followed by "A Hot Time at Reilly's," are the musical absurdity of- ferings by the Reilly & Woods' Bur- lesque Co., which is bigger and better than ever. Pat Reilly as "Simple Simon" is excruciatingly funny. Sur- rounded by a galaxy of royal entertain- ers, the principals are very much In evi- dence when it comes to laugh making. An olio of exceptional merit is head- lined by Frank Orth and Harry S. Fern, "by special engagement producing their famous skit, "Sign That Book." Other acts of various ability include: Ira Kessner, pictured melodies; Kennedy and Evans, Celtic humorists; Reno and Daly, comedy acrobats; the dancing Revere Sisters, and the Golden Ballet, in three scenes, introducing Ada Cor- bett as Mephisto. A well balanced chorus of pretty girls make a feast of fun and music. There is always some- thing doing with the "hook" when ama- teur night, every Friday, comes around; this feature is a big drawing card. Good company and business. NOTES.—Sunday concerts, 10th inst. Eagles' benefit at Grand Opera House; all star bill at the Boston; Elks' grand concert at the Tremont; benefit King- ston Dispensary at the Globe; offered the leading talent from all the visiting varieties and were well patronized. Sea- son looks prosperous. GEO. LESLIE HUTCHINSON. BALTIMORE, MD.—MARYLAND (F. C. Schanberger, Manager.)—Week Dec. 11-16. A splendid bill to large houses. McMahon's Minstrel Maids and Water- melon Girls is a very attractive act. Also seen are the Chamberlains, lasso throw- ers and rope jugglers; Tyce and Jermon, in songs and stories; Waterbury Broth- ers and Tenney, in a comical musical act; the Auberts, European whirlwind dancers; McMahon and Chappelle, in "Twenty Minutes Before the Train Leaves;" La Vine Cimaron Trio and the kinetograph, in new moving pictures. Next week: Gardner and Vincent, the Piccolo Midgets, Clifford and Burke, Taylor Holmes, Harry HcwarJ's Ponies. O. K. Sato and Brothers Durant. Cheva- lier Albert L. Guille, late tenor of the Heinrich Grand Opera company and the Hollywood Mandolin Orchestra, enter- tain the audience before and after each performance in the Rathskeller. MONUMENTAL (Joseph L. Kernan, Res. Manager), week Dec. 11-16.—Prob- ably if not quite the best bill of the sea- son is offered by Harry Martell's Brig- adier Burlesquers featuring Edmond Hayes in "The Wise Guy," supported by an excellent company, to crowded houses. The olio consisted of the Three Kuhns, singers and musical artists; Frank K. McNish and Joe Whitehead in an old- time minstrel act; Lester and Moore, as the soubrette and the tramp; the Pren- tice Four, comedy acrobats; Beufort Sisters, singers and dancers, and Miss Blanche Murphy, vocalist. Next week: Whallen and Martell's Kentucky Extrav- aganza company. ,