Variety (Feb 1906)

VARIETY Shows of the Week = WITH THE AMATEURS AT THE CIR- CLE THEATRE. On Friday evening of each week at the Circle Theatre, at Broadway and Sixtieth street, the budding genius of the song, dance, acrobatic and general variety sj>e- eies Iim.s us fling, with the possible ap- plause of the audience and a gold piece the only hope of reward. It is called "Amateur Night" and has become a most popular feature at this house, which, under the management of Charles A. Williams has developed into a burlesque theatre of importance. It is a matter of comment in theatrical circles that Mr. Williams can boast of the most polite patrons attending burlesque per- formances on either "wheel," and the audi- ence here on the eventful evening will compare favorable with any on Broadway. Evening dress is the prevailing fashion, the residents of the section surrounding the Circle making it a point to be on hand to watch the beginners, and have no fear of seeing or hearing anything offensive. On Friday night the amateurs are bun- dled below the stage, and the after-piece of the show is cut out to prevent a too late closing. Generally about fifteen acts are entered, and the bill is made up by Mr. Williams asking the aspirants for honors their names and what is going to be given by them. A week ago last night the usual number of amateurs were there. The first to go on was a dancing turn by two boys, who sang and danced and then continued danc- ing until George Weiss, the stage manager of the house, called to "break," but they were disinclined to do that, liking the ap- plause too well. Mr. Weiss is a part of the show. He makes the announcements, and the "front" of the house receive an inkling of what is to come through the emphasis employed. Mr. Weiss walks out on the stage, holds up one hand to enjoin silence and says, "The next to appear is Mr. Jones. He's a singer." Or, "We shall next have some juggling by a young man. They say he's clever; we shall see." Mr. Weiss into- nates to bring out the doubt and the audi- ence is started off on the laugh track be- fore the boy arrives, but the stage man- ager is given a very black look by the youngsters who think he is trying to "queer" their act. Mr. Weiss is a terror to the bunch in another way also. One of the funniest features of the evening is silent. Down at Miner's Bowery Theatre on "amateur nights," when a turn does not satisfy the house for any reason and the performer will not leave the stage, a large hook is reached out from the wings, which en- velops the "artist," who is removed by force. But at the Circle the audience is too gentle for methods of this kind, and Mr. Williams has devised "signs" answering the purpose more fully. When the stage has been cleared for the first number an oak easel is placed outside the first en- trance, and if an act is going bud there is placed on the easel a sign on which is painted in large letters "Beat It." There are a number of these signs, some reading "I'm Going Away," "L'.'t." "I>»mons." "Skiddo<>," "The Vitagraph Next," and others, all full of * significance. The boys appearing have heard about them, and most of them keep a careful watch on the stage manager when possible. One boy commenced to sing a ballad, when he noticed Weiss take up one of the signs to show a few persons in the wings. Thinking it was intended for the easel, he abruptly stopped Ringing, leaving the stage. After much persuasion he re- turned, but repeated the same thing when the stage manager reached for another sign. He was literally dragged back to finish the song, and sang the balance of the verses, with his body facing the front of the house while his head was turned in the opopsite direction towards where Weiss stood. The audience expects to laugh, and fairly howled over a sister team, which did a song and dance. One of the girls was a fright, and deserved to be paid heavily for having the hardihood to appear on the stage with her face uncovered. They were encored three or four times, al- ways repeating the chorus of the song with the few dance steps they knew. Mr. Williams, realizing the card he had with this couple, pleaded with the girls to go back and do a dance while the audience was still clamoring, but the "sisters" re- fused, saying thr;y were tired. The second number was a young girl, apparently under the age of sixteen (the Gerry limit), who was "under the manage- ment" of her mother. The mother watched the girl sing with a self-satisfied smile, and the audience liked the first song, but the girl responding to her en- core sang again, gesturing with her hands, and the house broke into roars of laughter, which the mother didn't like, having evi- dently done the coaching. Mr. William-; has his troubles keeping away those who insist \it\Kn\ appearing. While tliis youngster was on the stage a young man rushed up to the manager saying, "Give those two little girls a show, will yerV You know they're all right, and I've promised Harry Von Tilzer they would sing two of his songs." Mr. Will- iams said they were too young, whereupon he was brusquely asked how old the girl in front was. Told her mother said she was over sixteen, he walked over to where the woman was standing, yelling at her, "Mrs. Murphy, have you got the nerve to say that Gracie is over sixteen? Have you?" and Mrs. Murphy laughed bc- oauae her daughter was just bowing her final bow. Mr. Williams was obdurate, however, and the Von Tilzer songs remained un- sung, which possibly was a diappointment to Mr. Von Tilzer. who occupied an upper box. One young man who Mr. Weiss intro- duced as "Mr. LaWson, a singer from llobokcn," "got back" at the stage mali- nger by remarking as he walked down to the footlights. "I knew that guy would say 'lloboken.'" His impromptu speech was liked better than his singing. An- other boy in black-face had the whole house singing the chorus of his song. If you want one great big long laugh. don't fail to go to the Circle on any Friday night. Take your wife or "best girl" with you. They will equally enjoy it. HAMMERSTEIN'S. The bills Mr. Hammersteiu has been offering for the amusement of his patrons has caused the slogan of "If you want to see a good show, go to Hammerstein's" to be siuig throughout the city. This week's bill is no exception to the usual run. While it would be difficult to reproduce the Hammersteiu show of last week more than once a year, Arthur Prince as the star of this week's en- tertainment, earns sufficient applause to atone for his shortcomings. The house goes wild over Prince. As a ventrilo- quist he stands pre-eminent with his audience, and here they catch the points quickly, nothing escaping. Prince is adding new lines continually, and with his ready wit and rapid delivery, it is a measure of relief to a great many when the head of the "dummy" is removed to find that "it's really and honestly so." Ned Nye and his Rollicking Girls have a prominent place on the bill. The act is working itself out very well and is now an assured hit. Nye in his lankiness and Dan Daly resemblance stands as a unique comedian, filling the place very acceptably left vacant through the demise of Daly, and the Reid sisters, equally in the glare with Nye, are two little earnest youngsters, who work hard and have some aerobatics intermingled with their danc- ing, both good and dangerous. One of the sisters Monday afternoon split the skin on her forehead, preventing her from taking part in the finale. It was not seri- ous, but showed what chances the girls take. The swings are going much better, and it would add to the applause if the four young women were allowed to finish the song while swinging. The two front rows of the orchestra are much sought after. Idalene Cotton and Nick Long were well liked in their sketch, Miss Cotton's impersonations seeming to please mighti- ly, particularly that of Mrs. Fiske as "Leah," and Pierce and Mazie opened the bill with songs and dances. Miss Mazie has two changes of costumes, with hand- some dresses for each, but the spot light is too often in use. Clarice Vance, one of the features of the program, was placed quite far down on the bill to hold the audience. This is a return engagement at llainincrstein's within a short time for Clarice, and the audience wouldn't budge until she had sung her songs in her own inimitable style which no one else has yet succeeded in approaching, although many make the effort. Augusta Close with the single word "Fntertainer" below licr name on the programme just lives up to the billing. It will be a difficult matter at any time for Miss Close to set a Hammersteiu au- dience wild, although her last effort seemed to please. Miss Close ought to try a monologue with musical num- bers. It is worth the try, for her present material is fitted for the parlor or concert rather than vaudeville. Clavton White and Marie Stewart gave "Dickey," the companion piece to "Paris'' and the Glinscrrettis in aero- Italics appeared. KEENEY'S. Mr. Keeuey supplied a "new .one" ("Yankee Doodle Boys" reviewed under New Acts) and also allowed Harry Iiacy to again appear in vaudeville this week. Mr. Lacy and his company in "Bob Rack- et t's Pajamas" gave nothing new in this old sketch, excepting possibly a new pair of the nether garments, and there is some doubt about that. Laey's laugh causes many others to join in, but that is not his specialty. He is in the cigar smokers' brigade along with Arthur Prince and Wil- liam Gillette, and has adopted the modern habit of wearing a waist band on the cheroot. Further than that there is noth- ing to add although the quality of Maria A. Greene's speaking voice could be men- tioned. If Miss Greene will understand that her voice has a very high pitch or- dinarily, she may endeavor to lower it oc- casionally and more particularly so that the reference to a certain glove-maker will not be heard. John J. Conway as a stut- tering bell boy did not over stutter. It is a very difficult pitfall to dodge. Halliday & Leonard made their hit through Leonard's complicated and harelip talk. It is the old act of Gilmour and Leonard, with few variations, but it goes as well as ever. There are too few real Irish sidewalk turns in vaudeville anyway. Stuart "the male Patti" is here with the goods. "Mister" Stuart is growing care- less of his appearance, for "Mister" Stuart does not make up as well m formerly, and "Mister" Stuart's face is verv coarse look- ing when the rouge is not plentifully ap- plied. "Mister" Stuart ought to look at his shoulders from the back before coming on. From appearances a couple of rounds with soap and water would help some. The female impersonations of "Mister" Stuart are as disgustingly effeminate as ever. His mincing walk and talk are not excused by the bellow "Hello Mike" which will cause him internal trouble some time, as it is quite an effort for "Mister" Stuart to make so much noise at one time, twice a day—when he's working. Rlanclie Sloan, sister of "Tod." oil the Hying rings is a sensation among aerial ring acts. How it is that this young woman has been overlooked by New York man- agers is far from being understood. With- out a net underneath she takes a full length fall hanging by her feet from straps attached to the rings, and it is about tIn- most startling piece of flying work ever shown in vaudeville, she swinging back and forth over the stage the full length of the rope* at the time, missing the foot-light* by about six inches. The audience Tuesday night applauded generously, but did not seem to fully appreciate her exhibition. Itrando and Wiley, a colored team, opened the bill and received a cheerful re ception. the man's acrobatic dancing pleas ing and the woman has a somewhat better voice than usually found in acts of this nature. The three Heltons showed hand balatlc ing of a mediocre quality. What is con side red their Iwst trick is neither hard nor showy and the comedian of the trio is in tin- way. The two "straight" men would do better as a team. They received a Very mild reception.