The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1894-04-29
HE ACTS As ISTkRLocUIoh.


Extra Duuss or the Orchestra Leader q.
Variety Performance.
The place so long occupied with honor By
the circus rinRmsster has been usurped By
the orchestra leader. and the antics Of some
OF the latter class In our concert halls and
variety theatres throws the time.worn dia-
logue which has made both rtngma and
clown famous completely into the shade. II
the rinRmaster Ia the circus did not lash the
clown every time that individual got within
reach. and II the latter didn't make apparently
desperate efforts TO annoy tho former By get
ting continually in his way. the average cir
cusgoer would imm ediately make up his mind
that circus humor was not what Il used to be.
and consequently would be considerably dis
appointed. In the leader Of an orchestra.
however. one expects to find q sedate. digni-
ned parsonage. who looks panied every time
the comedian cracks joke and only seems
comfortable when he Is leading an accom-
paniment to some particularly serious song.
OF course the suave Maneinelli or stately
Bevignani Of grand opera fame are not in
cluded In this category. Neither are the Or
chestra leaders OF any OF our first-class play
houses. But in tho variety theatres and con-
cert halls the leader OF the orchestra has be-
como an essential part OF the performance.
and an Irish or German comedian who does
not engage In witty repartee with him at some
time during his act is immed iately classed by
the audience as . third-rate man.
Such variety people rs Sam Bernard, tho
Rogers brothers. Weber and Fields. John and
James Russell. Bessie Bellwood. Lizzie Ray
mond. Maggie Cline Joe Flynn. and dozens OF
others are responsible for this state OF affairs.
In order to more impress the audience with
the humor OF . JOKE they ring In the
sss ,Rss h ai.S to
interlocutor In . minstrel show They
m Ss wSsn .hss stsI. o sing. and ins,tsd get
reason ' this. com Sinsd with the hofribi" gris'
giles and comfort ions Of the eomedian and his
Lrings out laugh. A conversation which Ia
supposed to DO funny. and which some times
character. and II the audience laughs. that is
all that the comedian wants.
app.sns o Il. :sss
ture and general makeup Of which would
ian Of pink ostrich feathers. which she 10;
while she sing, such affecting Ballads as
that same Ian. or a similar one. 70 orchestra
leaders for the past two years. Yet there IL
the the MAY ss The
It which always creates a laugh.
Sam Bernard makes q point OF abusing an
orchestra and exciting apparent indignation
them. OF being click" and remarks, as u
der right way to play IN oosicks nit sticks und
clubsr This remark brings every m en- Der OF
the orchestra to his feet with appraised instru-
ments and the comedian makes dash for the
wings amid roars from the audience
Every time the Rogers brothers perform
one Of them hits the leader over the head with
q fiat stick and then PUSHES from the stage.
George Murphy and Kitty Kursale roast"
every orchestra they come In contact with.
riAbly sings one or two songs during the course
Of an evening which com pels the assistance OF
the leader. Nanoni did the same thing, as has
almost every other French singer that has
come over here.
Eunice Vance. In her new song. And Her
Golden Hair Was Hanging Down Der Back"
has more fun with the leader aud his assist
ants than any OF the other comic singers. In
this song Miss Vance tells OF young girl who
leaves her village home to 20 70 the city. She
them at the top Of the heap, she buncoes
right and left. and after the narration OF each
OF her deeds Miss Vance and the orchestra
sing in .. low voice and to satchy music the
down her back" 1t 10 In the chorus however.
that the orchestra leader and such Of his men
who are not engaged in playing wind instru-
ments create most amusement. with tho
sin ger they below the chorus. which runs as
follows:
When shs Jeff the village she WAS shy.
But aiA1 ana AlAek shes coins oAck
With naughty little twinkIs In her eye.
II Is only . question OF time when the
Former sisnss' The fcsis public will il .oon
tire OF the new order Of things. While IL
lAsts however. 1t makes the orchestra leader
almost as popular as the performers