The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-03-25
THE ENGLISH cosTHR SINGER.
Remarkable Success OF Albert Chcvalier
al Roster & BIal,s, New York.


The New York Sun says SIT was a
forcgone conclusion that Albert Chevalier
would be cordially welcome when he ap-
peared here the frst time. His reputation
has preceded him. his songs are, many of
them, familiar and popular, and, above
all, the speciality stage has been loaded
with limitations presented by actors, from
JennysJoyce up TO Walter Jones, SO widely
and irreconcilably various that the publ:
anxiety TO discover just what he really
was like had grown Keen. But the friend
ly audience that greeted hm last night at
Roster IL Biaf's was nprecedentedIy en-
thusiastic. Before the curtain parted
there was a burst of applause that would
have fiattered the greatest actor on the
stage. A youthful contortionist who had
on the stage In the deluded satisfaction
OF having made the hit of her life. When
MIR. Cheyalier appeared the applause did
not cease until the orchestra began the
familiar "Mys. Hawkins" From that
time until he finished speech there was
a crescendo or enthusiasm which has
rarely rewarded an actor. There were
many OF Mr.. Chevalier's compatriots ia
the audience and fren aii parts of the
house came vociferous demands for other
songs in bis repertoire, such as the
"Coster's Serenade' and "E Don't
Knew Where Il Are" In professional
language, Mr.. Chevalier enjoyed "a recep-
tion'' which should have gladdened his
heart.
He came before the audience first in the
coster costume, the short jacket and the
fiaring trousers covered with pearl but
tons. "Mrs. Hawkins" and "Our Little
Nipper" gave the spectators an exhibition
of his comic powers. The sold Dutch"
the song OF an old man about his wife,
Lad fatt in he.
ance of white-haired old man, and in
this his patho was truthful and effective.
He was young man again when sour
Court Ball, lone OF his songs little known
here, was reached, and 1t was more
broadly comic and burlesque performance
than in any of tne preceding songs."Wot
Cher" the idyl of the donkey cbalse on
the old Kent road, was the last OF the six
songs he gave, and he was again in this a
youthful coster spangled with the pearl
buttons.
In all Of the songs that Mr.. Chevalier
sang he demonstrated himself an ex-
tremely artistic delineator of a certain
type His characterization in the differ
ent songs was admirably truthful and
convincing, and his versatility in ranging
the type wRs finely shown in the singing
of the "Old Dutch.n He oelineates a local
character With the truth and fidelity that
Guibert showed in her illustration of
Paris life, and he did ii with the same
ample artistic aid. Whether New York
ers understand the coster of London or
not, the humor and humanity of Mr..
Chevalier's performance are certain to APP
peal TO them, and probably the realiza-
tion that they could enjoy what he was
doing and singing was in a large measure
responsible for the unusual enthusiasm
that greeted him last night. He has
taken a character out of life and presented
1t with sympathy and art, and the effect
is certain. Some of the traits of his
costa- ptably In the sold Court Ball, ~
w. 20 similar IN walk, speech and
talk to our fam lar local type, and there
were times during that song when il
seemed as though -Mr-GAera4ieF- Haigs ht
have picked out his original on the Bow
cry. There was some pantomime accom-
panying this song illustrating an inti-
nation to his girl that her participation
in dance was desired, and Chimmie Fad
den, IL he had been a little tougher.
might have done the thing in the same
way. There were many touches that in
dicated the undou bted relationship OF the
coster, despite his romantic Romany
origin, to our type OF tough young man.
Mr.. Chevalier's songs are well known
here, and they have won favor through
their fancy and wit, and these qualities
of his own Interpretation illuminated
with sympathetic humor and truth.
They were expressed, too, by the means
of finished art. They won the nthusi-
astic favor OF the audience, and doubtless
that will continue In n milder degree to
attend Mr.. Chevalier's subsequent APP
pearances. He pre- ents type which may
not be worthy Of all the rapture which
the spectators showed. But he does so
well that be elevates 1t to lofty height.