The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1896-05-31
MONOLOGU E PERFORMERS.
The Man who IL the Whole Show Himself
Again Coming Into Favor.

Again Coming Into Favor.
The appearance at two rival theatres of Ital-
ian monologue artists giving, each Of them.
an act which is a whole show in itself. and the
announcement that other similar artists. some
appearing in Italian, some in French. and some
in English. will be seen at several Of the local
roof gardens this summer, seem to foreshadow
a revival OF the monologue entertainment.
Two classes of performers have given in the
past monoloxue entertainments-the conjurers
and the ventriloQuists. Conju.ers have usu-
ualiy had an assistant, the performance of
some OF the more important feats requiring
the presence on the stage OF a helper. Re-
Gently the performances of conjurers have
been diversified by the appearance Of an actress
F, lin some cases the wife OF the conjurer) who
either figures in the second sight performance
Ut is a dancer. The performances of Alexander
Hermann are participated in by Adelaide
Hermann. and those Of Kellar by Mrs. Kel-
lar. When Robert Heller came to the United
States he played a portracted engagement In
New York as musician as we'll as conjurer. and
he had the assistance OF Miss Haidee Heller.
More recently, when the French ~conjurer with
the Japanese name Yank-ho. made his New
York debut, he was accompanied by Omene. the
original ouchee-couohee dancer. The v on
triloquists, by reason of their variation Of
voice. have been able to impersonate more than
one character vocally at least, as bid New
York theatregoers remember In the case OF e.
Fred McCabe. 4. o. duncan. and others.
The new. type Of veptriloqnist with which
his fhs prsdsoe IS o1sn Chiefly io q in r"% respect a' OF the ,rfG aet
that the changes which he makes are not Vt
voice only. but q acting and apparel as well,
dummy and with very little delay In effecting
changes; The pioneer IL this line may he 50 ID
What was then the Theatre Comiqus. bi4
and aftsrwsrd became Harrigan q Hsrt's
Theatre Comique and the scene OF their, earli:
presented in an evening about six or eight
different characters, the changes from one TO
another being s SO rapid tS as 70 DO almost In
he presented to the New York public arc
still pleasantly. II not reverently, remembered
ciuded Captain links OF the Horse Marines,''
who fed his horse on corn and beans; "on
day" "ChampaGne Charley and "Up in a
Balloon, Boys" Mr.; iingsrd became known
tators. The merit OF his act WAS the rapidly
Character to another; but there Ss@ was no oS eRuS Dss
OF vocal feature. Mr.. Lingard considered
himself an artist; not a yentriloauist since
stage scores OF similar change artists, but
women, clever English. women for the most
part, with a partiality for male chara ,ters.
lie llAllhh lie WIZ u appearing n w
New York houses make not only changes from
one character 10 another, but also q succession
of changes among characters, carrying out a
connected story, whereas the iightnlng-chAnge
artists OF Englnad and their imitAtOrs i'm the
United States have given Isolated characters
having no connection with each other, and
With a delay 81 several minutes between hem.
The Italian newcomers not only make their
changes instantaneOusly, but they are ven
triloQuists as well as singers, and are thus able
to keep up the illusion 10y speech Ia the wings
or 4lck 81 the stage while making the change.
Many managers, especially on the hot nights
OF summer would be very glad NJ the reduc-
ton in their expenses which could be brought
about in the salary list with one performer
giving the entire show. But though IL has
sometimes been attempted by road companies
in dire financial distress, the feat has never
been successfully performed, for however great
the ability Of the .rtlst, his endurance has not
usually been strong enough to withstand the
strain of more n n half an hour of what Is
literally \ continuous performance. II IL an
old saying among actors and actresses tina the
most prominent member ola company tths
star sought 10 be the whole show with In.
difference to the abilities and publications Of
his ~Associg es, but II lOoks now a. N the artists
giving the whole show were 20 have a pretty
good run Of popularity this summer Such
monologue artists are underlined st.nearly
avery roof garden IN town