The morning times., 1897-01-12
CHEVALIER A REVELATION
The English Character Actor Scores
Success at the Columbia.
President and Mrs. Cleveland, Sec
retary Olney and Other Nota-
bles. Present.
COlu nbia /.


the Columbia last night. He was greeted
by large audience, elegant in makeup
discriminating in taste. II had come to
accept nothing of the eeytravagantly-reputed
Englishman, but an article OF entertain
ment above and beyond criticism, and it
was not disappointed.
Mr. Cheyalier's performances surpass the
most sanguine promise OF his great reputa-
ton.
Tie first impression OF this gentleman
came to America through some tuneful
coster songs. 1t was tile rhythm Of the
melody that caught the ear, and was re-
tanned by tile memory, The audience, for
the most part, which came to him last
night, unless carefully posted. expected q
vocal comedian. A good voice and good
delivery would have measured the expecta-
ton Of the majority. But Mr. Chevalier
was a revelation. He is not merely a singer
in fact, lie scarcely sings at ali. His
accomplishment seems TO be playing ad
lhitum, and lie delivers rcctatiye. To this
he ADDS the abilities OF a, not merely clever
but great character actor. AS actor and
singer he is a consunnate artist
His first appearance was a the coster
He sang the costers proposal The
Future Mrs. 'Awkins.'' This was fol-
lowed as an encore by a vocal and recita-
tive description of his Little Nipper.' so
handy with his dukes His second appear
ance was with scenic environment, the
stage as a rule being draped in solid red.
Mr Chevalier. as an old man, sings Of his
old family clock His make up, expires
Ill
formulated this sketch as perfect little
gem of character drawing.
The fourth number was. by request, a
French song, given in costume, with all
| the airy briskness of the Gaelic beau. The
audience persstentiy demanded another
and directly he appeared as an English
curate and described and acted with much
humora scene ut a church bazaar. The last
song was diversified with a dance. ''our
Court Ball. is descriptive OF u coster ball
and Mr.. Cheyaiier gave spell much
like our Bowery dance.
All that he did was exquisitely finished
and genuinely artistic The fad which has
sustained him at the head of all vaudeville
artists has been founded on a merit of
breadth and Solitlity, and the critics who
| have made poems of his praises We're
eminentiy justified by his unexceptional
performance, His repertoire is long and
varied as set out in the program and he
will change it from evening to evening.
Accompanying Mr.. Chevalier is com
pany of vaudeville performers who are
not only clever, but entirely refined. The
atmosphere of the Columbia is not in the
! least DISTURBED by the presence of an un
alloyed vaudeville company. Three acts in
| thesupportingbil are conspcuously notable
| Cyrus Dare, man of fine presence and
| a healthy mustache, sings in marvellous
imitation of little girl three or four
years old Charles Bertram did expert
feats of magic in passing and palning with
| balls, cards. and coins. The stage manager
| lent him assistance andamused the audience
| by his comcai doings. Mr.. Betram s as
| happy in his accompanying talk as his
| tricks, presenting in its entirity, an act
OF delightful merit.
| The third performer who found especial
favor was Harry Atkinson, who, with his
| lips and mouth, initiated every variety
| of instrument, including the difficult feat
| of triple tonguing and echo, and singing
| a duet for soprano and high baritone much
| more satisfactorily than did Fregoli Not
| any one in the bill was other than first
class, and to select these for particular
mention is not to intimate that the Sisters
| Abbott, Harry West, Harry Brett. and Nora
Girton were otherwise than entertaining in
! all they did.
| In the boxes were President and Mrs.
! Cleveland, Secretary Olney, Mrs. Bssel.
| Mrs. Perrine, Mrs Logan, and party, F d.
| Thompson, of the Union League, and party:
| the Misses Letter and party. Mrs. r. r.
Hit, Mr. Quigg and others accompanying
| them.