The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-03-13

No more effective setting OF a minstrel
show first part was ever seen in the Sc
attic theater than that which greeted ESQ
eyes when the curtain drew up at the Sc
attic Athletic Club benefit last night, ana
q most cordial appreciation OF the fact was
expressed In the storm OF applause that
greeted the first view Of the beautifully
arranged picture. The performance began
promptly at $50 o'clock. and for three
hours there was given an attractive pro-
gramme through which half a hundred OF
the best known young men OF the city
frolicked TO the delight OF their friends.
who crowded the theater from the orches-
ira rail TO the last row OF the oa4cony-
Up in the gallery there was liberal at
tendance. and tha encouragement &C
corded 10 every individual taking part
must have amply repaid the long weeks OF
hard work and close rehearsal that were
necessary TO produce almost fiawiess
entertainment If there was any quality
OF unprofessionalism lacking, IL was IN the
delays attendant upon changes that only
an entire familiarity with surroundings
could do away with.
Everything was bright and cheerful
from one end OF the theater TO the other,
and after the first visible effect OF newness
and strangeness had worn away the TWO
elements, the entertainers and the enter
tanned, were thoroughly en- rapport with
each other the one with a determination
to merit the liberal support given aud the
other in its willingness 10 be amused or
Instructed a. the case might be. IL was al!
amusement from beginning TO end and
the instruction was in respect TO new
know. edge gained as 10 the capabilities of
the participants In the Seattle Athletic
Clubs fourth amateur benefit. The discre-
tion of the management was shown in the
work that had been put into the rich and
appropriate dresses and the entirely new
music. all OF which was heard for the first
time In this city. in public. las; night.
The whole picture of the first part was a
treat to the eye, the tiers of gorgeously ar
rsyed chorus singers. the furniture. rugs,
palms. flowers and light effects c0ntribu-
ting 10 the enjoyment of the splendid
music that was the feature of the produc-
ton. Those who went prepared to find
amateur wit. tamely expressed. were dis
appointed. Messrs Bean and Agnew were
entirely up-to-date and carried the bur-
deus imposed by their responsible posi-
tons on the outside ends well in every re-
spect Mr.. George Noble was an ideal in
terlocutor, and the solo singers In every
case were the recipients OF deserved en-
cores. The novel Introduction of the end
men gave an idea OF the originality that
prevails in the management of, the big
benefit
There might have. been an absence of the
bcisterous merriment that Is usually part
Of a minstrel performance. but IL was none
tlfe .esS acceptable for that Everything
with the exception of brief delays, ran
smoothly. and when the curtain rang
down on the first part the big audience
settled itself back for a few moments en-
joyment 81 the opening in retroxpection.
and prepare itself for the remainder Of
the performance, TO which It's ideas had
been keyed up
The o.io consisted OF a sketch by Messrs
Edmunds, Coombs and Lee that gave Mr.
Coomhs an opportunity 70 show his YER
saulity as a musician. 81 Plunkert's band
followed. and that In turn by a banjo duet
by Messrs. Holhrook and Long that was
the feature Of the olo
The performance concluded with an ex-
travaganza a Punk Pasha's Predica-
snent," In which Mr.. William Inglis took
the principal part, supported in the prin-
cipal characters by Mr.. Bean and Mr.. FL
mer Friend
The performance viii be repeated to-
night.