Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1897-11-24
YOUNG MEN in BURNT CORK
Last Evenings Entertainment a Huge
Success-An Exc enent Program
Given.

and highly successful entertain
ment of the sort been put upon the
Watertown boards. Turner Opera
house was filled to the doors and
standing room was at premium,
showing the unusual amount of inter-
est taken. Shortly after 5 the per-
fOrmance started with the customary
harmonies of that good negro melody.
.Old Black Joe,n sounding from be-
hind the curtain. A minute more and
the drop rolled up, revealing to the
spectators view an attractively ar
ranged circle of dusky darkies, the
orchestra elevated at their rear, with
a bank of palms and other foliage be-
tween. Then the overture sounded
and the show was on in earnest. Fol
lowing are those who disguised their
countenances with burnt cork, the in
terlocutor alone being recognizable:
Interlocutor, John MolzaLn; tambos, G.
Buchheit, G. A. Kohn; bones, M. E. Gritzner,
Max Rohr; Edward l.. Schempf, Charles Otto,
Ned Brickell, Ed May, Harry Kellerman, Harry
Park, William Sproesser, Jr.,. Aaron Mead,
Joseph Mullen, 0. E. Meyer, Z. F. Wieman
Richard Emerson, Oscar Wertheimer.
Mr.. Molzahn was a very substantial
and good appearing middle man,
while the big Four end men knew
well their business and succeeded in
keeping the audience in excellent
humor. A flood of jokes and gags
were sprung, and some of them we're
extremely well pointed, especially the
one in which Mr.. Rohr insisted that
the strongest organization in the city
is the common council because it s'has
steam roller on its haads." The
gag was certainly a ''crusher,n as
Mr.. Buchheit remarked. More than
ordinary artistic effect was shown
by the boys in the singing, and the
rendition of the several coon songs,
though most of them not new ones,
brought down the house every time
and encores were demanded. Right
here it must be said that the orchestra
of seven pieces lent very efficient aid
to the artistic presentation, the accom-
paniments being everything that could
be desired. The musical specialties
of the second part also were thorough
ly enjoyed. Mr.. Gritzner evinced a
capabllity Of extracting music from
most ''any old thing" he laid hands
on. The mandolin playing was sweet
and enchanting and the either number
by Miss Grace Cole, of Oshkosh, was
a decided feature. The program rem
dered was as follows:
FIRST PART.
oA" i'i''oA o0o Oh, C;boIrs ms, ''' - -'''
Overture .............. 49,. ..."Black America
Chorus and Orchestra.
"My Coal Black Lady ............................
Mr.. Buchheit and Chorus.
Mr.. Gritzner and Chorus.
II Dream of Thee, Loye..... ......... :, ,........
Edward L. Schempf.
"All Coons Look Alike to Me- .......... ........
,1, Mr.: Meyer and Chorus.
Mr. Park and Chorus
my Gals High Born Lady, '.....................
Mr.. kohn and Chorus.
Messrs. Gritzner aud Buchheeitt. t-O'-'--
Brush By, Niger. Brush By .............
Mr.. Rohr and Chorus.
''Old Folks at Home. -.
Chorus.
| SECOND PART.
Messrs Gritzner Otto Brcie Mead May
Grace Eva Cole.
Notwithstanding the lateness of the
hour when this portion of the program
was reached, the production of the
farce, ''Ici on Parle Francais, p" (French
spoken here( was awaited with patience
and interest and the audience was
held attentively through the entire
play. The young people enlisted in
the cast sustained their parts excel
lently well, and where all did SO nobly
it is hardly just to discriminate; still
we cannot pass without noting the
special success Lewis Parks achieved
in portraying the character creation
of the vivaciOus Frenchman. In
makeup and dialect he lacked nothing
and the speaking of his part was the
signal on every occasion for burst Of
hearty laughter from his hearers
This part, of all others, presented the
best opportunities for effective por-
trayal and Mr.. Parks was equal to the
occasion. The play hinges on the
accidental separation at railway
station of a storming English major
and his 'sbetter half" the latter
meanwhile being politely cared for
by the over-obliging Frenchman, who
by the way, is deeply infatuated
with a girl who lives he knows not
where, but who of course turns up al
the right time. The majors hunt fol
his wife causes some amusing circum-
stances, but, as is always the case, the
play ends agreeably and all are united
just as they should be. The cast was
as follows:
Major Regulus Rattan.................Byron Kabe
Victor Dubois ............. ....Lewis Parks
Mr.. Sprlgg1nS element STACY
Mrs. Spriggins. ....... ....Miss Jennie Melzel
Angelina 1their daughter) Miss Bessie Throne
Julia (wife of Major Rattan 49,. 49,. :. .....
....... ................: Miss Selma Schempt
Anna Maria (naid of all work.. ......... .......
...................... ....M1SS Helen RaceE
After the entertainment dancing
was enjoyed until A. NJ. by large
company of young people. The pro
ceeds of the evening, which are 6
handsome sum, will be shared by the
minstrels and St. Paul's church.