The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1899-10-06

Nearly All Performers Are Constantly
in Search Of II.
Miss Edna Basseft MarshaIIs Early A.
tsmpts 10 Sing THE Holy City,"

i
| Il don't believe there are any persons
on earth who realize more forclbly thar
do vaudeville performers how nearl,
true Is the old saying that there's moth.
| ing new under the sun. said Edna
| Bassett Marshall the celebrated concert
singer. who is now meeting with such
exceptional successin high class yaude-
vile.
The one thing that vaudeville pat-
rons are continually crying for is
something new, novelty: bur they
have very little comprehension OF the
extreme difficulty that confronts those
who attempt to provide IT, or OF the
failures and d.sappointments that stre,y
the path OF such effort.
"And yet. it is not always the ptr-
formers themselves who are at fault
for sometimes over-conservatiye mama
gers stand in the way. though that is
never 10 be said OF The Keith circuit
where every possible announcement q,
given to all who have desirable goods
10 offer.
II shall never forget my experience
NitI i liirA li4utl kDOh 10 NlUL The
Holy CITY. IL was three years AGO
and in my search for novelty + had
heard the song and decided that il
could be sung with entire prOprlety AMI
with success on the vaudeville stage:
but when ! appeared az the rehearsal
Monday morning the manager wouldn't
have il. He Insisted hat TO attempt 10
sing song Of religious sentiment like
that VAS prepOsterous. 40 one had ever
ftcll l.Fal ..F
would permit 10 without manifestations
Of dissatisfaction. while ii would be a
failure, anyway
Il gave up that attempt. but perse-
Vere1, and soon convinced an Intelligent
manager that ] had az least some show
of reason on my side; ard ne perm tted
me 10 make the attempt. II was per-
haps the most daring novelty that had
been undertaken IN vaudeville. but its
success was equally great. for the song.
rendered with appropriate scenic EN-
belllshments. was received with most
enthusiastic applause and still remains
a prominent feature of my act. for
which | have received perhaps more
praise than for any other individual ef- !
fort And he number Of performers |
who have followed my lead I'm this di- |
rectlcn only serves TO emphasize the |
Importance and popularity OF the inno- |
ration"
The emphatic hit secured This week |
a kelth's 5v Miss Marsha!rs act might |
nave been cited bv her as another ef- |
'ectve illustration. for IL Is i'm every |
aspect an entirely new departure, \
'riginal in Ctlception and in every de- |
all. and. with the introduction OF |
no of the cleNerest and most grlfted 4
hildren vet seen on The local stage, |
PRESENTS not only a charming picture. /
n ID - ral
work. and best musical entertainment |
f which vaudeville can boast. Prob |
blv few other vaudeville acts seen 1
Iere have occasioned SO much favor 4
bic comment Or given more general !
pleasure to all classes of peole. app /
ealing .@.,b. equal force to the gallery |
nd the orchestra.
An amusing incideTt occurred in con- I
ectiOn with another act at Keith's /
n Thursday evening. Harry &. Stan
y gi,.,s a remarkable vocal imitation !
{ clarinet. whilr pretending to play
pon that instrument. and this attract
d the interested attention of q we'll
nown local clarinet player. After Mr.
tanley had rendered about half OF the
rst variation on the Carnival of Ven
e" the musician turned TO the friend
18th him. also n prominent musician. !
nd inn0centlv remarked. THAT fellow |
about as poor a clarinet player as
yer heard. / don't see how he holds
IS own i'm such a fine show as this"
The friend knowing the real facts.
as SO amused that hc burst out laugh
z. while his innocent companion, hav- |
g unconsciousiy paid a high compli-
ent to STANLEY. failed TO see the point
ltil the latter uniointed his fake"
strument. and a good supper for four
ter the performance was the price
paid for having his name kept Sc !
ct when the story should be told,
lich. of course was inevitable. I