The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-12-01
WITH MUSIC AND HUAHOR.
John Thomas Co. Opened Y. NJ. C. A.
Star Course.


star Course.
The John Thomas Concert Company at
the Guards Hall last night gave the first
of the Y M. c. A. star cslrse entertain
ments for the season of 1S99-9O. The COM
pany consists of John Thomas, humorist /;
Annie Webster Thomas, violinist Edna
Marie Goullaud. soprano, and Charles A.
Ridgway, pianist.
The members of the company are all
artists and deserved a better house than
they had, though the various other attrac-
lions that were given at the same time
are probably responsible for the rather
small attendance.
The programme as arranged consisted of
only ten numbers, but the continuous en-
cores made 1t more than twice that num-
Der before the entertainment came TO an
end.
Mr. Ridgway played the first number,
Valse Brilliante, by Moszkowski. very ac-
ceptably. Miss Goullaud followed with
Arditi's "Se Saran Rose" which she sang
most charmingly, and to an encore re-
sponded with another selection which was
also well received. Mr.. Thomas made his
first appearance in Peculiar People at
Home" and made a hit with the audience
at once. He is irresitibly comic and af-
ter his first appearance the audience
would begin to laugh as soon as he came
on the stage. He impersonated in turn
family party of five trying to decide where
to hang the framed motto God bless our
home" which pater familias had just
bought. OF course the discussion ends in
a row in which all lose their tempers. The
ascending scale of feeling from an ord-
nary family conference to a stormy debate
was finely pictured by Mr.. Thomas. In
response to an enthusiastic encore he re-
sponded with a song.
The fourth number was violin solo
Faust Fantasia, by Sarasate, which Mics
Thomas played superbly. Not only we
the immense technical difficulties with
which the piece abounds overcome with no
apparent effort, but Miss Thomas played
with precision and a fire that shows the
true musical temperament and made her
work by far the most artistic Of the even
ing. AS a recall piece she played Carni-
val of Venice most brilliantly. In the
Faust Fantasia the cantabile passages
were played most beautifully, while the
brilliant way in which she played the
Carnival showed her master of the pyro-
technics as well as the soul of violin
playing.
The March Militaire Schubert-Tausig
which Mr.. Ridgway next played was also
heartily applauded and was followed by
recall piece. Mr. Ridgway plays with
much feeling and delicate touch that is
in every way admirable but his selections
was almost too pretentious. for an up
right piano and needs grand in order
to be given in its full power. The first
movement of the piece he took in tempo
that was rather slower than 1t is usually
given but this was probably a matter of
individual preference.
Miss Gourlaud made her second appear
ance and sang Trotere's Maneulita, again
scoring a most pronounced success, and
being forced TO give another encore.
Mr.. Thomas second selection was Pc
culiar Peope in Debate" in which the
characters represented are five Common
Councilmen who agree on absolutely Moth
ing, but make things lively before they de-
eide 10 agree 10 disagree. His impersona-
ton Of Mr.. Smith, who stultefs, but has
too much regard for the public welfare TO
lei a little impeachment in his speech pre-
vent him from joining in the debate was
especially good and the audience almost
screamed with laughter. He responded to
the encore with song ard was forced to
come forward for the third successive time
when he gave an imitation of his first
speech in school lie used no words but the
changing emotions that stirred his youth
full breast were so clearly depleted on his
mobile countenance that not even the dull
est person in the audience was in need of
q commentary TO understand them.
Miss Thomas played ia Ronde des Luz
tins" by Bazzini, as the next number She
played as delightfully."- as In her first num-
bers As an encore she played a Der
ceuse."
Mr. Thomas in PECULIAR People in Cen
eral," the number 10 which he next ap-
peared, received a perfect ovation, aud
justified Il by gravely preaching from the
text "Old Mother Hubbard" He reoiled