The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-04-08


strels for the Home for the Friend
less benefit was given last night at
the Lyceum and. unlike most amateur
affairs 1t went off without an appar-
ent hitch, and the management, with
the director, Mr.. Harry Dixie. and his
wife, are to be congratulated for the
brilliant success of the much-talkad
Of entertainment.
There was a big house and one
whose appreciation was manifest from
the rise of the curtain. The program
was of the utmost variety and con-
tanned enough fun to put spice into a
weeks repertoire. The talent of the
company exceeded in many respects
the aggregate of the professional COM
binatons on the road, particularly was
this true of the musical ability of the
performers. Many of the best voices
in the city were in the specialties and
choruses and the varied accomplish
ments brought out in the course of the
evening surpassed all expectations.
The only objection that could be
raised was the we'll known desire of
the Scranton public to get as much as
| possible for it's money. The great
| number of encores and the delay in
beginning prolonged the programe un-
| til 11.30.
Mr.. James Gardner Sanderson,
| made-up to represent Admiral Dewey,
was the interlocutor, and gave the
cue to an excellent interpretation of the
| first part. The end men were Dolph
| Atherton, j. II. Brooks, G. ID. San
| derson, William p. Ely, Harold Battin,
| r. N. Weaver, l.. Rowlson and j. Rod
| erick.
To give the public any idea of the
constant flow of fun is an impossibili-
| ty. 1t is a performance which every
| one should see. There should be no
standing room at the matinee or this
evenings presentation.
BRILLIANT ARTISTS.
Mr.. Sanderson is really an artist and
| if he were not of so much importance
in the other walks of life. should go
| on the stage and achieve fame. Tho
same is true of Mr.. Atherton, who is
| inimitably funny, if he only half tries.
| The work of these two gentlemen in
| the golf sketch and with their banios
would be hard to equal. Mr.. Ely is
| another who is fully up to professional
| standards and Mr.. j. II. Brooks
displayed most unexpected talent ir
his role. His comedian possibilities
| make him a valuable acquisition to
| the cast. Messrs. Rowlson, Weaver
! Battin and Roderick deserve similar
praise.
| The vocal numbers We're a notable
feature. Messrs. Atherton, Sanderson
and Ely We're again ana again recalled,
| and Mr.. Beynnn repeated his solo, as
did also Mr.. Watkins. The Schubert
puartette added much to the pro-
gramme. Mr.. Atherton's "Hoodoo
Coon" when the two little demons in
| the shape of the small Hosie bows car
ried him to the regions below, was one
of the great hits of the evening. A
much appreciated diversion was the
phonograph interlude by the immense
instrument kindly loaned by Mr.. G. g.
Scott.
Another most pleasing number was
Mr.. II. w. Kingsbury's solo kiss Me
Honey, do" which was charminSly
sung and was attractively embellished
with a drill and fine effects in lighting
The finale of the first act, with Mr.. ]
Y. Watkins at the head, was distinct
success, and the war tableauX was one
VI NiN' biN''iNSN WV SNSiA O' ' pNi"ii
ton stage.
THE SECOND PART.
The second part opened with com.
ical burlesque on Hermanns prestidigi.
tation by Mr.. James G.. Sanderson
which was exceedingly we'll done. bu
the unmistakable hit of the evening
was the skirt dance by the four Rose
Buds, Loie Fuller Miller, Anna HELD
Blair, Cssy Fitzgerald Holland, Car
mencita Brooks" To say that 4
brought down the house is to express
but mildly the sensation caused b,
these girls" They were So we'll made
up by Mrs. Dixie that it was almos
impossible to believe they were no
young womer. The steps were mos
intricate and difficult and gave anoth
er illustration of the enormous amOun
of time and work the various member
of the cast have devoted to this enter
tainment. That skirt dance is wortl
more than dollar to see. a splendiC
trick march by sixteen men, a funn!
sketch by Messrs Beidleman, Surdam
Watkins. Battin ana Roderick complet
ed the programme,
As a variation today will be the new
song, "Mollie Love You" composed
and sung by MI. Alfred Wooler, anC
several specialties by Mr.. Goodman, o
Ithaca.