The times., 1899-03-26
FRIENDS OF LAST WEEK.

No matter how refined" vaudeville may
become and no matter how fashionable the
audiences it draws the most casual cb-
server cannot deny that those who witness
specially performances do not demand the
intelligent work required by the gather
ings which assemble in houses devoted to
a more legitimate form of entertainment.
That this is true has been proven time
and time again by the fact that the vaude-
Williams who succeed and the vehicles in
which they win success are generally of
an order that would not be tolerated for
single instant by patrons of the drama
proper. The Grand Opera House has been
open nearly four months and during that
time the best twenty minute" people in
the business have appeared there. And yet
when one reviews the season he can think
of but three sketches presented that have
possessed the slightest color OF real merit
Lillian Burkhart's "A Passing Fancy"
Mr.. and Mrs. Sidney Drew's When Two
Hearts are Won" and the Hugh Stanton
and Florence Modena comedietta of last
week. For Reform" Even these have
been sadly conventional and often badly
constructed, but they have also been
bright and amusing to degree that per-
mitted of one pardoning their faults.
Most of the one-act pieces seen here
have resembled Beatrice Moreland's "A
Game of Golf" which was also offered on
Monday at the Grand. Miss Moreland is
more or less clever woman who has worked
in several excellent organizations with
greater or smaller success. Her entrance
into the new field some two years ago
created quite an impression, and the por
trayals of herself and her company" in
George Cohan's effort were much praised
In advance. And still n closer view OF both
star and production only go further to
establish the verify OF the statement that
there are very few able actors-not per-
formers-in vaudeville and that these are
so little appreciated that the growth of
their number is retarded. "A Game of
Golf" tells the ancient, shop worn, moth
eaten story of the woman who was COM
manded to marry certain man and who
finally scared the hateful individual away
just as it was told in negro minstrel after
parts twenty years ago, and as 1t has been
being told ever since There are few va
riations to the theme, which is incongru-
ous impossible. and more laughable for its
absurdity than because of anything else.
No particle of the plot could have happen
ed in real life beyond the gates of n lunatic
asylum.
Miss Moreland herself gets about all
there is in the sketch out of II. and then
she startles few. The most able woman
who ever walked across stage could not
Moreland is not that woman. She speaks
in an unpleasant falsetto and fails utterly
at the required buffoonery. Only one class
of entertainer could be pleasing in the
part and that one is the black-faced come
dian so familiar to frequenters of the bur-
lesque houses. Miss Moreland's "compa-
n.y. is that usually carried by a vaudeville
star-a dummy, super, and leading
man. OF these the dummy is the most con-
scientious and capable, showing reserve
and a desire not to overdo that would put
most players to the blush. Next comes the
super and finally the leading man. And
yet Beatrice Moreland and "A Game of
Golf are reekoned to be among the
strongest attractions on the circuits.
After all has been said and done. vaude-
vile resolves itself into mere censored va
riety. In the absence of enough Charles
Dixons and Felix Morrises to go around
the most enjoyable portion Of the perform
ances given is contributed by the old-style
specialists who do their turns we'll and
avoid numbering the Kings English by
keeping quiet while at work. One Of the
really notable acts on last weeks pro-
gramme at the Grand was that OF Arthur
Amsden. This gentleman made his appear