The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1900-01-23

/ happy mingling of comedy. hurlesque
/ vaudeville and opera which is presented
with the most consumate artistic taste
and stage surroundings. Black Patti is a
host in herself and although the star Of
/ the company. she is surrounded with a
! coterie Of singers and comedians such as
/ tions.
Portland never fails to welcome Black
Patti and her troubadours. and a crowded
house at the Marquam last evening testi-
/ fed that none of the company's old-time
popularity had been lost. There is 8
pleasure in this mingling of comedy and
operate effort From the whirlwind of
the opening skit. where minstrel Wit and
flying feet come fast and furious, until
the finale of classic selections. there IS no
dull moment AL F. Watts succeeds
Ernest Hogan in the leading comedy role
with a satisfactory result. NJ. Sissieretta
Jones, better known as Black Patti, never
changes. except. perhaps. for an increase
in the richness and strength of her splen-
did voice. Those who have never failed
to attend Black PATHS engagements in
Portland find the favored songstress still
on the ascendant
One of the most striking features of the
troubadours this season is the fine chorus
Black Patti always draws the applause
but the work Of the chorus in every part
commanded unusual attention last even
ing. Miss Julia Roam was well received
In MY Wild Irish Rose" and even gre eater
recognition was accorded Miss Ida For
Gems deep contralto in My Hannah
Lady" OF the men, Mr.. Richardson was
pre-eminently strong with the audience
To say what the first act, or part, con-
sists of. would be impossible. 1t is a sklt.
a rather wild one, and yet fascinating
The Honolulu Dance is a fine introduc-
tory Lively songs are thrown in to the
hodge-podge. with sort of reckless in
difference, and a strong vein OF negro
comedy prevails. Characters are gro
tespue and varied. Al F. Watts. as Prim-
rose Postum. exemplifes some of the
work that is so ridculously funny as to
make a laugh without an apparent cause
H. w. Stewart is a master of foot move
ments of a different order. The puck
dance finale brings out several men and
women of exceptional gifts in the same
line. The troubadour quintet was recalled
often. Mr. James Wilson did some excel
lent eqCilibrist feats. AL F. and Cecil
Watts as original comedian and coined
ienne, came back again and again until
they could not be made to respond 70
encore. Black Patti was first heard in
high and difficult selection. and gave for
an encore a good. old Southern melody.
which came with touching tenderness.
my Old Kentucky Home" Two excerpts
from the Chimes of Normandy"
drinking song from "Cavalleria Rusti-
cana" and the lullaby from ''Erminie."
each received cordial applause. Those
who attended the opera the past week
and heard the Grau company in Err
mimic" had good grounds for comparison.
Black Patti and the chorus in Tam
hauser" was the closing number This
evening will be the last engagement Of
the troubadours in Portland this season.
Portland Oregonian Dec. 18th.
At the Crawford theatre the popular
and talented comedian Harry Corson
Clarke. who will present the latest New
York farclcal siccess What Happened 20
Jones'" He is booked for February 1st
AS long as men have a weakness FOR
widows. so long will the entertainment
provided by The Real Widow Brown"
be popular and draw fun houses II pos
sesses all the merits reuired Of a success
ful farce comedy. Amusing IN plot and
situation. II Is ably interpreted b. a com
pany Of artistic comedians and comedl-
snnes. who also incidentally provide
specialties in the way Of singing and
dancing which add 70 the hi!arty occas- /
Toned by the comedy itself a seasons |
success attests its sterling qualities as /
mirth proyoker.