The Washington times., 1902-08-05
EERUhN'S OPENS NEW
THEATRICAL SEASON
"Wine, Woman, and Song
a Strong Attraction.
LARGE AUDIENCES PRESENT
The Playhouse In Its New Dress is
Very Attractive Home of Burlesque
First Show Presents Many Excel
lent Innovations.

Kernan's theater tnaugurated the
local theatrical season of 19O2-'O3 yes
terday afternoon. The attraction was
Theses Wine. Woman, and Song" al
ways regarded as about the best aggre-
CATION of vaudeville and burlesque tai
ent. but it is better than ever this sea
son.
Two large audiences were present yes
terday, and the many novelties that
Manager Thicsa has introduced and the
new ideas he has injected into the per-
formancy met with a very enthusiastic
reception.
The opening and closing pieces are
notable in that they are out of the usual
run OF similar entertainments, and
might be presented in any of the high
er priced theaters of the country with
every assurance OF success.
There is the customary olio between
the burlesques. but this. too, is not like
the common run Of variety acts offer
ed by most shows Of the kind. The con-
tributors to the Wine, Woman, and
Song olio are not recruits from the
chorus: there is no short, stout woman
who sings Of her home in the country
and the dear old mother she left behind;
there are no young chorus women who.
billed as Sisters sing sentimental
and coon songs. and there Is a very
marked absence Of the conventional olio
acts.
Good Opening Burletta.
The opening burletta is programmed
as The Tuxedo Cadets and intro
duces u large and good looking chorus
in a great variety of costumes. plen-
tiful supply Of comedy. and some of
the new songs that everybody will be
a-whistling before many days.
The first act of the vaudeville part
of the program Is given by Mile Vida,
slack wire performer, who makes a
number of changes OF costume while
swinging some distance in the air with
as much nonChalance as though she
were standing on the stage. 1t is
novelty in the way of wire perform
anccs, and yesterdays audiences found
It much to their liking.
Gaffney and Shuby donate a musical
turn to the bill that IS one of the big
hits of the show They play upon an
array of Instruments. and have some
comedy that is considerably better than
the average. Yesterday they were COM
pelled TO respond 10 several encores-
every number Of the olio was as mat
ter of fact-and the weather was not
at all conducive to demonstrations of
approval. yet the Kcrnanites applauded
and cheered almost without stint during
the greater part Of the performance.
The Yale duo, two young men who
swing Indian clubs in all sorts of styles,
were given a rousing hand at the con-
clusion Of their part of the bill, as were
also Bennett & Rich. the two popular
yocalists who retain their familiar set
ting. "At Camp in the Philippines,
though they have some new songs that
make the act better than ever.
Bonita's Substantial Success.
Bonita, who has the assistance of two
diminutive burnt-cork artists. and one
really truely feminine pickaninny, scor-
ed a big success with a trio of new
songs. one ''E-e-e-eva," in particular,
coming in for very generous share of
praise. The youthful assistants shared
in Bonita's success.
4 number OF Illustrated songs were
excellently sung by Miss Alice Cheslyn.
assisted by Ed Marsh
The concluding burlesque, "A Glimpse
of Stageland,' is full of bright bits,
some really enjoyable comedy. and mus
ical numbers. while the chorus appears
In no less than eight different changes
Of costumes. The most appreciated
musical numbers were Il Made Them
What They Are Today" by Mark Ben
nett; 'Pinky-Panky- Poo" by Bonita;
Rainbow" by Flo Russell; Every Day
is Sunday at Coney Island" by Albert
L. Rich. and Honolulu Lou" by Messrs.
Bennett and Rich Bonita, and the COM
Dany.
The Lyceum Theater has been given
very thorough remodelng since the
clcse of last season, and is now unusu-
ally handsome and inviting. The in
terror has been decorated. the prevail
ing color scheme being gold and green.
while the entrances have been greatly
beautified.