The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1903-06-26
NO PREHISTORIC JOKES IN ELks,
MiNsTRELs.
EVERYTHING new AND CRISP
Last Nights Performance Better Than
Many Given Here by Pro-
fessionaI Troups.

" Only pleasant memories remain Of
the performance given last night by
the Elks minstrels. Never did q
troupe OF amateurs hold the local
stage who gave a more satisfactory
or pleasing show" In fact it is not
stretching matters to say that many
professional companies who have
shown here have given exhibitions
not nearly SO good. There were NO
long waits and not a hitch occurred
to try the patience of either actor or
auditor. Best of all, there was moth
ing old or stale and no old acuuaint-
ances We're recognized in any Of the
jokes or gags" Everything was
new, crisp and sparkling and the var.
ious participants in the rather lengthy
programme carried themselves like
professionals.
The first part represented a court
scene. Only the end men, of whom
there were six, were BACKED, the
other members of the semi-circle ap-
pearing au natural, except that a lit
tie artificial coloring may have been
on cheeks and the eve
brows and lashes may have been
touched up" just a trifle, to Offset
the glare Of the footlights and prevent
the palor of face resulting when only
natures pigments are permitted to APP
pear. The opening chorus was the
best ever heard in the city and the
accompanying music was exceptional.
ly good. The solos were no less good
and only the rule that there should
be no encores prevented repetition
of every number. Messrs. Mains,
Clark, Gilluly, Muir, Whitney
and Hassler at the ends. They
ratified the bones and jingled the tam
b%ourines like second Billy Rices or
Lew Benedicts and kept up a volley
Of bright things.
The members who appeared in spe-'
cialties were no less good and added
much to a very clever olio. Roche
and Jones in their skit on the water
company made an immense hit. as
did also Griggs and Kelsey, as "musi-
cal mokes." Harry Wilson's potpouri
OF and nonsense was inimitable
and much appreciated.
While not wishing to say anything
slightingly of the male performers.
they were stars of the first mag.
nitude, yet it must be SAID that the
aides who kindly volunteered their
services were the particularly bright
in the setting of black. They
[ooked bewitching and sang sweetly.
Miss Tompkins, as sMadamoiselle
New York" and her chorus Of buds
presented a rare picture of loneliness.
The music was sparkling and catchy
md the singing all that could have
desired. The other ladies in
ne cast were. Miss Spear, Miss Hoyt,
Miss Walters, Miss Whitney. Miss
3ullard, Miss Layigne, Miss Luder-
nan, Miss Logan and Miss Ross.
Mrs. J. M. Macgregor, who has so
charmed Billings audiences
'ained fresh laurels. She BACKED up.
! the rest of the boys and as
Maiden with the Dreamy Eyes"
vas superb. She was assisted BY
extette of dark skinned loneliness
omposed of Messrs. Sheehan, Pierce.
duir, Hassler, Whitney and
The closing number of the !
ketch was a duet, Under the Bamboo
rec" by Mrs. Macgregor and Mr..
iains. It was acted and sung Just
$ it should have been. Nothing more
eed be said.
It would be unjust not to make I
of the orchestra, composed of |
even pieces. that furnished the in !
music of the evening. Pro- {
sssor West was the leader and direct
his assistants with mastery skill. ]
[uch of the success of the entertain 7
lent was due to the excellence of $
he playing by the very able musicians
18th which the professor had sur l
himself. Q
The Parade. [
In true minstrel fashion the COM
my paraded at noon yesterday. It j
as. like the performance, tout of !!
ght." The Billings band, 20 pieces, t
ressed in natty new uniforms of d
hite, led the column proper. being Z
! turn preceded by Exalted Ruler d
AfhhnRr onH Tn%orlon,%0- no,,4~ ~ n