The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1903-02-12
The Best Ever.

The X. p. Carnival Opened, Last Night. to
Record Breaking Attendance
At Coburn opera house, last night
Skowhegan Lodge No. 70, Knights of Py-
thias, opened their three days carnival
by presenting to local theater goers
about the SWEETEST amateur minstrel
show seen in this town for years The
audience was large one, filling every
seat in the house, and late corners had
to be content with standing room.
The setting of the first part, designed
by Robert Ordway, was the richest ever
attempted by local amateurs or even by
professionals. The ugliness of the hall
scenery, which has been an eye sore to
us ever since it was put in, was hidden
in mass of waving bunting, the colors
being those of the order, yellow, blue
and red. The costumes, too, added to
the effectiveness of the stage picture.
The end men were in blue coats faced
with red, with yellow vests and knee
trousers, red stockings and black shoes.
The chorus wore the X p. robes of the
third degree and the orchestra were in
full dress.
When the curtain rose on the ensem-
BILE it disclosed two circles. The come
dians and yocalists were in the first and
kendalPs orchestra occupied the sec
ond. Messrs. Varney, Ford and Head
looked after the bones and there was
always something doing on the tambo
end held down by Dealey, Drake and
Nickerson. A grave and most impress
sive interlocutor was c. Wesley Grover,
and he answered the conundrums
hurled at him ny the testers with all the
ease of school teacher, In the chorus
were Messrs. Watson, Holmes, Thomp-
son, Reyes, Gilman, Taylor, Donaldson
and Stinchfeld. The following were
the vocal efforts:
Opening Chorus, Southern Blossoms" Company
I'D Like to Have Photograph of YOU"
Il Never Knew How Much Loved You"
Home Amt Nothing Like TGts W; & k nes1S
Honey l Love You Deed Do" r. n. Nickerson
"king Down the Curtain Can't Sing Tonight .
Kiss yonrscif Good Rye William stin Ghf
"sai on Barque of Dreams Albert Watson
All the songs were well rendered and
each singer made hit. Mr. Drake
labored under the disadvantage of a
severe cold ana before the performance
was obliged to have his throat sprayed,
but notwithstanding this he fully con-
yineed everybody that He'd like to
have photograph" c. f. Dealy s
friends were 30 pleased with his song
that they passed bunch of roses up
over the foetlight to him, and Nay S.
Varney, the old time favorite, was so
strong that he had to kiss himself
good bye" four times. The first part
was brought to a close by a telephone
act in which the two end men ard the
interlocutor participated, and Lorenzo
Thompson was brought from London
across the stage, in travelling costume,
grip in hand, by telephone. 1t was a
laughable affair and brought down the
house. 1t was corking good show to
sum it all up in few words,
The olio opened with illustrated
songs, the pictures being sung by Mamie
Billedeau and Albert Watson Miss
Billedeau was handicapped by very
bad cold, and therefore could not do
herself justice A laughabe shadow
graph by Edgar L. Ford, in which was
introduced a clever burlesque boxing
match by the professor and Mr. Varney,
closed the entertainment.
Tonight, "Among the Breakers" a
two act melo drama, will be presented,
and on Friday, the last night of the
carnival, occurs the grand ball