The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1903-12-02
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! started out yesterday afternoon, IN
tending TO 30 skating, but on my way
down town In the car, heard no less
than four distinct conversations about the
OF the discussers agreed that IL is the hes,
bill OF the season. So changed my mind
and paid my customary weekly visit &c
that undenably favorite playhouse. Tc
say that was right glad I did would bs
expressing 1t mildly and the fact that
Immediately ordered more seats for Ia tor
In the week Will be eloquent enough. Ger
| tsinly the bill Is excellent, in the full
sense Of the word. I'm every detail. and
only regretted that l had not gone earlier
SO a. not TO miss a single thing. II would
be impossible TO tell OF all the good things
| on the bill. but there are several which
| alone would repay even a busy person
for going to see Bert Howard. OF Howard
/ and Bland is one OF the topline attrac-
| tions which no one will want 10 fnlss.
| This young man cfor he is young I'm spite
OF his gray hairs) Is one of the cleyerest
In vaudeville today and one of the most
versatile.
There arc but few really funny come
dians In vaudeville today, but Mr. How
] laughed heartily at every thing he said
| or did. IL was his piano playing which
| pleased me most. IL Is positively incredi-
| BILE how he can give such uproariously
| funny limitations and at the same time,
| while the audience are laughing heartily.
demonstrate his wonderful mastery OF the
keyboard. I think everyone. will agree
with me that that young man certainly
| has the most marvellous execution ever
| seen In vaudeville. I'm his Paderewski
/ imitation IL was clearly noticea BILE, for In
| spite OF the fact that he puts in many
| funny touches of comedy, he demon
| strated his skill in rendering classical
music. I felt while listening 10 him, that
would like to hear him play q number
! OF classical selections, laying side the
comedy. and wondered II such aremark-
ably artistic pianist wouldn't rather play
that class OF music IA ther than the bur
| lesque popular airs OF the day.
Later, when l had strolled around to
| the stage and stood conversine with Mr.
| Howard and his charming partner. Miss
Bland (who In private life Is Mrs. How
ard) ! asked Mr.. Howard why he chose
| TO play MFR. Dooley." instead of sonic
| thing worthy of his ability.
II don't choose he replied. trine
| Indignantly. THE public choose for
me. They don't want classical piano
selections. When FIRST came into
vaudeville. Mrs. Howard and 7 did =
rural sketch, and ] introduced selections
| from Beethoven and Bach. The managers
urged TO me to give the audience some
| thing funny. and I said that the sketch
| would furnish the necessary comedy and
/ insisted upon playing only high class
music was a graduate Of the New
| England Conservatory Of Music and had
| won a considerable reputation in Bos-
| ton and New York musical circles as
! pianist of high class music. play popu-
| lar music? r? No. indeed not l. SO
| played Beethoven, for the first few weeks.
| Applause: Yes, the audience applauded,
| but the applause always came from the
| music lovers, and I'm some cities the
music lovers were in the sad minority.
coluldn't arrange a different program
| for every city. because IL wouldn't quite
J At into the act. Finally. swallowed my
| pride and hit upon the plan OF playing
| one selection In various ways. In a bur
| lesuue manner. OF course, as you have
seen But l really do not like II any
| better today that did several years ago
When strike city like Providence or
| Boston. both OF which are musically m
| clined and more apt to accord favor to
| high class music that popular music. 7
| always long 20 play them something that
is worth while.
"In playing my Paderewski selection.
| I sometimes forget that 7 am giving an
! imitation OF the famous pianist, so in
| terested am T. and that is really the only
/ number I'm my miniature program that
4 I enjoy playing. Al home. whenever
! do any parlor entertaining. my playing
I always consists OF classical music and
( I'm very fond of improvising That's the
way I write all my songs and music.
! SIT down TO while away some time. and
/ start improvising. Then 7 happen To
| play something which pleascs Mrs How
| ard. and che suggests my writing II
! down. Tn this way once wrote my
I Papinta dance music. and Papinta the
/ fire dancer, overheard me In the hotel
perlor and asked the name OF the Sc
] lection.
I 81 replied that n ~as the infant ~ my
she was delighted. and 80 wrote II on
on paper for her. Daisy my latest coon
\ song. was written In the same way and
7 set the music TO words at MS. How
70 second. Judging from the sale n IL hav-
ing. like TO play good music. but II $
very nice TO play popular music when
necessary. never quite appreciated
was playing at Keith's I'm Boston. when
In ths-aariy part OF the afternoon the
orchestra leader and pianist was sud
denly taken III and was sent home In a
dilemma. for Mt that short notice II was
| practically impossible TO get anyone 20
! substitute. Can you imagine A vaudeville
entertainment without music? 7 tried 90.
4 but couldn't. and IN the midst OF my re-
ioicing that we were independent of the
! orchestra. because our act does not re
qu're their services something suppose
u could be called my conscience whlsp-
poor herrassed manager a good turn and
stand chance ~ getting 20 hsaven. 40