Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1903-03-27

minstrel show given in the Auditorium
Friday night 10y the First Regiment
band the most expressive expression ne
could use would be: TOO much for the
money" Taken in its entirety it was a
fine show. The first part in particular,
with its handsome setting. its fine Choir
us, its sparkling music and its plthN
jokes, was highly creditable for an
amateur performance and would cast a
shadow ON many professional minstrel
organizations who have played ON the
local stage. The band has right to
take pride to any extent it desires in
the success Of its undertakings. also in
the manifestation of public interest in
the organization as expressed IN the
sale of seats, enough admissions being
sold to fill every seat in the house, in
Guiding the gallery
In the very first number the crowd
was taken to the sunny South by the
singing of The Old Kentucky Home by
the palmetto quartet consisting OF
Walter A. Gilbert, Alfred S. Thompson'
Fred c. Adams and George f.. Adams.
The house was absolutely dark while
this quartet was being sung, and re
manned so until after the curtain had
gone up and the chorus had taken up
the refrain. The effect of the music in
the darkness was thrilling and the audi
ence could not wait for the close of the
piece before expressing its approval in
loud applause.
The lights came on while the chorus
was singing, showing the chorus and
orchestra in full dress black suits in
front of a background of deep red. This
was another pleasing effect, which was
heightened by the glow of calcium
light and by electric chandeliers on the
stage. Continued applause testified to
the fact that the performance had the
full sympathy of the audience.
ntis Willis pittSfiell. Mass,
formerly Of Bratteboro was the inter-
locutor and was seated on raised plat
form in the centre of the front row of
chorus singers. Master Lyman Smith
and Master Howard Brown, pages in
fancy costume were seated in front of
the interlocutor The singers, besides
these three. We're the quartet and Ern-
est Arnold. Arthur Brasor, Joseph
Brocldngton. Lawrence Barber, Il. f.
CoXson George NJ. Clay, Louis Ellis.
G. +. Gilman, f NJ. Goodenough, Glen
ham Jones, Eric Landry, Luther Mil
Ter, Frank Nichols, Charles Nichols
Howard c. Rice, Walter S. Stearns, Her
bert NJ. Wood and John Washington.
The overture. after the light was turn
ed on, included a medley arranged for
the show by E. E Bagley, member
of the band, under whose direction the
chorus work was prepared 1t intro
duced a part song. ITO Thee, o Coun-
y,
of Love" "Doan Yo Cry. Ma Honey
by the male quartet, Nancy Brown
and There's Music In the Air At the
proper time Mr.. Willis announced the
end men, who came in with gusto, bow
ed to the audience and took their seats.
They were 7. Frank Turner and Alison
Dugan, bones. and Leslie G. Shackley OF
Greenfield and Paul Mann of Hinsdale,
tambos The first song was by Mr..
Turner, who sang Hallelujah song
that caught the crowd. Following are the
words of the chorus:
viii the congregation please stand up
and sing Hal-le-lu-jah,
For l like to hear your voices ring,
A-a-a-a-a-a-men
Oar is a place dat's down below
Where all bad folks am bound to go;
You know your sin, so join de hymn,
and sing Hal-le-le-jah.
The invincible Paul Mann gave the
next song, entitled; Il Want to Go To-
morrow" The ticket agent at the rail-
road station understood that he wanted
to go to Morrow, a town in Ohio, and
the complications that followed were
endless and laughable. The song made
a hit. The sterling qualities in Arthur
Brasor's deep bass voice were shown in
his song, The Clang of the Forge" which
was roundly encored. Mr.. Shackley
put some effective work into his song,
When Sousa Comes to Coon Town."
which was picked up in "A spirited way
by the chorus.
Mr.. Wiliss old friends gave him a
warm reception when he stepped to the
front to sing Come Down Ma Even
in Star" He sang the song sweetly
and sympathetcally and responded to
an encore with II Love You Dear, and
Only You" Alison Dugan won his way
to the front ranks of local popular
Iii
to Spell Chicken" 1t was one of the
gems of the evening, and received
merited applause. The words of the
chorus will bring pleasant recollections;
c OATS de way to begin
II dats de next letter in.
| dat am de third.
dats to season de word.
X OATS a film in
f. I'm near to de end.
CHICKEN
OATS de way to spell chicken.
The jokes with which the song pro-
gram was interspersed We're fresh
crisp, clean and funny, and there We're
lots of them. on the grand finale, ar
ranged by Mir, Bagley, the chorus
marked time with their feet, The cur
tains in the rear We're drawn, reveal
ing the members OF the First Regiment
band. who added the fun volume of
Colored lights We're thrown on the Choir
rs as this piece was sung.
II. +. Jordan, magician and prestidi-
sitator, opened the second part with a
series of original and up-to-date expert
ments in sleight-of-hand. Mr.. Jordan
began his part of the entertainment ~
making carnaton grow on the lapel of
his coat, after which he executed some
clever card and coin tricks, closing by
removing an almost endless variety of
objects from a borrowed silk hat to the
mysthcation of the audience
w. II, Henley did a Dutch comedian
turn to perfection He got the audi
ence a-going by his Introductory re-
mark, I'm from East Aurora" and
kept them i'm an uproar by a series of
bright local hits and burlesque imita-
tons. He was followed by John E.
Mann of Hinsdale, the Irish comedian,
who had capital makeup and who
gave a monologue which contained a
number of laughable features.
To those who appreciate clog dancing
the olio contained no more satisfactory
part than the performance by Jennings
and Renfrew of keith's theatre, Boston
In wooden shoes they executed some
genuine rag-time in whirlwind fashion,
introducing some Of the most difficult
steps ever devised
Alison Dugan made one of the hits
Of the evening in the song, Under the
Bamboo Tree" with oriental stage en-
Enlistment. He appeared in cos
tune in the glare of colored calcium
lights and when the chorus was reach |
ed the overhead lights We're turned on |
showing a row of pickanninies, seated |