The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1904-03-10
A SPLENDID SUCCESS.
The Minstrel Show Given by the
Small Boys Friday Night a Thor
oughIy Enjoyable and Creditab'e
Performance.

oughIy Enjoyable and Creditab'e
Performance.
Whether attracted through mere curl
Osity to see what they were going to do
or as a compliment to the little fellows
it does not matter, but one of the largest
audiences of the season was present last
Friday evening to witness the minstrel
performance of the small boys at Cooper
Opera House. And certainly more APP
preciative one never greeted players any
where.
An excellent programme had been ar
ranged and it was carried out to perfec-
ton. There was niceness of detail, a
splendidness of action and a snap and
finish about the whole thing that would
have done credit to professionals. The
boys played their parts like trained actors
and showed themselves apt imitatOrs
if not the real thing They gave the
audience an agreeable surprise and from
start to finish the performance was thor
oughly enjoyable.
The actors were thirteen small boys,
| ranging in age from eight to sixteen.
Most OF us went to the Opera House ex-
pecting to laugh at the righteousness of
the perfOrmance-the absurdity OF these
small boys trying to initiate men on the
minstrel stage-but ridicule was turned
into praise that was as hearty as it was
deserved. 1t was a strictly enjoyable
and meritOriOus performance in every
way. Indeed, we have seen shows given
by so-called professionals that were not
near so good.
The boys did most of their practicing
in a small room in the Opera House
building with crude and imperfect para
phernalia and without assistance from
older and more experienced heads. But
how well they succeeded the enthusiasm
and appreciation of the audience Friday
night abundantly testified.
Where all did so well it is only neces-
sary to print the whole programme and
point to that. Louis Lehman made an
admirable master of ceremonies He
looked and acted the part like veteran.
Sam Written, Charlie Cooper, William
Manning and Richard Jones were great
in their roles as end men comedians.
Their jokes were much enjoyed and their
songs and cake walks We're greeted with
storms of applause. Asmirth provOkers
they filled the bill perfectly. The solos
OF Louis Hayden, Louis Lehman. Sam
Written, William Manning and Richard
Jones were very good but it was in
chorus singing that the boys were at
their best
The acrobatic acts OF William and Rives
Manning and Charlie Cooper proved a
surprise even to the odd man. who used
to be able to skin the cat and do hand
spring himself in days long ago. and
elected warm applause. Louis Lehman
and Richard Jones pleased the audience
with their music speciality, the first named
on the cOrnet and the latter on the
guitar. Mr.. Charlie Written contributed
to the enjoyment of the evening by sing
ing two songs. He has a good voice and
his numbers with pleasing effect. !
The wire walking act of William Manning
concluded the performance. This was Il
hitting finale to very merltOrlOUS and |
enjoyable entertainment the boys had |
given us. The receipts were $3.50.
Every act was encOred and when the
curtain was rung down the audience |
went away feeling that the boys had
made them debtors by giving them more |
than they expected or had paid for.
The programme was as follows:
FIRST PART.
our great olio OF Singers and |
Comedians.
Sam Written. William Manning,
Richard JONES' Charlie Cooper,
Turner Jones, Wesley Allen Rves Man
ming, Barnard Stainback, Thad Man |
gum, Louis Hayden, HUME Toe
pleman, Cyril Stewart. !
Master of Cerem Onies. Louis Lehman |
Grand Introductory Vocal Melody-Intro- !
ducing the latest songs. Il
Il
Some of Our Musical Numbers:
Don't You Cry My Honey. Louis Hayden |
Down in the Depths" ...........Louis Lehman |
Goodbye Miss Liza Jane Sam Written !
Josephine, Ny Joe" ......... William Manning
You Don't Need Nothing for Your Nerves." |
Richard Jones.
Grand finale introducing the
"PEACH PIE QUINTETTE,"
in their latest hit
Il Amt Got No Use for Sleep
PART Il.