The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-04-29
Seltna,s Minstrels Biz Success.


 Moro than 300 persons-an $500 house in theatrical parlance-saw the Selma MiDstr Company in the Academy of Music last night and the annual per folsmance was the biggest and best eIeer given by the talented amateurs. Fhrom the overture to the climax Of ncisy and smoky, but laughable cli- max of the grand finale, the program of quips and cranks and merry wiles, of songs, solo and in chorus, of acro- batic surprises and clever caricature, interested and pleased its auditors. e'
 It is doubted if any actor or singer or combination of actors and singers. could bring so many to the theatre which Is a compliment to the minstrel boys if not to the aestheticism of this city. Past performances had taught the public of Selma that the locals would surely score again; and those who had been scored before and those who half feared, halfwlshed to be scored last night, bought tickets with an air of fascination that was bewil- dering even to themselves. In three hours after the box office was opened at o'clock yesterday morning every seat in the house had been sold, and by last night speculators had the price of seats at S3 each, one holder of a couple of chairs in the parquet closing 
 expected to see him safely within the flair grounds in St. Louis. And people got the worth of their money. The company was up to its old standard, or a shade better. There were times when the swing -and-go was decidedly professional
 R. E.. l.. Mel was business manager and H. H. Hudscn. stage manager of the company, and to them the great part of the success of the performance Is due. To the program in its entirety and in it's detailed parts. they gave in cessant and skillful attention. and they were in every way worthy of the glory that crowned their efforts MT. Hudson was interlocutor. the Chesterfield of Modern Minstrelsy." wearing with ac- customed ease the elegancy of dress and diction that mark the veteran. W. H. Tipson was the efficient treas urer of the company.
 Comparisons are odorous. says Mrs. Malaprop; but Sim Watts was best In inimitably droll manner, he kept the audience roaring. and his song. I'm So Tired of Living I Don't Care When I Die" was drawled out with such sympathetic yawn and sigh that ex-. cept for giggling. his hearers might have mapped. In his impersonation, too, Sim was excellent. Phil Brown was Sims companion of the end chair. and was fine. His makeup was un-1 usually good. his jokes bright and well said, and his song. Good Bye. Eliza Jane" was one os the hits of the evening. shearen Brislin was one of the best in the bunch and his rendition of "'Taint No Disgrace to Run if You Are Scared" left nothing to be desired. His dialogues were as clever as any on the stage. Charlie Brislin. Roy Peace and Rob Feeble were the other black artists, and they were strong. Charlie was long on puns. which were lawfully funny after they sank in-many of those present were descendants from the Mayfower's first contribution to the population of this continent, and his stage-conduct was admirable I'm Gwine to Leave" and We've Got to Move" were good companion pieces. and were well sung by Messrs. Keeble and Peace, who were the authors and opponents of some irresistibly ridicu- Meas local hits. @Bnl Bailey was there last night and not only had he declined the thousands of musical invitations that he please come home he had continued to pass up old English and his song last night was Home Amt Nothing Like This" Bills stage business was funny and he was loudly applauded and in Bob Niers after play, Bill enacted the role of a we'll known attorney in a fashion that brought tears.
 The musical part of the program was excellent and 1t is doubted if it could have been made better. w. T. Atkins who has a voice of such strength and sweetness as generally impeI the amateur Into professionalism sang Waiting and his rendition was the musical fe3ture of the evening. Dan Brislin, the posses sor of a wonderfully sweet tenor voice. sang "Befor0' and as usual was a gen eral favorite. and he added much to the choruses in which he took part. John w Creagh was down for song but the audience was disappointed for Johnny did not sing solo though his voice was in evidence in chorus work.
 The chorus and the orchestra were ex- ceilenhy trained and their work was as,