Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1905-11-11
U.S.S. NENARKS AINSTRELS
CROWDED HOUSE APPLAUDS A
GOOD PERFORMANCE.
Amateurs Rival Professionals At
Colonial Good Work of
Participants.

| tu1DE nave lew TAXING QUANTITIES with
the general theatre going public. but
the amateur Ministries given last night
st the Colonial Theatre by the petty
officers aud men of the II. $. S. New
ark for the benefit Of the Bennington
sufferers, was far above the average.
Certain it is that the Newark min
/ strels is the best amateur performance
ever given at the local theatre. and it
was much better than many so-called
so called professionals. - Like all
amateur performances, the Newark
Ministries was little late in CON-
mencing, and like most amateur per
formances the program was little too
long. This W ould not have heen the
case probably had the minstrels begun
on time. Barring these two faults,
(if faults they may be called), the
minstrel show is above criticism.
The curtain rose ON a beautiful
stage setting. Indeed it was the hand
soonest effect for any minstrel circle
seen here. With the theatre darkened
and all stage lights out the curtain
slowly went up almost in total dark
ness save for the shaded lights above
the musici ans music. Then tiny
star twinkled in the darkness above
the centre of the stage and revealed
the grand colors of Old Glory More
stars came out until in red, white
and blue lights shone a large star be-
meath the lights Of similar patriotic
colors which spelled in large letters
the word NEWARK, the name of the
ship whose men were participants in
the show.
Next two large anchors suspended
from above the files at either side
of the stage glistened out in colored
lights until the whole stage was ablaze
with light which revealed patriotism
in every inch of its decorations. A
large United States flag was the back
ground and on n blue field a white
eagle screamed as it were "E Pluribus
Unum'' over the heads of the min
strel circle. Pennants, signal flags
and flags of all sorts wig wagged
across the stage at each other and
the scene was inspiring. The man is
genius and an artist who conceived
the idea of this stage setting, for it
was truly beautiful
The "cirele' was composed of the
participants in the minstrels. They
wore satin continental costumes and
had blackened faces and wore white
wigs The interlocutor, Mr.. @. K.
Watson, made handsome appearance
in a continental costume of white
satin. Other men in the "circle' were
Messrs. Jordan, Rawl. Stubbs, Jones,
Fitzgherald, Stevens, Malone, Matthews
aud Carlson The end men were
Bader, Geer, Magee, the "tambos :"
Morris, Hayes and Dexter. tho
"bones.
The ensemble was very good. Sew
eral good choruses were sung to the
accompaniment of the Naval Academy
orchestra, Professor zimmerman at
the piano. Mr.. Morris sang a solo
very sweetly, as did Mr.. Rawl and
Mr.. Stubbs Both were we'll received
and encored. Mr.. Watson gave a solo
in fine voice. He has rich baritone
voice and sings with expression. The
end men danced we'll. Indeed it was
difficult to tell they were not profes-
| sionals.
The first half of the program con-
cluded with the circle singing "My
Country, Tis of Thee. The entire
audience rose during the hymn and
remained standing until its close.
The lights we're lowered and the large
American flag raised Behind ''Old
Glory" was revealed a most beautiful
tableau indicative of My Country I"
1t represented a woman clad in the
American flag, holding aloft a star of
lights. At either side of her were
men of all ranks in the American
Navy in uniform. The tableau repre-
seuted the statue of Liberty under
guard of American men-o of warsmen
u fun dress blue uniform.
In the second part of the program
Messrs. Becht and O'Brien gave a Ger
man sketch which was very clever.
They made their appearance in an au-
tomobile, which was fearfully and
| wonderfully made. Iu theatre par
lance they brought down the house. -
Mr.. Fred Hamman, the famous banjo
oloist of Baltimore, played exquisite
ly He gave several beautiful selec.
tions on the banjo. proving the musi-
cal qualities of that instrument to be
far above what the average music lover
suspects. AS an encore he gave
1.-The Mocking Bird with variations.
1t was q musical gem, and Nj. Ham
mans manipulation of the banjo
proved him TO be master of that in
strument as well as muiscal genius.
a song and dance in character was
given by Mr. Hugh Magee. Mr..
Magee's clog dancing is as good as
that of most professionals and better
than many. If he loses his job on the
Newark or in the American Navy,
there is a living for him any day be.
fore the footIights.
Dir. J. B. Dexter gave a sketch OF
"a Troubled MAN. in character of a
Jew, which was exceedingly clever.
: He made many local hits. Indeed. to
Mr.. Dexter is due some credit for the
success of the performance. as he as
sisted in directing the stage setting.
The program closed with an exceeding.
ly well executed athletic performance.
Upon a horizontal bar Professor
Steffen, gymnastic instructor at the
Naval Academy, gave a wonderful
exhibition of his art 1t is safe to say
no stage performance of this character
has ever exceeded in its skill and
cleyerness of execution that
which was done by Professor Steffen.
He showed conclusiyely that be is q
man fully capable of being gymnastic
. instructor to nearly thousand mid
shipmen of Cncle Sans Navy.
Mr.. Jones gave a graceful and clever
exhibition with Indian Clubs and Mr..
Jordan with the baton. Owing to
the latenes of the hour this concluded
an excellent program, the perfor-
nance Of which is credit to the men
of the Newark and especially to Mr..
@. Z. Watson. who managed il SO cap
ably, assisted by the following corps
of his executive staff Fl. Hammonp,
treasurer; J. Boyd Dexter, stage direc-
| for: Hugh MaQee. stage manager; II.