Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1905-04-28
A FLAWLESS SHOW
Two Brilliant Performances by
the Band Ministries
Crowded House on Both Nlghts-Take-
off on Hospital a Growing Feature
Cast and Program in Detail.

Crowded House on Both Nights axe
off on Hospital a Growing Feature
Cast and Program in Detail.
1t was as smooth as an oil and pumice-
stone surface. We mean the minstrel
performance given by the First Regiment
band in the Auditorium Wednesday and
Thursday nights. To characterize 1t ad-
equately would require choicest superla-
tives. II required nearly two and halt
hours to pull Off the various acts, but
they were so novel and engrossing that
no one thought about the time. Every
act was gem and the demonstration by
the audience was almost continuous. For
the first performance every seat below
the gallery was sold and many bought
standing room privileges. and the audi
ence last night was still larger
When the curtain rose on the opening
overture It revealed very pretty stage
setting. The front row included eight
end men, a double quartet and the inter
locutor. William H. Henley. The ends
wore characteristic toys, and the double
quartet and interlocutor were in French
court costume. Back Of the circle was
the orchestra in Russian attire. Next
came the chorus in reddish brown suits,
cut in dress suit style. The tiers of men
were enclosed by a row of posts sur
mounted with electric lights. NJ. Sui
Ivan of Boston furnished the costumes.
The local hits and drives. sprung by
the ends. were extremely good and there
were many Of them. Most of the people
at whom they were aimed were present
and took the jokes as kindly as did the
rest of the audience.
The opening overture, arranged for the
occasion by George Lowell Tracy Of Bos-
ton, was a rarely effective combination
of musical gems, beginning with the
Soldiers Chorus from Faust" after
which came Graft" "Lindy, Indy,
sweet as the sugar cane" and other
| selections well adapted to the use to
which they were put The first solo was
Back, Back, Back to Baltimore" by
John L. Stewart, who rendered 1t in true
| minstrel style. Edward Gonyer next sang
Don't make dem scand'lous eyes" in a
way that was satisfactory to all. when
We listen to the murmer of the pines
| was the title of a song which Fred c.
| Adams sang tunefully and with good
| judgment. the double quartet joining in
| the chorus. Samuel w. Hubbard made
his first local appearance in Under the
Banana Tree" and made an excellent
! impression.
At this point the interlocutor announced
| the premiers. ID. Frank Shea and j.
| Harry Estey. Immediately the lights
| throughout the house We're eXtinguished,
| the premiers stole in quietly and a cal
| cium light revealed them in fond en-
1
| the audience to see the fetching costumes
| of the premiers, and a shout went up.
| Following this a sweet and melodious bal
| lad, Longing for You" was sung by
| Walter A. Gilbert, the double quartet
| taking up the chorus The next song
was Shame on YOU" by Alison Dugan,
which both as song and in its rendition
was one of the best musical numbers in
| the overture. Mr.. Dugan was made up
| to represent colored deacon, and the i'm
| personation was complete.
After a little business Mr.. Estey sang
| a localized version Of mo bird ever flew
so high he didn't have to light" He was
recalled repeatedly Premier Shea kept
| the audience in an uproar with his local
| hits in his song Everywhere"
One Of Mr.. Shea's jokes was about the
| Darcy triplets. which led up to a mu-
| steal 90 selection on the same subject
| by end men, Hubbard, Shea Rice
| Ferriter and Estey, which was very fun
| NY
The first part closed with a selection
which abounded in patriotic sentiment
ION Decoration Day" by Alfred Thomp-
son and the company, which received
| several curtain calls. While the chorus
was being sung the company marked
| time, and at the close of the second verse
| the company turned and pointed to the
| rear Of the stage, where there appeared
| realistic representation of Willard S
famous painting. Spirit of 70" The
characters in the representation were
Ernest ]. Waterman. Charles f. sturges
and Louis Walker,
Part two opened with a double num-
Der by glee club consisting of F. V.
| Morse w A. Gilbert. George NJ CLAY.
| A. l.. Maynard. w, S. Stearns, tenors,
f. II. Crane, f. c. Adams. A. S. Thomp-
son, G. f. Adams, Arthur Peach and A.
| II. Brasor, basses. The first selection.
I'm Absence" by Dudley Buck. was fol-
| lowed by a selection from DeKoven's
| Red Feather" entitled 1.-THE Prince of
Good Fellows" Mr.. Crane singing the
| solo part. For an encore the glee club
gave Jack and JIM catchy, original
| composition by T. f. Bagley. The work
of the club was warmly approved.
An amazing attempt at aeronautic ac-
| tivity was made next by Prof Sandhorse-
| Domuch CIV. II. Henley. The curtain
rose showing the professor in an airship
sailing above the tree tops. The ship was
| n representation of n large cucumber.
from which was suspended a dry goods
box in which the aeronaut rode The
ship was equipped with a Marconi wire
less telegraphy outfit and seerscope. by
means of which the professor could dis
tinguish and converse with local people.
a moving picture machine operated be-
hind the scenes gave the effect of NOV
ing landscape and by means of guy ropes
the airship was pulled forward and back
ward across the stage. This was a clev-
erly conceived piece and was well car
ried out.
j. Harry Estey. direct from the Theatre
Royale Paris, appeared in modish fe-
male gown and gave a delightful song
His dress and hat were bright red and
of the most stylish Partisan manufacture
His impersonation of a swell society
woman was perfect, both in dress and
manner and the audience demanded his
temperance several times.
Ticklish terpslchorean turns and twists
were done by George and Edward Con
yer, James Blake and Peter Deyo. 1t
is but rarely that a town of the size of
Brattleboro furnishes four such capable
dancers. Their work was of the highest