The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-02-13
Bllou--willIsms & Walker, .'ln pahomey.''

d Walker, I'm Danomey..,
Back from their appearance before
the crowned heads of England and with
their play so greatly remodeled as 70
and Walker, the colored comedians,
opened weeks engagement at the Bijou
theater yesterday in the presence OF
large and enthusiastic audience. Better
than ever. was the general verdict.
If possible, Bert Williams is funnier
than ever, while there is no doubt that
George Walkers smile is brighter and
more expansive than it was before the
company was commanded 'befo' the
king" Both actors are at their best and
the successes Of other seasons bid fair to
be outclassed by that of the present year.
They are supported by an able chorus.
and everything that goes to make the
performance satisfactory.
In his own peculiar line, there. is no
funnier comedian on the stage than Bert
A. Williams. Gifted by nature. he has
attained the rest by training. Tall and
unga1nly, with a face expressive of the
densest brain ever given q human indi-
vidual, he is fitted for his part. He never
falls to see the point of a joke, but it
always comes ten minutes late. That Is
probably why he made such a hit in Eng
land, or is explained by the fact that he
is nat1ve-born subject Of the English
crown, first seeing the light Of day in the
Bahamas. He never smiles and for that
reason his audience is usually convulsed
with laughter. 49,.
Bert Williams would never have distin-
guished himself as a vocalist, and yet his
selection Is the biggest hit in the whole
production. Only one thing is wanted, and
that is the song, "Jonah Man," which he
| sung last season. The fame of this song
has gone as far as Mr. Williams reputa-
TN Io1 no tIoo
agement has left it out of the present
production. 1t would be a good encore
song. So
In place Of it, however, a song entitled
I May Be Crazy, but Amt No Fool
has been introduced, and in it Mr.. Will
liams makes big hit The character he
represents and the strenuous efforts made
by his partner to get his money makes
the song as appropriate as anything could
| possibly be. 49,
| While Bert Williams never smiles, his
partner, George w. Walker, does enough
of it to make high average for the pair
In fact, there is scarcely moment >wher
he is on the stage that ne is not smiling
And his is not an ordinary smile. 1t liter
ally stretches from ear to ear and reveals
a set Of teeth, white as ivory and shiny az
diamonds. His smile also has the quality
OF being contagious. No sooner does he
begin to smile than it spreads to the au.
] dience and breaks out the fiercer form q
laughter. s--
Mr.. Walker is gifted with a voice az
sweet as a clarion's note and we'll under
control. His, singing and dancing art
good.
The support given Mr. Williams and Mr.
: Walker is good. Several excellent spe
cialties are introduced. The song, 'Whe1
the Moon Shines" by Lloyd Gibbs, is
big hit. The same might we'll be said O
the song "Why Adam Sinned.' by" AID;
Overton Walker. The chorus work, espe
cially in the prolog, is exceptionally good
The principal change in the play lie
in the use of a prolog to show what Da
honey land really is and to make tn
representations Of the syndicate all tn
more ridiculous. 1t is question whethe
the remodeling of the piece has helped /
any, but it is certainly "just as good" II
its new form. H G. Davis.