The evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1907-1908, 1907-08-13


While the hot weather had its effect
upon the size of the audience and upon
a portion of the program at Proctor's
Thea tire last night, the show was for the
most part up to the usual standard. The
two or three offerings which were of but
mild interest were offset Gas is usually the
case) by others of real merit, in which the
audience apparently found enjoyment.
Perhaps few in the audience were aware
that the headliner, Edwards Davis, who
presented a legitimate sketch entitled
sAl Rivers Meet ct the Sea-" was for
merly a minister. The writer recalls the
first time he ever saw Mr.. Davis. 1t twas over
q decade ago out in California. The actor
was then pastor of a church of The Chris
tan denomination in Oakland, just across
the bay from San Francisco. which shell
tered so many refugees during the big
earthquake. Mr.. Davis-he was 'the
Rev" then-crowdcd his church to the
doors by his sensational style of preach
ing. for he would act out in his pulpit the
stories with which he filled his sermons,
and he would often give bits of Hamlet
Macbeth, etc., to illustrate his texts.
1t was all sensational and odd, but 1t
drew the people. Mr.. Davis, after gaining
much notice with his Stunts" finally
created a bigger sensation still by aban-
doning his preaching and taking up the
stage. All this simply by way of recol-
lection.
Mr.. Davis's sketch was serious. pointed
a moral. and was very well acted. The
stage setting was like a rawing-room
scene from a society Drama, showing the
parlor of the New York home of Joaquin,
a rich man out of the West, played by
Mr.. Davis. The other characters were
Kern. his brother. played by Alexander
Kearney; MERGED, the divorced wife of
joaquin. played by Miss Adele Blood. and
| AT1~o1I TzNs- It&kIo ohtId ~Inxvnd hv
Eleanor Onderdock. Briefly, joaquin had
divorced his wife on false admissions made
by Kern. who was no good. The wife,
without knowing for whom she worked,
obtained employment as a charwoman once
a week at Joaau.n's home. Kern admitted
his v~illainy. with a further exhibition OF
his rascality. and the curtain goes down
with Joaquin rejoicing In the hope of
hiding his wife once more. The acting OF
all was consistent. and that of the little
girl particularly good for one SO young.
A pleasing novelty was The Gainsbor-
ough Girl a singing act that won much
applause. Miss Marie Letzea Brakeman
was the girl" appearing first In Gains
borough costume in a big frame, with
changing scenery. and singing one of VIII
Won Tilzer's songs. conducted by George
R. Wilson. She next sang iebers song
OF love from the garden scene of Gounod's
Faust" and then with another change
Of costume and scenery, a pretty song,
presumably by Won Tilzer.
John B. Hymer and Elsie Kent did a
somewhat thankless character sketch,
called "At Jimtown Junction" showing
how a cheap actress was stranded and
helped out by an old negro waiter. Ro-
saire and Doreto. as ''The Captain and the
Sailor" did a funny acrobatic act. Mason
and Shannon were as funny in their talk
fest "Astrology'' as Kresho and Groves
were ordinary in theirs. Delmore and
Oneida did a good Japanese balancing feat
and the Althea twins did some acrobatiC
dancing. The moving pictures told the
story Of a henpecked husband.