Waterbury evening Democrat., 1907-01-15
LOCAL BOYS CREEID
Brother Elks Turn 0ut 10 WeI- cone Young Vaudeville Artists.

tu0 QUuSb lhpt ev0utu8 " WAtAcs1 tAV opening of the new vaudeville bill for this week. The chief interest centered in the frst appearance in their homo town of three native born Veterinarians. James William Fitz- patrick, better known as "Chick" Fitzpatrick, Professor Lewis B. Mad- den, the well known musician. and
 our old football and baseball friend, Bill Thompson. Their sketch, which was written by MT Fitzpatrick, Is en- titled "The Turn of the Tide" and is as clever a little skit as has ever
 been seen on the professional stage. They have been doing Polls circuit and have been receiving the most fiattering of newspaper notices. This Is all the more to be appreciated be- cause of it being their first appear ance on the dramatic stage. All three are members of the local lodge of Elks and for weeks the Waterbury members have been preparing a little surprise for the boys when they made their first appearance here. Last night, then, 150 of the Waterbury lodge marched from the lodge rooms and took their seats down in the front part of the house where they
 had purchased a block of seats.
 It was to be expected that when the Waterbury boys turn came around the greeting they received from their enthusiastic friends would disconcert them and give them some- thing of stage fright, but this was not so. The few weeks on the road had worked wonders with the young players and they were staid old pro- fessionals that bowed to the cheers and applause of their friends last evening. The sketch is a corking good one. both in composition and in its artistic merit. It is no exaggera- tton to say and 1t will not swell the head of the author one little iota to claim that 1t is as bright little act as has graced any vaudeville stage. The part of Richard Crawford, the gentleman of leisure who. has re- ceived crushing letter from his lady love, calls for considerable dra- matic ability and yet Chick" Fitz- patrick was equal to every require- ment and his conception of the part and his splendid enactment of this dindcult role was professional in every detail. Lewis Madden sur prised even his best friends. Every body knew he could play the piano and play 1t like master, but none realized that he possessed . fund of dramatic worth that needed but the prodding to bring 1t out. In the character of Mozart Milligan. the burglar, he displayed versatility of character that stamps him as vaudeville artist of much merit. His plano selections which filled in to a nicety were equal in many respects to some of the conceptions and work of artists high in the musical world. Bill Thompson has but little to do in the sketch but 1t is those little things that count sometimes and they form one of the joints of the vaude- vile house. joints that must be per- feet to make the whole thing com plete. Bill looked and acted the part of Policeman O'Brien true to life. Another surprise was given the friends and we'll wishers of this troupe by the beautiful singing of Fitzpatrick. He has a splendid bari tone voice which he knows how to use and use we'll.
 At the conclusion of their sketch, the applause was deafening and as the three stepped on to the stage to acknowledge the praise bestowed up- on them. Attorney John H. Cassidy, past exhalted ruler of Waterbury Lodge of Elks, stepped from the wings and addressing himself to the three local actors and to the audience spoke as follows:
 T trust you will pardon this in- terruption of the deserved applause you are receiving for a remarkably clever sketch. I am simply the spokesman and the representative of men who wear the same fraternal emblem as you do-the branching antlers of the Elks. And you, and I. and they. know what that means.
 We have enjoyed your delightful ly clever sketch and desire to join with your families, with your friends and with everybody who knows you, in congratulation of your successful efforts.
 "The rosemary is given for friend- ship. but the rosemary is a flower. and like flower fades and dies. We want to give you something that will be more lasting. that will be like our friendship, enduring the test of time: something that will remind you of those behind in your home city; something that will always remind you of the old friends-and the old friends are the best friends.
 Therefore. in behalf of the Water bury lodge of Elks. give to the mem- bers of the Turn of the Tide com pany these tokens-no, not to the members of the Turn of the Tide to Louis Madden. to Chick Fitzpatrick and to BIT Thompson"
 Cheer followed cheer ss the speak, CT concluded and as he handed to each a valuable elk's tooth. hand somely mounted and suitably inscriD- ed. Speeches were called from each of the happy but disconcerted actors and they responded as follows:
 Mir Fitzpatrick stepped to the foot lights and said:
 'T don't know why the pleasant of making a speech should be thrust upon me. am reminded of an incident of man who was trav- cling in North Dakota. He went in-