The Brattleboro reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1907-1912, 1907-04-05
Vest BrattIebOrO
THE WATER WAGON
MINSTREL SHOW
First Performance Took Place in Acad
envy Hall Last Evening Before
Packed House and Proved
Amusing in the Extreme.

The second annual appearance Of tn,
Water Wagon Alinstrels in Academy hal
last night was a genuine success. Hand
some costumes and special electrical dis
/ ulays added much to the other attrac
tons and if applause of the packed house
which greeted the entertainment was any
criterion it must have been success from
every standpoint. As the posters an
nOunced Oars Sumpin Gwine to Happen
/ in West Brattleboro April 4th and 9th
/ it was naturally expected that this years
/ performance would Guido last years eff
| forts. The people expected a tirst-class
entertainment and were not disappointed
in the least. From the rise of the cur
tain on the brilliant first part to its fall
on the closing farce there was almost con-
tinuous applause. Before the rise of the
curtain the familiar strains of My Old
Kentucky Home were heard in the dark
and at the moment of the closing notes
the lights of many colors we're thrown
on disclosing "the circle in gaudy red
uniforms and a handsomely decorated
stage. The opening overture consisting
of many popular choruses was rendered
The solo by E. NJ. Goodenough in
which he attempted to find out why he
picked a lemon in the garden of love, 3"
was frequently interrupted by the pre-.
sentation of bouquets in the form of
lemons. The enthusiastic applause called
for an encore to which Mr.. Goodenough
responded with credit. The ballad, When
the Snow Birds Cross the Valley, by
Guy L. Thayer, was well received. A
male quartet, O. G. Convey, L. f. Taylor,
G. A. Allen and Z. NJ. Goodenough sang
The Balloon Sister and responded to an
encore with Three Little Kittens. The
hos oplp A claar, tbn I1anJ b,r pNInatr
p. Wheeler, received merited applause.
The hit of the evening was David L.
Perry's topical song which was bubbling
over with local hits. The title was, Do
You Want to Hear the Rest or Shall
Stop? Leonard Taylor sang very ac-
ceptably The Ghost of Banjo Coon. The
lights were turned off during the song
and the effect was weird to the extreme.
Mr.. Taylor was assisted by three boys,
Merrill Hamilton, Purle Convey and Fran
els Taylor who looked ghostly indeed in
their white costumes as they, did a spook
dance, specially. This number was es-
hearty applause. Harold Perry's song
was The KickUp-a-R Brigade. 1t was
descriptive of many troubles which he |
and his chums have experienced at times
and was loudly applauded. The finale
was The Coonville Colored Band by the
entire company.
The second part consisted of a speciality
by d. T. Perry and E. NJ. Goodenough
called Words to the Wise. They i'm
two stump speakers who were
engaged by mistake to deliver a lecture
1t the same time and place. OF course,
III sorts of trouble arose before they
inished and as to the outcome of it
ome tonight and see for yourself. This
vas followed by selections by the male
quartet, including Mrs. Winslow's Sooth-
ng Syrup and Bohunkus. The applause
which they received in the first part was
epeated. A pleasing and much enjoyed
lumber was the violin duet by Miss
Helen Weatherhead and Floyd johnson,
Who responded to the much deserved en-
ore. The entertainment closed with a
arce, A &c Barber Shop, presented by
everal members of the company. 1t sent ;
he audience home with feelings of mirth
nd laughter.
John P. Helyar acted as interlocutor and
resided with dignity in the center of
he circle in which were Charles A. Stock |
ell, Oscar G. Covey, Walter T. Cain. a
uy E. Thayer, Charles L. Johnson
gorge E. Hawkins, Harold D. Blodgett. 9