The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1908-10-14
All. G. Fields Minstrel Last Night.

Al. G. Fields Minstrel Last Night
AL c. Fields appeared before an
audience which occupied all of the
available space at the opera house
last night, and with one of the best
performances ne has given here In
The genius which makes minstrel
show a success is the one which does
not permit the audience to wait or
to think. If the average Iheatre-goer
stopped to wonder wnen ne heard an
old joke told before, or If he had ever
heard song sung better, the zest
of the performance would be Iretarded.
This is the success with Al. G. Fields.
He has a company of so odd dancers,
singers and comedians, and from the
time the curtain goes up on the first
part the action is SO brisk that the
audience is kept in a yiatscopic trance
and hasn't. time. to speculate upon
anything except what the next picture
will be.
The Fields show this year, is good
one in every way. 1t is filled with
constantly changing entertainment,
which appeals to the audience. Doc
Quigley is always sure to please. He
comes like the good things of sea-
son and is always as welcome. On
the end he has but little to do, but
tie audience hates to see him leave,
for he is the flower of the Fields
comedy flock and his work is always
of character to distinguish 1t among
the best. His dancing stunt Is mis-
sing this year and the audience look
ed for it up to the end of the perform
ance and was disappointed because
denied a glimpse of the Quigley legs
when not in response.
Billie Clark and Tommy BOnnelly
supply the remaining comedy. Both
are we'll liked here and both present a
series of songs and stories that are
The first part, from
an artistic point of view, is probably
the most elaborate that Mr.. Fields
has yet used. 1t is ricl in color and
the electrical effects suggest spec
tacular transformation scene rather
than a minstrel first part The same
good taste is shown in the subsequent
sets, the scenic investment or the
Five Marines being unusually attrac-
i've.
Al. Fields himself in on the stage
during tie scene devoted to politics
He writes his OWE mOnolOgueS and in
his Taft and Bryan speeches last night
injected many quaint and witty lines.
They were laughable bitS of politi-
cal satire and filled the best 20 min
utes of last nights performance.
Among the vocalists who are feat
ured in the first, Chas. Reinhart last
night scored a marked success. He
sang three times and the audience
would have appreciated three times
three. His yodling numbers were
delightful. He has voice and express
sion and there is volume which fill
ed the theatre without becoming
noisy, forced or strident. Walter
Sherwood also added to the vocal ex-
cellence of the performance, singing
No One Knows" and two otaer bal
lad numbers. The first part i closed
with when the Church Bells were
Ginning" sung by John c Dickens.
The song was accompanied by tab
leaux effect which aoued to the at
of thi- feature.
Another feature of the first act
which pleased last night was the dane
ing turn of the dan.Ing models 1t
came as an innovation to the set
form usually followed in minstrel first
parts and the audience called for
several encores.
The Woman in the Moon" was
another spectacular innovation. 1t is
a dancing number, pictureSquely IL
Illustrated and well sung and danced.
Billy Clarke. in his usual monologue
and the circus Durlesqrv concluded
the performance.
The costuming of the show this
year * in keeping with its scenic in
vestment and stamps the performance
as one of the best that Mr.. Fields
has given here in many season.