The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1908-12-22
Packed House GreetS Cohan
and Harris MinstreIs
at Columbia.
HONEY BOY" EVANS
ADDS TO LAURELS
Stars Sing and Dance Their Way
Into Great Favor
With Hearers.

Two facts were clearly demonstrated
last night at the Columbia. one that
there are many lovers Of minstreisy
IN Washington; the other tat Conan
ard Harris Honey Boys can offer them
just what they want to see and hear.
This first fact was shown by the big
house that greeted them at the opening
performance and the second by the al
most continuous applause that was &C
corded the various stars Time and
again. were they forced 10 respond TO
encore after encore. Eddie Leonard,
Julian Elunge, and others largely shar-
ing the hOnOrs with George Evans, The
Honey Boy.
While the performance opens in the
orthodox manner, with the artists and
chorus seated in a semi-circle. with
the time honored end-men, without
whom minstrel would be no minstrel,
before il closes, the audience has a
touch Of musical comedy, burlesque. and
vaudeville, with stage settings that are
almost perfect.
George Evans, the famous little come
dian. was at his best last night and
from the time he blows in with his
kiss your minstrel boy good-by,"
every thing he said was a Iaugh-pro-
ers with his mOnOlogue. In the last
scene. he again makes a great hit as
the bogus gambling KING, Bill Simmons,
Of Baltimore, and even Sure Shot Sam,
is not more deadly with a gun than he.
when he shoots his way 10 freedom after
his exposure, leaving the knights OF
the razor and StrOp streWn ali over the
stage.
Another prime favorite, and one who
richly deserved II, was Eddie Leonard.
His Big brown Boo Loo eyes" sung
just before the arrival or the Honey
Boy scored big hit and even the IN
terlocutOrs announcement Of George
Evans appearance failed TO stop The
continued applause that demanded stW
another encore There was something
about the song and the way ne sang il
that made one recognize the quaint
strains OF the Southern negro melody
and the house was quick 10 appreciate
it. Leonard scored again in his dane
ing specially, aided Dy the two clever
I dancers, the Gordon boys
Not the least pronounced success Of
the aggregation OF stars was Julian
E1tinge. whose female Representations.
so Wen known in Washington. where
he has been q prime favorite in vaude-
Vile In the past, are probably the best
in the stage world This wear EltinEe
Rs added a novelty TO his repertoire
i1 the 5alOme dance and one looking
at il can hardly realize that # is
man, so gracefully does he dance and so
perfect IS his makeup. As the Glib
son Coon IN the Bell Of the BARRIERS
Bali, he IS even better and one does
not wonder at the undisDuted SWAY
among the cOlored four hundred the
Belle holds.
Among the speCiaIties the aCrobatiC
stunts Of Rice and Provost in
-B' upty Bumps" came IN FOR a large
share OF approval, the really good
work OF the one and the clown work
Of the other. both being heartily ap-
piauded.
"That Tenor" Frank Morreu was
given a hand when ne appeared, and
again and again was called back for
more or his Love Days"
Other stars there were and hardly
a weak spot can be found in this
liberalization" Of minstreisy. which
bids lair 10 make the Columbia the
mecca Tor many theateTgOers during
Christmas week.