The star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1908-1909, 1908-02-27
SaIaam Temple Performers Will
Represent Arabs in Show
with a Real Plot.

Entirely different from anything that
has ever been attempted in minstrelsy
hereabouts will be the performance to
be presented tomorrow night in Krue-
ger Auditorium by the members of the
Arab Patrol of Salaam Temple, An
cient Arabic Order Mobiles of the Mys-
tic Shrine. The production has the
basis of a story and, instead of as
darkies, the performers will be made
up as Orientals or Arabs, and the usual
ragtime melodies will be replaced with
weird Egyptian chants and character
songs.
The entire production is original with
Edwin S. Fancher, a member of the
patrol, who has been at work for sew
eral months arranging the music and
dialogue of the piece. He wrote the
words to most of the songs and de-
signed the costumes and scenic effects.
In working out the Oriental idea. Mr..
Fancher evolved an amusing plot, which
calls for an elaborate stage setting, and
in his the director has created q scene
of much brilliancy, it is said.
While it is seldom If ever that a min
strel performance has a plot, it is in
that that the novelty of this production
lies, and the unfolding of it, We are
told, will be replete with weird and
amusing effects, which should com
mand attention from the rise to the
fall OF the curtain. The idea Of the
story Is thai the Arab Patrol of Salaam
Temple is making a pilgrimage to
Mecca in Arabia, travelling across the
desert. Fearing that they will be
harassed by real natives, the band dis
guises themselves as Arabs. The mem
bers of the patrol, at the opening of
the performance, are encamped in the
oasis of the desert. with the Sphinx
and pyramids in the distance. The time
is dusk, with the moonlight cas- upon
the invading party of the desert and
tlse River Nile. The members are seen
gathered on the sands chanting the
muezzin call to prayer, in imitation of
the true Mohamnledans. Here this
Egyptian religious ceremony is in
terrupted by the arrival of the
end men. who are supposed to be
contestants in an International bal
loon race. But one of the bal
looms runs foul of the others, pre-
cipitating the occupants on the banks
of the River Nile. The victims are
captured by the Arab Patrol guard
and arraigned before the sheik or Arab
leader, who, as a penalty for interrupt
ing the religious ceremony, directs that
these people shall provide entertain
ment typical of their respective coun-
tries for his band. This part of the en-
tertainment provides most of the fun,
and is i~nterspersed with various kinds
of character songs and dances. The hot
south winds of the desert cause a sand
storm to break in the midst of the mer-
rymaking, and the band is scattered for
a time, but gathers together again for
a spectacular military finale.
This viii be the first attempt of the
members of the patrol to give a
theatrical performance, and nothing
has been left updone to make it one to
be remembered in the annals OF the
organization. 1t will be made a SOCIAL
event, and prominent Shriners and
Masons from all parts of New Jersey,
New York, Philadelphia, Jersey City
and Plainfield will be present.
Tho committee in charge of the af-
fair is as follows: Edwin s. Fancher,
chairman and stage director; Harold
&c. KelIner, assistant stage director:
II. W.. Egner. ir., Albert Schurr, A. j.
r. Pionnie.