Waterbury evening Democrat., 1908-12-28
POLI'S
LEW D0CKSTADER.

At Polls theater this evening will De seen Lew Dockstader and his min strels As usual Dockstader comes this year with an all new show, not one feature of last years production having been retained. Dockstader's enort Is always aimed at producing real minstrelsy and in this direction his show always differs from the us- ual minstrel bills which present the old familiar first part circle, follow ed with more or less able vaude- vile. All this has been eliminated and real Ihinstresy, as Mr Dock stader knows 1t is the result. Some what of departure has been intro | duced in this years production in that the story runs through the en- tire show. The Springfield papers speak of the show as one of the best that ever played there and one of the stories follows: "To come back to the performance it can be best desig- mated as the latest word in minstresy the extravaganza of black face enter tainment. The familiar old setting of the first part, with the 'tambos" at one end of the crescent and the "bones' opposite while the inter- locutor sits precise and dignified in the center, is entirely abolished along with the efferVesCent exchange of the good old gags-"Why does a chicken?' and "I saw your wife out with you to-day; really couldn't tell which was which till 1 uho hit v a 'Old stuff may be regretted by some it's a discard in up-to-date minstrel
 sy. The curtain rises on a pretty stage setting, the Possum Hunt club, with the members in natty red and white hunting suits grouped at little tables on veranda and lawn, the or Chestra of course balcOnied in the rear. Club members sumter up stage indulge in merry banter and when the | proper cue arrives song is sung. It 1 is all done as naturally as the mod ern musical comedy, which is un- doubtedly it's pattern, With d large chorus and some excellent dancing numbers, none the less interesting, because there is an absence of femi- nine lingerie or high kicking. There is a plot, too, that has work of the familiar musical comedies. The plot which may have escaped attention and should be explained, tells of the commission of Prof High Owcr LeW) to go forth in his airship and drag back the north pole. There is ab- rupt departure from the plot to ad- init some irrelevent specialties, dra- matic gap as it were, but this is as legitimate in the art of Lew Dock stader as it is with George Conan. Funnier than ever and just as ri diculous, Neil O'Brien is the black and shining star of the first part. He has the audience gasping with his de- scription of the canal digging in Pan- anna and finishes them with his latest song, Everybody Looked at Me An other good entertainer is minstrel man new to the east, Al Johnson, who brings some infectious comedy from his familiar haunts of the west, During the first part there are some pleasing songs, among the best be- ing Hot Corn" by Eddie Mazier; Down in the Deep" by George M. d1l, ASdlIi. c"StluCdl tS ulIi, bN Will Oakland; Don't Forget to Drop Line to Mother" by William H., Thompson, and There's No Love Like Mine," Rees V. Proctor. The chorus work is splendid and last night the company was especially generous with encores. Naturally this all leads up to the grand en- l trance of the only Lew, which he makes, as usual, to an accompani- ment that brings in all the noise ma chinery back-stage. Lew is always looked to for local gags and he did not keep the Christmas audience waiting for his latest diagnosis of men and affairs of Springfield The singing strength. of ths years com pany includes Will Oakland, w. H.. Thompson, Herbert Willison, George M. Vail. Master Pierce keegan and a chor of twenty excellent voices. Prices 25c to $1.50. Seats now on sale Tel 1884