The Detroit times., 1909-02-22
LYcEUM.

lYSEOms
AL G.. Field. who. with his numer-
Gus and talented minstrel company,
holds forth IN the Lyceum this week
is not content to keep abreast OF the
times: he believes in being little bit
ahead OF them. This season be has
anticipated President Roosevelt 4
much heralded trip TO Africa In lit
tie burlesQue stunt that Is quite
cleverly conceived. He has seen At to
ring in William Jennings Bryan, a
turn Mr. Field himself undertakes, and
there Is many hearty laugh at the
expense Of the late candidate for the
presidency. In the Field conceit, Mr..
Bryan carries the campaign into Afri'
ca. and standing firmly on platform
consisting of one soap box, harangues
the natives OF the jungle In vigorous
campaign style.
Presently Roosevelt, or, as the pro-
gram has It, Rosey Tedivelt. energies
from his tent with an expansive smile
and the inevitable big stick" which,
as Is later explained. Is filed with hot
air. There Is a rustic In the trees.
The peerless Teddy brings forth his
six-shooter, represented by toy PTS
toll, and fells his prey with a sing,e
shot Down tumbles diminutive Ted
dy bear.
Here. make a couple columns OF
this" orders Teddy as he throws the
stuffed specimen into his tent.
Tommy Donnelly impersonates
Roosevelt. while Doc Quigley lends ca
pabe assistance In the role OF Kurns.
which is obviously meant for Kern.
It's a good show, take II altogether.
especially the musical end OF II, and
the company this year is long on good
voices and tuneful melodies. The first
part Is given In a gorgeous setting,
while the musicians and a
portion Of the company appear
in colonial costumes of cen
tury ago. The specialties are
new and elaborate. notably the cir
Gus nightmare that concludes the
show. All the appurtenances of the
up-to-date three-ring show are in evil
dence and such well.known sideshow
attractions as the fat lady, the snake
charmer and the bearded dame on
view. II is scream from start T.
finish.
BILLY" Clark contributes largely to
the comedy end OF the performance
with some new songs and clever line
OF talk. and the company is In all
other respects quite up TO the Field
standard
The engagement is for the entire
week with the usual matinees
THE WHITNEY.
Fresh from dip In some fountain
OF youth which has made the decade
and-ah half OF service OF the show seem
like myth. McFadden's Flats is back
In the Whitney theater. faster. FUN
nier, brighter and prettier than ever.
Always a favorite. this vehicle for
the antics OF the assorted folk OF Nc
Fadden's alley was greeted with hill
arious Joy unrestrained. proving hat
the crack OF the slap stick Is just ~
agreeable as the Kisses OF the villain.
With a sprightly. pretty, shapely
chorus OF little broilers, we'll dressed
and we'll drilled. the show Is only a
short trip from musical comedy, and
the way the gallery gods puckered onto
the choruses OF the songs showed that
the musical end was welcome.
Most OF the good old things are re-
tanned, including Curtis and Harry
Speck, without whom no well-regulat-
ed McFadden's Flats would go far.
The diminutive comedians are as live
~ as ever, and have a number OF new
pranks to keep the house good natur-
ed.
]. ]. Sullivan as McFadden. and Ed
die Dale. as Baumgardner his rival
and foil, carried away large bundles
OF laughter with ease and grace. Ida
Burt Laurence made a fetching little
heroine. and Will Long. who sings
most OF the songs. was quite the dap
per chap for the role. Lottie West
Symonds. with her voice. was Widow
Murphy hard TO beat, and the rest OF
the cast delivered the goods to the
satisfaction OF even the smallest gal
lery god.