The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram., 1912-03-05
~ ESTHER GRIFFIN WHITE.

A1~ tCJOVCu0llOu u VSUCA anu
Fields with their original company in
New York recently and their overwhel-
ming reception had nothing on that ac-
corded the "old favorites" by the local
public in their appearances behind the
Eennett footlights last evening in the
Elks Minstrels.
The s. r. o. sign was out before the
curtain ran up, the house being packed
from pit to dome and with an enthusi-
astic and appreciative audience.
There is nothing 80 appealing theat-
really as seeing people you know and
meet walking down street every day
on the stage. IT possess
es a certain intimacy as delightful as it
Is exciting and results in that sort of
family feeling" which radiates mag
netism and is thrown back and forth
between the performers and the stage
until the line of Cleavage which exists
between the professional and his au-
ditors is dimmed IL not quite obliter.
ated.
This was the case last evening and
az each we'll known local celebrity
stepped to the stages fringe to do his
particular stunt he was greeted with
great applause"
To continue the comparison Rich
Weber and Fields, Elmer Egge-
meyer and Ramsey Poundetone we're
quite in their old-time form, Frank
Braffett looked as young and innocent
as Lillian Russell and IL Gus Pfafflin
might be tolled off as this city's
Fay Templeton the complimentary
odds are all the redundant Miss Tenn
pletons way. Our local Willie Collier.
Ed Wilson. was as gracefully sinuous
a. his metropolitan prototype, and
and Stone sink into insig-
nificance when measured up with Joe
Peltz and Howard Kamp.
When the curtain rang up at the op-
ening. the entire company. picturesque
in their approved minstrel costumes.
with a gorgeous setting, was given
welcome by their friends
In the auditorium and the vivacity
shown in the beginning kept up hot
pace to the end.
Every number was repeatedly en-
cored and responded to in professional
the opening solo by Ed Will
son, when you're in Town." being one
of the hits of the evening, as was that
of Myron Malsby in Carolina Rag"
Mr.. Malsby developed surprising his
conversation" with s. A. Grubbs, the
having the affair in
charge, was extremely we'll done and
funny.
George Bayer was one of the favor
ties, both in his talk" and his song
"Baboon Baby Dance" the latter being
given with clever burlesqueing, and
eliciting immense applause.
The sentimental songs by Braf-
fett and Otto Krone, I'm all my
Dreams" and Garland of Old Fash
ioned Roses" were given with profes-
sional eclat, both these we'll known vo-
calists being accorded tremendous
greetings.
And right here it might be inter-
polated that II Mr.. Braffett had turned
his activities toward theatrics he
would have a national reputation for
there are very few professional sing
ers who have his vocal endowments.
his baritone being beautiful in every
register and possessing certain rich
nesses and sweetnesses Of tone seldom
heard. As some one said with reference
to his voice-"God gave it to him"
The appearance Of Mr.. Walter Egge-
meyer in. Mind Yo' Own Bizness" was
the signal for an ovation" since Mr..
Eggemeyer is one Of the city's most
accomplished amateur actors. his
stunt" being received tumultuously.
Tremendous laughter greeted the en-
trance Of Peltz and Kamp these two
local comedians proving diverting to
the last degree. Peltz. indeed, being
funny "au natural" and. with very lit
tie histrionic effort. producing the
drollest effects. His "darky lamenta.
ton" called when l Woke Up" was
given repeated encores but was not
surpassed by his "end.man" witticisms
Howard Kamp. a great social favor.
ite and a clever amateur thespian,
brought down the house" with his So
10. Don't Mention My Name" which
was given with about a thousand de-
grees more effect than when heard
here professionally some time since
Mr.. Kamp possesses gifts as a come
dian that make an appeal to the most
hardened misanthrope and in combina