The Anderson daily intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson, S.C.) 1914-1915, 1915-03-10
HONEY BOY MINSTRELS
WAS FRESH AND FINE
SPLENDID SHOW DELIGHT
ED AN AUDIENCE THAT
OUTNUMBERED THAT
OF OPENING
EVANS is MISSED
But Those Upon Whom Rests the
Burden of Making the Show
A Go Are Doing So


which no voice calls back from that
undiscovered county of the dead.
and though George Evans presence
is sorely missed from the stage,
large and representative portion OF
the population OF Anderson laughed
themselves hoarse last night over
the jokes, the antics. the humor, wit
and the satire of the aggregation of
artists composing the Honey Boy
Minstrels.
The audience was by far the larg-
est that has congregated in Ander-
sons beautiful new playhouse, the
attendance being greatly In excess of
that of the night the playhouse saw
its first performance. Anderson peO-
pie are not hyper-critical, and yet
they know good thing when they
see it; and with a genuinehess that
was refreshing they entered into the
fun Of last nights Offering and en-
jOyed to the utmost what is really the
only first-clasS minstrel that has
ever come to the. town. Troubles,
business and otherwise, were forgot
ten for two hours and half, and,
& great many people probably had
the first hearty laugh they have ex-
perienced since the war started and
the price of cotton went to the DEM
milton bow-wows. Although Il map
OF warning Europe. OF heroic size,
was exhibited to their gaze, and al
though they were treated to lecture
on the causes, effects. possibilities
and probabilities" of the war, they
refused for the time being to be 9th
or than hilariously happy. The
Honey Boy Minstrels" had an effect
on Anderson, as a gloom killer, that
will doubtless PROVE of lasting bene-
fit.
AS far the merry minstreIs them
selves, one would never known IL
he had not read it in the papers. that
the grim spectre of death had lately
entered the ranks of the company
and taken away the leader and the
organizing ard directing genius OF
the show. No evidence Of the heayi-
ness that must weigh upon the hearts
of those whose mission 1t is to make
the world laugh was Visible through
out their performance last night.
And though Honey Boy'' is missed
from the show. the loss that one feels
when Witnessing q performance is
probably more mental than actual.
Tho fret half nf tho shnw had a
its setting the Grand Court of Honor
OF the Panama-Pacific Exposition. at
San Francisco; and for an hour the
performers in this part entertained
the audience with songs, Jokes. dane
ing and antics peculiar to the race
from whom they took their cue.
There were a number of very good
voices among the soioists, William
H.. Thompson, James Meehari and
John p. Rogers being the favorites.
The exceedingly clever work of Paul
Van Dyke. the Swiss yodler, also
made a distinct hit with the audience,
and he was called upon to respond
to more enchores- than any other
member of the troupe.
During an half hours intermission
the Honey Boy Orchestra, under the
direction of Edward ". Cupero,
rendered number of classic selec-
tions, and played Is enchores Mr..
Cupero's latest sensation "Zam Fam"
and "The Memphis Blues"
The second part of the show con-
sisted OF three parts. the first being
a period OF reyelry and dance, giving
one n glimpse OF the southland. The
part was called Underneath the Wa
termelon Moon." and was conceived
by the late lamented George Evans.
The second portion OF the last part
was a representation of the Ameri-
can occupation of Vera Cruz.
Between this and the last scene the
audience spent several ENJOYABLE
minutes with Arthur Rigby, in clever
monologue. THE was part executed
by George Evans before his retire
ment from the stage, and 1t Is hard
to conceive OF the laie prince OF min
strelsy having done the part any bet
ter than Mr.. Rdgby.
The closing scene OF the show was
staged along the Texas border, and
the part entit,Hd .lThe Biackyille
Bull Fighters" The satire on the
Mexican national sport OF bull fight
ing was very cleverly executed and
was productive OF more screams To
the minute than anything Anderson
day. ~ ::
Last nights show brought to the
front Leroy .Lasscs', Waite, former
~ understudy of the late leader OF
tne minstre!s. II is no light burden
tnat mas fallen upon this comedian,s
stit;,aldera--that ..t Of making the
Honey Boy Mina,rels" q 60 without
the presence Of George Evans News
paper criticisms bad heraided him as
worthy successor to the real
iaoney Boy" and a nninstfei altogeth-
OF as pleasing to audiences general
~ as the star into whose place he has
Stepped, 1t would be aakd to con-
vince the audience who saw him last
night shat George Evans was any bet