New-York tribune., 1919-10-21
WiIkie Bard Gets
Peculiar Welcome
On His Debut Here
''Razzing'' Halts Perform
ance of London Music
Hall Star; Says He's Sorry
and Boos Become Cheers

Wilkie Bard, idol OF tha London
music halls, made his American debut
at the Palace yesterday, and within
half an hour experienced as varying
emotions and receptions as can befall
any actor not even third as well
heralded as Bard, who, Lloyd George
says, was the only man to make him
laugh in the darkest days OF the Allied
military fortunes.
When Bard made his bow on the
stage ne was greeted by what theatri-
cal critics call an "ovatior." It was
several minutes Of sincere greeting to
stranger. Then the audience settled
back in its seats. Bard's first charac-
terization went passably we'll. The
humor OF a typical Cockney railroad
porter entangled in the pitfalls of the
welsh language was acceptable. But
the audience became uneasy during his
who laments she cannot sing. With
the thlrd bit study Of might
watchman'~the audience, upstairs and
down, was frankly bored and displeascd
This Was shown by the steady stream
of departures from the orchestra and
an incessant "razzing" by the gallery
In London it is called "booing," but in
New York it is "razzing," marked by
loud applause at inopportune moments
81 Am Sorry He Says
I 1t finally became 50 inccssant shat
Bard stepped TO the footlights and
taking off his stage wig, remarked
| quietly:
IL am sorry you don't like me. This
is the first time this has ever hap
pened to me in my stage career, and
am truthful when ! say my heart is
broken. | have been i'll for several
days and~but it is enough that you
are not satisfied. However, hope you
Will give me another chance later whcr
| am we'll and when | have arranged
another act"
No sooner had he made his way tt
the wings" visiblv affected than thu
audience changed its tone and the ap
plaus--real applause started. Fo1
several minutes it kept up and was in
tensifed when the stage was set for th,
next act. Hurrying forms could b,
seen back stage endeavoring to per
suadc the Englishman to take hi
bow" 1t was nearly five minutes be
fore he reappearcd, and then with tear.
streaming down his face. AS he facet
his audience, his wife, also sobbing
darted to the stage, kissed MIN ant
then left Bard, half smiling, half weep
ing, alone as a tornado of cheers brok,
out
Had Bard made a sincere dramati,
success he could not have been accord
eo @ need of the greeting he received
me applause broke into cheers, her,
ana and there intcrsperscd with shouts o
SUCK to y. Wilkie, old top" "Goot
poy' "ilkie.' and the like.
: Emotion Shakes Voice
few more words from the actor
.h's time IN voice even more broke,
by emotion, and Bard left the STAG
hnaliy and the rest Of the performanc
continued.
Later the Palace management ex
planned Mr.. Bard had been i'll with
severe cold for several DAYS and per
formed against the advice Of his phvsi
clan. This was shown in his yoic,
but the choice of his material ha
much TO do with his reception. Comm
as highly heralded entertainer, VIII
worked on the methods Of Harr
Lauder, the comparison was too obviou
TO the audience, especially to the gal
lery part. with the result OF his "ra7
zinH H~-somAthing that rarely occurs a
the Palace. Also the slowness Of NJ,
bard's act was intensified by tn
American ZIP" Of tho acts precedin
H. all Of which were of tho cabare
type. But the second reception di
much to reassure the Englishman, wh
} probably Will mako another appearance
as soon AZ he has recovered.