Daily Kennebec journal., 1922-05-02

Each year the Elks Minstrel shoy
grows better and the 1922 Elks Frolic
can go down in history as already liv-
ing half way up to that record-thc
other half will be served up this eve
gusta Opera House an evening full of
fun, frolic, music. laughs and such,
was served to the big audience.
Suppose you were asl ed to name the
top-notcher in local music and gaiety
in Augusta this spring? IL YOU were
one of the many hundreds who wit
messed the Elks Charity Minstrels
Monday evening at the Augusta Opera
House you would take your place at
the head OF the class by answering
"The Elks Minstrel Show" 1t was a
capacity house. 500 or more, which
graced the first night.
The Henry Miller Co. OF lii OF
Broadway lived up to it's previous rec
ords and went some distance by. this
seaseH, in putting the setting for a
crackerjack show. The company from
New York presented the properties, /"
in stage parlance, and the coaches and
the Augusta boys did the rest.
It might truly be called a lavish
production. replete with novelties, wit
and general laugh -provokers. The set
tings for the first part sketches and
for the big show were works OF art.
It was An artistic presentation and
showed throughout the entire program
the work Of the master director, Perrin
Somers.
A decided novelty in the show was
the last part first and the first part
last. or vice versa, as Doc Thomas
would say. "a volcano of mirth and
melody in five eruptions" was the label
on the first part.
| Eruption One: The curtain rolled
up and revealed a most realistic plan
tation scene. Seated on bench was
John Rox, who sang "Swanee River
Moon" and he was aided when
| it came to the chorus (not that he
needed the help) by chorus of black
men, decorating the greensward. When
they stood up, stretched their legs and
| walked about they made a very clever
| chorus, going through some fancy
steps that were dandies. page j..
OFT and his beauty bevy) In the
dancing ensemble the following were
discovered: Jerry Carey, Danny
Ivory. Fred Lacomb. Charles w. Cyr.
o. II. Brann. Charles OConnor, DOC"
Hamilton, Henry Gregorie
The scene was a pretty one, with
the spot light playing about. Cotton
blossoms were very life-like and the
old cabin also added to the scene.
The Swanee song was a dreamy sort
of tune, but Mr.. Fox put loads of
feeling into it. The humming by
the chorus made sympathetic
background for the tenor soloist.
Jerry Carey put over a song about
waiting on the Mississippi and his
voice rang out clear and strong, but
he didn't show in this number, what
he could do in the dancing line.
Charles Kinsman and Jack Han
son appeared in person, and not in
the film, as the program hastened to
explain, in Sense rnd Nonsense
Poor liz Charlie had to carry Jack
onto the stage and was starting to
take Jack up the mountain because
the doctor said Jack needed the
exercise. You need the exercise and
l get it," was Charles wise con
clusion. They made all sorts of
threats to each other, but it is hoped
they are still friends. Hanson looked
very much the part of the dandy coon
in white ones and q dark blue coat.
Charlie looked Very much like hen
coop fancier, also in dark face, but
Haunting a red and black checked
shirt (Where's Edgar Jones?) and
pantaloons that boastcd all sorts
of patches.
Jack tried to initiate NJ Jolsen,
singing Nanny" but he was in
terrupted several times, because
Charlie would go prancing across the
stage, bearing some sort of an inn
rlement. which he used in cracking
his jokes. There was the ward stick
he totcd along. That was SO he could
tell how far he was going. There
was a new step ladder. That was
so he could show his wife some new
steps Gin dancing). Then there was
the cat in the cage. Charlie said he
was taking the canary back to the
Neighbor. Where was the canary?
In the cat Next he appeared with
. dog and said he was taking the cat
home. Where was the cat" In the
dog Whom 10 annparaJ with