March 2, 1917. 
MANCHESTER CLUB SHOW 
First Nicut oF Bic SHow MAKES 
A Decipep Hirt With AUDIENCE. 
Enter, Mistah Bones! Temporar- 
ily, at least; the war scare, Town 
meeting, the H. C. of L. and all such 
trivial matters will take a back seat 
while Manchester devotes its attention 
to the great event of the year, the 
Manchester club minstrel show. Last 
night the opening performance by the 
much heralded troupe was given in 
Town hall before an audience that 
taxed the seating capacity. To call 
the show’s premiere a success would 
be putting it mildly—it was a runaway 
of mirth, a riot of fun, an avalanche 
of gaiety, a landslide of jollity. 
From the rise of the curtain after 
the prelude, “My Old = Kentucky 
Home,” by Abbott Hoare, to the 
whirlwind finish of the closing chorus, 
with its sensational tableau, the show 
went off without a noticeable hitch. 
Great credit for the success of the en- 
tertainment is due every participant. 
but particularly are the end men to be 
cormended for their share of the suc- 
gecc, to Dr, F.-A.* Willis for the 
success of his efforts in training and 
directing the show, a note of appre- 
ciation must be given. The doctor 
was a rigid disciplinarian in practice 
and the result of his training was evi- 
cenced at the opening performance. 
After a spirited march by the or- 
chestra and Mr. Hoare’s prelude the 
curtain rose on the assembled members 
of the company. ‘The stage setting 
»was built especially for the perform- 
ance and was arranged with the view 
of bringing out the striking contrast 
of the black and white design. The 
members of the chorus and circle 
were attired in white flannel trousers. 
soft white shirts and wore brilliant 
red neckties. All were in black face 
~akeup. After the welcome in be- 
half of the club by the interlocutor, J. 
Alex. Lodge, the end men appeared 
in their quaint minstrel costumes. 
‘hen the uproar began. Of course it 
would be unfair to those who are to 
see the second performance this eve- 
ning to reveal any of the pointed 
thrusts of the endmen; they must be 
heard to be appreciated. . However, it 
wiay be said that the fun is neither 
ventle nor discriminating. The jests 
srike, like lightning, in unexpected 
paces: but are unlike it in that they 
‘ten strike twice in the same place. 
The program is as follows: 
March, ‘‘Fighting Strength’’ 
Long’s Orchestra 
Prelude, ‘‘My Kentucky 
Home ’’ Soloist, Abbott Hoare 
Opening Chorus Entire Company 
“abe on your Slippers and Fill 
Up Your Pipe’’ KE. TH. Wileox 
Old 
NORTH SHORE BREEZE: 
““My Own Iona’’ A, C, Needham 
Assisted by S. H. Hoare 
‘“When the Sun Goes Down in 
Romany ’’ Geo. B. Sargent 
Stump Speech K. L. Wheaton 
‘*Pray for the to Go 
Out? Lewis 8. 
“*Since Maggie Dooley Learned 
the Hooley-Hooley’’ George Beaton 
Quartet, ‘‘Doan Ya Cry, My 
Honey’? Messrs. Sargent, A. Hoare, 
Cool and Willis 
Lights 
Hooper 
““Down Where the Suwanee 
River Flows’? Chas. Hooper 
Monolog Allen S. Peabody 
Topical Song Dr. F. A. Willis 
“On the Road to Mandalay Abbott Hoare 
“It’s Nice to get up Early in 
the Morning’’ Gus Knoerr 
‘*“Mammy’s Little Coal Black 
Rose’? Archie Cool 
Closing Chorus Entire Company 
March Long’s Orchestra 
The first song number, by E. H. 
Wilcox, “Put on Your Slippers and 
Fill up Your Pipe” made a decided 
hit, Mr. Wilcox being recalled to the 
footlights for an encore and receiving 
hearty applause. The same success 
was the reward of A. -Cy Needham, 
ene sang “My Own Iona,” assisted 
by S. H. Hoare. “When the Sun 
(s0es Down in Romany,” sung by 
George B. Sargent met with approval 
by the audience. FE. L. Wheaton’s 
stump speech on the war was one of 
the features of the show. The speaker 
had all the tendencies of a colored 
campaigner to wander off the subiect. 
The speech had a plentitude of loca! 
Hits.) Pray’ for: thes sehts to Go 
Out.” by Lewis Hooper “and “Since 
Maggie Dooley Learned the Hooley- 
Hooley,” by George Beaton were two 
of the song hits of the evening. 
One of the f 
was the playing of the 
Frank L. Jones. the pianist. He was 
introduced by Allen S. Peabody, whe 
announced that the number was not 
on the program, but was partict arly 
appropriate at this time of world war 
when the thoughts of men turned 
fondly to peace. The number was 
rendered by Mr. Jones with striking 
effect. The effect of the chimes was 
so natural it seemed impossible that 
the result was produced upon the 
piano. Much of the success of the en- 
tire show was due to the assistance 
given the performers by Mr. Jones. 
The colored quartet, Messrs. Sar- 
eent, A. Hoare. Cool and Willis were 
atures of the evening 
“Chimes” by 
etrective, “in “Doan = Ya Cry, My 
Honey.” Charles Hooper’s song, 
“Down Where the Suwanee River 
Flows,” received a splendid reception. 
Allen S$. Peabody gave an enter- 
taining reading. In response to an en- 
core he read a humorous little tale of 
a colored “mam~y” and her child. 
The topical song, without which no 
ministrel show is complete. was sung 
by Dr. Willis. The song: \was_replete 
7 
with local hits and was a pronounced 
success, 
The solo by Abbott eee: “On the 
Road to Mandalay,” was received 
with much applause and Gus Knoerr’s 
imitation of Harry Lauder ance ie 
Nice to get up Early i in the Morning” 
was the rebar of the evening’s Ph 
Archie Cool sang “Mammy’s Little 
Coal Black Rose’ ‘and received a com- 
plimentary reception. The closing 
a was the last song number. The 
tableau of the closing chorus was pat- 
ticularly effective. The cast follows: 
Edward Crowell, Joseph N. 
James ° Hoare, Charles E. Wil- 
Clifford Rand, George R. Dean, 
Fletcher McCallum, Hollis L. Roberts, 
Wm. Hawkesworth, Alfred Walen, A. G: 
Abs Shatin I aE Merrill, F. G. Cheever, 
Lewis Hutchinson, Hollis A. Bell, Ernest 
Valentine, Duane’ Seaborn and Heesak 
Swett. 
Circle: Archie ( ‘ool, 
Wilcox, 8. Henry 
e288 
Chorus: 
Lipman, 
liams, F. 
Allan Dennis, E. H. 
Hoare, Osear Raymond, 
Harry Swett, Abbott Hoare, Harry Pur- 
ipeton, Walter Bell and Elmer Smith. 
Interlocutor: J, Alex. Lodge. 
Ends: Dr. F. A.’ Willis, A. C. Needham, 
Lewis Hooper, Charles Hooper, George’ 
Beaton and Gus Knoerr. 
The committee of arrangements 
was composed of the following: Dr. 
F. A. Willis, Allan Dennis, M. Talbot 
Hoare, Charles Hooper and E. H. 
Wilcox. Ushers were Raymond C. 
‘llen, W. W. Hoare, Alfred C 
Fiooper, Sayre Merrill, Arthur F. 
Olson, George S. Sinnicks and Wil- 
lard 1. Rust. 
The show will be reproduced in its 
entirety tonight and those not for- 
tunate enough to be present the first 
evening will have the consolation that 
they will see, if possible, a more pol- 
ished production, 
SOCIETY NOTES 
George Colket Caner, one of the 
sons of Mr. and Mrs. Harrison K: 
Caner of Manchester and Philadel- 
phia, received an A. B. degree ae 
laude,” from Harvard last month a 
the end of the first half year, rine 
completed his college course in three 
and one-half years. He will leave for 
France to engage in the ambulance 
service within the next few weeks. 
Oo 3 9 
Sympathy is being extended to 
Mr. and Mrs. Matthew Bartlett 
(Serita Lincoln) of Boston and the 
North Shore over the death of their 
young son, Matthew Bartlett, Jr., at 
the age of two years, three months. 
It is usually not so much the great- 
ness of our trouble as the littleness of 
our spirit that makes us complain. 
Character, is a determination to do’ 
right, turned into a fixed habit—The 
Outlook, 
