The entertainment at the Lyceum Theatre on Monday was of that exhilarating sort that—to use an Irishism—attained the acme of popularity forty years ago, and has been gaining popularity ever since, not merely in matters Thespian, but in journalism and literature generally. It is the evolved product of an age of "hustle." Though there are still earnest playgoers, and assiduous readers, they are in a (shall we say? regrettable minority. The three-volume novel has yielded place to the wide-margined and bold-typed narrative; the paragraph has dispossessed the essay andthe music hall variety show has "caught on" with Tit-bits, while the drama and the academic journal play to sparsely ocoupied benches." Ici has tous Jes hommes pleurent," said Bourget, but not all in the sense he meant. Most of them are bored nowadays, and would enrich the pay-boxes for opportunities to weep with laughing. Thus trifles like "Charley's Aunt" endure longer than the entertainments of Arabia; and the missing treasure papers circulate in millions. Perhaps these jovial folk who breed laughter in a soured and sory world are deserving of as much praise as the genius who induces the oft-applauded blade of grass to sprout where grew none before. The Orpheum Comedy Company do not profess to improve the minds of their clients. All they want to see pucker on the outside corners of the sockets, a forest of impacted palms, a gleam of local currency when the ghost walks on pay-day. In this they not only achieve success: they deserve it. There are plenty of performers, all with the self-confidence and vim characteristic of successful experience, There was a fairly full house by the time "Professor ollonintino" and the orchestra got under way with their overture from the " Belle of New York."
Miss Lyla Thompson, in short pink skirts and a crush hat, sang a manly song in manly voico—last night out." She invited all the " boys" to drink with her, as it was her "last night out." The invitation touched a chord of sympathy. The lady had a vociferous encore, Mr. Alf. Rockloy as " Booker T. Washington," sang a song about "Goo-goo Eyes" Another score. He sang of a " Dark-town Gal" and danced an eccentric step or two. Next, Miss Violet Bishop, with the inevitable dude song about " Algie," in which the music was helped out by carefully arranged displays of lingerie; a breathless success! The Indies present hid their faces, while the men demanded more of it. Miss Hettie Fuller, modestly attired, in imitation of Yvette Guilbert, sang "Killarney" very sweetly and effectively. (Encore.) Mr. Tim Howard is funny man, and anybody who cannot laugh at him must be ill." Hu "rl show em the way," and his "business," are quite enjoyable. He had a vociferous encore, and obliged with a clever whistling song. Mr. Desmond followed with a heroic ballad "I've made up my mind to sail away." Another encore. Miss Violet Chard's "American buck dance" was an exhibition of excessive physical exercise Then Mr. Jim Morris sang "Oh my," which about expresses the extraordinary dance Coll he accompanied it with. He was awarded encore.
The first half closed with some fooling and patter about a "mysterious bag." Miss Bishop re-opened with a" sentimental ® song for which her stage manner and voice are quite unsuited. Mr. G. Victor Loydall was an excellent understudy of Dan Leno, and used many of Daniel's own particular "gags." Encored, he gave an imitation of the "Shanghai Light Horse." Ho had a second encore, and his third item was funnier than ever. He's worth all the money by himself. The audience would not be denied. He had.to give a fourth turn, After him, the knockabout turn of Rockley and Morris fell rather flat—good as it was. Miss Thompson, the dashing soubrette," rattled through a gallery ditty, and -had her encore as usual. Her encore song was funny, and new. Miss Fuller sang a coon song, in rather peculiar time, which made' it seem quite another song. For encore, she sang (sweetly) " Viole Leonard Nelson, the plain comedian, with an elderly but good song, looked curiously like Mr. Desmond. Other parts of his performance seemed to please and he wasn't shy at taking encores. Mr Loydall and Miss Collins closed with what was called a farcical comedy. It was a farce.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.