A Free Vaudeville Show Was Meant to Fill the Madison Street Cars

The stockholders of the Madison Street cable road have adopted a new idea to increase travel on their line by securing a company of excellent vaudeville performers and specialty artists—Brans and Nina, character mimics—direct from the Midwinter Fair. At the lake, for every evening during the season, a high-class entertainment will be given free, and it is the object to cater to none but the best people of the city.

The first performance of the company of players was given Wednesday evening, and the pavilion was crowded with men, women and children. So successful was the entertainment that last evening, notwithstanding the sky was overcast and it looked like rain, the pavilion was crammed by a large and appreciative audience. Last evening a Post-Intelligencer reporter visited the pavilion.

Aside from a first-class company there is a full company of artists, and the sketches are of a character to offend none. The famous mimics, Brans and Nina, captivated the audience. The grand finale was “The Great Diana,” in her wonderful chameleon dance, introducing entirely new prismatic, kaleidoscopic and electric effects. The chameleon dance is a vision, or rather a series of visions, that dazzles the beholder. Miss Diana executes the dance in a dress containing 125 yards of silk, and when in motion it spreads out to a circle nine feet in diameter. The beautiful colors from the combination chromatropes, united with the graceful movements of the dress, create an effect which is simply enchanting and charms every eye. The changes are numerous and rapid, showing beautiful flowers, portraits, flags, butterflies and a serpent. The last two are wonderfully lifelike in coloring and movement.

Considering the critical times and the general depression it is a wonderful free exhibition, but the entertainment will be given conscientiously, rain or shine, and no matter how poor the attendance.