The New York Clipper (February 1920)

February 4, 1920 THE NEW YORK CLIPPER 25 J MUSICAL DRAMA ACADEMY STUDENTS DO WELL IN TWO NEW PLAYS "CIRCLES."—A play la one act by George Mlddleton, and "BUNS MICE," a comedy In three acts by Edwin Carty Ranch, Presented by the American Academy of Dramatic Arts and the Empire Theatre Dram- atic School, at the Lyceum Theatre, Friday afternoon, January 30, 1920, "CIRCLES." CAST. Professor John Owen Wallace Hickman Elisabeth Owen Julio Brown Ida Lawson Theresaa Colburn "BLIND MICE." CAST. John Cordon Daniel Parker Dr. Nathan Greenway JJohn Coggshall Tom Morton (alias Bunner) __ Wallace Hickman Braves .Byron Doty First Applicant Lewaxd Meeker Second Applicant Maxwell Dilts Third Applicant .Elinor Rltter Margaret Gordon Julio Brown Cynthia Gordon Irma Powers Jennie Eleanor Cody Despite the (act that student theatricals are, for the most part, amateurish and, at times, boresome, this performance proved to be a real treat, for, aside from present- ing two plays of exceptional interest, the young- people gave an exhibition of his- trionic ability that, in some respects, was every bit as good as given by more sea- soned members of the profession. Their choice of program was one that was well balanced. The first play, or, rather, sketch, "Circles," was one of the series of "Possessions," written by George Middleton. Although this piece has been a favorite with dramatic societies in other parts of the country, this was the first New York presentation. Briefly, the plot sets forth a domestic tempest in the family tea-pot The tur- moil arises when Ida Lawson found that she did not love her husband and sought to divorce him. However, the usual bind- ing; tie, if not in evidence, was mentioned from time to time and served as the link that held their Uvea together. The piece was intensely dramatic, with just a shade of satirical humor. Theresaa Colburn, as the wife, played her part with a keen understanding of its . limitations and possibilities. This young lady gives promise of being heard from. Julio Brown was fair aa the mother and Wallace Hickman made a capable father. The second play, "Blind Mice," a com- edy in three acta, by Edwin Carty Bank, was presented for the first time, according to the program. What this piece needs is revision, or, rather, a complete rewriting. Propinquity, which has been utilized by the writer for the plot basis, is a theme which, if used properly, would form the foundation for a highly successful farce. John Gordon plana to marry his daugh- ter 1 ,: with the aid of propinquity. He calls in a friend who has long been in love with the girl and explains his idea. The father has advertised for. a chauffeur, aa this species of plebeian is, in his estima- tion, the most suited for an ideal husband. But the:friend has his own ideas on pro- pinquity and he, in turn, enlists the aid of his nephew for the chauffeur role. Everything would have worked out fine, but the masquerading chauffeur falls in love with another member of the family. What follows is very obvious. His uncle pops up at the opportune moment and pro- poses to the girl of his heart and wins her. Of course, the nephew is satisfied with his end of the bargain. And the father, toe, is satisfied that propinqui ty is the only method in love making. The cast, as a whole,' "fell down" on this piece, but Wallace Hickman and Irma Powers made the best of their lines and gave a fairly creditable performance. TO PRODUCE "SCARLET LETTER" New Orleans, Jan. SO.—Hawthorne's "Scarlet Letter" will be produced by a new corporation which has been formed by L. J. McCaleb, a local playwright, and J. H. Watts. It will be in four acta, with some comedy relief and some lyrics. The production will be put on the road early this season, FISKE O'HARA PUTS OVER SONGS IN SAME OLD WAY "DOWN LIMERICK WAT." A comedy In three acts, by Anna Nichols. Presented by Augustus Pitou, at the Standard Theatre, Mon- day evening, January 26, 1920. CAST. Lady Daragb. Lauretta Allen Mona Daragh Nan Bernard Sir Richard Daragh J. P. Sullivan Coraey Norman Post Paul Daragh Richard H. Irving Sir Daniel Daragh Fiske O'Hara. Thomas James Miller Jane Worthington ' Mary Louise Malloy Ellen O'Gloran Patricia Clary "Raggedy" Tun W. T. Sheehan "ROLLO'S WILD OAT/' NEW SELWYN PLAY, OUGHT TO GET OVER "ROLLO'S WTLD OAT." A com- edy in three acts and Ave scenes, by Clare Kumper. Presented by Selwyn and Company at the Columbia The- atre, Far Rockaway. Friday evening, January SO, 1920. CAST. Hewston, Rollo's Man _ Ivan F. Simpson Lydla, Rollo's Sister Margaret Sumner RoUo Webster Roland Young Mr. Stein James R. Waters Goldie Macduff. Lotus Robb Mrs. Park-Gales Dorothy Dorr Whortiey Camperdown . John Ivan King- Thomas Skltterling. .Chas. A. Sellon George Lucas Geoffrey Douglas Au Jt Lane.. „ Alice Chapln Robert Clifford Malcolm Dunn Horatio Webster Cecil Yapp Be"* Elinor Cox FRIGAMZA SHOW CLOSES San Francisco, Jan. 31.—Trlile Frl- gansa'a show, "Mama," closed last week and will have to be re-written before it if opened again. Meanwhile Miss Frigantt will go back into vaudeville. MEMPHIS STILL CLOSED Memphis, Jan. .31.—Owing to the fact that influenza cases are increasing, Instead of decreasing, theatres are still compelled to remain closed. Mayor Paine announced to-day that figures would have to show a substantial decrease before he would think of allowing the houses to re-open. GETS $24,000 IN TWO WEEKS San Francisco, Jan.' 31.—"The Bird of Paradise," played to ?24,000 in two weeks here, this being the sixth time the show has played this town. "AS YOU WERE" HAS GOOD MUSIC, SNAP AND SAM BERNARD "Down Limerick Way," with Fiske O'Hara, after a more or less successful season on the road, proved to be an inter- esting comedy, filled with all the romance of an Ireland of yesterday, in which pixeyB and the little folk of the fields play im- portant parts. In construction, the piece is strangely reminiscent, its' strength being in its dia- logue, which is filled with crisp Irish satire and subtle humor. The time of the action is that of the latter part of the eighteenth century and the settings are laid in and about the Daragh Castle, down limerick way. Although the piece is styled a musi- cal comedy, it would be safer to class it under the category of a comedy with music, in that the musical setting has little to do with the actual working out of the plot, "Down Limerick Way, the love motif, being the only song that has any relation to the play. The story revolves about one Daniel Daragh, a young Irish nobleman and the various and unfruitful efforts of his snobbish sister, Mona, at match malting. Sir Daniel's student friend dies and leaves him a legacy, which takes the form of a piquant, elflike young lady, with the sharpest of tongues and the warmest of hearts. She comes to Sir Danny and straightaway he falls in love with her. But the sister is determined to marry her brother to a shallow, lisp- ing specimen of femininity, Jane Worth- ington. However, in the final scene, despite complications and compromising inci- dents, Sir Danny gets his chance and proposes to his ward. Of course she ac- cepts him and all ends in happiness, as the curtain falls to the strains of the oft-repeated love motif, "Down Limerick Way.** Fiske O'Hara plays the role of Sir Danny in a true Irish manner, never over-shadowing the characterization. He is given ample' opportunity to display his fine tenor voice and stopped the show in the good old-fashioned manner with his song about the freedom of Ireland. Patricia Clary play* the role of his: ward. She made a pretty picture as a Cinde- rella, and her quick humor afforded some of the best laughs of the evening. MANAGER SUES PREACHER San Francisco. Jan. 30.—William 6. Smeltxer, late manager of the Savoy The- atre, has entered suit against Rev. John F. Poucher, pastor of-the Central Methodist i. Church, for $50,000. He charges Poucher with the alienation of the affections of his' wife. Dog-town premieres, as they gp, are usually more or less dismal affairs, but the first out-of-town showing of "Rollo's Wild Oat," at the Columbia Theatre, Far Rock- away, last Friday evening, sproved an ex- ception to the general run, for, though still in the rough, the new comedy was highly amusing and gives promise of being a de- cided hit when it finally takes its stand with the rest of Broadway's florin fins, ■ This latest work of Clare Kummer waa obviously designed as an antidote to all plays that may cast any reflection upon the morale of the show 'girl. The author has taken for her characters the people of the stage as they really are and not as they are commonly thought to be by those out- siders who make up the general public. She has then provided these 'characters with a vehicle, that is very true to life, wen shaded with touches of humor and pathos and admirably suited to the special comedy talents of Roland Young, who plays the leading role. Bollo Webster in addition to suddenly coming into a small fortune, has become obsessed with the idea of being an actor- manager, and, to make things worse, the young man plans to play Hamlet. Bnt of course in his own way, in his own theatre and with his own company. All these plans' and aspirations he carefully conceals from his grandfather, a cantankerous old chap who has a most pessimistic outlook on life. So, Bollo comes to the city and enlists the aid of a seasoned theatrical manager, who, in turn, introduces Goldie Macduff, a show girl, to him. Goldie eventually makes considerable of an impression on Bollo, for be at once en- gages her for the role of Ophelia. She tries to persuade him from presenting the drama, but he will not listen to her. So, when the first night, comes, we find Rollo in his dressing' room, suffering from all the pangs that go with the first appearance of an. actor. AH might have gone right if the old grandfather had not got wind of the affair; for it did not take him long to put a stop to Hollo's aspiration. In the very midst of the Bolfloquity, our young hero is sum- moned to the death bed of bis grandpar- ent. He goes, leaving his valet to play the part. But it was all a clever ruae on the. part of the. old man, who was never in better health, as Bollo soon found oat. Following this point, more complications set in, for Hollo has brought Goldie along with him. But everything comes out right when the old man learns that Goldie is the daughter of an old sweetheart, and, in the last scene, we find both her and Bono about to assume a. new role. Thus ends "Bollo's Wild Oaf • Roland Young plays' the role of the would-be Hamlet, investing it with his own special brand of humor. Lotus Robb makes ■ a charming .Goldie and Cecil Yapp is good. "AS YOU WERE." A fantastic revue adaption in two acts and six scenes by Arthur Wira perls. Lyrics by Wlmperls and E. Ray Goats. Music by Herman Darewaki and Goeta. Presented by Ray Goets and A. h. Woods, at the Central Theatre, Tuesday evening, January nth. 19X0. CAST Chsse Clews .'..Hugh Cameron Ethel Nutt Miss Ruth Donnelly -Pinkie Smith. ...Miss Violet Strathmore Cuthbert Stanley Harrison Wolfle Wafdesteln Sam Bernard Ki Kl Clifton Webb Gervalse Miss Irene Bordonl Professor Filbert Frank Maya* Court dancers Hasens Platov. Mile. Moskovlna, and Miss Helen Kroener Primeval husband Pat Walsh e Prehistoric wife William Ward Friend of the family Irwin Emmer Other characters by Misses Grace Jones, May Carmen, Olive Brown, Lucille Gor- don, Jeaaette Cooke. Persy Tomeon, Betty Hamilton. Marylyn Martin. Effle Smith and Mae Terriafleld. Built on a definite and ingenious plot, "As You Were" proved to be a thoroughly diverting and piquant musical comedy. It was first presented several years ago is Paris under the title of "Pius ca Chanty' and later made its appearance in "London under the present title. This piece, according to the program, is not at a,loss for collaborators. Arthur Wimperis was the first to bare his anger in the pie; then Glen MacDonough waa called in to make the "American version'': Herman Darewaki composed the score, and Bay Goetz sprinkled in additional m e lodies) and lyrics. These are but a few who were connected with the concoction of the. piece as seen in Its present setting. But, in this case "too many cooks did not spoil the broth." for the dialogue is crisp .and witty and the music snappy and tuneful. The plot hss for its basis a fable nv _ -Tolving one Wolfie Waffles teln. who finis ~=^js wife giving money to a mast programed .%SJS Kl Ki. He is furious amd, in this state, accepts a box of pills from an old chemist, which have the power- of trans- mitting him to another age. He takes one and begins his journey down through the -ages.- In each land and period he hears - the same jokes, is sung the same seductive =j love song and meets the same deceit fat * women. 8o, finally, he decides to take' his last pill and return to his home. There he finds his wife hss only been trying to make him jealous and all ends conventionally. Quite the major portion of the piece's humor depends' Upon the well known . Bcrnardian brand of violent or slap-stick ~~9omedy. Irene Bordoni, pl aying o ppo s ite , proved, that-she could be a subtle come- dienne, and, at the same time, could be equally successf ul in the use of the broader methods which seem to be required , by musical comedy. "'-•*. .'