New York Clipper (Feb 1923)

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14 THE NEW YORK CLIPPER February 14, 1923 '•SUN SHOWERS," FAST DANCING SHOW WITH PLEASING MELODIES "SUN SHOWERS," a muiical comedy in Uvte acts. Words aod rnnaie by Hmrry Ddf. Produced at the Astor theatre, Monday eveniag. February S. CAST f May Worthy r. .Beita Do on Minnie Silver Harridle Lee Mrm, Thoopaon—". Claire Crenville Babby Drown....* Douglas Steveoson Jerry Jackson Harry Uelf Alice Worthy Allyn King Tommy Dagan Tommy Dingle Mike Rockwell Tom O'Harc *Jo9eph Green Eddie Winlbrop •WiUiam Blue Mack WeUs •John Black William Schott ■RalfA While Jack Koinedy Pierre, Maitre li'llotd John Bo«wcll Fiwcob. — 1 I Frank Anderson tfluis f-Waiters. { ...Lee Houston 'Gaston J \. .George Bcrlow Specialty dancoa and chorus. 'Members of the Board of Education. For the first time in many months the Astor holds a legitimate attraction in "Sun Showers," a musical comedy sponsored by Lew Cantor, well known in vaudeville circles. Harry Delf, most recently of vaudeville, is responsible for the libretto and music, as well as most of the comedy . of the play, which has a certain freshness in its make-up and many orginal bits char- acteristic of Dclf. The book is nothing to worry about and the music tuneful and pleasing; the chorus is good looking, and a fast dancing team is always ready to jump in with considerable speed when the show threatens to slow up: as far as we can see the only thing lacking is a good voice or two and that can be tiispensed with when Cohan-like dancing speed is presented. The three acts take place in a boartiing house, a room in a hotel and back to. the boarding house backyard, which was Quite on elaborate yard at that Something about a strike of school teachers,.most of whom are living at the hoarding house, starts the book of the play off, and later there is a meeting of the board of educa- tion and teachers at the hotel room. There ore singing waiters who make an excellent quartet, and the board of education shook mean hoofs. SufiBcient excuse is foimd to bring the various characters along at each acL Such as Minnie Silver, the maid with the fanny, sqneal^ voice, played with much sitcccss by Ha iiiett e Lee. At the hoard- ing house Alice Wortiiy, in the person of Allyn King, was visiting tier sister and at the hotd de was inclnaed among the en- tertainers. Back at the boarding house the romances that were woven through the show and . shattered in parts are mended again, and Delf as Jeiiy Jackson, a prizefighter, man- ages to wng^Ie out of his stock-selling scheme in which he becomes involved in an effort to help the striking school teadi- . ers. Harry Delf s work is_ familiar to most theatregixrs who patronize vaudeville and he has borrowed one or two bits from his former repertoire in doing his comedy. 'Most of it is new. however, and good for nany laughs, for the comedy is not of the cut-and-dried style ustially seen in musical comedies. Harriette Lee managed to get the applanse also with little effort as the philosophical chamber maid with a nasal, . squeaky voice. A newcomer to musical comedy, Berta Donn, who appeared in vandev31e with Carl Randall a short time ago, provetl a surprise in showing genuine versatility. Miss Donn, woridng opposite Delf most of the not only dances but sings well, and has the Imack of cleverly putting , comedy over. Sasha Piator and Lois Natalie must have found the stage at the Astor rather ■smll for presenting their type of classical dances. This excellent team also did a iut acrobatic jazz dance at heart-breaking speed. Tom Dingle, first as a bell-hop and later himself, with his partner, Patscy Dclancy, gathered a tremendous hand at the conclusion of their dance specialty. .Mlyn King, of the "Follies" and Hopwood farce fame, was always attractively gowned and good to look upon, doing very well with the role entrusted to her, which gives her several songs, although she never laid claim to being a prima-donna. The musical ninnbers in the show are as clever as they are timeful. Several have hit possibilities, including the theme song, "Everyone Is Beautiful in Someone s Eyes." "Sun Showers," "How Do You Doodle," and "Worth While Waiting For." Although Lew Cantor presents the show, the piece was staged by Frederick Stan- hope, which is not to the discredit of die piece. Dances and ensemble numbers were put on by Seymour Felix, and additional numbers foy Larry Ceballos. At a $2.75 top, and with the advantage of the Astor's location, "Sun Showers" ought to ^et along very well, for it offers an entertam- ing evening. "WttDFLOWER," NEW CASINO SHOW IS TUNEFUL AND GAY "WILDFLOWER," a masical comedy in three acts, book by Otto Halbacb and Oscar Hammcrstcin 2nd, and music by Herbert Stothart and Vincent Youmans. Presoitcd at tlie Casino theatre, Wednes* day night, February 7. CAST Luigi Jerome Raley dbrielle Olin Howland Gaston La Roche Charles Judels Bianfa Benedetto Evelyn Cavanagli Count Alberto James Doyle Guido Gny Robertson Nina Benedetto Edith Day Lucreria La Roche Esther Howard A new musical comedy, bright as to tunes, clever as to staging, gorgeously cos- tumed, and with dancing galore, "Wild- flower" is a piece which will fill the Casino with enthusiastic audiences for weeks - to come. Of its many excellent qualifications for success, its music is perhaps the best. Ther: are tunes galore, bright and clever, catchy as to tempo and well sung. 'Next to the music, the dancing is about the best of the excellent display shows along Broadway this year, and that is say- ing a great deal' in these days of tiancing musical shows. David Bennett staged the dances, and in this ilid about the best work of his career as a Broadway step producer. The story of "Wildflower" while light, is interesting and holds attention. She is a Miss with a temper hot and active, and who has been given a fortiine with the proviso that she live for six months with- cnt a single rage outburst. Her attempts to restrain her fiery Italian temperament and win the fortune furnish some good comedy situations and one or two decided- ly dramatic. EdiA Day, recently in "Orange Blos- soms," a piece in which she did not shine, is about at her best in "Wildflower," and she has one or two songs which will last for a long time on Broadway. Olin Howland works well with her and supplies some good comedy in bits, too far apart, however. Evelyn Cavanagh dances pleasingly, and Charles Judel, who has all too few opportunities to display his comedy ability, are others in the cast that helped the piece to success. James Doyle; former partner of Harlan DixOD, does some good acting, but James Is best known as a dantxr and did by far too little. The dioms is a good one, looks finely, dances well, and best of all, sings welL 'TEER GYNT," GUILD REVIVAL FINELY STAGED AND ACTED "PEER GYNT," by Ilenrik Ibsen, translated by William an'd Charles Archer. Produced by the Theatre Guild. Monday evening, February 5. at the Chrrick theatre. C.^ST Peer Joseph Schildkraut Ase Louise Closscr Hale Ingrid. the Bride Bertha Bread Mads Moo. the Bridegroom, WOTiam Franklin Brideemosn's Mother EUen Lamed Bridegroom's Father Philip Leigh .fslak. the Smith Stanley G: Wood Dancers. ..Albert Carroll. Barbara Kitson Bride's Father Stanley Uowlett SolTcis Selena Koyle Hclga Francaie Wonters Old Man of Megstad C. Porter Hall Herd Girls. Elise Banlctt, Eve Casanova, Helen Sheridcn. The Troll King's Daughter. Hdcn We9Ue>' The Troll King Dudley Digges The Ugly Brat Francene Wouten Kari, a Farmer's Wife. .Armina Marshall Mr. Cotton Sunley G. Wood Mcnsieur Ballon Albert Carroll Vcn Eberkopf Edward G. Robinson jVnitra l.illebil Ibsen Uegriflcnfeldt Charles Halton Tlie much heralded revival of Ibsen's "Peer Gynt," sponsored by the Theatre Guild, was revealed at the Garrick Thea- tre last Monday evening. "The title role, which theatrical history recounts as one of the late Richard Mansfield's best stage portraits, is essayed in the Guild revival by Joseph Schildkraut. The main pastime of the evening was making comparisons between the Peer of Schildkraut to that of the departed Mansfield. Opinions were divided, and the nearest semblance to a decision had it that - Schildkraut's perform- ance of the youthful Peer easily surpassed that of Mansfield. "Peer Gynt" is a dramatic poem that ranges from youth to old age. It is a hodge-podge of childlike folklore and pro- found philosophy. When it was staged in Ibsen's lifetime, the settings were perforce detailed in the realistic manner of the nine- teenth century. The result was dreariness in the long waits between scenes, followed always by disillusionment in the harsh realities of the scene painter. No more spirited scene of folklife has been staged than Ingrid's wedding, with its warmly beautiful kaleidoscope of peasant 'finery, its riotous mingling of jollity and dramatic action. The Hall of the ICing of Trolls was a masterpiece of grim gro- tesque.^ The Cairo madhouse recked with the grim reality of Poe. The Peer of Schildkraut touched its pinnacle in the earlier scenes. 'Where Richard Mansfield could only play at the youth and jollity of this riotous scape- grace, he gave us the very thing itsell It l<; a creation worthy of standing beside his "Liliom." Louise Closser Hale. Selena Royle. Bertha Broad. Helen Westley and Dudley Digges were amon^ other who fin- ished performances in their respective roles. FRANK KEENAN PLAY OPENING Frank Keenan will return to the leinti- mate stage in a new drama, "Peter Wes- ton." which is to be offered under the joint management of Thomas Wilkes and Sam H. Harris. Keenan, who has been con- fining his histrionic endeavors to the films for several years, has already appeared in this play on the Pacific Coast and scored sufficiently to warrant its being brought here for a metrooolttan showing. When the Keenan piect* is all set Wilkes is planning to make another pro- duction. "Clitnbin'." BILUE BURKE FOR LONDON Negotiations were completed last week between Flo; Ziegfeld, Jr., and Gilbert Mil- ler of the Charles Frohman office to have Billie Burke appear under the latter's man- agement in "Rose Briar" at the St. James Theatre. London, early in May. Miss Burke is to close her engagement at the Empire early in April and will take her entire company to London with her to appear in the Booth Tarkington play. WANTS SNEEZERS BARRED Chicago, Feb. 12.—Healtli Commis- sioner Bundesen advocates the eviction of "persistent coughers and sneezers" from theatres and has advised managers of amusement jplaces of Chicago that that, would be a wise action considering the hold pneumonia has on the city. "MARY THE 3nl," BEST OF RACHEL CROTHERS' PAST OFFERINGS Though it is somewhat overpretentious in proportion to its philosophic content, "Mary the 3rd" is the best play that Rachel Crothers has dedicated to the spoken drama. Her "Old Lady 31" contained more entertainment, but this new play is far superior than her other ones which have been seen heretofore. With an occasional intermission. Miss Crothers has devoted herself to tilting at modem manners, institutions and tenden- cies. This is most evident when the play begins by threatening to expose the theo- ries of the new generation, then switches suddenly into a blanket attack on marriage and nearly everything connected with it. Though this is the trend of dialog. Miss Crothers did not seem to prove her case, for as the curtain descends her young lov- ers are locked in each other's arms. The first act seems to be the briglitest and most interesting portion of the offer- ing, as when, after preliminary scenes that gives glimpses of the courtships of the first and second Mary's, there is revealed a modem home, housing three generations. Here are a number of shrewd and observ- ant lines—a scene in which grandmother, mother, father and daughter are adroitly and amusingly made to reveal their respec- tive viewpoints. Subsequently the play is always interest- ing, but dissipates itself somewhat by in- sisting too strenuously upon its new found theme. The play as a whole is given a reason- ably good performance, with the leading role invested in Louise Huff, who has been concerning herself primarily with the films in the past. She jpves a fresh and pleasant performance, despite the fact that she over- plays it May Gayler makes the role of the grandmother amusing. Morgan Farley is an appealing figure as the son. Others who acquit themselves in creditable style are Beatrice Terry, Mildred MacLeod and Ben Lyon.