Variety (February 1909)

14 VARIETY NEW ACTS NEXT WEEK Initial Praasitatloa, firs* Appearaao* tr Reappearance in #r Around How York City. ( NEW ACTS OP THE WEEK j Harry Bulger and Co. (New Act) Colo- nia. Three Lelliotts, Colonial. Ed. F. Reynard (New Act), Hammer- stein's. Edna Aug, Hammerstein'e. Huxter Brothers, Lincoln Square. Pitke 0*Hara, Qreenpoint. Harlan Knight and CO., Qreenpoint. Davenport BrueY and Bmfly Frauds (New Act), Bijou, Brooitynl ' Barry Broa, Perth Amboy. Wally Trio, Perth Amboy. J. W. Cooper, New Brunswick. Amy Anderson and Co. (4). "On and Off the Stage" (Comedy). One and Interior. Holloway Empire (London). - Amy Anderson or some one in ber com* pany has succeeded in pirating "On and •Off," Cameron and Flanagan's (American) .act. Miss Anderson and her troupe of trained pickers are making an awful mess of the copy. At the commencement of the turn, Miss Anderson struggles through a song in "one," and manages to escape without a "hand." Two people in black- face follow, one a boy dressed aa a girl; the other is the tumbler. Both perform a poor dance, the acrobat does a fall, and from this point on it is Cameron and Flanaga n 's act in word and action, even to the fight over the towel. The single difference is Miss Anderson appears at the finale to sooth the two boys after the "scrap." Every detail has been carefully looked after, but the "copy" can't get past and the original can come over any time v th a certainty of going over easily. The Anderson bunch has given one of the best exhibitions of "pinching" on record, but the most harm it does besides the 'taking the edge off of Cameron and Flana- gan's act on this side is to ruin whatever little chance the organisation has for favor with an audience. Amy is also at- tempting to imitate Eva Tanguay singing "I Don't Care," without announcing Miss Tanguay. She is as capable of doing this well as she is of doing anything else. Iiy. Greenway, Juggler and Cartoonist. 15 Mine.; One. Hammerstein's. It was a bad night for the show bub ness on Tuesday, and no one was in a hurry to see the Hammerstein show. By 9:30 the theatre had filled up, but Hy Greenway appeared at 8:11. Mr. Green- way is from the west, a juggler, cartoonist and monologist, although he does not bill himself in the latter. In juggling, Mr. Greenway depends more upon his patter, some good and some ancient, but his stronghold seems to be cartoons, where some of the patter might be placed. He is quick of thought, and quick with the pencil, having a strikingly humorous vein, as seen in the rapid sketching of a "Salomer." But Hammerstein's on Tuesday evening at 8:11 was no place for Mr. Greenway nor anyone else excepting the orchestra, about the only occupants of the chairs on the lower floor. With a proper opportunity Greenway csn make them laugh. Sime. Carrie Nation. Canterbury and Paragon, (London). Carrie might be there with a strong right, and is probably the handy kiddie with the toy axe, but as a music hall turn she is a brand new and bright young polish. It might have been better if the strenuous lady from Kansas had gone into her dancing after two minutes. Not t]pat they were walking out on her— in fact, they were trying to get to ber, but she simply wasn't popular. At the Paragon where Mrs. Nation appeared at about nine, the announcer had just time to introduce Carrie when a husky voice from the gallery-said: " 'Ave a drop o' gin, eld dear." That helped some, and amid shouts of "get off" and all that, Carrie gave the best imitation of a figure in a moving picture making a speech that has been seen. At the Canterbury, it was dif- ferent—and much worse—for Carrie. As soon as the "anti-souse queen" showed, there was a wild uproar. Everyone with presence of mind enough, moved toward the door. Then they started to throw things until someone, who had evidently had been practising the "spit ball," caught the Water Wagon Lady over the eye with to-morrow's breakfast, the proverbial egg. This didn't even stop Carrie, as one of her company (he looked it) came out and mopped the egg off Carrie's brow. It didn't last much longer, but Carrie told a few in the front rows what she thought of them. Aside from Carrie, the most in- teresting incident of the evening was the ejectment of a big fellow from the or- chestra by Charlie Adams, the house man- ager, and Paul Murray, Carrie's agent. Mr. Adams is noted for ushering people out of the Canterbury, but Paul is not famous for helping him. Paul is very proud of himself, even if the big fellow did splash an egg all over his overcoat. Carrie's debut was a great event and will long be talked about by those lucky enough to see it, but Mrs. Nation's music hall career iB over. While the management was willing to continue her at both houses "Young Murray" (as he is likely to be called hereafter), insisted on cancelling her contracts. Gertrude Dudley and Co. "A Rehearsal" (Comedy). 17 Mine.; Full Stage. Bijou. "A Rehearsal" has just enough sketch structure to allow Miss Dudley to ap- pear in two characters. Answering a theatrical advertisement she applies first in soubret role; then as a prima donna. She is assisted by a man who plays her accompaniments on the piano and joins in the choruses. The characters amount to nothing; the singing is the feature. Miss Dudley has a pretty so- prano voice which she handles with judg- ment, and her songs are very well liked. Her assistant's voice contains music, and they do well in duets. If Miss Dudley will do away with the characters and try to hit upon something about half be- tween the soubret and the prima donna the act will be in first rate shape for the smaller time. Daah. Ssm Chip and Mary Marble. "In old Edam" (Comedy), aa Mine.; Three (Special Set). ColoniaL For their first vaudeville appearance, Sam Chip and Mary Marble, who a short time ago retired from a musical comedy, have struck New York City with a very amusing piece, made so because they are a very entertaining couple. There is a bit of a story dealing with a cuckoo cloak which chirps when a lie is told, quickly recognisable, and a rather frayed piece of business when Miss Marble tells her uncle she would like to see him hit the Dutch boy again. He does—and again. Around the foyer of the Colonial Monday evening, it was remarked the setting and some portions of the act as well, par- ticularly the "Schneider" song, along with the costumes and make-ups, suggested "The Girls of Gottenburg." There are three characters, all "Dutch," the Uncle being John W. Dunne. The program says Mr. Chip and Miss Marble are "doing a Delft dialog with ditties." The Delft is on the back drop, pieces of that ware hav- ing been painted there. Mr. Chip is a funny German comedian, resembling John Hyams in appearance (as Mr. Hyams looked in "Two Hundred Wives") and Sam Bernard in manner and talk, also dialect. He sang "Aint I Glad I'm Single" for encores. "Blind Pig" also brought the couple 'back, and won favor at once. Miss Marble is a girl with a captivating humor- ous laugh, much vivacity and a most likeable personality. The act scored, and it deserved to as one of the neatest, clean- est comedy numbers of this season. Sime. Franz Rainer*s "Tyroleans" (14). "A Wedding in the Alps." 25 Miiis.; Full Stage (Exterior). 135th Street. Franz Rainer's "Fourteen Tyroleans" go through what is supposed to be the cus- tomary wedding ceremony of the Bavarian Mountain districts. It consists largely of singing and dancing and not a little beer drinking. The singers, six men and eight women, in the native costumes make a pretty picture and the singing, entirely of the "yodle" character, pleasing. The na- tive dances are also amusing and interest- ing. The principals go about their work as though they were there simply to enjoy the wedding ceremony. The songs are all rendered in foreign tongue with one ex- ception, and to hold to the atmosphere, this one should be dropped. It is hardly fitting for a crowd of Bavarian mountain- eers to break forth with much feeling into "My Old Kentucky Home." Another song of the more popular variety was also given, but this being in the foreign lan- guage it mattered little, as the melody could hardly be confined to any one local- ity. The orchestra was used only at in- tervals, the accompaniments supplied by two of the troupe on a zither and guitar. The atmosphere, an important factor, is maintained throughout. A little comedy is afforded by one of the men with a fine rotund figure, and is very much in the spirit of the occasion. The net affords very pleasant light entertainment. Dash. Ross and Moore. Songs and Talk. as Mins.; One (Special Drop). Bijou. Ross and Moore have rather an enter- taining singing and talking act, made so principally by the good comedy method of the Hebrew comedian. He has hi* own idea of the character, and it is a little away from all the others. It is clean and presentable, and not at any time over- done. The "drop" is the exterior of a "Five Cent Picture House." The Hebrew enters and, not liking the show, says so, whereupon the manager throws him out. E^ni_th$j Vj*e» tES talk. 0! fl;he dialog, while perhaps it could stand brightening, is away from the old "gags" and feeaten paths—a great relief. The "straight" has a very fair voice which helps. The fiui»b is the "straight" and parody idea of a song very nicely done. Dash. OUT or TOWN Herbert Brenon and Helen Downing (3). "The Intruders" (Comedy). 18 Mine.; Full Stage (Interior). Star, Chicago. "The Intruders" is offered by Brenon and Downing and Raymond dure. It is a vigorous satire of the farcical order, with a succession of rapid situations. A young widow anticipates the company of a young bachelor at an affair. The young man accidentally enters the home of the widow accompanied by a friend, also a jolly fellow of the same type. Neither ever saw her before. After several bright remarks between one of the young men (Mr. Brennon) and the young woman (Miss Downing), she thinks she discovers her cousin, and plans a nuptial arrange- ment. The other enters, and when he finds that the young woman is pretty, plans to win her, declaring he was the one expected. The other says his companion is deaf, and he, not to break faith, keeps up the deception, while the woman criti- cises his deportment and etiquette. The sketch has many amusing incidents. Mr. Brenon is excellent, and a very good light comedian. Miss Downing and Mr. Clure appeared to good advantage. It gives many reasons for laughter. Frank Weiaherg. La Zar and La Zar Co. (4) "The Hypnotic Glass" (Spectacular). 25 Mins.; Three Scenes (Two Special Sets). Star, Chicago. La Zar and La Zar, brother and sister, are the principals. They formerly played vaudeville in an instrumental musical act. The idea of "The Hypnotic Glass" is probably as old as the mythical series of "dream" improbabilities, but the theme is novel in construction. The act opens in "two," showing a mechanical orchestra on the back drop, a very unique and novel arrangement. A German professor tells a girl he loves her and is haunted by the illusion of love. He directs the mechanical orchestra, all the figures in operation, when he falls into the Land of Nod. The second scene is among the witches and good fairies. He finds the girl and threatens her if she does not marry him. She dances while he motions a la Sven- gali, and a fairy comes to her rescue. The other female native of the unknown locale is a sort of witch, with a grotesque (Continued on page 20.)