Variety (February 1909)

VARIETY 15 MISS NEW YOU, JR. About the only changes in the present 'Miss New York, Jr./' which can be noted from memory is some elimination of the dialog in "The Navigators," the two act piece written by Frank Wlesberg, and a moving picture in the first act wherein Abe Reynolds as the Hebrew and Dave Ferguson in his well played, although "cissy" character, are escaping from the train robbers. There has been other matter inserted perhaps in the form of "business," mostly handled by Messrs. Reynolds and Fer- guson. It is one of the very, very few burlesque* shows moving ovef the circuits where "numbers" are not preferable to tfhe comedy. This must be through Reynolds and Ferguson not "driving" their points nor dragging them out, and they have many scenes together. The original idea of "The Navigators" was and is excellent for the class of en- tertainment it is designed for. It provides a fast moving show, in successive scenes, taking a party of travelers from New York to the North Pole, passing through Turkey, Spain, Efcypt, China, Russia, This may sound like a route on a vaude- ville circuit, and whether it is the quickest road to the Pole isnt known, but the countries permit costuming, a "number" occurring in each. During the shifting of settings, there are several spots in "one" to fill in for the necessary time. These are taken care of by the only two turns in the organiza- tion, doing away with the olio. Last Saturday at the matinee in Miner's Eighth Avenue, the song-sheet seller, dur- ing intermission, in calling off the list of his songs, mentioned one as "the only hit in *Miss New York, Jr.'" This was prob- ably due to the boy's ardor in disposing of his wares, but it was not near as true as it was funny. Both the specialties, Perry and White, and The Still City Quartet, are hits, although there was another "act" called Anita, "The Dancing Girl." The court-room bit along at first was really laughable, so well played was it by Reynolds and Ferguson, who argue before a "judge" for the return of their $63 which the Court has taken in settlement of a dispute between them. The musical hit of the show, however, is Lee White, assisted by Ferguson and Reynolds singing "I Wish I Had a Girl." It happens in "China." Not alone does Miss White sing the selections sweetly and extremely well, but the fun placed in it by the comedians brought encore after encore along with Miss White's efforts. While speaking of Lee White, it may be said before it is forgotten that some of the burlesque women who think they look good on the stage because decollette gowns are worm, ought to observe Miss White's idea of costuming. In the several changes (one exception), the neck and bust of the dresses are filled in with a lace effect, giving the young woman a simple girlish appearance, very nice and very wholesome. (That "wholesome" should go in caps; for if there is any- thing nowadays one likes to see on the stage, it is a woman who looks the part.) There are but two principal women, Miss White and Li 11a Brennan. Miss Brennan is a pretty young miss of agree- able presence, and plays capably, although she does change one dress while in the bandits' cave, which left open to suspicion where she had accomplished it, Geo. Perry moved from his act in "one" to Constantinople in evening dress. Mr. Perry is a first-class "straight," though wearing a "Geo. Cohan hat" once which has seen much service. Between Turkey and Egypt a "cooch" dance was expected iu either, but Anita did not suggest a "cooch" in the least. Mr. Wiesberg did some fine writing when he worked in these two oriental countries without a "cooch" dance. While Mr. Ferguson plays a "cissy" well, one can not help but believe that the "cissy" road is not the way for him. Ferguson wears a couple of coats in this piece which are injuring his reputation as a "dresser." As th* Hebrew, Reynolds grows on one, and bring* many a laugh. He is natural and funny in the part, with a highly de- veloped knack of restraining himself while still delivering 100 per cent, comedy. Messrs. Perry, Reynolds and Ferguson are the only principal men. The members of the quartet take part, but outside of Dave Yoder as the bandit chief and judge, the latter a good bit, they have little to do in the pieces. The Still City Quartet are given their singing opportunity somewhat oddly, and it gives the logical action a whack. As Ferguson and Reynolds are brought into the bandits' camp, after the chase on the sheet, the four bandits step down to the footlights and sing. They sing well and go through a long repertoire, due to the sensible selection of popular numbers. There's no "Missis- sippi" in the act. Even the bass has a song which is liked, and a voice to match it. The baritone, or he may have been a low tenor, is possessed of a pleasing voice as well. The act in its entirely made good a mile before one of the largest matinee audiences ever noticed at the Eighth Avenue. In the act of Perry and White, the couple have a dandy number in "I Want Some- one to Call Me Dearie." Besides paro- dying it, they make an "audience song" of the selection, with some realistic "scrap- ping" matter besides. Each has a voice, with a knowledge how to place it to the best advantage. Also there is talk and appearance. One of the big features of the show is Miss White's amiability. She » is always smiling, not a "set" smile, but naturally, in good humor, and the house falls in. In the sixteen chorus girls, one almost resembles Eva Tanguay in looks. One gross fault of the piece is a slow opening in the Spanish number at the commence- ment of the second act. The finale of the first act sung by Mr. Reynolds as a solo is not over strong. But "The Navigators" na a show, and "Miss New York, Jr." as a burlesque troupe are far up in the lead, both legitimately and amusingly. And the show seems to be drawing business. That's the important point always. It's a manager's delight to say to a critic, "What you know would make a horse laugh. Why, you 'panned' the life out of my show, but it has broken every record on the wheel, so where do you get off?" Still it must be nicer to draw business and make money than to "break records." Simc. BIJOU. The Bijou in its second vaudeville week is offering a very mild program consider- ing the scale of prices. Seven acts, in- cluding the illustrated songs which are worked into the proceedings twice during the running and pictures (at the close only) are given. The audience, a little light on all three floors Tuesday night, seemed to be total strangers to vaudeville. They did not smile when a laugh would ordinarily be expected, and in various places where there was apparently noth- ing to laugh at, a hearty outbreak fol- lowed. They showed a mild interest in everything, but it would be wrong to say they evidenced any amount of ap- preciation for anything but the pictures and the illustrated songs. ' Minnie Hurst, whose name appears three times on .the program as a singer of illustrated songs, has any one else heard in this line to date beaten clean off the sheet. In a house where the songs play as an important a part as they do at the Bijou, some one who can handle these songs in the proper shape is a big help to the house if not to the program. The men from the publishing establish- ments usually do the songs more harm than good through their evident lack of interest, poor enunciation and a fine habit of not knowing the lyrics. On her first round Minnie sang three songs, doing ex- ceedingly well with all. The closing number gave the "kids" a chance to get in on a word or two, and they forced the singer to repeat eight or ten times. Jacob's Dog Circus was the show's fea- ture. The dogs go through the routine in a businesslike manner. Jacob has three or four new tricks that' are well done and amusing. The trainer has also changed his style of dress and makes a much bet- ter appearance in a neat blue sack coat and light flannel trousers. Rice Bros, opened the show with a com- edy bar act that got along well enough after all the attempts at comedy had been exhausted. The comedy does not pass beyond the make-ups ("Chinaman" and "Rube"). Neither has a good idea of comedy, and the act would do much better were both to work straight. The bar work is very fair. The simpler rou- tine is run through in nice shape, and a few of the more difficult tricks are also turned off. Vaughner and Patterson, colored, showed the usual singing and dancing spe- cialty. They have nothing new to offer in either line. The pair work hard. The dancing is the best, although it doesn't class with many others. The man at- tempts a great deal without accomplishing much. His shoes may have had something to do with the dancing; they seem to be all powerful heavy. It may have been the feet, though. Gertrude Dudley and Co. and Ross and Moore, New Acts. Dash. The "Casey Liners" received a great shock last week. The fellow who wouldn't buy a cellarette sent up a crate of oranges to Mr. Casey's apartments. Shortlv afterwards it was learned the crite had fallen off the end of an Adams Express Co.'s cart, and the "sticker" found it. HAMMBRSTBIN'S. Princess Rajah, the "cooch" dancer from Huber*s and Coney Island, is in her fourth week at Hammerstein's, and billed to hold over for the fifth. Perhaps she will re- main there until the roof opens, and then transfer upstairs. One pretty wise little boy Tuesday even- ing in commenting upon the extended stay, said: "Well, Willie (William Hammer- stein) is either a better showman than any- body around here, or the rest of the bunch are plain lobsters." The facts are that the house filled to its seating capacity down- stairs before intermission. Rajah was on second after t^e intervention for rest. Rajah is a great "shiverer"; the best who has shown on Broadway or the Bow- ery, but she is far from reaching ner limit at Hammerstein's; Willie won't stand for that. The neadlirier tnis wees: is Jefferson De Angelis, with his company, in a nonsensi- cal lot of junk, far beneath the dignity Ds Angelis should maintain as a performer with his reputation. It secures laughs, however, and the audience seemed much pleased at times, although the one "bit" worth while is the song and dance of Ralph Post and Eddie Russell at the opening. "The Faker" of Charles Kenna in the first part won as much laughter and ap- plause as anything else on the program. Mr. Kenna has drawn a type true to the life, and greatly appreciated by the folks from the country who may be present. He has a new song, "The Smoke Goes Up the Chimney Just the Same," while a couple of others, with the talk and whisking away of imaginary mosquitoes did the trick. During the pianolog by Melville Bills (which followed Kenna), Mr. Ellis played on the piano too much and sang too little. His first vocal number, "Good Advice,* 9 might be cast away, while other catchy little songs like the one of the girl and her dog would do more for Mr. Ellis. To a light house at the hour, Hy Green- way (New Acts) opened the show with Foster and Foster "No. 2." Ray Cox was the first after intermis- sion, a hard spot for a talking "single girl" act. Miss Cox has some new matter on a "Suffragette," but the "baseball" finish got her the most. In another position, and there was plenty of room for her earlier among the mass of men in the show, Miss Cox would have been a clean sweep. Miss Cox wears three costumes, two tailor- mades, and a "gown." She looked "right" all the way. The Empire City Quartet, with Harry Cooper in his overgrown beard, had new songs, one by Cooper (announced), "Good Luck Mary" catching on. It must be about the fifth of the Cooper "Mary" song series. The Quartet did as well as it could, hold- ing the show until a late hour, when the Charles Ah earn Troupe of Cycling Come- dians closed it, making a record through but a few leaving their .seats. There is a great deal of riding and com- edy to the act, which runs too long. The company has been reduced to four, and much improved since opening at Hender- son's last summer. The finish, a "race," gave a big laughing ending, and for a bicycle act Ahearn stirred something. Sime. Hastings & Wilson, a burlesque "strong" act from the west, are in the cast. "The Naked Truth" will open at the Coliseum, London, in May, booked through the Marinelli office and L. Johns, the Moss- Stoll New York representative.