The New York Clipper (February 1917)

8 THE HEW YORK CLIPPER February 21, 1917 ROYAL The Royal seems to be fast becoming a Bock & White institution. The team is there now for the fourth week this year. They will be there next week, too. That the audience likes them is easy to see. The stage is theirs ax long as they want it, and they took forty-one minutea at Monday's matinee. After coins through a short routine of eongs, th-jy allowed the audience to choose the remainder of their numbers, where- upon Bock's pessimistic song was de- manded, after which Miss White listened to bis old bnt popular musical sea yarn and asked him whether "it was the lady or the ship." Miss White still spells Mississippi and had the babies in the audience doing it, too. Every mother's little daughter who had spank enough was given a chance to sing the song, bnt Miss White sang it cu- test of all She sings a new song much on the same 9tyle. Bnt it is obviously a copy Of the other and a copy never takes as well as the original. After the Hearst-Pathe Pictorial News, Herbert's Loop-the-Loop and Leaping Canines opened the show. The beginning of this act is very effective and received a deserved hand from the audience. It is a good act of its kind. Myrtle xoung and Jack Waldron, who win be reviewed under New Acts, followed. Mabelle Adams and Marion Murray pre- sented Ed^ar AM»n WoolFs comedy. "Cot- ton Stockings.** Miss Murray has enough personanty to successfuUy carry over the act. Miss Adams is not an actress, des- pite Miss Murray's line to the contrary, which says that "every woman is an act- ress." The musical numbers at the end of the act are only fair. Frank Mullane had some humorous stories, which the audience liked and sang several songs in a way that pleased. Marie King, with E. E. M w rini, her new partner, closed the first half of the show. Her toe dancing is exceUently done and received a hearty response from the audi- ence. Jewell's Manikins foUowed intermission. Although plenty of new material has been injected into this old act, vaudevffle has advanced to a point where this style of en- tertainment finds it hard going with an audience. The manikins are made to per- form clevercly and the act is well thought out, but the day of the Punch and Judy entertainment is past In any event, this act does not deserve the spot following in- termission. If used at all, it should be employed to open the show. Lew Pistel * O. H. Cushing remind one too much of Mclntyre and Heath with their stranded minstrel talk, while their "allagarizzle plant" is very suggestive of the tree. *Heir talk justs gets over whUe the end of their act is so weak that they were allowed bnt one bow at Monday's matinee. Rock & White closed the vaudeville bill, followed by "Patria." FIRST AMERICAN "HAMLET" SOLD The first American edition of "Hamlet" was sold at auction last week and brought $460. FIFTH AVENUE Ruth Thomas and her company of classical dancers, in three elaborately staged and artistically costumed terpsi- chorean pantomimes, give the bill during the first half an unusual suggestion of class. The Grecian settings form a par- ticularly effective background for the opening number, and the simple little story is exquisitely unfolded. Stafford Pemberton, a male dancer of exceptional ability, renders Miss Thomas fine support. The Chinese pantomime is a whole vaudeviUe act in itself. The costumes in this have been selected by some one with a comprehensive knowledge of light and sbade, and the action of the Oriental tale is interesting from start to finish. The third number discloses a Persian set that brings the fabled glories of the Arabian Nights vividly to mind. Linton and Lawrence, in a hodge-podge of piano playing, songs and comedy, offer a nicely arranged specialty which is suf- ficiently varied to suit the variable tastes of all sorts of audiences. Miss Lawrence is a capable comedienne, with a likable style, and Linton is more than acceptable as a foil for her original nonsense. Reddington and Grant have an excel- lent idea for their trampoline specialty. Loth assume the tramp character, and in addition to the routine stuff identified with this standard vaudeviUe type, intro- duce several comic stunts that seem de- cidedly new. The act carries a special set, with the trampoline disguised as a front stoop of a cottage. Roder and Ingraham, a new piano play- ing and singing duo, offer a routine of songs which they put over smoothly. The team is very strong on personal appear- ance, each wearing evening clothes with ease and distinction. The act went very well Monday, the audience showing keen appreciation of the comedian's clever handling of lyrics of the comic sort. The pianist has an excellent singing voice and scores with a ballad solo. The turn has plenty of speed, and compares favorably with any of its type Been hereabouts this season. Doss, the man who grows taller while you wait, proved interesting from a scien- tific as weU as an amusement standpoint. The turn is weU presented, an announcer paving the way before Doss makes his appearance on the roBtrum. It is an act that will cause talk, of the business pro- ducing variety, wherever it plays. Winona Winter sung three or four songs and offered her ventrfloquial bit with excellent results. Miss Winter has a decidedly attractive stage presence and a complete knowledge of song delivery. She scored her usual success. Bessie and Harriet Remple and asso- ciate players in an allegorical playlet con- taining a wealth of worldly wisdom and philosophy entitled "You" held up the show dramatically. The sketch is odd, but well constructed. A pretty setting adds materially to its value. Val and Ernie Stanton, a pair of eccen- tric comics, got their full share of laughs with some old and much new material. For a more complete review of this.turn see New Acts this week. AMERICAN DeArmo and Marguerite opened the bUl and were well liked in their novelty juggl- ing act. The man, who is an expert in his line, does most of the work, but his young lady partner in an able assistant. The Taneen Brothers, in their black face musical act, captured their audience. These boys are clever musicians and ex- cellent comedians and their work was so wen appreciated that they were forced to respond to an encore. Brown and Barrows, in their capital little skit, "Back Home" scored an em- phatic hit. They are very capable per- formers and have bright, snappy dialogue, which they put over to the best advantage. Besides her other accomplishments, the young lady member of the team gives a cornet solo capitally. Waite and See did a novelty singing and talking skit that pleased. There are two men and a woman in the act. One of the men acts as a plant in the audience and later appears on the stage. Joe Maxwell's "Ladies Reducing Par- lors" met with its usual reception. Pielson and Rose found favor with their singing and talking act. Maude Leone and company, with their underworld sketch," "Inside Stuff," came in for a good share of appreciation. Miss Leone does capable work and the man who played the Chief of Police lent good aid. The other man had little to do. Eva Smirley. was weU received for her ringing and the Artois Brothers, with their comedy bar act held down last position. HARLEM OPERA HOUSE (Last Half) Bob, Tip & Co. is a good turn for the early spot It is esperiaJly pleasing for the youngsters. The dog does many clever stunts. Petrie and Budd, billed as "The Gattling Gabsters," have a lot of "gab" stuff which goes over in good fashion. When the card-boy puts out the an- nouncement "MarceUe" one is under the impression that it is a single posing act, but when- the curtain rises six girls are in view. Two comedians appear later. This girl act is hardly up to the standard of similar turns. The dialogue and busi- ness is excellent and the girls youthful and pretty, but their work is done in a care- less manner. - Sol Levoy had a new patriotic number as his offering and, before he finished, had the audience singing the chorus for three or four encores. Healey and Chaplow presented a con- glomeration of song, chatter and dance under the billing of "For No Reason at AIL" Whipple, Huston & Co. offered their comedy-dramatic sketch "Spooks." This act has been playing the two-a-day houses in the East for the past three years. Hampton and Shriner have a bundle of nonsense in their chatter and song which Is superior to the average nut acts playing the two-a-day houses. The material is bright and snappy. It is a turn that would fill in on any spot in the two-a-day houses. Major Doss, the "Man Who Grows," dotted the show. JEFFERSON The' Landry Bros., in a hanging rope novelty, accomplished their feats with skill and ease. Whitney and Wilson have changed their material since last seen. The act now opens with Miss Wilson trying to sing, but interrupted from the orchestra by Miss Whitney, who finally gets upon the stage. The act consists of piano and Bongs, and a little dancing by Miss Wil- son, which is the best thing in the of- fering. Soana gives impersonations of great men, past and present, and was accorded a sufficient amount of applause to show he was appreciated. Crusoe's Isle, a nautical singing skit, with Mattie Boerum and Co., was given a hearty reception, the method of presenta- tion as well as the songs being liked. "What Every Girl Should Know" (New Acts) was the hit of the bill. Murray Bennett, a nonsensical co- median, had them laughing from the min- ute be came upon the stage. He has a laugh which is infectious, and while he put over gome aged jokes, the audience laughed at his laugh. His closing song went-over very big. The Monkey Hippodrome was. an excel- lent closing number. It was very enter- taining and pleased. Kent and' Stanley did not appear, and Ray and Burns replaced them on the sec- ond show. They are a singing and danc- ing couple, reviewed under New Acts. CITY The Georgettes opened the show with their acrobatic offering, and got a .big hand. The youngster's work .was espe- cially liked. Billy Glason, a singing comedian, put over his songs to big applause. Dorothy Burton and 'Co. presented a sketch entitled "The Love Doctor," which has a lesson. Miss Burton pleased as the slangy, ragged but happy girl, who brings love and happiness to an old couple. The moral was "to think less of our troubles and more of our blessings." The act met with the approval of the audience. Mason and Murray, who would have a good act if they cut out some of their fooling, were liked in their songs. Too much kidding becomes tiresome,, and theirs was not entertaining. The act moves too slowly and, perhaps, could be improved if the couple restricted them- selves to singing and dancing. Dr. Cook, the self-appointed discoverer of the North Pole, gave an interesting lecture on how he did it. His talk was accompanied by slides and was hugely enjoyed- The Charles Ahearn Troupe of novelty cyclists were the same riot they always are. The Two Leightons entertained with their comedy and songs, and were very much liked. The Hula dance by the one in blackface, accompanied on the ukulele by the other, made a good closing number, and got the act a generous amount of applause. Haywood and Clayton offered a very good dancing * act