The New York Clipper (February 1917)

10 THE NEW-YORK CLIPPER February 21*1917 VcusSflSS^^ 'OH, BOY!" AT THE PRINCESS ONE OF SEASON'S BIG HITS In "Oh. Boy!" which is presented by P. Ray Comstock and William Elliott, the acme of musical comedy seems to have been reached, and the truth of this will be in- delibly impressed upon anyone who en- deavors to surpass it, and this goes for music, book and lyrics. . Mr. Kern baa larpaawd himself in the score of this work. There is in "Ok, Boy 1" more catchy, Hiring music than is usually found in. the combined scores of half a dozen works of its kind. "An Old Fash- ioned Wife,'.' "A Package of Seeds," and "Rolled Into One," are notably catchy numbers that cling to you in spite of your- self, while in "No-tin* Time in Flat-bush," and "Flnbby Dub, the Cave Man." Mr. Mr. Kern's mnslc reflects the rollicking humor of the lyricist. Mr. Kern has the distinction of having his name to three productions now on the New York stage, but his work in "Ob, Boy!" far outclasses that in the other two. Messrs. Bolton and Wodehouse have fur- nished a bright, snappy book, in which he told a story with a plot revolving around the discovery of Jackie Sampson in the flat of George Budd on his wedding night. In the writing of the work the authors have kept pace with the composer, some- thing so rarely done that it becomes a notable event. Tha management, by way of assisting the composer and authors, showed great discretion in the selection of the players and so well did they assign the various roles that each role seem a particularly fit- ted for the one who portrays it. Anna Wbeaton disclosed heretofore un- known qualities as a commedienne and was as graceful a dancer as ever. Her singing of "Rolled Into One" was one of the great big hits of the evening. Marie Carroll was very pleasing. Hal Forde, Tom Powers and Edna May Oliver were all excellent To sum it up. "Oh, Boy:" is one of the season's big bits. WHAT THE DAILIES SAT. Times— Uncommon ly pleasing and spirited. Tribune— A bright show. Sun— Comes to cheer. World— Masterpiece of musical comedy. Herald— Season's musical comedy sensa- liNa. American— A sprightly comedy. WARFIELD IN LAST WEEK David Warfield is new on Ms last week In "The Music Master" at the Knicker- bocker Theatre. NEW SHOW AT NEWBURGH Kewbubgtj, N. Y„ Feb. 20.—"Stocks and Stockings" will be given its first pro- duction here tonight with George Parsons in the leading role. Others in the cast will be Maude Andrews, Ellen Giernm, Claire Burke, Vera Fulcher,' Peggy Cameron, Franceses Rotoli, Lionel Belmore, Scott Cooper, Carlyle Morgan, Stanley Har- rison, Argyll Campbell and George Wynn. "THE LITTLE 1V1AN" AND ''MAGIC" GIVEN AT M A XINE ELLIOTT "MAGIC."—A comedy In three acta, by O. E. Cbeiterton, and "TUB LIT- TLE MAN," a one act play by Jobn Galsworthy, presented Monday even- ing, February 12, at Maxlne Elliott's Ttuatre. CASTS, "ataa-io." The Stranger ('. P. Beggle Patricia Carleon Cathleen Nesbltt •The Be*. Cyril Smith Frank Conroy Hastings , Leonard Modi* Dr. Grlmthorpe Thomas Louden Tne Duke Wallace Rrsklne Morris Carleon Donald Gallaher "The Little Has." A Walter Leonard Uudle An Englishman Thomas Louden An BngUabwoman Ma tell ne Meredith An American Traveller....Walter F. Jone* A German Traveller Herman Ceroid A Dutch Youth Arthur Fltsgereld A Peasant Woman...... Nella JefTorls A Station Official John Barken A Policeman Roy Mitchell Tne Little Man -O. P. Bessie Mrs. Emilie Hapgood and Mrs. Leonard M. Thomas are responsible for the two offerings at. this house Heretofore Mrs. Hapgood's activities in the theatrical field had extended only to the stege society and her debnt as a producer has attracted at- tention, partly because she is Mrs. Hap- good and partly because of the plays selected. "Magic" is Gilbert K. Chesterton's only play. It has much humor of the fantas- tical kind and, as a literary effort, is beyond reproach. But, as a stage work, it falls to the ground. It was well played by the various mem- bers of the cast. 0. P. Heggie was par- ticularly good as the Stranger, and Cathleen Nesbitt and Frank Conroy and Donald Gallaher deserve special mention. The curtain raiser, "The Little Man," is a gentle satire never before played. It tells the story of a number of" travelers in an Austrian railroad station who are discussing the subject of courage, and a meek little man impresses all by his lack of it But, when the baby of a woman he befriended is thought to be suffering from typhus fever, he shows himself to be the only brave man in the crowd.' Mr. Heggie was good aa the Little Man and Walter F. Jones did well as the American. NEW JANE COWL PLAY "Daybreak" is the title, of a new play written by Jane Cowl and Jane Murfin. It is to be given a preliminary production in the Spring by Selwyn A Co. REHEARSE NEW VACHELL PLAY Rehearsals for Horace Ainsley Vachell's "The Case of -Lady Camber" began last -Monday.-. The play is. being produced by the Charles Frohman company. It was one of London's big successes last year. "THE MORRIS DANCE" AT LITTLE THEATRE IS DULL AMUSEMENT "THB M0BRI8 DANCE." a farce In j ' three acts, and scenes, written by Gran- ville Barker from "The Wrong Box," by Robert Louis Stevenson and Lloyd Oaboorac, presented Tuesday evening. February 13, at the Little Theatre. CAST. Morris Flnsbury Ferdinand Gottscbaut Joseph Flnsbury John L. Shine Julia Haxledeane Elisabeth Rlsdon Gideon Forsyth Robert Bendel John Finebury Etbelbert Bales Herbert Wlckham Gerald Oliver-Smith Michael Flnsbury Richard Bennett Mrs. aildersleeves Dora Heritage A Hallway Guard Peter Woolman A Young Has Sidney Blackmer Another Railway Guard.... .Carl M. Tyng A Carter Isidore Maxell Another Carter William roster William Dent Pitman Herbert Yost A Plant Mover John M. Belcber A Landlord Frank Sherlock HI* Wife Ruby Hauler A Customer .....Harry Maltland Another Customer Laoe B. Flak Still Another Customer TeUo Wsbb A "Professional" Richard Henry Lace MIbb Forsyth Anne Morland A Boy Eugene Lowe While "The Morris Dance" was not publicly offered by Wlnthrop Ames until the above date, it was presented at this house on the Saturday night previous be- fore an audience of invited guests. The presentation was not In the nature of a dress rehearsal and many of the regular "first nighters" were present. The whimsical story of Stevenson and Osbourne has been read by thousands who have enjoyed its twists and turns. In story form it was bright and lively, but as dramatized by Mr. Barker it has a tend- ency to be slow, even though Its action requires nine scenes tbst give the play a motion picture aspect. Much of the author's fun has been re- tained ' by the dramatist. He has stuck pretty well to the original text, dealing with the misadventures of Morris Fins- bury. The father of Morris is to fall heir to a fortune if he lives to be the last of a group of men who were insured to that end when they were children. Efforts of Morris to keep him alive, together with the discovery that the elder Finsbury has practiced deceit to avoid the attentions of his son, furnish the comedy. The finale of the second act is hilariously funny. The work has some good moments, but they scarcely atone for the air of heaviness. Mr. Barker has not given it the lightness of touch which is the llfeblood of a farce. The work of some of the players was good, but several were miscast, notably Richard Bennett. However, the dramatist had put so heavy a handicap on all of them that they could not be expected to appear at their best. WHAT THE DAILIES SAY. Tribune— Has its good and bad moments. Times— Rattlepate farce. Herald— Humor falls out early. Sun—/* slow moving. World— Cornea a cropper. American— Rapid fire farce. PLAY FOR CHRISTIE MAC DONALD Christie MacDonald Is to return to the stage in a new musical play, the book of which Is by A. E. Thomas. The produc- tion will be staged by George Marion. CORT DISPOSES OF PLAY The Realty Productions Company has taken over "Johnny Get Your Gun" from John Cort. "GREAT HOUR" FOR HOPKINS The rights to "The Great Hour," a new play by Robert Housum, have been ob- tained by Charles Hopkins. WASHINGTON SQUARE PLAYERS PRESENT FOUR NEW PLAYS Washington Square Players presented a new blU of four playlets at the Comedy Theatre, Monday evening, February 12. CASTS. "THB LAST STRAW," a play by Boa- worth Crocker. .. : .\ Mlene Bauer Msrjorle Vounegnt Jim Lane.... '...Glenn Hunter Frledrlch Bauer... Arthur E. Bob! Karl , ....Nick Long Frltxl .............Frank Lonsmere "A PRIVATE ACCOUNT," a comedy by Georgea Courtellne. Translated from the French by Edward Goodman and Beatrice de Holtbolr. Edward Trtelle Jose Ruben Valentine Margaret Mower "THE DEATH OF TINTAGILBB," a . play by Maurice Maeterlinck, translat- ed from the French by Philip Mueller. Vgraine Gwladya Wynne Tlntaglles ..Frank Longacre BeUangere '. Margaret Mower Aclovala '.Edward Baucerlt First Servant Noel Haddon Second Servant...'.. .7... ...Helen Weatley Third Servant. ...Kathrrlne CorneU "THE HERO OF SANTA MARIA," a comedy by Kenneth Sawyer Goodman and Ben Hecht. Martin Fisher Robert Strange Edward Martin Fisher T. W. Gibson Elmlra Flaher Helen Waatley Nathan. Fisher Arthur E. Hohl Samuel Merrlweatner Holland Hudson Mr*. Merrlweatber Bines Jean Robb Mrs. Fobs Betty Flammer Edward P. Foss Edward F. Flammer Theodore Q. Wilkinson -. Edward Balxerlt Telegraph Operator Joe Fink The third new bill of this season by the Washington Square Players was not so wisely chosen as its predecessors. The apparent object, heretofore, has been to select strong dramatic one act plays. With one exception the new bill is lacking in this essential. The Maeterlinck playlet is the exception and this is dramatic enough to suit anyone 'who admires this author'a writings. The company, however, is not equal to the task of giving such a work properly. ■ The leading lady, Gwladya Wynne, while a very capable yonng actress, is not strong enough, vocally, to give a satisfactory por- trayal of Ye rain e. This character requires a strong voice to carry it to its full dramatic height. In "The Last Straw," Marjorie Von- negut, who has done good work with this organization, was not equal to the role of Mrs. Bauer. Her broken German accent was poor. Frank Longacre and Nicholas Long were interesting aa the juvenile Fritzi and Karl. In "A Private Account" Jose Ruben did capital work aa Trielle and Margaret Mower was charming as Valentine. "The. Hero of.Santa Maria" was more to the liking of the players, and good acting was done by Messrs. Strange, Gibson and Hohl and Helen Westley. . '"....'•..' The players, had, the. full sympathy of the audience and .every principal in the four casts was recalled many times. -'-'■'.'■