The New York Clipper (February 1919)

12 THE NEW YORK CLIPPER February 12, 1919 DRAMATIC "GOOD MORNING, JUDGE" HAS CHANCE TO EQUAL LONDON RECORD HERE "GOOD MORNING. JUDGE."—A mu- sical comedy Id two acta, founded on Pioero's tare*, "Tbs Magistrate," book Dy Fred Thompson, moslc by Lionel MoDGkton and Howard Talbot. Pro- duced Thursday evening, Fehrnary 6. •t tba Shnbert Theatre, by the Sha- berta. ' OUT. Lyall H a eao n Raymond Oakes Elsie Brakine .Helen Shaw Cnthbert gotten .... .Cecil Clavelly Boae Ingleby Katherlne Alexander Joy Chatterton aCoDIo Kins' Cash -, Bobert Vivian Hnghie Cavanach Charlea King Katie Mulrbead Batty Fierce Turner ............Yvonne Clovelly Diana PalrUe Grace Daniels Albany Pope Harold Crane Margaret Bayea Oeorcien Baker Winnie Sweat Nellie Kins' Mr. Bnrrldga ghep Camp MUMeent Heebies Margaret Bali Horatio Heeblee George HaaaeU An Elderly Lady .Nellie Graham-Dent £?'E I « 0 » Alfred Heaae TSSS'H^X JackPanlton Colonel Bagot Edward Martindel Junlort Frattl jean Gentler Judy Deeborongfc Madge North Attendant B«yn Harconrt Inspector Eaeon .Frederick Annerley Oonatahle Stylea Bobart McClallan S****^* Wx„ Charles M. Hlnton Mr. Hoseybaa Aabton Tange For two or three seasons the custom has been prevalent is this country to torn a farce which has outlived Its popularity on the dramatic stage) into a musical comedy and it is not strange that in the large ma- jority of cases success has resulted. It is, perhaps, not strange that this should be ao, for, to begin with, the farces and come- dies chosen for musiealization have been those of acknowledged merit, and, with the musical getting, choruses and elaborate cos- tumes, they have a new appeal. The English managers, following the ex- ample of their American brothers, have adopted the plan and "Good Morning, Judge" is the first English-made play of this kind to reach our shores. As "The Magistrate" it proved to be one of the big successes of its day. In its new form it bids fair to be little less popular. In Lon- don it has run for two years under the title of "The Boy." and while in New York it may not equal the London record, Judg- ing from the reception of the first nighfs «*> dience it will stay with us for some time. The week spot in "Good Morning, Judge," is that part furnished by Fred Thompson, for the lyric are woefully lack- ing in merit. This weakness, however, is well over-" come by Lionel Moncton and the Shuberts, for the music is gay and tuneful and the production rich in costumes and scenery. The burden of comedy falls upon George Hassell, and he carries it easily. He is a comedian of marked ability and gives to the character of the Magistrate, Horatio Meebles, a delightfully light touch. Mollie King, Emilie Lee and Cunning- ham and Clements were four who danced themselves into high favor. Margaret Dale, Betty Fierce, Edward Martindel, Jean De La Yalle and Grace Daniels were others who were individual successes. The score was materially aided by the interpolated numbers, written by George Gershwin, Isadora Caesar and Alfred Bryan. Their number, "I Was So Young, You Were So Beautiful," prettily rendered by Charlie and Mollie King, was the musi- cal hit of the show. WOODS HAS NEW PLAY "Betty in Bed" is the title of a new play which A. H. Woods will produce early next Autumn. He has already signed John Cumberland for a year, with the intention of having him play a part in the piece. Wilson Colison, co-author of "Up in Ma- bel's Boom,'* and Avery Hopwood are collaborating on the sew play. AMATEURS GIVE THE VILLAGE*' The Amateur Comedy Club presented last Thursday night, at the Garden The- atre, The Vfllage," a satirical play by F. J. Turtle. The work is a satire on Greenwich Vil- lage and deals with the Greenwich Village vampire, who first "vamps" a plumber, then "reads up" on art and finally turns up In the artistic vortex of titer Blue Lob- ster restaurant in Sheridan Square. Here was shown a capital bit of satire on the denizens of a true village resort. The cast, which numbered eighteen, included Edward Fales Coward, Theodore E. Stem- way, Henry CJapp Smith, Mr. and Mrs. Harold W. Gould and others equally well known in society. MARIE C AHILL PART ONLY GOOD THING IN "JUST AROUND CORNER" MRS. FISKE PLEASES FIRST NIGHTERS IN HER NEWEST VEHICLE ••Mrs' NBIXY OF N'OBXEANS."—A three act comedy by Lawrence Byre. Produced Tuesday evening. February 4, at Henry Miner's Theatre by Coban . and Harris. CAST. Zebpyrlne Bra Benton AageUqae Doris Moore TJnc* Boae Joseph Dunn Delphine Falalae Irene Halaman Felix Durand Georgee Benavent Fere Andre Clement Frederic But Nelly Daventry Mrs. Flake Georges Durand Hamilton BereTie Me>anle Cardanne Zola Talma In "Mis' Nelly of N'Orleans," Mra. Fiske is seen in a style of role differing widely from those in which she has been most familiar to us for some years. In her early stage career Mrs. Fiake was one of our best ingenues and was quite at home in comedy. It is, therefore, not sur- prising that in the days of her mellow art she can play comedy well. "Mis' Nelly of N'Orleans" is distinctive comedy, sometimes broad farce. The pro- gram even calls it "A Comedy of Moon- Madness and Make-Believe." In it Mrs. shine. Madness and Make-Believe." In it Mrs. Fiske is called upon to be solely a comedienne. In her girlhood Mis' Nelly had been a belle of New Orleans and was betrothed to Georges Durand, of the Creole aristocracy. On the day set for their wedding he had deserted her because he .had seen a man climbing up a bidder to her room and sus- pected her of being faithless. Humiliated by being jilted, Nelly had gone away to live in Paris, and now, twenty years later, returns. The hand of time has touched her lightly, but because she shuns social duties she makes up as an old woman and affects decrepitude. Her return is brought about by the fact that her niece, Delphine, whore she is rearing, baa fallen in love with Felix Durand, son of the man who deserted her. In spite of the fact that she still feels bitter toward Durand, her love for Del- phlne and her desire to make her happy outweigh personal feelings and, when she discovers that Durand is trying to keep the young people apart by a lie, she success- rally plans to thwart the father and se- cures the happiness of her niece and her fiance. Incidentally, Durand again seeks the hand of Mis' Nelly. Mts. Fiske was supported by a capable company. Hamilton Revelle, who, for sev- eral seasons, has devoted much of his time to acting for the movies, did capital work as Georges Durand. Irene Haisman was charming as Dd- phine and Georges Benavent played the susceptible Felix with a pleasing youthful <v«qri The others did good work. The play was handsomely staged under the personal supervision of Harrison Grey Fiske. ••JUST ABOUND THE COBNBR."— A comedy with eonga In a prologue and three acta, fey George V. Bobart and Herbert Han Wiaelow. Produced Wed- nesday evening, February 5, at the Longacre Theatre, by G. M. Anderson. CAST. City Marshal Percy Pembroke Phoebe JLaxrimor« Made Cafalll Deputy Joe Wallace Owen Henry Pickens .....Boy Brlant Sally Fergeraon Clara Maekln Harvey Wattles, Jr Glen Anders Harray Wattles Wilson Reynolds Buddy Hicks Lorin Baker Blllle Martin Marie Bryar William Ward Wilder. .George MacQoanie Vere Joeelyn Loin MeOnire Mra. Harvey Wattles Bngenle Blair Amos Peel Charles Morrison Mra. Wiggins Margaret Hoffman The KIlenTlIle Piano-Player Carl Gray It is a fortunate thing for those con- cerned in "Jast Around the Corner" Oat a player of the capabilities of Marie Cahfll was secured for the principal role, for, without her, or some one of her personality and ability, it would have proved poor en- tertainment. The character she portrays is along the lines of the mother in "Turn to the Bight," and, while it is well drawn, the authors have done little with the others in the play. In the prologue, Phoebe Larrimore is shown to be a young widow who has been impoverished through her tendency to be over trustful, the last of her worldly goods having been swept away through her financ- ing a bogus war benefit, she having been deceived by the name of a well-known man as sponsor of the scheme. This all hap- pens in New York. In the first act Phoebe goes to Wattles- vule to run a country store, formerly con- ducted by her husband, to retrieve her for- tune. She is a game loser and retains her oldtime optimism. Likewise, she retains her overtrustfnlness, these characteristics seemingly being second nature to her. Here she is the marked prey of Harvey Wattles, St., a rube villain. She also trusts Buddy Hide, from the reformatory. But, in spite of this and the fact that, among other things, Wattles, St., who runs a "general" store, tries to ruin her, Phoebe wins out in the end. - - Miss Cahill has long been one of our best light comediennes and gives a delight- ful performance of the trustful widow, a performance which ranks among her best despite the handicap the authors have placed upon her. She sang several num- bers with her usual big success. Manager Anderson baa surrounded the star with a capable company, each member of which does the most possible with the material. Among those who deserve men tion are Wallace Owen, Clara Maekln, Wilson Rey- nolds and Eugenie Blair. The play has been well staged. COULDN'T GET A HOUSE George Tyler, who has been negotiating with five or six managers for a place to continue the run of "Tillie," has been un- successful and has finally been forced to take the show out on the road. The play, after doing rather poor busi- ness, suddenly picked up and was drawing big,audiences when the engagement at Henry Miller's closed. Tyler tried to have the show put on at Daly's, at Broadway and 30th Street, but found that it would take about a month to put the house into shape. Consequently; he abandoned the plan to have "Tillie" start another New York engagement. BUY "INTO THE 400" "Into the 400" is the-title of-a play by Richard Barry which Klaw A Brianger will produce. The deal was completed last week. Two foreign producers have been interested in the piece, and it may also be seen in England and Ranee within a sea- son or two. OPENING DATES AHEAD "Monte Crtsto Jr."—Winter Garden, Feb. 12. "The Royal Vagabond"-—Cohan A Harris. Feb. Vt. "Washington"—Theatre du Vieux Colom- bler, Feb. 17. _ „ _. "Tie Fortune Hunter"—Republic, Feb. 24. OUT OF TOWN The Dancer"—Wllkesbarre. Fa, Feb. 18. "Tumble &V- toSBmm, Feb. 17. "Ure Forever"—Baltimore, Feb. 17i SHOWS CLOSING "Three. Faces Bast"—Cohan A Harris, Feb. IS. • "Roads to Destiny"—Republic, Feb. IT. "PLEASE GET MARRIED" ANOTHER BOUDOIR PLAY HAS FUNNY SITUATIONS ■•PLEASE GET MABBIED"—A three- set taree by James Cnllen and Lewis a Allen Brown, produced Monday even- ing, February 10th, at the tattle Theatre, by Oliver Morosco. CAST. Soapy Higglsa Perce Benton Parson Smith Edward See MH, Ashley . . . . -Ida Darling John Harper Ashley. William Sampson Mm-iel Ashley Bdlth TiAUaferTO Batty Bright Elise Barttett Ferdinand Oliver Walton Ernest Truex Bobert Walton Martin Alaop Constable ..'...••..•••• Blmer Brown Xanhette ....•••.......Margaret Johnston Hotel Clerk Francis Plerlot Frank Hastings Thomas B. Jackson Ber. Jenkins -. J. D. Walsh The merit of "Please Get Married" lies in its newness of treatment rather than its plot, as the bridal chamber of a hotel has formed the basis of numerous plays seen oh the local stage. In the story, Ferdinand Oliver Walton, scion of a wealthy family, believes that, because he has made two mistakes in the matrimonial market, he hates the fair sex. But, in spite of this belief, the mother of Muriel Ashley has landed him for a son- in-law before either the young man or woman most interested are aware of it. The newlyweds start their married ex- istence under most vexing conditions. No sooner do they repair to the bridal cham- ber than their trouble begins. The bell- boy brings them a bottle of infant food by mistake. The hotel clerk brings a telegram which states that the couple are not legally married, and directly afterward delivers to the bride a telephone message which de- mands that they shall not be permitted to stay at the hotel After this the bouse detective, takes a flashlight of them and they are given five minutes to leave the hotel. They are no sooner gone than Mr. and Mrs. Ashley arrive and, learning the young- sters have left, anxiously depart to con- tinue their search for them. The bride and groom, after a futile at- tempt to get other quarters, return and then, to add to their discomfiture, the ho- tel catches fire. . In the end it transpires that Walton and his bride have been legally united and all ends in the regulation happy manner. That Ernest Truex is an actor of ability was further proved by his h an dli ng of the delicate situations which fell to his lot. Aa the story shows, there are many opportuni- ties to make the play decidedly risque, but both Trues and Edith Taliaferro deftly avoid the pitfalls. Ida Darling, Elise Bartlett, Margaret Johnston and J. D. Walsh were among- those in the cast who helped to make the performance enjoyable. HULL LEFT $5,000 The estate of Shelly Hull, who died re- cently while appearing in "Under Orders," is now being appraised by Albert J. Ber- win, of the State Comptroller's office. It is estimated to total "about" $5,000. He is s urvi ve d , by his wife, Josephine Sher- wood Hull, who .waa recently appointed artmini H l.rs trii of the estate, his mother and two brothers.