Variety (January 1919)

16 /"■■ LEGITIMATE Sang he must rid himself of the girl forth- , .yritii. Vo SfiDf; calls.for MlpK Toy, and leaves the room tor Potter to Interview her. Ming Toy Bays the mien winked at her and she winked back .through politeness. What she did in the window was only what she had seen qthers (Americans) do In a place across the way, and Ming Toy winds up the interview hy having Jimmy Potter show her how to "Bhake the shimmy." Lo Sang concludes to dlspoee of the girl to Charlleyoung. He appears. Charlleyoung runs the Tong, has five chop suey Joints, and when you ask for a chicken chop suey In his place, you get chicken. Charlleyoung says It himself. ChartleyouDg tella of four faded roses be has on his hands and he wants a fresh flower. Ming Toy Is the flower. Billy Benson turns up after Ming Toy prayed for blm to the "Christian God." Blllle connives . with her, also Jimmy Potter, to escape, and Ming goes to the Benson home as maid to Billy's sister, with whom Jimmy Potter Is in love. The final two acts are devoted to developing Ming Toy, also preventing Billy from marry- ing her. As It seems all agreed for Billy to renouace his country and family to wed the Chinese girl, sou following the engagement re- ception of bis sister and Potter, Charlleyoung cornea along with some of his gang, to murder young Benson for stealing the Chinese woman of a Chinese. Thoy enter the house, Ming Toy comes downstairs, Charlleyoung grabs her, and, when Billy Benton was about to be kilted, someone turned up the lights. The Intending murderer was Ming's Chinese father, ( but ho won't kill Billy because he says Ming Is not a Chinese girl. Permitted by Charlle- young to tell who she la, ho admits she was American all the time, stolen when Ave months old from a missionary in China. That's why Ming's Chinese papa wanted to sell her on the Love-Boat, to secure enough money to get another pig, Ming said her daddy had 16 daughters and 14 pigs. Selling her and get- ting another pig made It "CO-60," hut she didn't know about "60-tSO" until reaching Frisco. Then she found out everything, and used "60-00" and "Shahe-a-shlmmy" until you knew they were Just pushed In the dialog for laughs. Ming was full of "wise cracks," but the unwisest of all got the biggest laugh. Samuel Shipman and John B. Hymer aro the co-authors of the play. Mr. Shipman, who wrote "Friendly Bnemles" with Aarou Hoff- man, again divided with Mr. Hymer In the same ratio, straight and comedy, Shipman doing the straight and Hymer the comedy, ' with Bhipman conceiving the play. Whatever tho primary studious object of Mr. Shipman . was, whether to say everyone Is horn equal, or whether a race Is a race and there can be no racial blending, which would be an argument , against Intermarriage, or whatovor It was. It seems that tho sensible Idea of allowing ' laughs to como first kind of broke Into the original thomo. For instance, whon and for the flrst time tho dialog took a real academic trend, someone spoke about tho Poles hav- ing been mixed up all over Burope for 860 years and were still Poles; that the Hebrews had done tho same thing for 2,000 years • and wore stIU Hebralo at heart; In proof that environment could not change, someone else said In a quick and snappy way that you might place a cat In a canary's cage, • but the eat would never sing. Tho laughs wore plentiful through tho evening, and tho play Is called a comedy on the program. Tho drama of it was melodrama in intent If not always in action. While there Is no decided novelty to the piece In any way, the way it was played should put it over, for it's Inter- esting nnnugh through Charnoyoung und his Ideas. The way be speaks about women and his women may excite the social reform socie- ties. About the only thing rem|Inlng Is where Mr. Shipman got his Information on the Chinese style of doing business, also Chinese money. Mr. Hymer Is not overwell known to Broad- way's $2 shows, hut he may he. He knows how to place a laugh, put a punch In a line and get it over, for ho Is of vaudeville, an author there, and a good one; a blackface character comedian and a better one. All Mr. Hymer is shy Just now is a high polish and the understanding that In a ^2 play the people want it logical—It can't be a laugh and run awoy, for the show keeps going on. , While Mr. Nash got the center and held It among the men, with Miss Balnter In the same position among the women principals, Mr. Lonergnn gave a performance that was well worth noting. Messrs. Wlnnnt and Short were breezy when not serious, Mr. Short par- ticularly. Martha Mayo, as Mrs. Benson, was ■addled with a tiresome lino, "Use your own Judgment, Andrew," speaking to her husband. The others of the company were nicely bal- anced as against the main principals. Forrest Robinson replaced Frank Kemble Cooper as Andrew Benson, through the announced Illness of Mr. Cooper. Whatever else may he said of "Bast Is .West." It makes a play tho public will llkd, and that is about jill that William Harris, Jr., who presents it, will cnre' about. Tho staging by Clifford Brooke was nicely done; Mr. Har- ris produced It without stint, and Robert Hood . Bowers composed some special Chtne^te music and songs, besides leading tho orchestra. The Shlpmnn story of this piny would he a coi-king scenario for a feature film. It has huge opportunities for the camera. Bime. PARTNERS ON THE OUTS, Cyril Harcourt and Norman Trevor, who joined this season to co-produce and appear in plays at the Comedy, may sever their partnership with the run of "A Place in the Sun.'' They are said to have had differences lately. THE GENTILE WIFE. David Davis....;..;;..:;...•.,.David Powell Mrs. Davis, his mother Vera Gordon Jacob DavlB, his father W. H. Thompson Christina, his aunt Mrs. A. AsheroB nuby, his sister Amy Dennis Eva Goldschmidt, hia sister Lltta Mable Herman Qoldschmidt, her tiusband, Stanley Jessup Nalda, David's wife Emily Stevens Jane Allen Bleanqr Hontell Dr. Mackenzie Frank Conroy Dr. Hotchkiss Charles Hammond Caroline ....- '. .Virginia Curtis The indications are that the very best thing that Arthur Hopkins could do with his pro- duction of "The Gentile Wife," now the cur- rent attraction at the Vanderbllt Theatre, Is to send It to the storehouse. There, at any rate. It will not cost as much money to keep as it does in a theatre. It is a play hy Rita Wellman, staged by Mr. Hopkins and enacted in Isettings that are the work of Robert Kdmund Jones. As a play It is one of those pieces of literature for the stage evidently supposed to carry a message. In this particular play It is dlfilcult to de- termine whether that message la a trans- mission of the Biblical teachings of either "a man shall cling unto his wife" or whether he "shall honor his father and his mother." There Is a touch of both, and at the finish of the piece one does not know which of the two was turned over to the dispatcher to send. The play starts nowhere and ends In the same place. It does, however, show that the playwright had a daring touch. That touch Is having the wife, the Oentlle one, maka a confession to her husband, who is the oniy son of a Jewish household, that she com- -mlted adultry In the garden the night before. That's 'In the third act, where all the real action of the four acts is placed. A few minutes later-Is the big scene, for the star at least It Is after tho husband has discovered It was not love between the wife and her seducer, but physical attraction. That Is an- other decided touch of modernism, especially when one considers that the playwright is a woman. Perhaps that is the reason Mr. Hop- kins accepted the play. Other than tho copfesslon and the big scene the play consists of a series of episodical sketches torn from the book of home life of a successful Jewish family wlioss ouly son has mnrrlod a "goylm" (Ch*(8tlan). They are true to life. Why particularly a Jewish family Is not shown. That might have happened in any family where the son, a successfnl scientist, educated to tho 0th degree, feels that ho has risen nbnvo those whose principal asset has been to acquire wealth and shun the finer points of education, and who selects a wife from a coterie that is hunting "a career." TTie Inter development, which carries with It a now thread-worn rnclnl hatred thought, may ha\f bcon tho reason. Only one had thought that that touch of hatred had been pretty well wipod out- In the fusing of the recent Ihiropean melting pot. The character touches do, however, show that tho authoress had lived, even though robelllously, among her own elders, and her play In that much Is a reflection of her own thoughts, all of which centered on what she may have termed a selfleh slavery to ties of ancestry. One can almost visualize lier at one time In, the character of the young daughter. Ruby. She must have been Just that tjrpe of n RGlflsh kiddle, spoiled, and her Ideas all In n Jumble. But It Is tough when she sits down to g«t even by writing a play about It all. Here Is the story that took four acts to tell, and then failed to furnish a finish. David Davis, Jewish, successful professor of biology, marries Nalda Jones. He falls to tell bis re- ligious faith. FInotly, while they are honey- mooning at a fashionable Fifth avenue hotel, three weeks later he meets his mother and two sisters on the avenue. He goes to tho dovecote and Informs wlfey that he has in- vited mother, et al, to call, and then con- fosses he Is a Jew. The family calls, there Is some strained conversation, and, after they have gone, a fit of temperament on wifey's part. Act two Is the Davis home on Long Island. Effective in certain touches. Time, five months later. David and wlfey have been living with the old folks, the married sister of David and her husband and three kiddles, and the younger sister. Two of tho associates of the son from the temple of learning where he Is active aro^ down for the right. One of thorn. David's superior, and the one that has blocked his ad- vance to the "chair" because of racial differ- ences, admires the wife. Old friend "physical nttrnctlon" arrives, and "In the moonlight in tho garden" and the curtain. The next morning on the breakfast porch husband receives a letter stating that the hoard had decided to advance another member of the faculty to the chair over him. Added to that comes the confession of the wife, with the husband ready to step aside if it was love. But when he lenms that it was simply animal- ism, he rushed off to the station and shot the seducer dead. A year later In the same home of the Davis', the trial Is going ngalnst the boy, and Anally ho escapes from the sanitarium th.'Ough the aid of his wife and a friend.. They aro to sail for South America, the automobile Is waiting, ana ho has come for one farewell with his family. The old aunt Is dying, and Is ra.iUnK.. for h!.m, .PP.. Inotepd. of tushln*. off Jn .. the ear, he turns and goes to her Wdstde. Then curtain. Now Arthur Hopkins must know that a lot of lives have been saved by the wife going on the stand and telling her story, and In a great mnny cases It hns been Intimated thot the story was "framed.'" Perhaps that ending would have boon "sop" In his and the author's eyes for the masses. But those are the fel- lows that pay at the box office, ond it would have been what they wanted. As It Is the finish won't do at all. The play as U now stands will not get by, and, although ArtDui- Hopkins niay have an idea'" of keeping it at the Vanderbllt to force a run and to see what it will do, he will undoubtedly find out that at the end of four weeks that whatever draught .that bis star haff will be exhausted, and that the piece Is not attract- ing patronage. I It Is not because of the fact that there aren't moments of fine acting or that there Is a lack of extremely exquisite characterization, for those elements are present. Hiss Stevens, despite her little tricks with the handkerchief and the constant fixing of her hair, does give a corking performance. She Is extremely good in the big moment of the 'third act, but the real "fat" role of the piece 1b In the hands of Vera Gordon, and it Is the character role of David's mother that she plays to perfec- tion. She carries all the comedy, and success- fully handles an emotional scene of tremendous proportions In the last act. W. H, Thompiwn as the father is presenting a delightful char- acterization of the wealthy diamond merchant who has conquered by sheer sticktoitlveness. David Powell in the role of David Davis is entirely miscast, principally because of his accent. He plays the role as well as might he expected under the circumstances, and gets' practically all that there is In It At the best, however. It can hardly be said that the role Is a sympathetic one. Frank Conroy as Dr. Mackenzie does not seem to fit Into the pic- ture at all. He being rathhr ungainly at times, and not quite appearing to be the type that one would expect the wife to fall ipr. Of the others, Mrs. A. Asherotrin a char- acter role get over very effectively a crotchety elderly aunty. The bits were that of the youthful sister. Ruby,' played by Amy Dennis: a maid, by Virginia Curtis, and Dr. Hotchkiss, by Charles Hammond. Early In the flrst act Eleanor Montell played a bit that carried fair- ly welt. At the best, "The Oentlle Wife" Is an In- teresting experiment Frea. WITH THE MUSIC MEN. - Wybert Stamford; the- Bngllih stage prO' ducer. arrived from London Deo. 80. FULLER GOlftG TO LONDON. Edwin Fuller, for a great many years treasurer of the New York Hippo- drome, who has been managing the Liberty theatre at Camp Custer, Mich., is to sail for London this week on the Mauretania. He is going abroad for J. L. Sacks, Ltd., of London. EUBORATE ACT PRESENTED. St. Paul, Dec. 31. "The Man from Minnesota," the Charles Lindholm's vawdeville skit, was presented for the first time as a four-act comedy drama at the Shu- bert, Xmas matinee, and scored. To the original five-people skit has been added additional situations, but with the plot retained. The Swede in the revised version goes to Colorado on a secret mission. While there he wins a baby at a raffle, this event leading him into no end of complica- tions. The cast includes, besides the au- thor, Earl Lee, Dorit Kelton, promi- nent in stock in this city, Thomas St. Pierre, Edna Davis, Flora Kenyon, Herbert Goette, Enza Zeller, Charles Peyton. SHOWS OPENING. Gus Hill's production of "Odds and Ends" opens Christmas day in Read- ing, Pa. E. J. Carpenter vhas signed up with the American Plajt Co. with the ap- proval of Winthrop^ Ames for the pro- ducing rights of "Her Own Money," the Mark Swan play which Julia Dean produced in New York which will be used by Adelaide Thurston as a road vehicle for the remainder of the season. Miss Thurston opens in it New Year's Day in Raleigh, N. C. Clay T. Vance will manage the tour, with Gebrge Degnon ahead. Al. H. Wilson resumes his road travels about Jan. 17 in Richmond in "Once Upon a Time." "Mary's Ankle," direction of Harry Hunter and William Lytell, opens Jan. 13 at Camp Humphrey, Va., with a tour of the cantonments arranged pri'bf "tb'regiilair 'road time." ' The Actors' Fund annual benefit entertain- ment will be held at the Century Jan. 24. Arthur Lang, the song writer. Is ill witb fhe "flu." Jack Mills, McCarthy and Fisher's profes- sional manager, left for Chicago last week. Henry Burr, the phonograph songster, has formed a new music publishing flrm. Louis Weslyn has been appointed head of the Daniels & Wilson New York offices. Miss Breaker is the professional manager. The home of the late Moggie Mitchell (Mrs. Charles Mace), at 102d street and West End avenue. New York, was sold at auction Deo. 27. The sale price was not given. Over $12,000 was raised at the theatrical performance given at the Hippodrome Dec. 29 for the benefit of the Oathollo Big Brothen' League. The music publishing offices of the late Pat J. Howley have been taken over by Ed Moray, the song writer, who will publish his own compositions. "The Woman in Room 13," by Samuel Bhip- man and Max Marcln, produced by A. H. Woods, opened In Providence Deo. 80. In- cluded in the cast are John Mason, Lowell Sherman, Janet Beecher, Oalt Kane. . Tenano Vltale, son of Giuseppe Vitale, a master vldlinlst, a pupil of Die Bull, left an estate ot-"abaut $1,000" la personal property and "about $200" In realty, when he died to Brooklyn, Intestate, Dec 11. The Sbuherts plan to open a theatre ticket clearing house In New York, where tickets may be bought for all theatres under their management. The plan at present ii work- ing satisfactorily In Boston., Elsie Janls entertained twelve little boys and girls, children of men In the service, at her home In Tarrytown, N. Y., on Xmaa Day. Miss Janls, who Is now in London, cabled her housekeeper to give the children the best Xmas party they ever had. Frank Clark hasc. Joined tho Broadway visitors from points' west. Clark looks lit and has developed a solid pair of shouldsre. That substantiates stories about his tralningj, for he has never forgiven nor forgotten the "gophers" who "got" him last year in a dark alleyway. The Pershing Club for officers, at Madison avenue and 44th street, opened Jan. 8. A mnsical comedy was presented b" the Pershing Stock, composed of society girls. The enter- tainments, free to officers and men, will be given every afternoon and evening until de- mobilization Is complete. Besides the mnsi- cal comedy there will be vaudeville between acts of the regular performance. Hicka and "Broadway Jonoa." London, Dec. 31. At thc'Euston, Seymour Hicks is ap- pearing in a touring production of "Broadway Jones." Leon Zeitlaad Leasee KIngawar. London, Dec. 31. Leon Zeitland has secured a five years' lease of the Kingsway Theatre, paying $1,750 weekly rental. K. of C. Hall for SoMien. Paris, Dec. 31. The Knights of Columbus has taken the Cinema Arts on the rue Saint Mar- tin as a hall for the entertainment of American troops. It opened with boxing Dec. 26. .„...,. j The Alhambra offered British and American troops a free matinee given by English speaking performers, Dec. 27, which was a big success. IIInesB Diiturbi "Zlg-Zag." _ Parfi, Dec. 31. Shirley Kellogg was out of "Zig- zag" at the Folies Bergerc last week on account of illness; also Fred Kitchen for three days. Both are now b&clc* v*. Albert de Courville has arrived m Paris. Henry B. Smith was engaged last week by Lester Jerome to write the book and lyrics for his new musical production, "Miss Eleanor" in which Jane Howard will star. The premiere will occur some time in February. President Daniel Frohman of the Actors' Fund and officers of the Home activities went to the Fund Home in a body last Thursday whe^e a Christ- mas celebration was held with the of- ficers participating. The state of health of the members, now living there, is unusually good.