Variety (June 1919)

'V"wi mmmmm NEW ACTS THIS WEEK ■■V. is '■' ;.■;>■» ■ ■■■•■■ "Kiss Me." Muiical Comedy. . 42 Mint.; Full Stag* (Special Set). Colonial. A miniature musical extravaganza, produced and staged, by William Fried- lander who also supplied the lyric and music with the book by Hugh Herbert. It's rather pretentiously dressed and very capably staged, but it lacks, at present, two very essential things to bring it to the level of a Friedlander show. The principals, with one excep- tion, fall far below the expectations that natural come with a glimpse ot the production and Herbert has not supplied enough comedy to make it a fair balance. Of course, the niece is now practically in the experimental stage, but playing a big time house it must be gauged strictly ( on its condi- tion. The scene is apparently meant for the home of the ingenue, although there is no program explanation of either the locale or the identity of the cast. The juvenile rushes on to ex- plain briefly, to a butler, that he must procure a wife and three children im- mediately in order to entertain a visit- ing aunt whose will terms depend wholly on the existence of his family. of which he had previously informed her in order to secure an increase in his regular allowance. He asks^the ingenue to marry him. She loves him, but balks at the three children sug- gestion, the "bit" going over with no atmosphere of double entendre. He then engages a vamp to masquerade as his wife. Meanwhile the aunt arrives and runs into both women, the^in- Senue having, however, decided to help im out of his dilemma. A well ar- ranged! situation arises here, but its comedy weight falls through the poor handling by the principals, the vamp (formerly with the "Redheads") show- ing the sole trace of ability and this fact clouded up the work of the others) ' because of the contrast provided. A decidedly pretty climax is approached, leading to a double number, "Kiss Me, by the juvenile and ingenue. This alone would have guaranteed the pro- duction's success if either could sing, but the girl's "pipes" were a trifle rus- ty and the man has no idea of harm- ony, although even if he had, he had no opportunity to display it. Then came the adjustment, a bit lengthy, ' but carrying all kinds of possibilities. "Kiss Me" looks like a million dollar flash in scenery and gowns and the numbers are all nicely wed to the theme. The vamp number was par- ticularly pretty in dress and excel- lently staged. But a million dollar production with a ten cent grade of cast doesn't jibe. The ingenue is de- cidedly pretty, but needs more stage and vocal experience before attempting a production of this speed and the ju- venile's role should be better fitted. As it stands the piece can get over on its production, but Friedlander and Herbert are showmen enough to real- ize what's wrong and adjust the short- comings. Wynn. t Susanna and Ernest. Dancing and Crayon Sketching. 18 Mini.; Full Stag* (Special). Harlem O. H. (June 17). Man and woman. Act opens with song off stage by the man. Drop rises and discloses artists' studio, with man sketching at easel with woman clad in ballet costume, posing. Artist dreams and woman puts over well executed toe dance. Artist then draws crayon sketch of bathing girl, singing parody on "Smiles" while working. Next a doughboy cartoon. Another toe dance by the woman followed by more sketching. Act closes with another toe dance by woman, with man assisting. Both are capable in their respective lines. Act will do very nicely for the pop houses. Bell. Joe Brennan Monolog and Songs. 14 Mins.i One. 23rd Street. Entering in 'Tad" make-up. Joe Brennan gets 'em immediately by an exchange,of get-backs with a plant in the orchestra pit One or two of the gags are a bit passe, but this won't matter in the pop houses wherVthe Dorothy Richmond & Co. (2). . "A Friend In Need" (Playlet). : IS Mini.| Full Stage. % ." Fifth Ave. ■":'■- '■..,- . The scene is supposed to be that of a room in a Parisian flat, although a house set is employed. Bobby, rich an4 an artist} is the tenant. He has been a friend of Arthur, who has been wed for two years. ' Bobby had been smitten with the girl and from memory had gazing at the lift of the curtain. En ter the girl to explain that her husband is to call and that he is much troubled over something. Too soon Arthur ar- rives and the girl is secreted behind older they come apparently the better., _ ainte j[ h er portrait at which he is Following the conversational bit Bren- nan reels off a monolog containing a number of good comedy punches and closes with an old time Irish song, "The man who came over from Ire- land." For an encore "An Irishman the curta ins leading to the next room was made to love and fight" is worked/ The husband unloads his tale of woe up so that it sounds like a new song. which is tha t he had deceived his wife Instead of following this with another comedy number j Brenner attempts a serious ballad and lacking both the voice and delivery necessary for the firoper handling of the song very near- y spoils all that has gone before. As an exponent of the Irish character Brennan is in a class by himself as far as vaudeville is concerned, his "Tad" being a remarkably faithful reproduc- tion of a type that actually exists, but which is usually so badly overdrawn and exaggerated that it loses most of its native humor. With a couple of good comedy numbers tacked on to the end of the turn and a bit of revision here and there in the talking routine Brennan should'have no difficulty in holding his own' in the big time houses. All that's needed is the material; he has everything else. > BeU. Stanley and Marie Hughe*. Singing and Dancing. IS Mine; Full Stage. American Roof.- ... Stanley and Mazie are brother and sister of James Hughes (Adelade and Hughes). They are a clever dancing couple recalling the team who are bill- ed as sponsoring them Their act could be called the evolution of the dance for they open with a modern rag jazz double and go to a colonial waltz, mak- ing a costume change to match. They are assisted by a piano player who does a specialty between stepping, us- ing the "Trip On My Melody Ship." Their first number is probably called "Cabaret Love;" next "That's What the Daisy Said," an old fashioned waltz tune, followed by the piano offering, into believing that he had inherited Then in grotesque costumes they do a a large estate when in truth it was French doll number with some dif- ficult spins. Mazie doesn't elevate. They are good dancers and the boy seems to have inherited a lot of the showmanship displayed by his brother. They will do anywhere. Rainbow Girl.. Dancing and Instrumental. 15 Mini.; Full Staga (Special). 23rd Street. Two girls presenting a rather ordin- ary routine of dancing assisted by a male pianist and violinist Act opens with a double dance by the girls in Oriental t costumes. The violinist, a youthful appearing chap, puts over a well played solo while the girls are changing for their next number. A double waltz number by the girls be- comingly costumed in ankle length dresses, another solo by the violinist and a double toe dancing number com- plete the act. For the closing number the girls wear abbreviated skirts and pantalettes, in which they present a particularly attractive appearance. The violinist should drop the announce- ments. If it is necessary to inform the audience of what is to be played, a printed card on an easel would accom- plish much better results, in addition to giving the proceedings a toufeh of class, which is now lacking. Should pass nicely in an early spot in the pop houses; Bell. small. But his bride loving extrava- gance, he had given in to her every whim and now with his money gone he has decided to kill himself. The men discuss the various ways of suicide and finally the husband departs with his friend's revolver to■ commit the deed. The girl re-enters and says she didn't hear what they were talking about The friend makes love to her, snowing her the picture he had painted from his dream visions. But back comes the husband who dischargesHhe gun, which only held blanks. The finish is that the friend gives the couple a check for $10,- 000 and sends them back to America to start over again. The whole thing is unconvincing. That a wife separated from a troubled husband by curtains wouldn't listen to his spiel is absurdly improbable. Only some of the finishing lines are bright, the rest being dull. If of service it can only find small time. . Ibee. Cahill and Romine. Songs and Comedy. 13 Mine.; One. Fifth Ave. . •rr •. ., ■' Tommy Ray. v Songs and Marksmanship. 18 Mint.; Full Stage (Special). Harlem 0. H. (June 17). A slide announcement states that Tommy Ray was a fireman on the Lua- itania and often entertained the pas- sengers during voyages. A special set in two shows a view of the Lusitania. Ray makes his entrance through the stoke hole door, wearing regulation stoker's costume. He is a well built man of possibly 35 and possesses a pleasing tenor voice. Opening with Day by Day* with a recitative inter- lude, he follows with a shooting ex- hibition. • This includes some difficult vpside down marksmanship, with one or two tricks that stand out. Another recitation and a song to Close. Act should find no trouble in getting by in the pop houses as it stands. Belt. Two Voices. Songs. 13 Mint.j One. Harlem O. H. The big trick comes right at the opening when there is. some singing off stage. With that number the audi- ence leans back in its seat and is pre- pared for a double voiced singer. Then two girls walk on harmonizing and the audience sits Tight up again. The girls handle a repertoire of popular num- bers, wear some good looking clothes and put a number over in good shape. They were liked by the Harlem audi- ence especially when they got down to the couple of double numbers to close. ■Fred. Rinaldo Brothers. Acrobatics. j 6 Mini.; Three. Riverside. v The men (two in number) are com- pletely painted with in silver hue save for trappings of similar tinge. They work altogether upon a low rect- angular pedestal or platform placed back in "three." The routine consists in a number of artistic poses, but coupled to a series of acrobatic feats, which include some very clever work. There is no stalling though one or two of the stunts are strength feats. Fits as a good opening turn for big time. Ibee. ( Johnny and Wise. Songs and Dances and Piano Playing. IS Mini.; One. Harlem O. H. Man and woman. Neither have any idea of what constitutes a vaudeville act. The man essays comedy with poor results and the woman sings indif- ferently. The present material it im- possible. Bill. De Peron Trio. Strong Act. J 9 Mini.; Full Stage (Special). Harlem O. H. (June 17). Two men and a female assistant. All wear regulation strong man cos- tume. Turn consists of weight lift- ing and strong man feats, most of which have been seen before. All work fast Finishing stunt, in which one of the men whirls his two assist- ants through the air on a dumb-bell, makes an excellent flash for close. Good small timers. BeU. Two men, one in cork and the other doing "wop." Several mixed dialect song bits by the latter started off the routine, when the blackface member suddenly projected his pipes in opera- tic fashion into the going. He used a high falsetto and it got something. 1 A cat imitation started both men doing yodeling bits, ending with a lullaby duetted and both yodeling. "Till We Meet Again," also duetted, brought the men out for an earned encore. It is probable that the falsetto voice of the blackface artist was the particular attraction for he retained it almost throughout the turn. In their final number "Bubbless," he also employed it The team seems to have the ability but not the material, or else it isn't arranged to the best advantage. The ) act scored, but it is doubtful if they can deliver equally in the better houses without fixing. Ibee. ' » . • Florence Scapini. Vloliniste. 10 Mine.; One. Harlem O. H. (June 17). Florence Scapini is a fair vloliniste and in time should be able to work out an act for the smaller houses. Open- ing with ap operatic number, she en- cored with "Hear You Calling Me" Tuesday night, but failed to play the expected third selection. "Calling Me" was very well handled. Miss Scapini needs first of all a repertoire and then the necessary stage experience to give her assurance. j BeU. Frank Carter. 10 Mine.; One. 125th St , Carter opens in one with talk to the leader, goes to full stage and climbs upon a duplicate of Melrose's tables and chairs for a little chair balancing. He descends and a girl in the audience sings a song in English then Swedish later, going upon the stage to yodeL Carter eventually does, the Melrose fall, announcing it as an imitation. He gets laughs with the swaying. Noth- ing but the tumble holds interest. IF YOU DONT ADVER- TISE IN VARIETY —DONT ADVER- TISE i i k fetn*JaU -,.-,,T«rt iynxa*tt*ssiitS!ii£^m&M&m im!P^ _ mm im/m mmm