Variety (Dec 1905)

VARIETY. - NEW ACTS OF THE WEEK {/ PAUL CINQUEVj JUGGLER. PROCTOR'S TWENTY-THIRD STREET. After an absence of about four years, Paul Cinquevalli appeared for the first time Christmas afternoon at the above theatre. Since he left these shores, a new era has developed in vaudeville, and It does not become necessary to speak of his "past performances." New faces will greet him, and while it wiil be remarked by many that this or that feat by Cinquevalli has been seen be- fore, it will be acknowledged at the same time that It has never been exe- cuted with the same dexterity, grace and precision that Cinquevalli gives to it. He is the Juggler par excellence. The juggling with the billiard balls has been used around the vaudeville houses by many since Cinquevalli introduced it, while Spadoni and Conchas have uti- lized the cannon balls to a greater ex- tent, but no one approaches Cinquevalli. His confidence is sublime, so much so in fact that in dropping the billiard cue over the head of the orchestra leader, catching it up with two other cues, and in allowing a cannon ball to apparently slip towards the other play- ers, he takes a chance on over-confi- dence, with a possible accident result- ing. The comedy is well brought out by an assistant, with a face which be- speaks humor in itself. The slips made are for the purpose of aiding the comedy only. One of the best things Cinquevalli does is to hold up with his teeth a chair with his assistant on it, together with a table. Previously this has been done on the chin. Those who have seen Cinquevalli will see him again; those who have not, don't miss him. Sime. FRANK GARDNER AND LOTTIE VIN- CENT. ") ♦•WINNIXG A QUEEN.*' ** a y KEITH'S. Picked before it was ripe, Frank Gardner's new sketch at Keith's is still susceptible of improvement. There is a lack of smoothness in the lines and a decided need of rehearsal in the hand- ling of the effects. At that, as it stands it is a better offering than his earlier at- tempt and gives a high percentage of novelty. A tramp invades a fort and goes to sleep in one of the big guns. Contrary to military usage they use it tor the sunset gun and fire a projectile instead of a blank charge. The tramp is hurled through space and in the motion pictures is seen ascending to the moon. Arrived on that planet he meets the queen and she comes back to earth with him, having fallen in love with him in the good old fashioned way. They fall through a skylight, landing in the home of a wealthy man, where they have a supper in the course of which they be- come intoxicated. The pictures become animated and they wind up with a new version of the crazy dance from the old act. A smartening of the dialogue and greater smoothness of working will make (his act one of the best in spite of the fact that Miss Vincent does not unbend. Chicot its m:\os. PANTOMIME. KEITHS. "The Modern Burglars" is the title of a new pantomime presented by six Frenchmen calling themselves the Renos. It just escapes being one of the best things since the Hanlons. The trouble lies in the fact that the act is stretched out interminably. Greater smartness of work is what is needed. The tricks are there. Three of the men pose as burglars, the others as Gens d'Armes. The latter have a chase after the thieves that covers a two-story build- ing on their side of the stage. There is a plank running from the second story window that affords them opportunity for good work and the tricks are, as a rule, well devised. The trouble comes in the outworking. Perhaps the act will be bet- ter when these performers have been here longer. Chicot. MILLIE HI I 8 III! II I I) \\n CO. •'FRENZIED FANCIES." \\ TONY PASTOR'S THEATRE. * A sketch by Charles Horwitz built along hackneyed lines should have a re- deeming feature placed somewhere among the stereotyped dialogue and action, but nothing of the kind appears in this Horwitz playlet. Given as a "tryout" on Christmas afternoon at Pas- tor's, the reception it received was so 1 well thought of by the management that it has continued during the week. A widow and child living next door to a lunatic asylum are in dire straits. A letter arrives with the glad information someone wll call that afternoon with nothing but money. The widow grasps it, but the daughter is too intent upon "Juliet's" lines to give it particular no- tice. The mother insists that if she is to shave her age down to twenty-nine, her child* must appear as eight instead of eighteen. Daughter agrees just to prove she is an actress. The young man appears while the fam- ily are arranging for the reception of the "come-on." He says a lunatic tried to kiss him outside. The mother thinks it's a joke, and figures up an easy ex- istence. Daughter plays "baby" and both induce the young man to believe he has walked into the "Annex" of the asy- lum. After accusing each other of being crazy, the finale arrives as the young man is carted away on a wheelbarrow. Millie Butterfield, Leila Carton and Ned Carton essayed the different char- acters respectively. If any credit is de- serving for the engagement for the week, it should go to each of the com- pany. Miss Carton is to be commended for keeping the "kid" part within bounds. It will have to be worked over and worked out. Even then will never cause convulsions of laughter. Sime. IDA RENE. "DISEUSE." COLONIAL. If, as reported at the time, Martin Beck declined to book Miss Rene while she traveled with her husband, Arthur Prince, over the Orpheum Circuit in the West on the ground that he couldn't "see her" for $750 weekly, Mr. Beck displayed excellent judgment. Miss Rene was especially imported from the other side to bolster up "The Royal Chef" while playing an engagement at the Lyric Theatre in this city about one year ago. Since that time she has not publicly appeared and her engagement at the Colonial is her first American vaudeville appearance. Unless the weekly remuneration now received is consistent wfth her drawing powers through the publicity received while at the Shubert house, Miss Rene will not remain permanently, or even for a short while, in vaudeville. Her offering con- sists of three recitations, "Marriage a la Mode," "The Rake's Progress" and "Art." Each, as an elocutionary effort, is excellent. Barring Miss Rene's ex- pressive powers, any school girl who has made a study of intonations could do as well. Had Ida Rene been Mary Smith on the Colonial stage, the result would have been disastrous. Sime. ,NY. V ZAZELL-VERNON COMPA! PANTOMIME, "THE ELOPEMENT/» NEW YORK THEATRE. Last Sunday night at the New York, while this company was appearing in a new pantomime, the stage hands did all that was possible to hurt it. Fashioned after the well known specialty of the Byrne Brothers, the acrobatic work is neglected, and more attention given to the comedy than the comedy deserves. Nothing novel was offered, and applause was light. For an encore a burlesque boxing match between the men was given, which would have emptied the house had the act been further down on the bill. Sime. BECK WAS THERE. On his Western trip Martin Beck slopped over at Waco, Texas, to see the Majestic Theatre and there gave rise to the rumor that the Orpheum might bill in towns in Texas next season. NOTHING LIKE IT. The rumor that Robert Grau has ar- ranged with Klaw & Erlanger to give Sunday concerts at the New Amsterdam Theatre is absolutely without founda- tion. ANOTHER ILLUSION. A new illusion styled "Lilith" will shortly be presented at a trial perform- ance here. According to a description furnished, a woman is consumed by fire on a bare stage and immediately reap- poars at the rear of the stage. ORIGINALITY! The Avon Comedy Four, a singing quartette, with a sketch setting, has adapted for the purpose of the sketch scheme the entire idea of the act given by Holcome, Curtis and Webb, calling it "The New Teacher" and going so far as to imitate Sam Curtis' drawling voice in calling out "Oh, teacher." THIESS TAKES COLONIAL GIRLS. M. If. Theiss has taken over the Co- lonial Girls, started by James Lederer. But three of the original girls are left. BLONDELL TO K. & E. Edward Blondell, who played a part in "The White Cat." is now under engae;p- ment to Klaw and Erlanger for a new- production and has cancelled all his vaudeville dates. SOME HIPPODROME BOOKINGS. The management of the Hippodrom is always seeking foreign acts, an when found, prefer to "spring" them o an anticipating public rather than allow the press bureau to overwork it self. Digging down deeply and from rumo and otherwise, the acts following ca safely be depended upon to appear a per schedule: Jan. 22, Ralph Johnstone the bicyclist, who has been away fro his native land for a long while. Mad a big hit on the other side and expected to show something new here in high jumps on a wheel. Salary, estimated $400 weekly. Jan. 22, the Bonhair Gregory troupe in a risley act, claimed to be the greatest ever. Salary, estimated, $350 weekly. ("Risley act" is the technical term for pedal acrobatics.) Jan. 29, Mile. Leris and a horse. Plays musical instruments while seated on a chair on a horse's back. Very thrilling. Salary, estimated, $150 weekly. Feb. 5, Woodward's sea lions. Well known here. Although Mr. Woodward died in Paris since leaving America, name still retained. An amusing act. Salary, estimated, $350 weekly, includ- ing food for the animals. REIS DOESN'T WANT VAUDEVILLE. The report that M. Reis, who has a large circuit of theatres scattered over several States, contemplated giving four nights a week to vaudeville in cities where "ten-cent" shows were run, is en- tirely without foundation. Milton Aborn booked several bills for Reis' houses dur- ing the past year, but the results were not sufficiently satisfactory to warrant Reis engaging extensively in the variety end of theatricals. The only direct opposition the Reis' Circuit encounters from the cheap show is at Scranton and Pottstown, Pa. NEW ACTS FOR SUNDAY. At the Sunday concert at the Ameri- can Theatre to-morrow evening Ted Marks will offer a new act in "Yuma," who does a turn somewhat on the lines of "Zutka." but declared to be a decided improvement. The performer weighs 1!»0 pounds yet manages to stow him- self away in a box 14 by 22 inches and 1fi inches high. While in the box he changes from the uniform of a German hussar to a Mephistopheles dress. MARKS AND DAMROSCH. Commencing to-morrow Ted D. Marks will give a series of orchestral concerts at the Hippodrome. The Damrosch or- chestra and noted soloists will provide the entertainment. This will give Marks three houses for Sunday nights. Mr. Marks declares that commencing about May he will give Sunday concerts at the Shaftesbury Theatre, in London, the first to be given in that town. HARRY TATE WORRIED. It is understood that Harry Tate. whose "Motoring" has met with a large degree of snee« ss over here, is much worried over the news reaching h|m that n duplicate of his act Is being brought over here for use in one of Charles Froh- man'fl coming productions. Mr. Tate hns had advice in the matter, and is pre- pared for a fight to protect his rights and interests.