Variety (Feb 1906)

VARIETY r —i— vr*v Carter De Haven and Flora Parker. "A College Boy's Frolic." Colonial. Lartcr l)c Haven ami his newly acquired better half made offering of a skit under the above title at tlie Colonial this week. The sketch was so named because a name was wanted and this would do as well as anv other. There art* as inanv as eight lines of dialogue con ne cting a half dozen ■OBgl and Mr. IV Haven's imitation of a ballet girL The songs are sprightly, there are frequent changes of costume, ranging from long skirts to tights and boots, and a general air of action. Mr. De Haven has improved in his style ot work of late and has lost much of the conceit that once made his work so unpleasant. Now he needs to avoid acquiring effeminate ways in his impersonation. Miss Parker was dainty and dressed gorgeously. She would be in better taste did she abandon her knee skirts and avoid the curls which frame her face. A different style of hair dressing and a gap between the long skirts and the tights—worn with boots— would be to her advantage. As a skit it pleased the audience and will probably l>e better when there is a little' morelwork done on it in small places. Chi(Vt. "Between Two Fires." Revolutionary Sketch. Colonial. Originally used as an afterpiece to "The Little Princess" at the Lyceum Theatre, "Between Two Fires is now shown as a vaudeville attraction under the manage- ment of Lasky, Rolfe & Co. The sketch treats of a rather obscure incident, the main points of which are that John Rod ney and Buckstone, a corporal and private of the Continental forces, are left at Fort Ticonderoga to look after the tires. To them appears Purity Adams, Rodney's sweetheart, who has escaped from the British, who arc? raiding the country. Rod- ney sends the private away and while he and Purity are lovemakiug they are surprised by a detachment of British. The commander orders Rodney shot and at the same time steals manv kisses from Purity while Rodney is tied up. Purity remembers that the signal for the return of the Continentals is the playing of Van kee Doodle and after she dampens the powder in their guns with wine they fur rush, she offers to dance for them if they will play for her. Yankee Doodle is struck up and she hops about on one font until the soldiers come and put Rodney and the audience out of their misery. The sketch is screamingly funny in its sentimental and tragic passages and tin funny where comedy is intended. It is hopeless, ami only the politeness <»f the gallery audience saved a riot Monday af- ternoon. The sketch plays thi> week, but will not go over the circuit. Chicotj Taylor Holmes. Monologue and Imitations. Keith's. Mr. Taylor is playing here for the first lime. He was well liked by the house, although he did give an impersonation of Richard Mansfield delivering n curlain lee lure, which seems to be the first one grasped upon-by all budding imitators. A short recitation with an unexpected and humor* -us ending was the encore. Stmt. Qndw agts or the week] Chas. Burke and Grace LaRue And Their Inky Dinks. Imperial. It was erroneously reported from Wil- mington in last week's issue of Variety that Burk* and LaRue had produced their new sketch at lX)ckstader's theatre in that town. It is shown this week at the Imperial, without a name. "The Lone- some Inn" will likely describe it hereat ter, and it differs in the setting from "The Silver Moon" through having the action take place in the exterior sin roundiugs of a restaurant, while the for- mer skit was laid in the interior. If Mr. Burke would kindly forget his burlesque days when writing for the vaudeville stage, he would add immensely to his offerings. Neither is he a howling sue- i ess as a Hebrew impersonator. The parody he is singing was sung by him long, long ago, and if not by him. by someone else in the same troupe, while the "see-saw" bench is given more time than the idea is 'worth, even to those who haven't tired of it from constant repeti- tion. Too much time is consumed by the principals. The "picks" are the main cause of the applause in the finale, and this should lead the couple to give the colored youngsters, one of whom i-» be- coming a comedian in reality, more op- portunity. Miss LaRue is the leading member of the combination now, although not dancing as much as formerly, and she will continue so until Burke rearranges his own part. The sketch is much better than the old one. and received several en- cores. Sitnt. »» "The Yankee Doodle Boys." Quintette. \ / Keeney's. ** A singing act, with a well laid out setting, became the feature of the bill. A miniature air-ship Is shown upon the drop being raised, closed in with white sheets. The ship is suspended about 15 feet from the stage, and has electrical appliances to realistically convey to the audience that it is an actual flying machine. With the aid of moving pictures a "trip around the world in twenty minutes" is accomplished, the films being cleared off the back sheet and slides substituted for various points of interest as they are reached throughout the trip. A platform on the bottom of the aerial "ship" has just sufficient space to allow the live men to stand in, from which height songs are sung. A very good storm being show u. the ship descends and through I he moving pictures the .lescent in detail is given* to the point where they emerge from a farm house, via tlie window, a special drop being an exact representation, of the last picture* thrown on the canvas. The pictorial end of the act leaves no room for criticism, but the voices of the epiintette do not harmonize, and when singing no one seems capable of carrying the melody. The act would do better as a quartette. The combination of the various features hitherto shown on iIm* legitimate stage combine to make il a valuable number iii vaudeville. The name* of the members are not mentioned on the program. Si me. Irene Lee. "The Girl in Trousers.' Keeney's. Miss [486 wears the unmentionable "pants" with a grace seemingly acquired from long experience, although this is her second week only in vaudeville in the male attire. Oi>ening in the customary gar- ments worn by her sex, a change is made to an army officer, but Miss Lee appears without the regulation white gloves which should be worn. Putting them on while singing would not delay the change and at- tention to detail is necessary. From the officer to a natty boy is quickly done, and a sentimental sort of a recitative song is sung at the finale to much applause. Miss Ix»e looks so well as a boy that it would aid could she find a suitable character as that to substitute for the present opening. Some well written dialogue would not be amiss. With some thought Miss Lee can raise herself to a leading position among male impersonators. Stmt. Williams and Tucker. "Me and Skinny." Gotham. This is the promised new sketch of the popular vaudevilliaus. and the program has it that Mr. Tucker wrote and produced it. The Shoven Shaven Quartette or quintette is in the act to assist the principals in the three scenes, two of which are laid in "Scrap Alley" and the other and second scene in "the abode of Mary Ellen." On Wednesday night, the time 4 consumed was 35 minutes, mostly prolonged to that length through the singers singing at every opportunity and as often as permitted. The result would have been better had new songs been used, but old numbers such as "Mocking Bird"'and "Sally in Our Alley" were forced upon the audience. If the truth is laid bare, Williams and Tucker need no help in vaudeville. They are suffi- cient in themselves, and especially so in this sketch, originally intended for them alone, and in which there is no pathetic moment. If Mr. Tucker is sensible, he will dismiss the quartette, reduce the time to not more than twenty-five minutes, re- tain the first two scenes and the constable who "dispossesses." He will then have on his hands a success of larger proportions than "Skinnv's Finish" ever was. Simr. The Three Leightons. Comedy Sketch. Gotham. M These boys were recently with Pock- stader's Minstrels. The two eldest have good singing voices, and the younger is a dancer who need ask no odds of anyone. The comedy is somewhat hampered at pres- ent through the setting, a hotel bedroom, where one plays "straight" while the other two are a porter and bell boy respectively. An expected change in the setting is to be that of a hotel office, when with the danc- ing and singing this will l>e an act no manager can afford to overlook. As at present played, however, the finish atones for the dragging in the opening, and while the sketch could stand as it is, it will be greatly improved by the contemplated change. Sime. Nina Morris and Company. A Friend's Advice. Hurtig and Seamon's. Produced for a trial week last spring at this house, this is really the first presentation of Brandon Hurst's sketch in town. Miss Morris is assisted by Arthur Hoops and Phillip Sheffield.in a sketch which tells the usual fate of the man who interferes between a married couple. Will Ksmond complains to Will Harlow that his wife has never shown that she loves him. Harlow suggests that he try jealousy and to this end offers the loan of a letter sent him. As the two men have the same giveu name, Esmond leaves the letter, ask- ing him to call upon an old flame, where his wife is sure to see it and then an- nounces that he will be altsent from home. The woman's jealousy is aroused and she seeks to revenge herself by making violent love to Harlow when she hears her hus- band approaching. The situation is cleared but not until after Harlow has been thrown out of the house without being permitted to explain. It is a somewhat familiar idea played in a broad comedy vein by Mr. Hoops but with dignity by Miss Morris, who displays large technical resources. Mr. Sheffield is a weak point in the act. He should remember that he is in vaudeville now and display greater vivacity. Chioot. Billy Link and Willette Charters. Novelty Act. Hurtig and Seamon's. Better known as a monologue comedian, Mr. Link seeks to make a name with a skit apparently for the purpose of provid- ing an excuse for Miss Charters who is a personable young woman but of little value to tlie act. The drop shows a row of sol- diers painted thereon, one of them being provided with a practicable arm while a second can smoke a cigar, which is appro- priated by Mr. Link. There is some talk of no particular cleverness and Miss ('hal- ters sings one song. With a smarter rou- tine of talk the idea would pleas* 1 , but at present the jokes are not up to Mr. Link's earlier standard, and the act sags. He would gain contrast by dressing in correct uniform to offset the ridiculous outfits of his painted army and by playing his part in heavy style gain more laughs than are at present to be found in the act. At pres- ent the offering seems unfinished and should In* retired to the road until in better shape for New York presentation. Chicot. M. Ferreros And His Dog Musician. Hammerstein's. The act has played a few weeks around town, but for the information of the 1111 informed, is entitled to detailed descrip- tion. It is a musical act throughout. with a rather showv setting. M. Kerreros c^ is a musician of fair attainments, but makes a solid hit through the single dog employed. This animal plays two differ- ent melodies on the bells; the first with nut the trainer being- on the stage, and it is a most remarkable exhibition of per feet dog training. The orchestra "fol lows" the music produced, which can be readily recognized, ami the audience ap plaiicls in volume. The second number i- a* well given, but the trainer stands be hind the bells. It is a dog act that there should be plenty of demand for. 8ime.