Variety (Jan 1907)

Shows of the Week By Sime KNICKERBOCKERS. While the dressing of the "Knicker- bockers" gives an exceedingly high aver- age to the show as a whole, there are spots \\ here it sags. The first part, called "The Arrival of of Prince Hadji" ; the book and lyrics written by E. Tracy Sweet and the music by Louis Doll, the show's musical director, has several of the comedians mis- cast. "Lonesome Luke's Luck" is the bur- lesque written by William C. Cushman und Mr. Doll composed the music for this also, excepting an interpolated song in each piece. Whether it is because Mr. Cushman wrote his own "Happy Hooligan" part in the burlesque that he is so infinitely better than in the opening as a Hebrew cannot be judged. William G. Clark takes a part in both plays. The first is injured by the misplacing of the characters; in the sec- ond some poorly conceived business does it. Throwing mush into the face of a man impersonating a baby in a small bed is iot humor; it is not even near humor, nor is the sight of a man in that posi- tion funny. It is "slapstick" of the worst kind. Ben Neff plays well in blackface, but Jack Jennings and Robert Jewell barely pass through in their parts. There are fourteen girls in the chorus, i.early all good looking, and there are four comely female principals, besides Louise Willis, who does a neat toe dance in the first part. Clyde Darrow is the leader, posing as "The Diver," making a very pretty picture. Fannie Wood and Louise St. Clair sail through the pieces in lively style, Miss Wood having a catchy "coon" number. The costumes worn by the women excel anything that have been shown this sea- son, both in quantity and quality. The music is not of the hand-organ variety, no "popular" numbers being in use, the selec- tions having been written solely for this production and restricted. •The y 2 x y 2 Sextet," a novel bit of dressing in which the girls wear capes on their left sides and upon turning around show pink fleshings on the other, made a big hit. It has been copyrighted by Mr. Robie, who makes an announcement to that effect on the program. "Why Girls Leave Home," by "That Quintet," is another funny bit of bur- lesque. The finales of both pieces are well arranged, but the opening of the second part commences in the same set used by the Peschkoff Troupe of dancers, who close the olio. This part of the entertainment contains four acts. The Peschkoffs are well liked with their whirlwind dancing, and Jennings and Jewell, "Dutch" comedians who open, se- sure plenty of laughs, but need more mod- ern parodies. The Great Christy, assisted by Louise Willis, does some good juggling and has several new comedy tricks. Mr. Christy talks too much during the act. It would be better to play it in pantomime. Elliott and Neff in a conversation seemed to please the house, Neff appear- ing in whiteface. The talk is not alto 4 gether new. It is going to require a great big bur- lesque production to take away the palm from Mr. Robie for the most ambitious of- fering of the season. COLONIAL. There are plenty of laughs in the Colo- nial bill this week. At the opening of the show when Mile. Emmy's animals are on the stage the risibles are started, continu- ing almost to the close. The "almost" is Victor Occellier, a baritone, who with Marie Dressier and George Mozart is under New Acts. Bobby North appears early. Mr. North has a good voice for his Hebrew monologue act. Another commendable point about this comedian is that he is try- ing to be different, and he is different in material, but withal making a fatal mis- take. The talk is given solid; then follows a long parodied medley of operatic airs. Through this medley the talk can not be divided into sections, but it should, even though at the expense of the singing num- ber. Parodies on popular selections could be substituted and probably gain more in applause. And Mr. North should not over- look his voice; it Is the best part of his act and far superior to the djaleel, which might stand training. "Three of a Kind," the condensed version of "Incog," in which an English company, including Ethel Arden and George Abel, appeared last week at Hammerstein's, is at the Colonial with three minutes taken off the running time. W T here those missing minutes were clipped from could not be lo- cated. Henry Lee closed the first part with im- personations, having added two notables, William Jennings Bryan and Hon. Joseph Cannon. Mr. Lee's discourse preceding his actual act, and during it, has not been al- tered. Tom Nawn and company also ap- peared in "A Touch of Nature," that old but "sure-fire" laugh compeller. Jewell's Electric Manikin Theatre closed the performance proper, the pictures fol- lowing. Mr. Jewell is a genuine artist, not alone in his work, but of vaudeville. He has a good act; one of the most novel in the varieties. The manikins are dexter- ously worked, and the offering never fails of pleasing, but no advantage is taken of this. Something new is always found in it upon a return engagement. This time it is "The Six Little Wives" number from "San Toy," with the original music. It is pret- tily laid out, the whole lot being at first a composite figure from which each one sep- arates. The fox terriers of Mile. Emmy's are a lot of nice little well-trained animals. They go through their tricks with a pre- cision that is pleasant to observe. Two of this week's numbers. Miss Dress- ier and Mr. Mozart, are retained for the second \%eek. The Crystal Theatre Company has been incorporated by George P. Kerl. John J. Grote, E. Collnmore. Walter Canfield and George Canfield. The capital stock is $25,000 and it will conduct vaudeville shows in Cincinnati. The company has secured the Robinson Opera House for the unexpired term of the lease of L. Forepaugh Fish and George Fish. HARLEM OPERA HOUSE. There is "Vaudeville" with a big capital "V" at the Harlem Opera House this week. The bill includes several kinds and styles of entertainment. If the quality can be con- tinued weekly with the same good judgment the future path for this house will be a pleasant one. The-Xwo new acts (Volta and "Polly Pickle's Pets in Petland") have enough novelty, but Bessie Wynn is also new to Harlem's variety patrons. Miss Wynn still continues her solid hit, and has placed a new selection in her repertoire, evidencing that she intends to be strictly up to date at all times. Sin ill and Kessner drew a good share of applause in "The Bell Boy and the Wait- ing Maid." Mr. Sinirl's acrobatics caught the admiration, and Miss Kessner plays so cheerfully that she ingratiates herself upon the audience, whether or no. So far as the women were concerned, Miss Kessner had them at once with her brown dress. There is no handsomer one of any shade in vaude- ville, and as fashionable a hat would fur- ther set it off. ' ■ Grant and Hoag gave Mr. Grant's mono- logue. Miss Hoag was on the stage at times, and she wears a nice white dress with a white nuff. Mr. Grant recited on New Year's night a little piece of some- thing ending with "wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year." Ac- cording to the orchestra leader who had his violin by the neck at the time, Mr. Grant "put it in" for that performance only. As a "you must applaud" it had "patriotic" stuff "skinned a mile." "Her Last Rehearsal," with Lewie Mc- Cord and company, on the same stage where Mr. McCord first played the piece at a benefit some years ago, greatly amused the audience. This "bare stage" act seems not to lose its value, although that de- pends upon the players. McCord is giving the same excellent performance of an irri- table stage manager. The Kauffman Troupe of bicyclists closed the show with their pretty riding, while Adams and Mack opened it with bur- lesque magic. The comedian is growing somewhat better. He has plenty of room. One improvement might be to work as a clown. At least it would remove the hide- ous makeup he now affects. Mr. Adams continues to talk unnecessarily. Avery and Hart, a colored team, ap- peared shortly before the pictures. It was one error in the bill. ANOTHER HOUSE RUMORED FOR WASHINGTON. Washington, D. C, Jan. 4. It is rumored that there will be a change of policy in the Majestic Theatre, now under the management of the Lafay- ette Amusement Company (Stair & llav- lin). It is said the present offerings have not attracted a profitable! patronage and it is promised that vaudeville will be given a test. A New York syndicate is hacking the venture. Rose Law9on. of the Lawson Sisters, was married in Boston, December 24, to Eddie Wood. Al C. Mosier, a trick bicycle rider whose home was in Detroit, died at Speer's Hos- pital, Dayton, Ky., this week, after an ill- news of four weeks. He leaves a widow and a three-year-old son. KEENEY'S. Frank Keeney must have designs upon the youngsters of Brooklyn. Possibly he is in need of talent for his "amateur" nights and is attempting to create a craze for dancing. At any rate, this week on the bill there are five acts in which dancing occurs. Rooney and Bent and Carlin and Otto iol- lowed each other in the order named. The latter team had their good dance steps ail thrown away through those of Pat Rooney's being seen by the audience urst. "The Busy Bell Boy," which is the title covering Mr. Rooney and Marion Beut, won the Keeney audience out, although it seemed at one time that only dynamite could move it Rooney's comedy and danc- ing, with Miss Bent's pretty looks and dresses, carried the day. She is rapidly becoming a first-grade dancer and will soon be in the Rooney class for quickness with the feet. Miss Bent sang the chorus of "Sweet Marie Snow," another new depar- ture for the young woman, and she did full justice to the number. The finish of Carlin and Otto's was somewhat affected by their position, but the parodies and comedy satisfied the house, even though the frapped crowd did not un- derstand dancing. The t>oys have a parody on "The Man in the Moon" which is risky, although funny, and another good one*15lf "Bill Simmons." There is some good comedy in the three- ball juggling of Paul Le Croix, and the juggling itself is in the same class. When he attempts four both the work and talk fall off. There is no need for either. Par- ticularly should Mr. Le Croix avoid that hard, mechanical manner of speaking stereotyped lines. He is improving so rap- idly as a comedian that all superfluous dialogue should be dropped. One humorous point about his act is that one can never tell whether Le Croix really "misses" or is burlesquing. Whichever it is it is a good idea and should be kept up. The "bound- ing hats" is quite the funniest thing in hat juggling. Laughs are drawn immediately and it would probably help did Le Croix "bound" a hat every few moments during his other work-until he reached that part of his offering. It gave him thr"e curtain calls after his finish, which is too abrupt and should not occur in the centre of the stage. The Carson Brothers opened the show with hand balancing, posing first. As they dress in white and are enclosed in a black background the acrobatic work would give the "statue" effect without the postures, which might incline some to believe they think well of their physical proportions. It is a neat, clean opening act, but won't grow "big" without more tricks. "A Gymnast's Parlor Amusement" is the sketch title for the contortions of the Pnnt- zer Trio, with a toe dance by the girl, be- sides a "music box" imitation by the woman at the piano. The man is a re- markable contortionist: also the girl, and the disguise under which the act is pre- sented makes it almost a novelty in houses where it has not been previously seen. Harry Vokes and Margnret Daly Vokes, Gaston and Green and Joe Deming (who replaced "The County Choir") are under New Acts.