Variety (Feb 1907)

10 VARIETY NCW AGTS NEXT WEEK. Initial Presentation or First Appearance in New York City. Red Owl, Harlem Opera House. Robert Hilliard (New Act), Hammer- stein's. Goldie Mohr Wood, Hanimcrstein's. Russell Brothers (New Act), Alhambra. "Just Kids," Murray Hill. Tillie Santoy, Pastor's. Fiske and McDonough (New Act), Pastor's. Perkins-Lappin Co., Family, E. 125th street. Virginia Earl (New Act), Keeney's. Oriska Worden and Co., Keeney's. The Five Nosses (Reappearance), Gotham, Brooklyn. "Dance of the Seven Veils." 6 Mins.; Five (Interior). Fifth Avenue. The newspapers may be primarily held to account for the "most sensational and timely vaudeville capture of the season" at the Fifth Avenue Theatre this week, presented for the first time Monday after- noon, about one .hour later than a similar production shown at the Murray Hill The- atre by Weber & Rush as a part of their "Dainty Duchess" burlesque show. In burlesque is the proper place for it. The dancer, whoever she may be, should ac- quire a "couch" undulating movement, and when the last of the seven veils is re- moved, even less than a veil should remain. Eight people are scattered over the stage, including a King and Baroness Von Eis- ner, who sings the translated song without having had her voice retouched for the oc- casion. Mme. Pilar Morin, who attended to the dancing, turned and glided while removing the yards of gauze much in the same manner as a "head of stock" would unroll a piece of goods. She made three distinct attempts to draw the King's at- tention to the fact that she wore no cor- sets. His Royal Highness left the throne and after carefully looking her over for a minute and « half noticed the absence; then the curtain came down. Bedini and Arthur, on the same hill, gave a clever travesty of it. The house howled with mirth. If "Salome" remains potent in the public's mind "The Dance of the Seven Veils" will be a good box office card. Sime. Harry Bulger and Company (2). "Mink's Rink" (Comedy). 26 Mins.; (Interior; Special Drop). Hammerstein's. For Mr. Bulger's temporary stay in vaudeville he has without arduous labor removed and condensed an act from "The Man From Now," the Savage show he was recently with. Mr. Bulger has added a mechanical food serving table of some comedy value, and he is singing the first parody of Vesta Victoria's song hit "Poor John," but Mr. Bulger quite evidently missed hearing Miss Victoria herself be- fore making the attempt. The comedian warbles "Brother Masons" as though it were new, and about at this point his rinse importance ceases, a woman built, oij the lines of Eva Davenport taking hold. She i * a genuine comedienne, and with the aid of burlesque roller skating, the skaters held up by wires, considerable fun is had at the finish. Several bright lines have been [new agts or THE week) rewritten into the sketch, which is good enough for vaudeville—at a price. Sime. Jessie Laurie. Songs. 7 Mins.; One. Pastor's. Miss Laurie is making her "American debut," according to the program, but no one will accept that in more seriousness than they will Miss Laurie herself. She sings Irish and Scotch ballads and man- aged to offer three to the Pastor audience, which was nicely mannered during the en- tire time. Sime. Truly Shattuck. Songs. xa Mins.; One. Twenty-third Street. The same Truly Shattuck in all particu- lars, the same songs to give scope to her excellent high notes, the same red velvet drop that prima donnas have been using here time out of mind, and even the same gown that Miss Shattuck wore in "the leg- itimate." All of which did not affect the undoubted popularity of the singer. She sang four songs and would have sung more if the audience had had its way. Rush. Agnes Scott and Company (x). "The Wall Between" (Comedy). 27 Mins.; Full Stage (Special Set); Garden. Fifty-eighth Street. Miss Scott was formerly the ingenue of the Proctor stock company in this house This is her vaudeville debut, but the pro- gram sets forth that the engagement is for one week only, Miss Scott hav- ing been "loaned by the Keith & Proctor 125th Street Com- pany" for this time. "The Wall Be- tween" is her own work, and a decidedly quaint and dainty little playlet she has made of it. As a curtain raiser to a dramatic offering it should be a complete success. For vaudeville purposes its value is perhaps open to question. Miss Scott imints in half tints and variety audiences M a rule like their colors more strongly marked. The second member is Horace Wright, who is a light comedian of ability Both he and Miss Scott have excellent voices and in the telling of the pretty little story involved in the playlet have several delightful musical numbers. Boil. Dorothy Russell and Harry B. Watson. "Girl Act": 16 Mins.; Full Stage. Fifth Avenue. After seeing Dorothy Kussell, Harry ft, Watson and the ten young girls called "Teddy Bears" and "Buster Brownies" at the Fifth Avenue this week, where they all are together for the first time in vaude- ville, one receives an insight into the short life of "The Mimic and the Maid" from whence they came. A "bear" song at the finish in "kid" dress made an appeal for novelty through "Teddy Bears" set on the stage, apparently doing a dance mechanic- ally. Other than that there is nothing to the act except an overwhelming desire on the part of the principals to accept en- cores which arc not given. Miss Russell looked well. That was all possible for her to do with the material at hand. Sime. Grace LaRue. Songs. 13 Mins.; One. Keeney's. The former comedienne of "The Tour- ists" gives four songs with enough grace- ful dancing interposed to make hers as en- tertaining number. She wears a pretty gown of coloring and construction not to be described and altogether makes a de- lightful stage picture. "I'm in Love with the Slide Trombone" was her opening number. Rush. Crane Brothers. "The Mud town Lockup" (Comedy). 15 Mins.; One (Special Drop). Fifty-eighth Street. Another addition to the fast-increasing number of novelty talking acts in one. The special drop shows the "Mudtown Jail." in which one of the comedians is incarcerated. The other of the pair is the jailer. A considerable amount of the act concerns itself with dialogue between the prisoner, seen through a window, and the jailer, who has brought him food. The talk is for the greater part rapid-fire ex- change of "gags," all pointed. It goes to the mark and the act runs its allotted time to the accompaniment of a good average of laughs. Rush. James and Sadie Leonard. "When Caesar Cs Her" (Travesty). Three (Interior). Pastor's. The latest travesty of James and Sadie Leonard, assisted by Richard Anderson, goes in for rapid fun at the commencement, but is deadened toward the close by the "TV. Hyde-Mr. .Tekyll" scene given by Mr. Anderson. As a piece of acting this would attract attention, but it has no place in a burlesque built for laughs only. Mr. Leonard gives an excellent performance; lie has a grasp on the ability to express ludicrous sentiment seriously which is valuable, and Miss Leonard also handles her part capably. There is a descriptive scene in which the woman describes her suitor's chase after a roll of frankfurter sausages, in itself a humorous burlesque. Mr. Anderson has a solemn mien as Caesar and the dialogue is witty as a rule, but all the "heavy" matter should be dropped. When that happens the laughs should be continuous. Sime. The Dainty Four. "Girl Act," 14 Mins.; One. Twenty-third Street. A dancing and singing quartet showing pretty dressing and dancing of an un- usually high order. The singing of the one number used waa rather below the or- dinary. For the rest the girls danced. The act is in reality a miniature "pony" ballet and the introduction of even one song is a mistake. There is no costume change. The act is a pretty one and will probably stay. It is understood to be a foreign importation. Rush. Lawrence Crane and Company (a). Illusionist (Special Set), aa Mins.; One, Two and Close Full Stage. "Alcazar Beauties" Co., Dewey. Mr. Crane has worked out a pretentious series of illusions, building the act up from his former specialty in "one." It is neat- ly dressed and presented with good show- manship. The feature is an illusion called "Cremation," in which a woman is made to disappear from the cabinet and a small pickaninny produced in her place. A trunk mystery is another illusion. The trunk is lined with five sheets of plate glass and remains in sight of the audience dur- ing the entire time of the trick. No cabinet is used, but the girl makes an en- trance into the glass enclosure. This trick takes but a few seconds. Crane makes use of a new idea in the stage managing of his act. The stage is set three times during his offering, but each time a drop is low- ered in "one" and Crane works in that frpace while his apparatus is being ar- ianged. No paraphernalia is moved ex- cept behind the lowered curtain. Crane keeps up a running fire of comment which is given an agreeable humorous twist aided by a touch of the Irishman's natural brogue. Crane has originality and a talent for working out new effects. He already pos- sesses an offering of merit, notwithstand- ing its newness, and should carry it to a place among the best. Rush. Ella Bradna and Fred Derrick. Equestrian. 7 Mins.; Full Stage. narlem Opera House. Depending largely upon speed Ella Bradna and Fred Derrick are showing some pleasing equestrian feats at the Harlem Opera House. Two good-looking animals are used, Miss Bradna and Mr. Derrick eaeh riding one but working to- gether. One horse only is employed at the close. The usual routine is gone through but given with a dash and snap raising it out of the ordinary. Miss I'.radna is an especially handsome woman. The audience accorded the pair a much warmer reception than is customarily •liven a "horse act." Peter Donald and Meta Carson. Singing, Dancing and Talking. 17 Mins.; One (Special Drop). Keeney's. Mr. Donald retired from the Lew Fields company only recently, this being the first metropolitan presentation of the act called "Alex McLean's Dream." The piece is Constructed along pure comedy lines and Mr. Donald displays a skill in sketch work that would argue a previous training in the varieties. Both principals dress in Scottish costume. Donald has a song or two and a trick lamppost, the upper half being flexible, is used for t solid laugh. As he falls into a contented sleep embrac- ing the rocking lamppost, the girl steps down from a frame. There are several musical numbers to which Miss Carson