Variety (December 1907)

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16 VARIETY NEW YORK. Broadway has not seen a more thor- oughly enjoyable vaudeville entertainment than that afforded at the New York this week in as many blue moons as you care to mention. Everybody on the bill was a hit, from little Radie Furman, who took four recalls in the "No. 2" place, to Su- zanne Adams (New Acts), the high-priced headliner, whose appearance was the oc- casion of a veritable demonstration. Mile. Chester and her "statue dog" made a pretty opening number. There is an at- tractive touch of novelty about her spe- cialty and its simple completeness recom- mends it. Miss Furman is a graceful soubrette with a cheery, breezy manner and qualities of sprightly good humor. It is possible that she makes a mistake in disfiguring herself for the character song. She's ever so much more entertaining as her smart, lively self. ■-- Maude Hall Macy has injected some new slang into her odd comedy sketch, but for the most part it stands as before. Subjected to the handicaps of third place in the show this week it scored a sub- stantial success. Bob and George Quig- ley were well up among the leaders in the comedy section. The pair have worked out a line of conversation which takes none of its text from the catalogue of stock humor. Every line is new and the pair deliver it easily and effectively. The Irishman earns a heartfelt vote of thanks by appearing in regular, human clothes. Except for a barely perceptible touch of eccentricity he was as well dressed as the "straight" man. Greene and Werner replaced Caicedo, the wire-walker, opening the intermission, and were one of the hits of the evening. Mr. Greene has lost none of his extraordi- nary skill as an interpreter of "coon" songs. His numbers went extremely well. The pair work smoothly and at high speed, and the novelty and picturesque dressing of their offering does the rest. Julian Rose caught an opportunity and made the most of it. Two or three paro- dies modelled upon Harry Lauder's reper- toire of songs returned him interest a hundredfold. Rose handled the burlesque splendidly. He might easily have over- played, but he steered a safe middle course and he "landed" with both feet em- phatically. The parodies came along to- ward the end of the turn. The talk that preceded was rich in laughs. Some of his material is so good that one is inclined to wonder why it is he lets any of the obvious comedy stuff creep in to spoil his effects. The Okabe Family of Japanese acro- bats closed the show. When they first appeared in New York, now some months since, they had a routine of novelty acro- batic feats that was second to none. In its present form the act is improved even over its former arrangement. In dressing the number is extremely showy, even spectacular, and there is a gasp every two seconds in the series of unheard of feats. The finish is the weak point. They have more striking feats in the opening, almost any one of which would serve better as a closing feature. This defect should be corrected without delay. The Gorgetty Troupe is under New Acts. Rush. PASTOR'S. Have you caught Mike Scott? Well, go down to Pastor's and get him. The last time "The Roving Irishman" was at Pas- tor's he was handicapped by having a brother artist follow him on the bill who insisted upon using Mike's own original material, and so Mike had to do a lot of old stuff after the first show or his act would have been purloined bodily. But this week the Irishman has come into his own, and he is going it to the queen's taste. Mr. Scott would likely ob- ject to that statement as he has no love for queens and the likes of them. To say that Mike Scott is original would be putting it mildly. He is unique. He improvises his dance steps, writes and sings his own songs and tells only his own stories. On his music it reads in bold lettering, "Copyright Granted to Mike Scott." Mike Scott does a real old-fashioned clog on a small raised pedestal. "Sixteen inches square, it is," says Michael, and as his shoes measure eleven inches from heel to toe, you see It only allows of five inches to dance, also says Michael. Mr. Scott entertained and made them laugh at Pas- tor's, and it would be just as easy for him to do it at any other house. James S. Devlin and Mae Ellwood played the house a short time ago with their present offering, "The Girl from Yonkers." The act embodies a new idea and is full of bright spots. Miss Ellwood, "the girl" with a mania for taking things, plays admirably. Mr. Devlin does well enough, but is buried be- neath the excellent work of his partner. There is a quantity of good, quiet comedy in the offering and it has that quality which is always in demand in vaudeville— novelty. This in itself should be the strongest recommendation it could receive. Bartlett and Collins do a little of every- thing. Mr. Bartlett is a good comedy con- tortionist and would do well to stick closer to this line of work. The opening Is first rate, but like everything else in the spe- cialty is stretched out too long. Miss Col- lins is not helping her good looks With the costumes now worn. The first is excus- able as it comes apart and probably could be made no other way, but a prettier cos- tume could be found for the change that would improve her appearance. The house liked the offering and was not bashful about saying so. Clifford and Hall should frame up a singing and dancing act in "one" and do away with the attempted comedy. Both possess pleasing voices, and while they were singing the house was satisfied. Mr. Clifford wrongly insists upon playing a "Dutchman" and being a comedian. John F. Clark keeps the house merry with his patter and impromptu remarks and Tli" Harringtons opened with their comedy ring offering. A little novelty is offered through the woman of the pair doing the heavy work. She is a neat, trim- looking little body and her neatness only accent nates the fact that the man's make- up could stand cleansing. / Milton and his Dogs closed. Sam Row- ley, Carrie Scott, Jas. A. Welch and Com- pany, Clayton and Drew and DeLisle are under New Acts. Dash. TWENTY-THIRD STREET. The return of Ross and Fenton to vaude- ville for a week ("by permission of Joe Weber") at the Twenty-third Street again proclaimed what great favorites they were and are yet and would, always be in vaude- ville were Mr. Ross and Miss Fenton to choose it for a permanency. The comedy sketch written by Mr. Hoss, named "Just Like a Woman," is played and much enjoyed. Besides the maid dancing to "The Merry Widow" waltz, the newness in the act is Mr. Ross' impersonation of Harry Lauder singing "8h«'s Ma Daisy." He has the dialect, with its vocal freakishness and actions of the Scotchman, nearly perfect at times, but he hurts the imitation greatly by not appear- ing in the regulation Scotch costume, the exigencies of the piece not permitting probably. Miss Fenton has not looked better in a long while. There was another Scotch impersonation on the bill, given just before the Ross- Fenton sketch by Mignonette Kokin as a portion of her character-change singing and dancing number in "one." This re- moved* the edge somewhat from Mr. Ross' effort. But notwithstanding the Ross-Fen- ton popularity and the personal friends in the audience, Miss Kokin held their act up through the audience applauding so vo- ciferously at her finish, an imitation of Fred Stone dancing, that she was obliged to return to the footlights, excusing her- self with a short speech. Miss Kokin's name has a foreign tinge and she faintly suggests Europe at times. While the vaudeville managers have been wasting their time and money in attempt- ing "boom" foreign importations, why have they overlooked Mignonette Kokin? Whatever booming received could be borne out by her. It is easy to believe Miss Kokin js the best dancer on the stage; she is the best Scotch impersonator who has appeared over here (but could have a better song) and she is the hit of the strong bill this week, possibly excepting "The Romany Opera Company" in "Gypsy Life," an act not witnessed on Monday night. Miss Kokin might secure a more desir- able song for her Scotch number, and either while singing "Zuyder Zee" speak with a German accent or drop that char- acter, although the swing of the song car- ries it. But did she do nothing else well —which she does decidedly—her dancing alone would bring her into prominence. Miss Kokin just skips over the stage and need not necessarily imitate anyone while doing it. During her changes, moving pic- tures depict her rapid changes of costume, filling up the short waits entertainingly. Another laughing success, with musical entertainment combined, was scored by Eckhoff and Gordon. Miss Gordon, who is pleasing in appearance in both the gown and soldier costume, has a naturally pleas- ant voice, used to good effect without straining, and Mr. Eckhoff supplies all the comedy, also nearly all of the music. Some of the fun, while not uncommon, is well worked up, although a little dragged out, and Mr. Eckhoff makes good music, par- ticularly while playing a bass clarionet. Cressy, of Cressy and Dayne, who fol- lowed in "The Village lawyer," wrote the sketch around a clarionet, and perhaps if WHAT'S THE USE? What's the use of anything? It ain't no good at all. What's the use of dreaming When you're wakened by the fall? What's the use of lying? You'll surely be found out. What's the use of truthfulness When it only brings a doubt? What's the use of working? You might live on just the same. What's the use of being good When it only brings you blame? j What's the use of crying? Nothing's gained by tears. What's the use of laughing When it's another name for fears? What's the use of living? We might better all be dead. What's the use of striving When one never gets ahead? What's the use of anything? It ain't no good at all. What's the use of kicking When certain of the final Call? M. M. Thiese's "Wine, Woman and Song." Company (No. 1) established a new record at the Alvin, Pittsburg, Thanks- giving Day. The gross for two perform- ances was $3,912. The week's business amounted to something over $12,000. Jessie Barnes and Mabel Sisson, who re- cently came together as a dancing and singing team, are playing Western dates, but will appear in New York shortly. Miss Barnes has been in retirement for several years. "Resisto," a new electrical phenomenon, under the management of Alf. T. Wilton, is playing the Orpheum, Yonkers, this week. He will have a New York showing soon. Mr. Eckhoff would present his instrument to Mr. Cressy the latter would stop using the shop-worn act. The bamboo chimes, played by monkeys, was the first novelty on the program, Ga- letti's animals performing the trick and doing it well, bringing in sufficient comedy to set the house in gales of laughter, kept up until the finish, when the "barber shop" scene took place, excellent training making itself prominent throughout. Mr. Galetti is very mild in appearance and speech and has a first-class comedy animal act. The talk of one of the Swor Brothers won out. The act is almost a monologue, the talking end taking it all upon himself, the other appearing at intervals and as a "wench" at the close. The dual conversa- tion of the "bear chase" and "hot weather" could be replaced by cross-fire talk to much better advantage. It is thoroughly known, though given a few extra touches by the brothers. One has a suggestion of the I>eculiar swinging walk of Joe Barrett, of Gallagher and Barrett. Both are good "coons," the comedy end especially, and the act ought to be built up into a strong one. The Picchiani Troupe of acrobats closed. Sime.