Variety (December 1909)

VARIETY 15 Sharp and Montgomery. Singing and Dancing. 14 Min.; One. American. Sharp makes up coal black, appearing first in a striped white flannel suit and luter changes to an all blue costume which matches the second change of Miss Mont- gomery's. The girl, a "y a lief gal," pays commendable attention to dress and wears clothes which show that they cost money. The act runs to "loose" dancing, at which they are udepts; Sharp, in particular showing an attractive routine of dis- jointed material which scored heavily, lloth have a song to themselves and they work the finish together in a manner which won them, on Tuesday evening, three strong recalls. The act compares favorably with those of its class and suited the American immensely. Walt. OUT or TOWN Zena Dare, Maurice Farkoa and Co. "Mitislaw" (Musical Comedy). Hippodrome, London. "Mitislaw" is the name of a Prince, taken by Maurice Farkoa. Princess Amaranth is Zena Dare. The piece migh* have amounted to something if the music mid those clumsy chorus girls were left of) the stage, but the music breaks into what might have been a first-class accom- paniment to a farce comedy. Farkoa is ti I ways good. Ah for the rest of the cast nothing can be said. John Le Hay, the chancellor, does not have a great deal to do but even he fails to send some of the funny dialog given him very far over the footlights. Seymour Hicks is the producer. The girls must have been placed in the act so it could be called a musical comedy. Nothing funnier there is than the bunch nttempting to "trip" lightly across the stage. The girls are good lookers, but often in the act dark stage is used. As before mentioned Miss Dare was the Princess. Signor Frozeina. Harpist. 1a Mins.; Full Stage. Signor Frozeina juissed away rather a pleasant twelve minutes with his harp playing. The instrument is played so rarely it is a novelty in itself. The Sig- nor dresses in conventional evening clothes, playing without any frills, which is a mistake, for a violent shaking of the head or swaying of the body always makes it more interesting to the vaudeville audience. Frozeina should have a look at Ilinaldo or Travato. From either he could learn how far that "heavy stuff" goes. For a finish, the harpist places a cover over the instrument, and blindfolds himself, playing a medley of jmtriotic airs. The audience applauded, but it isn't known whether for the airs or the trick playing. The act will probably do for the small time. Signor Frozeina .is not Fro- zini, the accordeon soloist. l)a*h. Lander and Allen. Talking and Singing. 15 Mins.; One. One man works in blackface. They pull a couple of chairs fo the center of the stage and interchange a line of talk which contains some new stuff, and nothing very old. After having their saw they finish with a comic dittv which sends th<nn off well. The act can 1k» rated little better than fair. Walt. Harry Bulger. Character Songs. 25 Mins.; One. Majestic, Chicago. Harry Bulger's opening at the Majestic this week in a new series of character songs was rather a disappointment to his friends. The audience refused to be moved to any enthusiasm, partly due, it is likely, to the fact that he made several costume changes involving long waits which tried the patience of the crowd. One bit of novelty was the appearance of u "drunk," who pushed his way to the rail of a box and handled a first-rate line of give-and-take dialog with the comedian. Part of the audience was not "wise," and supposed the incident to be unplanned. A piano accompanist shared the stage with Mr. Bulger without influencing the act cither way. Merry. May Yohe. "In Silk Attire" (Talk and Songs). 1 a Mine.; Full Stage. Young's Pier, Atlantic City. Very pretty is the boudoir setting used by May Yohe in her new single turn. She has just returned from a social function where people have gushed over. Sir .leffry has asked for her hand in matrimonv. • This allows Miss Yohe a chance to allude to her own past marital experiences and make terse remarks on marriage. When she said "The first time I gave up Hope hut the second time was too Strong for me" she won a big laugh, even though secured at some personal cost, it would seem. It has been some time since she appeared in the east, a quiet charm and an easy stage presence make her likable. /. B. Pulaski. Blossom Robinson and Co. (4). 16 Mins.; Full Stage. Schindler's, Chicago. The novelty of this act may appeal to audiences of smaller theatres. It depends upon a "Oihson (>irl" scene for its strength. Although the idea is not new it is handled differently. The opening discloses three women and a man singing plantation songs. A "Gibson Girl" cur- tain descends, and Miss Robinson enters at one side of it, singing a "stage-door Johnnie" song in "one." The supporting company have a song dependent upon artistic repose, which none has. The finale is Miss Robinson, in black tights, Ms a "Gibson Girl." ready to plunge into the ocean. Merry. Shayne and King. "Singers of the Ghetto." 15 Mins.; One. Central, San Francisco (Week Nov. 28). The team appear without the customary ill-fitting clothes, l>cards, etc.; novel, but not just the thing for the patrons of this house who appreciate more of the bur- lesque in acts of this nature. Their ex- cellent voices are responsible for what success is achieved, but too much depend- ence is put upon them. The talk is short and for the most part good. The opening number could stand considerable cutting and quicker action could Is* introduced throughout. Slun lie's falsetto is a good coinedv feature and their Hebrew dame vent splendid at the finish. Fountain. Rutledge and Pickering. "My Boy Jim" (Comedy). 19 Mins.; Full Stage. Wilson Avenue, Chicago. A countryman is disclosed in his 'office" when the curtain rises. He h<is just received three letters. His talk in- dicates that this is an unusually large mail. Opening one he finds that a rep- resentative of a New York newspaper is coming out to interview him. A second one is a warning against the same re- porter. At this moment the female rep- resentative of a metropolitan journal enters. She commences to interview the countryman. He evades telling her any- thing. His replies are along lines familiar where a countryman is in conversation with city folks. The dialog keeps the audience laughing. The woman at length broaches her errand. The son of the countryman is a "political boodler" in New York; her paper has the proofs, and. after hesitating, the reporter suggests that $5,000 would buy them. The old fellow evidences his love for the boy and although the $5,000 in the bank was to pay "the mortgage" (made plain by the third letter) he hands over the check, lie receives the proofs, and then asks for a receipt. Absent mindedly she writes it on the back of tiie check. Discovering her error a moment later she returns and asks for the check. He hands her a laugh instead, and after her exit the .'lutein slowly descends as Ii<> tails bark for a nap after "a bu>y day." Piinv V. I'ut ledge is the count rymaii am! Jeanne Pickering is the reporter. Roth play their parts nicely. The fault in the playlet lies in the fact that the proofs are ac- cepted by the old man without question. A communication from the son to the father, stating that the paper had him at its mercy, might make that point clear. Merry. McGrath and Yeoman. Comedy Sketch. 17 Mins.; Full Stage. Wilson Avenue, Chicago. A student of vaudeville is often led to conclude that a good opening and a lively finish can carry an act to success. McGrath and Yeoman have the good open- ing and a laughable finish, and while there are spots in the offering where McGrath's comedy is not exactly artistic there is no disputing the laughing value of the act. McGrath's comedy is along lilies which are not new and he resorts to several time-worn "gags" for laughs. When holding a string of fish he names the in- habitants of the deep with points to each a! the right moment. There is no climax to the talk, and it loses effectiveness for the audience does not know it is com- pleted until he laughs, giving the signal for applause. This can easily he reme- died. At length, Miss Yeoman has a splendid voice, a pretty djess and makes her number a pronounced success. '\ Ii« finish is a burlesque opera bit. very clever. The act is satisfactory in its present form but a little work on the weak feature will improve it. Merry. John Ennor. Travelogs. is Mins.; One. Wilson Avenue, Chicago. John Ennor, who has been playing Chicago for several weeks, proved a strong feature of the Wilson Avenue bill, and the audience seemed to think that he did not occupy enough time to judge from the applause which followed the final obser- vation. His subject last Saturday night was "Utah and the Mormons." He is a convincing speaker and evidently full of his subject. How he flits from idea to idea in such rapidity without a single hesitation was one of the things which contributed to the success of the ''act." Once interest is aroused in this traveller, his number should prove a strong one on «ny bill. Merry. J. Rubens. Painter. , 7 Mins.; Three. Orpheum, New Orleans. Playing his second week in this country r.s a number on the program of the Or- pheum Show, J. Rubens does an entertain- ing novelty. He (mints two pictures, the first being drawn upside-down on canvas, the second a marine transparency. This is painted on thin paper pasted over glass and light effects behind it make a pretty addition. (). M. Samuel. Art Bowen. Cartoonist, n Mins.; One. Haymarket, Chicago. Hie debut of the Chicago Journal cartoonist in vaudeville was attended with success. Mr. Howeii has had a song written which gives an idea of his draw- ings. He sings while working. A quick sketcher, with the combination of music in black and white gives an impression of great speed, causing it to be much liked for the several taking qualities. Mr. Itowen follows with his impressions of popular stage stars, concluding by singing "The Old Grey Honnet," sketching the couple the lyrics suggest. Merry. "The King of Ca.h.aia" "laved nil*" i;,,,.,. days this week <<• rehearse Marguerite Clarke and Holier! Demp^ev in their roles, and opened Thursday night in Stamford with Miss Clarke featured. George W. Leslie and Co. (3). "Made in Heaven" (Comedy). 13 Mins.; Full Stage. Young's Pier, Atlantic City. The action takes place in .lack Feather leigh's (Mr. Leslie) rooms at lOr.'JO a. in. He is to be married at noon, and is nerv- ous. That he had attended his last "bachelor supper" the night before, and can't reineinlier what happened after a certain point add !o his discomfiture. In walks a young woman (Susette Jackson), who informs him they were married after 1 he supper. She explains that the terms f a legacy left her stipulated she marry before midnight of the day previous. Through their marriage he had saved to her n large fortune. The situation is finally cleared up when Tom Littleton, Keatherleigh's best man arrives. The ab- sent-minded young woman recognizes him ns her husband. The sketch is too short. With building up it should pass. /. /?. I>ula*ki. Corinne. who closed as a Shubert star at I'thana, 111., recently, will probably be a memlMT of the Shubert's Christmas panto- mime, "Dick Whittington." o