Variety (April 1912)

VARIETY 17 FIFTH AVENUE. Tha show It rather an odd affair thla weak at the Fifth Avenue. An opinion aa to lta merit will probably depend In a great measure upon the mood In which one strays, straggles or pushes the way up to the box office. "Pushes" Is probably the word, if Monday afternoon is to be the crite- rion. The lobby was a very busy little place about opening time. Eva Tan- guay is the attraction and by the time she cut loose there were but one or two empty seats left. Large floral offerings were made after the singer had done six songs, and then the house clamored for "I Don't Care." One or two of the numbers were probably new, but it makes very little differ- ence regarding songs as far as Tan- guay is concerned. All her lyrics point in the same direction and all the melodies sound the same as she sings them. The Grasers opened the program. Although many were being then seat- ed, they did exceptionally well. There will always remain a question as to the advisability of the removal of the wig by the impersonator after the opening. Frankiyn Ardell and Co. were bill* ed "No. 3," but when the show got moving was found down in the "7" position. For two people Frankiyn Ardell and Ann Walter certainly do kick up some dust with their comedy skit "The Suffragette." Little Miss Walter shares honors with the star. Without looking like what the cartoonists picture, as a "Suffragette" she gets everything over and makes some noise. The piece fitted in very well. Horace Wright and Rene Dietrich caught the best spot of the afternoon, "No. 4." The couple, however, have done much better at the same house. The act remains the same as when last seen with a song or two changed. Mr. Wright Is still doing an Italian with an Irish brogue at the opening. The attempts at comedy by him are strain- ed and should be allowed to rest. His straight make-up needs attention also. The light suit looked very badly, fit- ting poorly and being of an out of date fashion. Miss Dietrich wore a very pretty gown at the opening and look- ed fetching. Her song, however, is too long. Not understanding the lyric, the house became a bit nervous. "We're in Love" is still the finish. Wright and Dietrich should have fixed up a bit before returning. Bert Melrose, "No. 3," slid over a neat one. On top of the tables Mel- rose just swung the house right along with him. It was a big splash when the tables turned. W. 8. ("Rube") Dickinson caught "6," a very good spot and he did splendidly with his quiet patter offer- ing. The talk is funny, although it is the make-up and manner of delivery that counts with Dickinson. As a new "Rube" put over in a different way, the specialty is more than welcomed. Mr. Quick, "No. 2," held attention and pleased with his drawings. Josetty Bros, closed the show. A very good acrobatic act with no comedy required. The Dutch make-up could be discard- ed. Edward Abeles and Co. (New Acta.) Da$h. PALACE, CHICAGO. Chicago, April 24. Besides the Mountain Ash Male Choir, which remains for a second week, the Palace management offers as an added feature "In 1U99." Tnls in itself is an attraction worth the price of admission and goes a long way toward making the program worth while. As for the Welsh Sing- ers, they do well up to a certain point and then grow tiresome, despite the excellent voices, the splendid reper- toire and the solos. Despite all rules to the contrary the musical d.rector insists on planting himself on the stage with his back to the audience, thereby doing wonders to demolish what mignt otherwise be a passable stage picture. As for hits, they were few and widely scattered. Tom Waters, back from a run with "The Pink Lady," has revived h.s former pianoiog, slightly changed, and the comedian cornered a section of the hit column to himself. Waters wisely refrains from ragtime selections and deserves credit for it. It's a treat to catch a pianologist getting through on straight numbers, in fact 1* didn't Bound possible until Waters had fin- ished. He went big. The Arnaud Brothers, musical clowns, opened festivities and they, too, came out with some to spare. The pair of acrobats are away from the rest'and get along solely on their comedy. The finish went exception- ally well, although but few were seated in the house. Nevins and Erwood were also handi- capped because of the small aud.ence present during their stay, but man- aged to pull through nicely. Nevins has a distinctly different way of de- livering a "coon" song, the stutter- ing effect helping wonderfully. His footwork guaranteed their safety. Clarice Vance with four numbers, two sounding new, hardly met with her usual success. The Southern singer could improve upon her ma- terial and cons.dering her ability and what is generally expected of her, she should. In a late spot Miss Vanco passed, not with her usual margin. Follow.ng the Welsh singers, Win- sor McCay and his sensible turn were quickly voted a success. McCay with his moving iilctures in chalk is con- siderable ahead of his competitors, particularly those who depend on their connection with daily publica- tions to slip over. His turn was a br.ght spot In the bill. The Eight Palace Girls with a spe- cial set in black and white and with- out the nimble dancer who led the numbers on former visits closed the show. The dancing numbers are pic- turesque, but aside from the appear- ance and scenery, there is little to the offering. The girls are all prettily made up and the group work is nice to look at, but they cannot sing, al- though they try. Following Tiller's "Sunshine Girls," they fall to show above ordinary expectations. Business at the new house shows a slight but hardly noticeable in- crease. The few attending Monday evening brought little if any enthusi- asm with them. They were a hard audience to work to. M'ynn. MAJESTIC, CHICAGO. Chicago, April 24. Three of the feature acts on this week e Majestic program gives one at first glance the idea Major Glover decided to hold a reunion of old time acts and then suddenly changed his mind. For his topliner, the Major se- lected Harry Houdlnl who mysteri- ously seems to keep his well worn handcuff novelty sufficiently Interest- ing to warrant his topping all bills. Houdlni's secret has been shown in probably every theatre in town and handcuff acts have become passe, but Houdini still retains the drawing pow- er that made him a headline attrac- tion some years ago and what is stranger still, he still can send them out talking. Houdini is a good show- man. His talk is convincing. His straight jacket escape is just as thrill- ing as it ever was and so is his geta- way from the can of water. Houdini will probably continue to headline bills for some years, not because he is the originator but because he is the best showman to ever tackle the wristlet scheme. The other two very familiar offer- ings are Williard Simms and Haw- thorne and Burt." The latter should make an immediate change. They need new material and badly. Their routine of talk has been so widely copied it sounds musty even coming from them. They can still draw laughs and do. At the Majestic they come third on the bill. The one best bet of the act is Frank Burt's trav- esty dance to Salome music. That mght remain, but otherwise "The New Recruit" should take a short route to the old soldier's home. Williard Simms & Co., In "Flinder's Furnished Flat" supplied the comedy for the week's bill, gathering In everything in that particular line and carrying off a big hit. The finish in one, although rather prolonged, Is al- most entirely good, but occasionally goes draggy. However, it did not detract for the remainder of the offer- ing which made the usual impres- sion. The opening spot fell to Oscar Lor- raine, the violinist. Lorraine is a good musician and would pass just be- cause of this, but the impersonation of Rigo does the big work. This is used for a finale, Lorraine exaggerating the impersonation to almost the risque point. He sends home a lasting wal- lop, especially to those who dote on the near-suggestive. He scored a big hit Maude Lambert and Ernest Ball in their new two-piano-act made the big hit of the show even if Mr. Ball found it necessary to inform the audience he was a ring writer by trade. For a double act this couple come close to the top. Minnie Allen, a "single," who has almost made a novelty of her turn through clever manipulation, did very well. She has the right idea and can't go wrong. Cartmell and Harris, a thousand per cent, improved since their Isst visit here were elected to the second spot. Every little detail has been perfected as near as possible and the couple now have a first class dancing specialty. The finale, used here for TWO LITTLE BRIDES Mi Here is the cast of "Two Little Brides," a new musical comedy pro- duced at the Casino Tuesday evening by the Messrs. Shubert: Arthur Clough, Walter Lawrence, George Pauncefort, Sherman Wade, Tom Ferris, Louis London, Oscar Schwartz, Edgar Bryde, Frank Will- iams, Edward Stanley, Harry Sulkin, Dave Manser, Frances Cameron, Leila Hughes, Flavia Arcaro, Sallie 8allln- ger, Melissa Ten Eyck, James T. Powers. Most were never heard of before and may never be again. It is by all odds the cheapest aggregation ever gathered together for a Broadway presentment. In the aggregate they would not pass muster In a 10-20-30 summer snap. As a consequence whatever chance "Two Little Brides" might have had for success was irretrievably ruined by the totally incompetent cast. Next to the star in point of ability to en- tertain, there was Leila Hughes, a young and dainty prima donna of the ingenue type; Walter Lawrence, very effective in a role fashioned after Prince Danilo in "The Merry Widow"; Frances Cameron, a companion in- genue to Miss Hughes; Flavia Arcaro, as a Corsican woman in search of re- venge for having been left "waiting at the church." But Miss Arcaro was painfully devoid of dialect in what was intended to be an absolute dialect part. The basic idea of the book is excel- lent but poorly worked out, indicating unmistakably the interjection of in- numerable "gags" by the star, the kind perpetrated by him in the palmy days when "A Straight Tip" held the boards at the Herald Square. Arthur Anderson, Mr. Powers and Harold At- teridge are credited with this work, adapted from the German of Willner and Wilhelm. Gustave Kerker's music is dignified and abounds with technique; but it is doubtful if there Is any number that can be classed as a popular hit. Every one of the tunes appeared to end abruptly with a sud- den jerk, which while original in idea, is, nevertheless, irritating. One of the biggest ticket specula- tors left after the first act, declaring that he was quite convinced that there was "nothing doing." The second act was a slight improvement, but even had the speculator remained till the finish it is doubtful if he would have altered his judgment. "Two Little Brides" is not likely to develop into one of the coming sum- mer successes. Jolo. an encore, Is a bit better than anything of its kind the Majestic has held. The couple really deserved a better posi- tion. Nevertheless they corralled a big hit. The Curzon Sisters with ttiHr flying tricks closed the bill holding the houseful in for the pictures. Kalph Stuart was ft '.ai>- added at- tractioTi (New via). Minnie Allen tractuu (New Acts). ^Yynn.