Variety (September 1913)

16 VARIETY NtW ACTS NEXT WEEK lolttal P r—»nf tion« Pint App —ranf or RcappMiraiic* In or Around New York Nance O'Neil and Co., Palace. The Uessems, Palace. Tyrone Power and Co., Fifth Ave. Julie Ring and Co. (New Act), Fifth Ave. William Friend and Amy Lesser, Ulih Avenue. Ed MUler and Helen Vincent, Fifth Ave. "Auto Bandit," Union Square. Florence Tempest, Union Square. Porter and Sullivan, Union Square. Nora Bayes and Co. (3). "Songs and Foolishness." 50 Mins.; Full Stage (Parlor). ColoniaL Nora Bayes, following the expressed wishes of the vaudeville powers, has at- tempted to present a "big act" and in this respect has dismally failed. There are but five minutes of genuine humor in a Z7 mmute "comedy" skit, the re- mainder of the 50 minutes being con- sumed in rendering numbers from her old repertoire. The act opens with all lights out. It is supposed to be the in- terior of a theatre late at night. The author, lyricist and composer of an op- eretta "Cabaravings," have an appoint- ment to meet a musical comedy star and read and play their piece to her. After a few moments, lights up, Miss Hayes enters and each of the trio tries to impress upon the star how good is his work and how inferior that of his collaborators. Exactly Z2 minutes of "twaddle" was perpetrated until there came five minutes of exceedingly clever travesty to the accompaniment of rag- time music and stepping. An elabora- tion of this idea alone, with but one assistant (and a pianist—even that wouldn't be necessary) would have placed Miss Bayes' act in the hit de- partment. As it is at present, her new act may be set down as a fail- ure. /<*to. Edwin Arden and Co. (2). "The Man from the North" (Dra- matic). 1.) Mins.; Five (Parlor). Fifth Avenue. "The Man From the North" was first played in vaudeville for a very short while by C. H. O'Donnell, its au- thor, and was reviewed as a New Act in Vaiueti Sept. 6, 1912. Placing it with Edwin Arden has improved the principal rule only. When O'Donnell appeared in the sketch the main attrac- tion was the young woman (Margaret Field) takmg the daughter role. It's a pity Mr. Arden could not have se- sured her. Constance Hyatt, who now assumes the part does nothing with it Her vocal efforts at the concert grand are harmful. Albert Sackett is the third player and passes. Arden's con- ception of a French Canadian vastly dirters from O'Donnell's in every way, and is much to be preferred. This piece now all depends upon Arden. He can give it a tremor and m^ke it stand up, but that is because he is Edwin Arden. 8ime. ir you dun't ■dvertiNC In VAKIKTV, don'l advertlM« Ht all. Auatin Webb and Co. (2). "Your FUg and Mine" (Dramatic). 15 Mint.; Three (Interior). Union Square. Old Glory has been a great salva- li'. n for many people and many things. It may save the new act which Austin Webb offered at the Union Square Monday night. In "Your Flag and Mine," Uncle Sam's colors are conspic- u' usly placed back of a table at which a U. S. army colonel sells the harbor plans of Manila Bay to a swarthy skinned fofeign baron for $20,000. The deal would have gone through hne and dandy if one ex-heutenant, Dan Gar- rett (Austin Webb), hred from the army, had been m Ireland instead of behind the curtains upstage. Dan loved two things—the flag and booze. Dan almost killed the nobleman, took the copy of fortihcations away from him, bawled the very life out of the colonel and told the old flag just how much he loved it It's all play for the patriotic emotions. Webb should have held back this playlet until we have another war. Mark. William Morrow and Donna Harris. "On a Country Road" (Comedy). 18 Mins.; Two (Special Set and Drop), iifih Avenue. "kather a fly couple," says the Fifth Avenue program. Yes? This little aci doesn't develop any flyness until tu\\ard the finish when Miss Harris, as a couniiy girl, informs the commercial liaveltr in some slang expressions she isn't countjy at all, just big time (but .lot vaudeville). During the act Mr. Morrow sang a laughing song, then gave "Seven Ages," "with apologies to the Immortal Bard." For the con- clusion oi their performance the cou- ple danced, first singing the introduc- tion entitled "The Marriage Bells Are Ringing." That's going back some, old dear. Morrow and Harris will have to brush up a lot to keep in fast cempany. Hime. The Varinea (2). Music and Songs. 14 Mins.; Pull Suge (Exterior). Murray Hill (Sept. 8). The Varines are said to be the wid- ow and son of the late Sig France. The woman is elderly, of a dignified appear- afjce with white hair. She sings in a deep contralto, announced by the son a.*; a baritone. "Silver Threads Among the Gold" is the mother's first number, joined in by the son on the chorus for harmony. The son, perhaps 30 years old, plays an harmonica giving different imitations (all announced) finishing with a bugle with light effects. The fmale of the turn brings the mother liaok in a grotesque Dutch costume and dialect, carrying a small dog which howls while both are singing. The set- ting is a bare stage excepting for some chairs and a table, covered with a cloth bearing the initials "L" and "F." Sime. Martin and Elliott. Dances. 7 Mins.; One. Murray HUl (Sept. 8). Two boys, dancing and singing like H)Ost of the others. Bime. Lorna and Toota Pounda. 'Impersonationa. 10 Mine.; One. Palace. Opening the intermission was noth- ing short of professional suicide for these two women who offered three scenes taken from as many plays. The first was from "Ishmael" second act, wherein the beggar and his son have a scene. It was dry, although well done, but hardiy audible with the house moving inward. The second showed the scene between Mary Tur- ner and the young thief, taken from "Within the Law." It wasn't impres- sive. The last bit was an impersona- tion of Gaby Deslys and Harry Pilcer in their "The Gaby Glide." This suf- ficed to earn a lew bows tor tiie sis- ters, but the turn lacks value for big time. Perhaps they were given the un- desirable spot purposely. It looked that way. ySynn- "Everybody's Doing It." Farce. 15 Mms.; Interior. American. « Occasionally u breeze from the past carries with it a nuie ot rciresiuiiciit, when well done. ll poorl" worked out, it generates a desire for same. "Everybody's Doing It" is a stimulant in itself, albeit ot the vintage of the past generation. There are inree char- act rs, a weazened hen-pecked husband with a "Mr. I'ipp" make-up, a burly wife, and a blonde soubret. Man and wife bicker; wife phones to hotel clerk to give her another room lor the night. She departs. Enter kimono-clad blonde escaping from her husband who is soused. Is it necessary to detail any more of the plot? But there are many corking comedy and farcical lines, and the three players are excellent big small time pcrtonners. In the better three-a-day grade "Everybody's Doing It" is sure to prove a scream. Jnio. Boyle and Byrne. Songs. 14 Mins.; One. 125th Sueet Two women. Both sing, with the smaller showing some voice. Her part- ner sings with her and alone and does a recitation with musical accompani- ment. Then she fills in splendidly as accompanist to the other's songs. The numbers run to the Irish compositions. The woman with the voice is good enough to frame a "single." Her voice is a revelation among the pop circuits. If the women stick together they could get better results by revising their pro- gram. Murk. Josephine Clairmont. Songs. 9 Mins.; One. 125th Street. Little Miss Josephine can thank her- self that she got a whack at tlie 125th Street audience Tuesday night before the high-voiced vocalist of the "sister act" which followed, came into view. Miss Clairmont works hard enough and did her best work with the "Persian Flower" solo. The "I'll Get You" num- ber, with the spot picking out men in the audi(Mice, sliould be tabooed at once. Mark. NEW SHOWS NEXT WEEK InltlAl P raea n tatton of Lcgltliiuita Attracttona in New York "Madam President" (Fanny Ward)— Garrick (Sept. 15)^ "Rob Roy" (Bessie Abbot) (revival- Liberty (Sept. 15). Grand Opera—Century (Sept. 15). Wm. A. Brady'i Co. (9). "Beauty it Only-Skin Deep" (Comedy). 26 Mins.; Full Stage (Special Set). Fifth Avenue. "Beauty is Only Skin Deep" is the principal comic scene from "The Lady From Oklahoma," a play comedy by Elisabeth Jordan which had a short stay in one of William A. Brady's New York theatres last season. Mr. Brady is sponsoring the condensation. It should receive bookings if the pres- ent cast, among whom may be some of the original company, do not make this variety production too expensive, considering there is nothing about it excepting the Brady name tor the ini- tial drawing attraction, in the smaller cities a comedy pUyed and staged as this one is would gain torce at the top ol the program and likely pack the house for the week from Tuesday on. The new title isn't good nor is it at- tractive. "Made Over" or "For Wo- men Only," anything that is short and not suggesting a moving picture would better answer the purpose, although in an act like this ii a title couid Oe hit upon that would arouse some curiosity it would help the box othce from the beginning. The piece holds good com- edy, with many humorous situations, and the entire playlet probably hai more appeal for women than for men, a.s the scene is a beauty establishment, w til a woman "being done up" before the audience. There must be many little personal points in this work, placed there by the authoress that es- cape the male while tickling the risi- bles of the opposite sex. A large dose ol "manicure stuff" and bad grammar arc ill the dialog, which is well handled principally by Jean Adair as "The Lady From Oklahoma," played in the orig- inal cast by Jessie Bonstelle, who staged the vaudeville version. If Miss J>onstelle coached Miss Adair after her cwn performance, then Miss Bon- stelle did an excellent piece of work in the full play, for Miss Adair does that in the smaller view. Louise Everts scored second honors, with Ada Cur- ry in a straight role taking capable care of it. May Milloy also has a leading part. All of the nine princi- pals are women. No man appears on the stage, and there is no music nor chorus. "Beauty is Only Skin Deep" is a comedy purely, something vaude- ville can use readily in these hard times. Bime. Rolandow Brothers. Strength. 10 Mins.; Two. Palace. The usual routine featuring one-hand balances, well done, but done so fre- quently in all brands of vaudeville houses that it has lost its novelty value. A good act for small time. Wynn.