Variety (September 1913)

VARIETY might remember that George Lowell Tracy, who is responsible for the un- pretentious music, is a local composer and that he is faring more cordially here than he probably will out in the cold world two weeks from now. The libietto is -by Charles Feltin Pidgin (who also wrote the lyrics) and Justin Adams. Even when perfected "The Courtin" will never be a record breaker nor will it even attain the box office har- vest that "Quincy Adams Sawyer" did. The chorus will eat up too much of the gross. GooUe. favor along the circuit, but any show where they permit that time-worn bromide of "Love is an itching sensa- tion around the heart that cannot be scratched" usually has many other fail- ings. GooUm. THR HONEY GIRLS Boston, Sept. 17. Patsy Barrett will bring all the "honey" that Bernard and Zeisler will find in the box office, and if it were not for. Barrett there would be a few cries from those who came to admire the sweetness of "The Honey Girls." (Progressive Wheel.) A wholesale order for symmetrical and conformitables should be obtained for some of the chorus who when they dance seem to creak a bit in the joints. They also need a wholesale injection of "pep" or else a slave driver to make them work harder. The numbers are good and some pos- sess exceptional virtue. One set of costumes with bright orange as the color scheme was re- freshing after the pinks, blues and reds which seem to be so much in favor by those who have been costuming the burlesque shows this season. Hughie Bernard/, who very wisely does not do much during the progress of the pro- duction, should be tipped that when he tried to sing "Normandy" he was in wrong. Patsy Barrett is better in com- edy than he has been for years and Bernard has done good work in the lyrics and music. Jack Freed as a Hebrew comedian is not funny. Another Hebrew come- dian should either be found or the role changed to fit Freed, who has a fair voice and is a willing worker. The closing of the first part with the dancing legs was unique, Barrett's feet adding much legitimate comedy of a welcome type far from the slap-stick which preceded it. Every laugh that Barrett gets is a hearty one and Charley Dunn as his foil, while not strong in comedy, plays well to the Irish comedy of the star. Tom Barrett as the husky voiced cattle king had a difficult part which will flatten his vocal cords if he continues his enthusiasm, but he livens up the action and is welcome for that reason. Flossie McCloud has person- ality and a rather catchy manner of walking won her generous hands. The role of Barrett's Irish daughter was in the hands of May Belle, who is healthy, good looking and an especially hard worker. If the chorus would catch a little of this, the show would pick up fifty per cent. Marie Revere had two main assets in silk stockings and these alone carry her successfully through the role of the French maid. The olio specialty carried by the show is Ah-Ling-Foo, a rather dis- couraged and poorly costumed imita- tion of Ching Ling Foo, but playing single. "The Honey Girls" will meet with MOLLIS WILLIAMS* SHOW The MoUie Williams Show at the Columbia, New York, this week is lit- tle changed, in principals or matter, from the Max Spiegel production of last season, according to those around the theatre who recalled the piece from the year before. It is entitled "The Queen of Bohemia." Some cur- rent popular numbers have replaced others which faded during the inter- val between seasons, and one or two of the principals may be new in the cast. The show is an average burlesque entertainment. Harry Sheppell and George F. Hayes, the comedians, the former a German and the latter a rube, secure laughs with ease. They have more old than new business, and re- sort to some light slapstick here and there, but cither of these funny men can draw down a giggle without trouble apparently. That's worth a great deal. Mr. Sheppell's "Dutch- man" does nicely, his make up is good and he has an easy way of working that helps the grand total. Hayes as a rube is there. After seeing some of the others, there is plenty in Hayes' work that is genuinely good. E. A. Turner gives an even performance as the straight, and Cliff Worman docs very well as a gawky boy, who adds a touch of "cissy stuff" at times to slightly vary the comedy routme. Three of the men have a singing tiio, but whether they intend it seri- ously or for fun only is difficult to determine. They go after "harmony," seem to strive for that, and then kid ic. Of course the kidding is the best part of the trio's singing, but the three principals evidently believe they can put it over. And they do, so there you are. Miss Williams is the big card, re- tains her pleasant personality, forgets her Frenchy accent often, and wears lets of clothes. Miss MoUic sings, too, many songs, mostly popular, some doing better than others. The audi- ence liked MoUie most when she wasn't so deadly earnest. "There's Something Strange About My Eyes" was a number from which Miss Will- iams got nothing Monday evening. It surprised her, perhaps. She was en- titled to something on her delivery of the number, but a rag that might have been content with one encore brought Mollic three, so here you are again. Burlesque is about on a par in its judgment with the fortune telling business. Mollie Williams is a pleas- ing girl on the stage, and is big enough in a sliow way to hear! a com- pany named after her. Belle Dixon has a light part and does that much with it. Belle sings, and gives her specialty, meaning more songs. Miss Dixon can get a line on her voice by listening to herself when singing "Come and Kiss Your Little Baby." There's a "divinity" on the end o' a line who says come up and reach me if you can. Belle almost makes it. She did her best with the Snyder med- ley, and that's going some, for few of the others have put it over. Stout and heavy, Madge Darrell did a few things allotted to her role, and Mae Meek was programed in a very minor part. The chorus girla number 24, with one held on the job through her size, used for laughter, while an- other. Dot Earlc, in long dress, is given a number. The choristers are of the conventional sort, nothing startling in looks, figure or work. The settings run with the remainder of the show, average, and that appears to be the fault with "The Queen of Bohemia," it just misses passing the mark in all respects, even to the in- evitable table scene, and including the dressing, excepting that of Miss Will- iams', though Belle Dixon costumed herself neatly, and received flowers Monday evening as did Miss Earle. In fact Miss Williams was the only one the florist overlooked so it could not have been the management When two girls in one burlesque show (or any other) receive flowers apart from an opening, it looks as though one got them on the level, with the other tipped off the roses were in front, when a hurry call was sent out for a second bunch. Next season Mr. Spiegel might hold nearly all the present company, and g(> after a big thing under the Mollie Williams banner. He should com- mence with the book. This going from the cobblestones to the asphalt in two scenes is so common. But the censors won't find anything to do with "The Queen of Bohemia," unless they try to locate "Bohemia" in this produc- tion. 8im€, AMERICAN. The show fell down a peg or two below some shown the previous weeks but everything considered the audience Tuesday night felt pretty well enter- tained after Fields and Lewis, the big timers, had things their own way for more than 15 minutes. Ringling, the aerialist with the cir- cus name, opened. Tuesday night he needed a shave and worked as though he was tired. Ringling might work faster anyway. He has some good tricks but works tlicin up after the fashion of the old one ring circus per- formers. Gerard and West didn't Create much stir until they hit up a fast dancing "bit" at the close. This put them in big favor. The act is not arranged right for the best results. "The Love Specialist," typically far- cical in construction and played by three people, caused considerable laughter. One woman outclassed the rest, but none of the acting was par excellence. Al. Lawrence rounded out some merry minutes with his versatil- ity. The Ben Ali acrobats ended the first part with a loud hurrah. Harry Waiman fiddled entertain- ingly. Harry's stage outfit -is against him. He's been playing long enough hereabouts to show a little more class. Godfrey and Henderson, with their rapid "fly" patter, were enjoyed. Keit and Kernan provided real novelty with their salt making pic- tures. The man sang as though he had a cold. If he had it will prove a good alibi for some of his notes. Mark. PALACE. (Estimated Cost of Show, $6,825.) The Palace had capacity downstairs Tuesday evening. The house fillejl slowly. It seems as though an over- flow from somewhere had helped the attendance. A poor start was given the bill by a dumb act and a single male singer, but with The Uessems (New Acts) third and the comedy after that getting into action, with the first section held up by the strong dramatics of Nance O'Neill (New Acts), the Palace show this week gets credit for a good dollar bill. At that though the Palace needs a longer, faster program. The headline, Nora Bayes, appeared next to closing, although the Thaw pictures were considered an act this week, with Hal Reid (who is as im- portant as Thaw in them), appearing as the lecturer. Harry K. posed around his cell like an actor in a meller. Most of the audience waited to see the heralded pictures, but expressed little sentiment either way. Reid emphasized several incidents in the film, particu- larly where Hal Reid was concerned. This Mr. Reid is some guy to have put this over and then get paid for it The Nora Bayes act must have been changed about greatly. Mi,ss Bayes is now standing at the concert grand (over which August Kleinckc presides) when the curtain goes up. She starts singing and never stops, excepting for one number Hal Clarke does by him- self. Even that was not necessary for Miss Bayes did not use the time to change her dress, which looks as though it might have cost what Keith paid Williams. A Bernie Quatrochi mentioned on the program did not ap- pear. The audience asked for many songs and Miss Bayes obliged, also singing without request Irving Berlin's latest, which Belle Baker is likewise using this week in New York. The Bayes act ran 24 minutes, and was a hit. Bayes can put over anything that has a lyric attached. She's getang Clarke over, and this Clarke boy is not so bad if you can forget the imitation he is trying to do with the aid of a mustache. For good enjoyment Merrill and Otto did as much as anyone, and scored, appearing just before Miss Bayes. Nothing is wrong about the turn excepting the funny excuse Miss Merrill gives* for changing her gown. .Hale and Patterson in velvet clothes started the second part with "society dances" the "Tommy" getting them all they received. The "Texas Tommy" is small time now. The man wore a flowing tie with his velveteens. It's 50-50 between this dress combina- tion and evening clothes. Hathaway's Monks opened. Arthur Aldridge, an English tenor William Morris imported some seasons ago was second. Since then he has been in opera and is now back to vaudeville, doing well too. Howard and Ratliff were "No, 4" going very big in the Palace. If the Palace theatre hasn't two palace sets it should secure a second. A couple of the acts had to use the same stage dressing. And if the Pal- ace owns the interior set used for the Nance O'Neil sketch, it might purchase a ceiling to make it complete.