Variety (February 1914)

18 VARIBTY NEW ACTS NEXT WEEK Inidftl Pi iUftioii, FIrtt 1b or New York Saharct, Palace. Do-For Boya, Palace. Qomlcy and Caaaray, Fifth Ave. John L. SuUiTan (Reappearance), Hammerstein's. Dorothy Dale, Hammerstein's. Anna Held, Colonial. Icelandic Troupe, Colonial. Two Toraboya, Alhambra. Carmen's Minstrela, Bronx. Jeaae L. Laaky Co. "The Beantiea." Muaical Comedy. 44 Mine.; Poor (Interior; Special Set- ting). ColoniaL "The Beauties" was sent up through New England to wear off the rough edges with Wilbur Mack and Nella Walker as the principal players. About a week ago they withdrew from the act, and Stewart Baird and Lora Lieb were substituted. When first presented the offering consumed more than an hour. It's now down to 44 minutes, and, eschewing some aimless dialog, could run well within the half hour limit. "The Beauties" is long on gow.is and the display of wardrobe by the women in Lasky'i "Redheads" is much along the same lines in this latest of Lasky turns. And it's this same clothes display by the female contingent that will keep the offering from falling from grace. In "The Beauties" an old- time theme is used. A young artist is seeking the right kind of a beauty for a model, and a loquacious beauty- seeker endeavors to show his picking ability by trotting in eight girls of as many nationalities. There's a female newspaper reporter in love with the ar- tist and a slim jim Spaniard who flour- ishes stillettos and rushes around after the manner of some of our busy little burlesque foreigners. The girls look very dolly in their classy glad rags. At the start each is introduced in na- tive garb of foreign climes, and the effect is pleasing. The gangway clat- ter during the introduction is wholly unnecessary. Doris Vernon is the most characteristic in the Swedish type, al- though she is inclined to overdo after the first impression. Later the girls primp up in evening gowns for the clos- ing. The talk is common, with most of it handled for comedy results by W. J. McCarthy as the beauty-seeker. Baird looks like an artist, but does not get the dancing returns oat of "The Best Dance of AH" number, in which he trots, tangoes and "waltz hesitates" with different girls. A stepping juvenile of lighter appearance would be more acceptable. Baird sings better than he dances. Miss Lieb was pleasing to a degree, but could have injected more pep and personality into her numbers. "Girls, Girls" and "On the Boulevards" show little originality, the idea having been done repeatedly in musical com- \y. Eleanor Lawson struggled hard out over the ">male reporter," but role is hopeless. Some of the dia- caused laughter and a greater por- did not. But the dresses caught nd that may be sufficient. Mark. Virgima Hamed and Co. (4). "Anna Kerenina" (Drama). 22 Mine.; Five (Library). Palace. "Anna Karenina," from Tolstoy's book, will do for Virginia Harned's re- turn trip, but it serves as additional proof that the day of the legit and the dramatic in vaudeville is not of this day nor is it apt to come back. Vaude- ville it fast and dramatic sketches are slow, or seem so, though but 25 min- utes or less in the running. Story-plays that occupy an evening are the same; unless it be a show like "Kitty Mac- Kay" at the Comedy that has so many laughs breaking up the action, it lends as much speed to the piece as a real variety program should have. Miss Hamed supplies her usual splendid acting, but she has not been over-par- ticular in the selection of the support- ing company. The big scene nearly misses fire, as Miss Harned must carry it alone, but you can't always tell from the front in vaudeville, nor in other shows. Sometimes a star has a ten- dency to curb members of the company in order that he or she shall the more brilliantly shine. Anna Karenina is the wife of the Minister of State. Her home life has grown irksome, because her husband is a busy man and there is a Captain Bronson hanging around. Bronson, according to hearsay info from Princess Nadia (Margaret Gordon), is the handsomest man in the Russian army. The Captain was in the library a few moments before the curtain went up to tell Anna he loved her. Anna liked the Captain also, but wouldn't admit it, and Bronson, in the disap- pointment of unrequited affection, left just before the curtain went up to ride over the hurdles on a race track that could be seen by the actors, so they said, from the veranda. But the audi- ence couldn't see the track, nor did they get a flash at the handsomest man in the Russian army, which was rather tough on the house, as there are no handsome men o the bill at the Palace this week. Of course Freddie Bowers will dispute this and Paul Nicholson will have to stand some kidding from Miss Norton through that remark, but it's true, for everybody knows real hand- some actors become leads in stock. But drifting back to the Captain and the hurdles. Captain took a tumble while Anna was looking over her hus- band's shoulder at the race. Anna screamed, and Count Alexis Kareni.ia (Charles Lane) immediately became wise. He accused his wife of loving that man, but she stalled, until a note arrived from Princess Nadia and the Count told Anna the Captain had died. The.i Anna told the Count a few things and started away from there. The Count didn't want a scandal, so he called their child, Serge (Audrey Ridgewell), a cute little kid who stopped smoking in the theatre while on the stiige and had to remember his dialog and cues while holding onto a dog by a string, but Serge did his work well when Pop told him to yell for Mother. He did, and Anna came back to stay. It's not so hard to flag a husband, but to leave a child! The curtain was lowered for an in- stant to indicate passing time, but even at that Captain Bronson didn't show. Sime. May TuUy'i Co. (17). ''Cavalleria Roaticana.'* 29 Mine.; Fnll Stage (Special Set). Fifth Avenue. From a vocal standpoint there isn't very much fault to be found in May Tully's presentation of Pietro Mas- cagni's miniature grand opera, "Caval- leria Rusticana," in vaudeville. But the program should contain a brief synop- sis of the plot, for it is safe to hazard the assertion few vaudeville patrons are familiar with the story. All the members of the cast, including the con- ductor, have their pedigrees in the program, the one lone exception bei.ng the organist. The "large chorus from the Metropolitan and Hammerstein's" numbers exactly twelve, but this mixed dozen have voices that would probably compare, musically, with the average vaudeville soloist. The principals were all undoubted artists, especially Miss Kestner, the Santuzza. She is a drar- matic soprano of exceptional range and volume. The other four characters were more than competently handled vocally, but the Turriddu of M. Scar- etti, "from the Metropolitan Opera House," was almost totally unintelli- gible in the matter of lyricising. The popularity of grand opera for vaude- ville is doubtful, but if there be any demand for such, it would be difficult, all things considered, to assemble a more adequate organization to si.-ig twice daily at any price. Jolo. NEW SHOWS NEXT WEEK initial Presentation of Lagitiniate Attmcdena hi New York "Along Came Ruth**—Gaiety (Feb. 23). "The Midnight Girr—44th Street (Feb. 23). "Too Many Cooka," 39th Street (Feb. 24). Al Rover. Acrobatic Dancer. 10 Mina.; One. American. Al Rover is English, and a "single" who dances acrobatically, also bal- ances and plays a saxophone. The program lists him as "A Versatile En- tertainer," but that's merely the pro- gram's individual opinion, which may not be shared by everyone. Opening after intermission on the Roof was a pretty important spot for Mr. Rover, who took a long chance coming from England alone. He could help him- self considerably if taking a partner, perhaps a young woman would be best. Rover has not bad appearance at all, but as a "single" he is quite or- dinary and will hardly attain any prominence in this way, even on the smaller time. SitM. Geo. Marck Troupe. "Vengeance" (Sketch). Moulin Rouges Paris. Paris, Feb. 10. Creo. Marck has created another sketch as a method of presenting his lions in vaudeville. This popular French lion tamer formerly showed with mediocrity in the fairs, but in view of his success at the Olympia he found he could do better by working a story around the animals. The Hrst part is told with pictures (Eclair). The cur- tain then rises on a set representing the garden of a suburban villa, with a well-lighted dining room at the back of stage. The cage forms the elabo- rate iron railings which arc oflcn used before a country residence. Georges (Marck) sees a beggar ill-treating an orphan (little Yvonne Marck) and has him arrested. The man declines to say how the little girl came in his pos- session, and when imprisoned Georges adopts the child. He goes on a mis- sion in Africa, taki.ng Yvonne, where wc see them lion hunting. Some fine specimens are brought home and given to a friend, who has a cage built in her garden. Here the actual sketch commences. The beggar recognizes Georges entering the house with Yvonne, and to avenge himself steals into the garden, while the family is dining. He sees the lions, opens the cage and escapes. When Georges leaves he finds the animals free. He puts them through the usual exercises, portrays fright, fatigue and faints. Yvonne, to save her foster-father, creeps through the dining-room win- dow, and helps subdue the lions. A vengeance of this kind has already been used as a plot for a film (Gau- mont), but it makes a better sketch. It is well mounted and played, and a good show for big time. It is booked for the road in America, commencing next August. Ken. Prince Runton and Co. (I.) Juggler. 10 Mina.; Full SUge (Interior). 23rd Street. A nice appearing young man attired in a military uniform does a juggling routine with very few stops for a long breath. He's assisted by an attract- ively uniformed woman who works fast and attends strictly to her busi- ness of handing him the different ar- ticles. Runton juggles expertly, stands in one position and faces the audience all the time with the woman slipping the juggling accoutrements into his left hand. By doing this with- out breaking the speed helped Runton to leave a favorable impression. Run- ton on looks and ability classes well and could hold his own on the big small time without any trouble. Mark. Evana and Arken. Talk. 11 Mine.; Two (Exterior; Special). Grand (Feb. 15). Two men. Dressed in army clothes. Camp field is shown. Straight as offi- cer carries on confab with Hebrew private. Usual confusion of speech with the team landing in "one" for a "Is he?" "Is who?" conversation. Act of pop house calibre, getting occasional laughs on mixing up the English lingo. Mark. If yoa don't fdverilM la VAMlwrt, don't i^vorttao mi nU. Joe Ward and Lillian Schubert. Piano and Songs. 12 Mina.; One. 23rd Street Woman takes care of piano accom- paniments and also sings. Strength of act is voice of Joe Ward, who is in- clined to take himself too seriously. Act similar to the skeenteen and one "piano and song teams" deluging the vaudeville market. Will get best re- sults on small time bills. MtU,