Variety (December 1914)

20 VARIETY LONDON HIP'S REVUE- London, Mo v. 17. Albert i'. de Courville, who presides uver the destinies oi the London Hip- podrome, is entitled to much praise lor having produced last night, at that house, a new revue in eigfot scenes. It is not by any manner of means the greatest show that has been presented mere, but, consideri&K t! e condi- tions that prevail here and the con- sequent necessity tor economy of ex- penditure in the way oi salary lists, he lias done remarkably well. The new revue is entitled "Business as Usual." It was written by L. V. Lucas and Mr. de Courville. Mr. Lu- cas is one oi the star writers ot "1'uuch," and he also is responsible tor the lyrics. His work here is ot- tered in the name of "F. VV. Mark' for reasons best known to himself. He need have no cause to be ashamed of it, especially the lyrics. The story is naturally of a trivial character, though it has some perti- nently serious moments. The music has been arranged by J. M. Glover, who has not been equally happy in hit- ting it off. The program is very careful to state that the musical compositions were "arranged" by Mr. Glover and not composed. Many of the principal numbers are of American origin, and, in fact, the big march evolutions prior to the closing, entitled "The Allied Mags," are unveiled to the tune of "Keep on a-Dancing." The best of the musical numbers of English origin are the work of Herman Darewski. During the progress of rehearsals rumor were rife regarding the "sub- lime idiocy" of de Courville in entrust- ing the dances and ensembles for "Busi- ness as Usual" to Harry Hall, a slen- der, youthful looking man who came over here last year from the New York Winter Garden to act as assistant to Ned Wayburn. It was said that Hall was just a working stage manager who timed the scenes and did the usual clerical work in connection with Way- burn's productions. He a creator! Oh, dear no! Not Hall! Too ridicu- lous for words! Wrong again. All credit to de Courville for his perspica- city in selecting Hall and full honors to Hall for having created absolutely new "business" throughout in the pro- duction of the numbers. The cast on the whole is competent, but lacking in individual brilliancy. Unity More is the soubret. She has been loaned by George EdwarJes. It would be a stroke of good luck if Mi. Edwardes were to recall his "loan." The leading woman is Violet Loraine, a comely woman of large stature and alternately good and otherwise. For instance, in her opening song she pranced up and down the stage emit- ting howls, re-inforced by the chorus and not one word of the lyric was in- telligible. Somebody might suggest to Miss Loraine that the bit of business of raising one's skirt in front coy- ly while marching up and down the stage grows a trifle monotonous' if persisted in. A few minutes after- wards Miss Loraine had a corkim; duet and dance with Ambrose Thorne, entitled "We've Been Married Just a Year." This is an old idea in Amer- ica, consisting of a lyric, in which the pair tell the audience that they have an addition to the family. It is a trick lyric, and whenever the audience ex- pects them to say that it's a baby something else is mentioned. It has been said that Miss Loraine has never been to the States. If this be so she has done remarkably well in catching the American idea of putting over a typical vaudeville song and dance. Another "in-and-outer" is Morris Harvey. Some of the things he did were excellent. Others, including his conception of the make-up and dialect of "Abe Potash" resembled a genuine characterization about as much as it did a Scotch Highlander. Harry Tate, always full of ideas, gave a sketch of a suburban English house-holder fortify- ing his home against the onslaughts of the Germans. m Some of the things he said and did were excruciatingly funny in this scene, but it fell short at the huish through the lack of a "punch" for its curtain. Henry Leoni is the tenor and is a hue, manly, virile one. He proved that when he was in Amer- ica some years ago. Several others did nicely in various bits, but the cast is not expensive and the substitution of other artists for any one or all of them should have no appreciable bearing upon the value of the entertainment. It is probably the first revue ever produced in the West End without an American artist in the cast. The scenery is tine, the costuming good, and the program is an innova- tion for an English musical produc- tion, in that it can be readily de- ciphered. Summed up: "Business as Usual" is a hit. BROADWAY. Show ran late Monday night. About 11.30 when the last act made its exit. Business appears to be picking up, a state of affairs probably due to the slash in admission. Ten acts, an Im- perial animated song, a funny reel com- edy, weekly events pictured, and an- other installment of the "R U in Merry Throng?" (local) series comprised the show. It rounded into fairly good en- tertainment. Luce and Luce opened with their musical turn. The act runs in much better shape now that the team has a new closing number with a drop in "one" and costumes to match. Dressed in the regulation "fox hunt" garb they offer a huntsman's selection with the woman handling all the trap effects. This resulted in big applause. Burk and Welsh (New Acts) were followed by Charles Sweet. It's the same old act but still good for the laughs. The Georgalas Trio is the Georgalas Brothers and an addition in the per- son of a young woman, who appears about the middle of the act and permits one of the^boys to crack small targets to the right and left of her face and also shoot a garter target off her right lee;. This added a little spice, consid- ering that the boys go about their sharpshooting in a most serious way. Good act for the pop houses. Cotter and Bouhh-n were programmed, but in their place appeared the Y .lerie S's- ters. One girl affects a Fanny Brice manner of working, but takes too much for granted. The girls might revise their song routine. A "sister act" that should remain contented with small time bookings. Eddie Girard and Jessie Gardner were a laughing hit. The Five Mur- keteers appear to be the Four Mus- keteers with a young woman added. The latter plays the violin. She could pay more attention to her facial make- up. The men are strong on vocal py- rotechnics. Act thoroughly enjoyed at the Broadway. Leon and Co. (New Acts). Donovan and Lee were next to clos- ing and were a sure-fire hit. It's the same old breezy Jim Donovan, kidding in his usual way and causing much laughter with his Irish stories about Clancy. Jim's new partner comes up to all expectations. She sings and dances well and proves a capital "straight" for Donovan. For an en- core she did an Irish jig that brought down the house. The Runtons closed the show with their juggling, the man doing all the heavy work. An effective act for the time. HARLEM OPERA HOUSE. All the talk about hard times goes for Sweeney when one lamps the crowds that are flocking to the Harlem opera house nightly. The place surely has them coming strong, and every in- dication points to the capacity attend- ance keeping up all winter. Tuesday night standing room was at a premium. The show gave big satisfaction. There was sufficient nov- elty and entertainment to round out the bill in good shape. "Delivering the goods" seems the answer for the Har- lem's new lease on life. Maglin, Eddy and Roy, comedy acro- bats, started, and were a laughing hit. The men have some old "bits" but they got over big at the Harlem O. H. The trio have a number of bully good acrobatic tricks. Marie Scott King, and "The Chief oi Police" (New Acts). There was an old Mary Pickford pic- ture with the photography away off. "At the Woodbine Inn," two men and a woman, had snap and dash and a line of comedy that was relished. Next came Sol. J. Levoy and the m.p. version of "California and You." This i^'-ie thing with the songs is a draw at the H. O. H., but the mak- ers are hewing too close to the theme of others that have gone in review. The picture takes the song writers, plural in this case, and has them out getting the inspiration. In almost every song the picture has the writers snd composers riding in autos, eating and drinking and then jumping fran- tically about while working the song cut with lead pencil and piano. Too much "sameness" may spoil the novelty and entertainment of this departure. Theo and her Dandies didn't accom- plish much until Theo in abbreviated attire in the illuminated balloon swung out into the audience. It's the old crane effect but put Theo in great favor. Theo now permits two or three persons in the audience to climb in the basket and take a ride. This was surefire. Fox and Burkhaxdt talked and sang with big results. This pair could stand better patter. Gillette's Monkeys closed. The Simian performers sure keep Gillette busy keeping them apart and keeping the stage paraphernalia in position. JEFFERSON. Someone has become active within the last week at the Jefferson. Just what it was that attracted Tuesday night, whether the very good small time show of 10 acts or the special at- traction, a raffle for a husband, mat- ters not. The house was jammed. In the raffle for a husband, the man- agement discovered a comedy stunt^ that takes up a half an hour of time and keeps the audience in an uproar throughout. The management adver- tises that a husband is to be drawn for on a certain night. On the evening in question numbered coupons are given to each person entering the theatre. Then, before the drawing the house manager makes an announcement to the effect that it is the purpose to promote matrimony among the pat- rons. A certain number of numbers will be drawn prior to the regular drawing for the surprise. Those whose numbers are called who are eligible and willing to commit matri- mony are invited to step on the stage. Tuesday night seven girls and eight or nine boys came forward. Of course a number were plants, but this did not detract from the value of the "stunt." The girls are eliminated first. Then the favored young woman is given her choice of the boys. Of course the girl and boy finally paired off are the plants. But there was a lot of comedy in making the selection. If the couple care to present themselves at the the- atre next Monday night and are will- ing to be wed in full view of the audience the management will give them a start in life by furnishing a five-room apartment for them. The "stunt" in itself is so good it might easily be worked once or twice a month. Adlon and Co. opened the bill. Al- don is a pantomimic juggler and his company is his assistant. It is a good small time comedy juggling act. Joe Pino (New Acts) had the second place and pleased. Barrett and Belle with the comedy talk, singing and dancing were next, and managed to get some applause, although the act they are doing is of the type more or less extinct. Edgar Foreman and Co. in the little dramatic sketch of circus life interested very much, and was a favorite with the 14th streeters. Jacquet and Foley (New Acts), singing and dancing. The Six Berlin Madcaps with their fast routine of acrobatic dancing were a riot. Weber and Ford (New Acts) (working under the name of Knight and Irwin) got over very well with a German comedy musical act, even though the talk was full of "old boys." They closed the first part of the show and following them came the draw- ing. A Pickford reprint entitled "The Stronger Love" opened the second part. "The Passenger Wreck" play- ing under the name of "The Great Diamond Robbery" (New Acts) was enjoyed, although until the finish of the act it looked weak. Burt "Gone" Melburn in his black- face monolog had to work rather hard at his opening, but when he left them they were asking for more. The Aldo Rrothers with their comedy bar act closed the bill.