Variety (December 1914)

VARIETY 15 GAYETY GIRLS. Gus Fay and "The Gayety Girls," in brand new bib and tucker, came to the Columbia theatre Monday of this week and gave a performance that reg- istered one of the greatest hits of the season. Aside from the excellence of the cast and the noteworthy work of the large chorus, the chief point of commendation is the wholly attractive newness of everything. This includes book, scenery, costumes and the "busi- ness" displayed in the musical num- bers. The only point in the performance that gives a hint of former days is the prison scene, last utilized by Fay three seasons ago. And even this has been so completely rewritten as to have lost practically all semblance to the orig- inal, in addition to which it is played in a new and very much more effective setting. An unaccustomed twist has been given to the general formation of the show and this, too, accentuated the freshness of the presentation and ac- complished a welcome and thoroughly appreciated innovation. The first part was* over at 9 o'clock and after the usual ten-minute inter- mission May Holden and Harry Evans started the olio with a lively and high- ly creditable singing, dancing and talk- ing specialty in "one." Following this the Hayward Sisters in a superbly and artistically lighted arrangement of maroon colored velvet draperies gave a musical act that was remarkable for its pronounced novelty and cleverness. The prison scene, ocupying 20 min- utes, followed, and here was where a hit closely approaching a veritable riot was scored by Mickey Feeley, very ably assisted by Mabel McCloud. Mr. Feeley's tumbling was the amazement of the spectators and the dancing and acrobatic work of Miss McCloud so stirred those in front the team was re- called time and time again. When the drop in "one" descended on this scene and the stage men brought a piano in view an outburst of greeting denoted the approach of a Columbia favorite. Zella Russell, "The Dainty Queen of the Ivories," took her place at the instrument and gave the au- dience 12 minutes of perfect entertain- ment. With rare skill and command- ing effect, Miss Russell rendered a repertoire that included everything from the classic to rag, and in sweet, well-modulated tones she sung a num- ber of fetching songs of a semi-comic turn that elicited hearty laughter and applause. From this distinctly varied and al- together enjoyable olio, the perform- ance moved to the concluding act of the burlesque olio, the performance moved to the concluding act of the burlesque. It was entertainment of variety in the literal meaning of the word and it was all so skilfully dove- tailed and so briskly performed, the audience hughly enjoyed every mo- ment of it. It was as close to the ideal burlesque show in form, merit and genuine worth as has ever been pre- sented on the stage of the Columbia theatre. Consistent with their determination to present a wholly new "Gayety Girls'" show, the Jacobs & Jermon have this season introduced an entire- ly new cast of principals with the ex- ception of Mr. Fay, the star of the organization. He appears as the runtund German, and in his new sur- roundings gives fresh evidences of the entertaining skill he possesses in such large measure. Mr. Fay reveals act- ing abilities of the kind that denote wide experience and careful training, and he accomplishes the main object of his efforts, which is to create laugh- ter, with perfect ease and without re- course to the buffoonery so common to players of this type of characteriza- tion in burlesque. As a ruuning-mate to the star, Harry K. Morton impresses very strongly. There is no performer in this division of stage work or in any other divi- sion, so far as my observation extends, that includes in his range of talents such diverse ability as does this com- edian. Starting with an ingenious and in itself laughter-compelling make-up, Mr. Morton exhibits an aunusually good singing voice, he gets full value out of every line he utters, he dances extraordinarily well, he does acrobatic work so skilfull in its execution that he would be justified in making it a specialty, and his Irish dialect is per- fect mimicry. With such a fund of talents, it is little wonder Mr. Mor- ton makes a rousing hit in this per- formance. Conspicuous for her grace and charming personality, Miss Russell perfectly succeeds as the leading fe- male member of the company and Miss Holden, a springhtly, good-look- ing girl, with an abundance of those qualities that constitute the ideal soubret, contributes her full share to the enjoyment of the spectators. Mr. Feeley renders valuable assistance in several well-played bits and Harry Evans makes his presence felt by a performance that is peculiarly pleas- ing by reason of its unconventionality. Arthur Heller is entitled to a spe- cial word of praise for an effectively handled bit and Joe Mullen and Ina Hayward, by the excellence of their work serve to round out a cast whose assembling signifies the skill of John G. Jermon in the delicate task of or- ganization. The Columbia Amusement Co. would be singularly fortunate if there were more shows upon its circuit of the "Gayety Girls'" kind. CITY BELLES. This is James Fulton and Joe M. Howard's show on the Columbia's Ex- tended. It played the Murray Hill last week, and to excellent business if the Friday night audience was the criterion of the week. That evening had a "Country Store" for extra at- traction, but attendants around the theatre said the show had been doing business. Mr. Howard, of the management, ap- pears to be the active party with the troupe, of which Sam Green and Chas. Brown are the featured comedians. Mr. Howard has a nice little coterie of people. His choristers especially look good and are well proportioned. It is one of the few burlesque com- panies where the girls appear in tights often that doesn't weary the audience looking at the nether limbs. The performance follows the old type, first part, olio and burlesque. It gives speed to the ends, particularly the opener, where the most work is done by everyone, although Messrs. Green and Brown get their biggest laughs in the burlesque. Some of the fun is through the familiar "under- taker-measuring" and a table scene, but they also work in nicely with a singing number, asking the audience plant is where a woman prevents a boy ing from the gallery. Another good to suggest songs. This is all planned for comedy, most of the replies corn- in a box from going upon the stage. The piece is called "Two Days." It is merely thrown together. No au- thor is programmed. In the "busi- ness" and dialogue at times is consid- erable freedom, and it gets pretty close to the border, but there's no going behind the record in this case. The Friday night audience held about one- half women and girls. They laughed as heavily as the men at everything, some of the women almost going into hysterics over Green and Brown's comedy. Neither one of these come- dians apparently makes any great ef- fort. They seem to know their audi- ence. A violinist named Carl Delato did a bit toward the finish of the show. He was programed in character as Sam Green's son, and did not look unlike him. Delato was "discovered" in St. Louis, and for what they probably got him at, he will do, playing fairly. Mae Alberta is the soubret and principal number leader. She's an at- tractive little girl, who works nicely and is entitled to the position. May Brown is the prima donna, looking well, with a pleasant voice. Several of the men are in the olio, and most all of them get in for the "Clown Bank" number that closes the first part. It is a grotesque band in costume that gets plenty of laughs, besides giving a good, swift hurrah finish. At an- other time the two principal comedians forming a singing combination, and again a quartet figures in the action. It is neatly done, and fills in to avoid too much comedy. In fact, this show is excrcmely well diversified, and be- cause of this, perhaps runs to a better average than it really is as a perform- ance. But the means are not so im- portant—it is the result. Golden and Clarke, a couple of young men, most remarkable for their singing, although dancing, opened the olio. Next was a posing number, not- bad at all of that sort, with about 10 of the 18 girls appearing in it. After came the Musical Vcrdis, three boys, who wore evening dress, and did a fair olio musical turn, though they should not have been placed in "two" against the same drop used for the model scene. Dave Kindler, the whistler, closed the olio. Dave gets away with it, going as far as to offer $500 to any- one convicting him of producing his "marvelous sounds" by other means than his mouth. As a burlesque show the Extended patrons like, "The City Belles" L there, right down the line, including dressing and settings. Some of the Main Line attractions would do more business if they were hooked up as well. IMPERIAL, ST. LOUIS, SOON. Beginning Sunday, Dec. 27, the at- tractions on the Main Circuit of the Columbia will play the Imperial, St. Louis, instead of the Princess, with the Watson Sisters as the opening show. Many efforts have been made during the past year or more to bring about this change. Repeated conferences be- tween James Butler and others in in- terest have failed of results because it was impossible to get the many in- dividuals concerned to agree upon terms. The Imperial is one of the most beau- tiful and capacious theatres in the country. It was built in 1893 for John Havlin and Oily Hagan and was called The Hagan. Up to three years ago it was operated by Mr. Havlin, who changed its name to the Imperial, first as a high class house and afterwards as a part of the Stair & Havlin Cir- cuit until the burning of Pope's theatre, when it resumed playing leading attrac- tions. This policy was maintained until the opening of the New Century on the site of the old Pope's. It then reverted to its owner, Louis Cclla, and for a short time was under the management of the Oppenheim Brothers, subsequently forming a part of the Lawrence Weber chain of theatres. Extensive alterations are being made in the Imperial and upon their com- pletion it will be one of the most mod- ern in the country. The Princess will hereafter be de- voted to high class picture exhibitions on the order of the Strand, New York. AL REEVES' CHARGES. A counter-charge was made by Al Reeves this week in the divorce action commenced by his wife, Alameda Fow- ler Reeves. Mrs. Reeves mentioned as corespondents members of the Reeves "Beauty Show." In his complaint Mr. Reeves al- leges acts of impropriety by his wife with two men, in New York and abroad. NEW HAVEN NOT IN. Owing to a hitch in the negotiations between P. F. Shea and the managers of the Grand opera house, New Haven, the inclusion of that theatre on the Ex- tended will not be effected. t Consequently the shows will lay off three days between Brooklyn and Bridgeport.