Variety (December 1917)

20 PALACE. , , AJ.J. things considered • .goodly , crowd, braved the bitter, xero-fllrtlng frost Monday night, for tbe lower floor was rather well filled save for tbe rear boxes and the last three rows, which were free of occupants. The bill beld two big feminine names, those of Lady Duff Gordon, who beld over, and Doraldina. The latter was to have headlined, but because of Lady Duff's repeating week was allotted tbe bottom of the three sheets. Tbe show was almost completely switched over the original spotting on the program, seven of tbe nine acts being moved. Lady Duff's (Lucille) fashion show billed "Fleur- ette's Dream at Peronne" was one of the turns not moved, and It held down closing intermission. Tbe noted tltlan haired fashion creator Id explaining her offering said In her Introductory speech that "she had built a frivolous fashion show around a beautiful Incident"—tbat of a little Parts mannequin dreaming midst the bombardment of a French town. Tbat the style exhibition Is prodigal Is sure tbe truth. The materials displayed are gorgeous and the coloring more seductive then a box of fine bon bons. Men might not rave over such a showing of feminine finery, but they wouldn't run away from It. As for the women, there's enough to furnish fashion gab for a week. And Lady Duff's effort goes, In spite of Its splendor In these times, for It's all for charity. Doraldina had her own little display along more familiar lines, she being moved from cloning position to second after Intermission (New Acts). Cummlngs and Mitchell, a new combination, were sent from No. 3 to opening after Intermission and all but copped applause honors. The man Is a nut comlo Slven to frequent falls and entanglements In Is own drop. He hangs on It. lumps Into It and doe* everything but pull It down (prob- ably a mlstske when It dropped at the Fifth Ave. a week or so ago). He seemed to have hurt his left srm on one of the floor plunges, for he held It when he came out for an en- core. The girl, a nifty, too. though without much In the way of voice, did something with "I'm Oolng to Follow the Boys Over There." The man, too, has a pleasant voice—when It gets down to It. Another nut comedian was responsible for ' making Cummlngs and Mitchell share the show's honors, be being George Rockwell of Rockwell end Wood. Down In the tough next to closing spot they made the house forget the frigid outside. Rockwell's Incessant ver- bal sputtering started the laughs with his "dame" Impression. Their banjo and fife stunt then sent them over. George Hermann (and Shirley) opened the show with his exceptional exhibition of double Jolntedness and contortonlstlc dancing which won a real hand. The Geralds were rushed In No. 2 (replacing Ames and Wlnthrop, who however, were listed further down), and though handicapped by having to work In "one" without their set, did well enough with the grouped banjo playing. Charley Orape- wln and Anna Chance In "Poughkeepsle" really started the ball rolling In the third spot. Grspewln always was and Is a Palace favorite, the house even overlooking the mus- tache be is hiding his lip with. Maude Lambert and Ernest Dall v who last season played as singles, appeared as a team again In fourth spot, having been moved up from sixth. This was a wise move since there was but a tiny bit of singing outside of theirs on the bill. Irish melodies seemed to pervade their routine, Ernie picking Erin hued songs for his medley of own songs. Miss Lambert had severs I costume changes and did best with Ball's latest (also Irish) number. "Find a Bit of Heaven In Your Irish Heart of Love." Ball was noticeably hoarse, yet did no eliminating. Big. Frant and Co., with a comedy cycling turn, was switched from No. 1 to closing, where they held in the house. The turn is suggestive of the Ahearn act. Vlolette, the girl of the Franz troupe, is neat and nifty. Jbee. COLONIAL. Attendance off at the Colonial Tuesday nlRht on tbe lower floor, but upstairs It must have been pretty well filled Judging from the applause tbst came from that section. The show was a good all around bill with Felix Adler and LeMalre and Gallager fur- nlf*blng the laughs, Randall and Myers lead- ing tbe dancing, and Belle Baker on the melody end. MIsb Baker has changed her songs for this week, her second at the house, and the numbers can hardly be classed as equal to the melodies she sang the previous seven days. Athos and Read opened, producing one of the best skstlng acts seen around In some time, and a corking turn to open a show with. Mr. Athos Is doing some exceptionally fine trick skating and does some fast swings with his partner that Is bound to make the audi- ence toko notice. The act Is carrying a special set. They did nicely. Jennie Mld- dleton played four numbers on the violin, one of which was an encore, and Rcemed to please the bouse, though It wasn't really nettled until after she was half way through her offering. One lively number Inserted In the routine should, go a long way to help it along. Hob Matthews and Co. followed the vlollnht, and did very well, Mr. Mntthewn receiving a reception. The special drop used w'.!! grt cpi'-!.i::sr by ft.ielf, a* It's z. nlsht pccn»« of lirondway, looking up from 4flth street, and Is almost exact in detail as to the signs. Of the four characters perhaps the "cop" takes the honors. The others merely held up the Interest. It's a good turn. Mr. Matthews is on the *toge from the start to the finish of It. Randall and Myers eleted the flrst half and did It propsr. The boy la doing soma SHOW REVIEWS dandy stepping, a nolo dapoa being ex- ceptionally noticeable, and the girl has the looks", hiftV is "UferV *» " a'daffolr ^lerscU. *u It's a dancing act far above the average. The last number Is a fox trot as the Egypt- ians might have danced It a few thousand year* ago. One of the beet dancing acts seen around In a long time la this, and both Mr. Randall and Mlsa Myers should receive credit for the originality that stands out In all of their dances. Mack and Vincent opened the second half, and still have a tendency to linger and linger on the stage when they might- aa well leave and be better off for It They sang eight songs, of which three were encoree. Le Ma Ire and Gallager had 'em laughing all the way through and paaaed easily at the finish. It's easy going for the boys—kidding the war stuff. Mlsa Baker received her usual reception. The only number repeated by Mies Baker from the previous week was "Natln." sure fire for her. Katherlne Dana's Fantasia closed, and held the house throughout ROYAL Business rather light at the Royal Tuesday evening and Inquiry elicited the Information Monday and Tuesday of thla week were the lightest nights they had at the boose for over a year. Tbe reason waa the cold weather. The show la a good one for.that house, where they like broad comedy, and there waa plenty of It. Of the eight acts alx were practical ly all comedy. The exceptions were Fantlno Troupe, an aerial act, which opened, and Florens Tempest, next to closing. There waa not a serious moment up to the Pathe Weekly, which concluded tbe show. The Fantlnoe. two men and two women, are neatly clad In pink silk and have some very effective combinations, such aa ttfole teeth- holds and other stonta. It m a 'good opening act and waa liked. Ward and Cullen did snatches of nine songs, the last one being a well-earned encore. Mlsa Ward, who la at the piano for most of the act, has a sweet, modest personality, and both she and Mr. Cul- len scored nicely. Beaumonte and Arnold In "The Sergeant- eene," a comedy skit, have brightened the act up with a larve amount of smart crossfire that brought forth considerable laughttr. They sing well and deliver their talk Incisively. They do a neat dance finish and Miss Beau- monte handles her hands gracefully during her terpslehorean efforts. The audience re- sponded warmly. This might mak* a good team for a production. The Ughtner Sisters and Alexander put over a solid hit, the mug- ging of the smaller of the girls being very much appreciated. They earned a!! the cur- tain calls they were allowed to tske Hassard Short and Co., In "The Ruby Ray." keep their French farce up to concert pitch. Tt doesn't seem possible to further Improve the playing of it When the sketch wss orig- inally produced In New York, at the Fifth Ave- nue, It looked like a very weak sister with the chances against It ever achWnr any marked success. Now, with the edgee nicely trimmed. It comes under the head >f "a riot." There are but three acts In tbe second half, all of them rather lengthy. Lydell and Hlg- glns opened, and they are always diverting. Lydell gives one of the greatest "A. K." characterizations In vaudeville and Boh Hlg- glns Is a good foil for him. They perpe- trated a question and answer gag ev*dently new and when It got no lsugh Hlarlns re- marked: "That's out." It was: "Wh*t> good for a cold besides whiskey?" Answer: "Why worry." It didn't get a ripple. Florence Tempest did her cute boy and dainty girl numbers, materially assisted by George Harris at the piano. She got away nicely and made way for Sam Bernard at 10.40, who remained for 20 minutes and kept the audience In constant laughter The or- chestra leader, Nat Kamera, fed Bernard In fine style and contributed to the humor of the turn. joto. AMERICAN. It was at least warm In the American the- atre Monday night, so that was something to be thankful for, and msybe the warmth was the reason for the good house. The bill outside didn't appear to be above average. Bobbe and Nelson can take the credit for holding up the show, as they provided the clean up next to closing. The two boys put their act over nicely In songn snd patter. Stevens and Falk opened, followed by Litt snd Nolan, bnt the show didn't start until Johnson. Howard and Llsette showed. The three men had 'the house all their own way. Their fast finish worked to their advantage. Tommy Hayden and Co. (the latter being a girl) breered along until Mr. Hayden did bis "Englishman describing a baseball gome." and thst proved a life saver. While Mr. Hayden makes his changes the girl plays a solo on a violin and also sings a song, the ploying of the Instrument being much better than the singing. A war poem, stqck In be- tween the choruses of a song, might be done awny with. "A Real Pal," with a company of two men and one woman, got one or two laughs, but there the mirth ceased. As the act stands it la a bad boy with lots of room for Im- provement in people, planning and writing. David 8. Hall In another sketch followed and did fairly well, on the idea of the hus- band being bons in hit; home, then going through the same thing again with the wife as head or the house, and still again to show the people as It really Is. The turn could stand cutting down. Miss Worth, the com- pany, gave her partner a close run for se- rtirlng laughs and possibly bad something on him In that resneet. The flsrstss Troupe closed the show, going through a vary good aarobatlf turn. ALHAMBRA. a i.Mk Httneoy "stow aYtntsv In entirety with a bunch of vaudeville's recognised gloom chasers massed and In action. The nooee laughed Itself to the full, yet a bill of such worth should have attracted a bigger assem- blage of Harlemitee, for the rear third of the .lower floor and the upper boxee beld a sparse assemblage Tuesday night No doubt when word of the big doings got around later in the week the rtgth kind of showing was made. It waa the full money'a worth, too, for In spite of an early start the exit music tinkled at 11.18. There were four trio teams In the flrst section, which waa closed by Imhoff, Conn and Coreene with their newest caricature, 'The Pest House" (New Acts). Had there been no other comedy before Intermission they would have more than balanced things. But there were three other humorously tuned turns. McDevltt Kelly and Lucy with the "piano movers" nonsense did rather well on third In aplte of It being apparent their routine was familiar to the house. Sand- wiched In between these two acts were Brown- ing and Denny, having been moved up from opening after Intermission. Bessie Brown- ing's original, bright conceptlona and her faithful Bddle Foy Impression won big re- turns, and the pair were right In the van for applause getting. Jack Denny for some rea- son Is monkeying with his piano solo, "Novelette." and In kidding the orchestra the melody loses value. McMahon. Diamond and Chaplow with their song and dance routine showed their worth as a No. 2 act, and pulled down a hit there. T!»e singing of one of the girls helpe, but the real punch la Injected by Diamond with hta Russian stepping that roused the house sev- eral times. The three Manklchls opened the bill with comedy Risley work with the bar- rel and the spinning tops. There seemed to some presentrwho had never seen Jsps kid- ding with the ^barrel, and so the. laughter stsrted early<^ Charley Grape win and Anna Chance, doub- ling from the Palace, opened Intermission with "Poughkeepsle," giving the final round of the bill a laughing push. The action calls for Charles to kiss Anna quite a number of times, and as this sort of thing Is happening four time per day this week, It's a wonder Anna didn't prevail upon her consort to stow the brush he Is growing on his upper Ho. Such frequent contact must either cause tick- ling or scratches. But then Charley always was lucky. A new line that caught on was Grapewln's remark, "she Is getting pretty fresh since election" (New York having voted equal suffrage). Conroy and Le Malre were next to closing with their "nigger" Insurance and 'The New Physician." It was rather a severe test of the blackface stars to follow the pace set by Imhoff, Grapewln, Browning et al. Tet they had no trouble In making them laugh, even though the appreciation was scanty. Tt Is a cinch no other turn on the bill could have ox changed places wHh them and fared aa well save Imhoff, Conn and Coreene. The Farber Girls, switched from fourth to seventh, had an easy time of It, for they were pratclcally unopposed with songs. It Is not easy to decide the applause winner In a show that went so uniformly well, but any edge Tuesday evening belongs to the Fsrbers. Margaret Edwards, the "100 per cent." girl, with her physical culture and dances which tended to the same thing succeeded In holding the majority .seated. Jbee. WASHINGTON SQUARE PLAYERS. The Washington Square Players at the Comedy Installed Its second series of playlets for this season last week, the usual four, mixed between drama, comedy and comedy- drama. It was preliminarily proclaimed an all-American bill, through having sketches by native writers only. This gave the show no added attractions, at least upon the stage. The Washington Square Players sre ama- teurs, and from their repeated performances at the Comedy, with a very few exceptions, always will be. Tf the members of the organization are sufficient In friends to hold up a profitable business, then they msy have gauged correctly the situation, but If they are dependent upon public support at $2 top to see an amateur performance of very ordi- nary playlets presented In the same manner, the Square Players will hove to sooner or later confess to an error of Judgment. Any one of the best playlets In vaudeville, which may be seen, with nine other acts, all more enjoyable than any one of the Wash- ington's sketches. Is worth more In playing and entertainment than any of the Comedy's present repertoire, at one-half the Comedy's price. The quartet of playlets now on tap at the Comedy are "Neighbors." "The Critic's Com- edy." "The Girl In the Coffin" snd "Yum Chapsb." If there Is a decided choice. It Is "The Critic's Comedy," by Ssrouel Kaplan, principally played by Helen Westley, one of the main stanchions of this amateur organi- zation, which has released but a couple of players at the most In the paat two years to the professional stage. Miss Westley at times elves nn admirable performance, but the role must be suited to her. She can not make a pnrt. As Adele Normnn. a dramatic critic. MiiiH WeHliey In in bed in her hotel apart- ment the morning after a premiere. She calls for a stenog to dictate her "notice" for the afternoon paper. Ensuing conversation gives forth that Miss Norman had married too young a man. She confesses to 4.1 and a mistake. But she likes to be Jollied by young men. Her husbsnd only Jollies her, however, when he wants to wheedle money from her. She knows It but prefers the Jollying at the cost of the experience, A young actor of the ■how the evening before call* aid U ad- -mUted. The-eteficvfo eent te-anetker* oaom while Miss Norman starts a little flirtation, during which her husband enters, demands an explanation of the situation, drives the actor out aoftaoapa hla wife and secures another bank roll, following protestations of affection by both, after which the atenog reveals the actor and the husband "framed" the wife. Florence Eorlgbt ee the stenographer almost stole the playing honors away from Mies Westley. The atenog waa made a cute slm- ftfeton by Mlsa Bnrlght There may be aome n the profession who will believe the author of thla comedy playlet thought he had aome Living models for the story. One remark In the dialog furthers thla belief, and If so It waa wretched taste by the author and aa bad for the management to nermlt It. Thla play- let, running 23 minutes. Is the only one of the lot having a vaudeville chance. The drama. "The Girl In the Coffin." waa written by Theodore Dreiser. It la meant to be morbid, but Just won't become morbid. Tbe set Is the living room of a worklngman'a home, with a coffin toward the rear. In R la the body of the mens daughter, who died suddenly In a hospital. A couple of neighborly chatterboxes are there, whispering Into each other's ears the sus- picion there waa a man In the ease. The father baa the aame Idea and la looking for the man, meanwhile neglecting his work, which Is to spur on the strikers In the silk mills. He Is one of their leaders. Ferguson, a young man, Is the other. After a great deal of padding, dragging out the playlet. Fergu- son enters. He waa the man and makee that known In a dialog delivery that could not have run leas than fonr minutes. Perhaps It was longer. But It did not tire, having been written Interestingly and to give the Impres- sion that for a denouement Ferguson would admit his responsibility. He did not, but he Serenaded tbe father to apeak to the mill ands, and allowed the audience to know that the girl who died for him had really loved him. his only love, although there waa a Mra. Ferguson In existence. Arthur Hohl handled the long speech, with a peculiar speaking voice, doing It much better than his silly kid role In "Neighbors." Frederick Roland played the father, with Kate Morgan doing a character tit extremely well. Miss Morgan runs far ahead of any of the current Players cast through the character roles assigned to her. It may be Mlsa Morgan or the roles, but she certainly does give them Individuality and appears more apt at characterisation than any of her companions. That the coffin on Its supports resembled more an old-fashioned parlor organ or piano than a funeral pyre together with the miscellaneous conversation In the presence of the dead removed the mor- bidness, and the special effect or atmosphere that had been gone after In thla playlet seemed to be lost, leaving It merely an or- dinary drama. . „ "Neighbors." by Zona Gale, contained noth- ing but poor writing and worse playing, a bucolic bit that was very tiresome, some- thing that might be aald also for "Yum Chapab," a grotesque pantomime. It ran for but 13 minutes, Ita only virtue. The Wash- ington Square Players may as well abandon their "grotesqueness" In public. It might do among friends, but so many of them are gro- tesque contlnuslly It Is chancing a great deal In trying to prove that. 8im». FIFTH AVENUE. Nothing extraordinary In the way of a hit developed the first half at the Fifth Avenue, although the program was somewhat beyond the average of the customary grade at that house. The big hit waa 8cott Gibson (New Acts). He wss near the end of the program. Next was Henri Kubllck with hla odd musical In- struments. He plays them so well the freak- Ishness Is but a picture In connection, and he also sings. The song was "Bunsnlne of Your Smile." Mr. Kubllck wears a mustache, has musician hair and a pleasant way, and had no trouble. Hla final Instrument was called "The Hawallan-banjola," s.id maybe It was that. He made It sound like a full Hawaiian orchestra, which shouldn't be diffi- cult to do on any sort of an Instrument by a good musician. His cello-cornet combination was the best. It sounded like a c*'lo and cornet, but was a sort of a freak violin with a horn attachment. Mr. Kubllck did nine minutes before the encore and four minutes for that. He selects numbers for the Instru- ments that are melodious and mostly popular. He also appears to be a showman, which will help him as much as anything e'se, and from the Fifth Avenue signs should be able to send himself over almost anywhere The best-known name around hire on the bill was Diamond and Brennan, but the Fey, Two Coleys and Fay were also there, and that title Is a standard one In the varieties. Der- kln's Dogs was another, with Charles and Anna Olocker opening the show. After the Weekly Mabel Burke sang "Joan of Arc." movingly Illustrated, probably for wont of something newer In that line which could be used. The animated song supply Jujt now Is limited. In the centre of the show was an educational film of Hawaii, shown Just after Kubllck had finished with his Hula numbers. The picture was a travelog, and centered on the bill so that the people had to watch It. although it was Interesting to tbe curious. Next to rioting Diamond and B">noso im- pressed themselves upon the house, dolnp the aame and an Improved turn over whet they did At the Palace a couple of weeks ago. Miss Brennan Is a pretty girl, and Diamond a hard worker as an eccentric dancer and doing quite well with considerable dialog. The "noee r> remark should never have been used, whether for that night only or If It 1s In the act Thla looks like a new turn for the couple