Variety (April 1920)

'^•^.i^'^^'^-^M-' :'V if r i' I ^.V- I ■5^' .=*:- 'r; A.' W THE HOUSE THAT JACK BUU.T/' Waahlngton, TK-C, Maroh St , . CAST. ' • Jack Keene Jack McGowan' Mrs. Keene......^ Oeorgia-Citine Tommy Boyd Al/red Qerrard Madeline EYancls Florrle HlU^rsbtp - Mary HowelU Janet VoUe Gaston Marceau .....Charlea Judcls Uugffina Frederic Orabain Mr. Goddard James Marlowe Ester Dean Sybllla Sohan Georee M. Cohan has eriven ua in "Tbe Hoa6« That Jack Built," u-hlcb opened Monday night at the National, a con- Tontlal musical coiliedy on the sure road to success. But with tbe company be has, coupled with the music. It is safe to asesrt that Mr. Cohan will not leaye it Just a "convential success," but ' before tbe week is oyer he will whip It. Into shape. liou Hlrsch has written some pretty music It seems to haunt you, and that Isn't true of only one number, but each • and every one. There is one though that stands out above the rest—"The Ijove Neat." There Is a dandy swing to It that is ooupled with a. plaintlven«ss . that places it In a class all of its own: JacHc MoGowan's splendid volve put Ibe song over in a manner that as soon has be picked the melody up again in tbe last act the first few bars brought applause. ' McOowan scored a real triumph. He Is remembered from vaudeville, where somehow the opportunity just seemed to be missing—sort of "lost In the sbafTlo"— but it will be many a long day before V vaudeville will again have tbe honor of hearing and-seeing him. In addition to McOowan, Cohen has delved into tbe headline ranks of vau- devllle to sUli a_greater extent taking Al Gerrard and EMorrie MiUerahlp, who also scored individuar successes. They were both simply fine. Gerrard is a pol- ished gentleman, looks splendid, dances excellently and can sing, and that la some combination. Then his clayer little partner, Florrie MHlership, she can surely dance, and is as graceful as can be and can ac^ too. These two are mighty' hajd to beat They, along with McGowan, seemed to get the opportunity that the few minutes In vaudeTllIft ' seemed to deny them, and they, to use a rather slangy expression, "cleaned ■ up." The book Is the work of Otto Harbach and Frank Mandel, both with a long list of successes to their credit and they have done themselves Justice. In this, r their latest endeavor. The story is all about the wealthy Mrs. Keene and her boy Jack, who took some three years to get through the freahman year at college, and who lived with the presi- dent of the college all through that "- time, and who had the president's daugh- ter fall In love with him. He, of course, took It all for granted, not realising the • prise he had in her. At the opening of tbe play Jack Is all ' wrapped up In a portable house scheme that a ]?Yenchman has convinced him will make their fortune If mother will back the proposition. Mrs. Keene Is jail set to back them when the trustee of her late husband's estate 'jiiforms her that she is bankrupt. Jack listens to Mary, the girl from his college town who is acting as bis mother's social sec- retary, and decides that he can sell his little houses In Kansas, where the newly discovered oil wells are working won- ders In the matrimony line. Mother, after the trustees nuifgestion, ' asks Jack to marry some rich girl so he can care for her, but Jack has fallen into the hands of the grass widow who is scheming for his money and will not listen to the proposition. This same scheme is then put up to Mary, and after she sees that Jack wants the other girl says she will, with the mother's backing, set her cap for the rich man. Jack goes to Kansas and Mary sets out on her road to marriage for money. Mary has them.all at her feet. Then Jack comes home, tells how he had,put his portable house up and how many times he had to move It because the • water was so dirty it couldn't be used, and how he finally discovered what he really had—millions in oil—and comes back home to finally make another dis- covery in his real love for ^ary, and all ends happily. . ^. Cohan bills his organization as "George M. Cohan's Comedians," and each scored Individually and collectively. Janet Velle is a real delight as Mafy. She Is as charming as she can be. Bhe sings one of the songs that proved a big success, "Mary," in which Mr. Hlrsoh has Introduced two of Mr. Cohan's old songs from "45 Minutes from Broadway, ■ "Mary" and "So Long, Mary." Folks hadn't forgotten them, either. The first few strains of "Mary" had hardly been played before an instantaneous burst of applause greeted it. Must have made Cohan feel mighty good, as did the re- ception he got at the close of the nrst act, which he had to acknowledge from the upper box. ^ . , There were others who went over big. For Instance, Charles Judels, a real Frenchman, playing a Frenchman, and who simply was immense. He is a real comedian, and his whistling number- wall, be would have been whistling yet b4.4 he met the demand of us out front. James Marlowe came along, too, for his share of the honors, as did the delight- ful Frederic Orabam as a comedy but- ler. By the way, Mr. Graham recently scored here as another butler in a piece that looked like a success. The dancing end of the performance has not been overlooked, there being two couples and a single girl that were marvela I say the dancing end wasn't overlooked, but these dancers should have been programmed properly, and then it should have been arranged so they oould have received the results of their meritorious worlc This ought to be adjusted; it isn't fair to them. The direction is credited to Julian Mitchell and Sam Forrest whose wora is commendable as It always Is, while cne orchestra was under the capable direc- tion of WlUiam Paly. JTeoMfv. "3 SHOWERS.'' Washington, D. C, Harcb 81. Mr. and Mrs. Coburn. who presented their new venture, "8 Showers," at tbe Sbttberl-Belasco 'Ihes.tre, Mouday night, for its first showing, are causing me no end of trouble in finding just the right words to tell how very enjoyable their newest play is. It Is really delightful and' is assured of success, besides prov- injg that there is "something new under the sun." When the very capable orchestra, un* der the direction of Ivan Rudislll, had played the overture, which attracted your attention even before hearing the lyrics of the numbers, two young ladles in-costumes of tbe 80's stepped out be- fore tbe curtain and read a sort of pro- logue, and to be absolutely candid your "temperature of anticipation" dropped considerably and then even lower when the curtain rose bringing to view a set that depicted the front of an old south- ern mansion. But the alore-mentloned temperature took a decided Jump upward when from the distance the harmony ot a ■ quartet was heard approaching, and ' then the entrance of one of the best colored quartets beard here In many a moon. They started things off "with a bang" and there wasn't a drop from that moment on. The story, which was a real story and wasn't forgotten In the' "shuffle" for a moment had to do with the old fable of the three showers within twenty-four, hours, meaning that should you wish for anyttting that wish would be gratified- The sufferings of the old Colonel, whose rheumatism was killing him because he couldn't get a drink and the many new lines concerning the lack of wet goods and the close call the Colonol had be- cause of his desire to make money by routing an old cotton gin wituout first finding out what the purchasers wanted it for. Tbe Colonel has a tomboy daugh- ter who saves him, and should the part do nothing else, it brings Anna Wheaton to us, and Anna is just one constant de- light Being a Washington girl, her fr|enda and admirers, who remember her from "Oh I Boy I" completely flUSd the theatre, and at the end of the second act prac- tically filled the stage with floral offer- ings. She was just bubbling over with good spirits, and the vfny sne put over her numbers would Jead you to believe that the piece had been running for a season. In fact this was true of the en- tire cast there being but one notlceabe break In the smoothness Qf the perform- ance. Some of the numbers allotted to Miss Wheaton that are bound to be whistled, played and hummed for many a long day are: "Open Tour Heart," "One of the Boys," sung with the chorus, and which had some very cleverly arranged en- cores; a duet with Peter, "It Must Be Love," and "If, And. But," which Is just a little "spicy," and the manner in which she put it over brought her so many encores that she ran out of verses, and the closing number, which with the aid of the real singing chorus sent us all away whlsUlng •'Dancing Tumble Tom." There you see, I said that Mr. and Mra Coburn's piece was getting me into trouble. Here I have given some few hundred words to praising the play and the music and haven't. mentioned the men who did it Well, they are deserv- ing of all credit The book Is by William Cary Duncan and the lyrics and music by Creamer and Layton. It Isn't under- standable why their first names are en- tirely omitted, and it is beyond our recollection of having ever seen these two names before, but ■ will eev them mow, and mighty often. The entire score was remarkably good, each number pos- sessing absolute merit, and the percent- age that will go over into the hit class '4s mighty high. , To get back to the cast, ranking next to Miss Wheaton Is Walter Wilson, re- memb6red for a long string of creative successes, whose work as the old south- ern colonel who thought that the world was "in a h of a shape," was simply great That's a pretty broad alatement, nut It Is true. Miss Vera Roes as Anna is the possessor of a remarkably beauti- ful contralto voice that won her an earnest success. Two of her nuqibers, "Love Me Sweetheart Mine," and then the lullaby to the boy, played by An- drew J. Lawlor, Jr., of Penrod fame, "^aby lAmb," la one of the hits of the score. ' - ' . If is a question as to the success of Lynn Starkllng as the old colored ser- vant "R^d." He lacked something: some- thing that say, WiUIs P. ^weatman pos- sesses, the respectful liberty of the old- time darky, that although treated as a member of the family, still never for- frets he is the servant K^ may work nto the part, so we will not criticise too strongly. He has a great number, "He Raised the Bent of Everybody But Katie," in which be is assisted bv the colored quartet and which the audience simply couldn't get enough of. Incl>- dentally there has got to be a number or rather a specialty put in for the colored boys. They stopped everything every time they came on the stage. The balance of the cast is splendid. Paul Frawley as the youthful lover pos- sesses an exceptionally good voice and looks mighty good, too. He was a big success, and the others who deserve mention are William Winter Jefferson, whose work sbQWS that tbe Jefferson . blood is running true to form; Edna Mom, and then the choriis, who, as al- ready stated, can cerUlnly sing. It was a delight to hear them, and not one of them is called upon to show her limbs or to do the shln?my. which simply goes to prove that people do like real music and real shows. Special credit Is due the director, Oscar Ea«Ie, and mention must be made of the co^umes; they're line, ."8 ^Show- ers" is going to bring a mighty big "roll" to the Coburns, who. Incidentally, are giving the contributorp to that "roll" a ml^htyT)lg money's worth. Jf«*!l«' THE SWEETHEART SHOP. Rochester, N. T„ March 81. Gideon Wount • 'I^«ii'iJ'ai'K; Freddie -JP^JSL"*."" Peggy. Una Fleming Alfred Lorimer JFoseph Lfrtora Mildred Blount - • .Vf^ry Harper Peter Potter • -Hamf K. Morton Minerva Butts >'»*^'.^<*i;!^!5 Natalie Blythe v?«»«5,.M Di«hne • ?"ll» Bussell In "The Sweetheart Shop" Bdwr J. MacOregor and William Mooje Patch have a breexy comedy, tinkling wlUi good music. There are some rough roots though and perhaps the producers have made the error of trying to put over too , many song numbers. The presentation here on the opening night lacked about 10 minutes of three hours, but this was due In some measure to be numerous en- cores and curtain calls. With a new • show and Mr. MacOregor In. his home town, he evidently wanted to be liberal In this respect, and he was. On the whole, the receptlon^of the capacity au- dience was most cordial and there Is lit- tle doubt they really enjoyed the shows. The production Is elaborate. Anne Caldwell has done as well by this show as "The Night Boat" The story is origi- nal and amuelng. Skillfully she main- tains Interest throughout and the story Is as well connected as Is possible with the Interpolation of singing, dancing ani other numbers. The music is by Dr. HUgo Felix and some of his tuneful, catchy airs promise to find their places In the list of musio of the popular vfirloty. The staging is decidedly attractive, bright but not gaudy. The lighting ef- fects and groupings have been worked out to good advantage, making an ad- mirablebackground for the action. Julian Alfreds has done a good Job in stag- ing some of the ensembles. Harry K. Morton is the featured come- dian. He has the ability to make people laugh; that much must be admitted. In parts his role runs to the burlesque type. He works hard, very hard, for the laughs, but the thing is that he gets them. Some of his stuff is strenuous. However, the producers may have tried to give him a new line of stuff, different from the usual run of light comedy. At any rate they are assured that he gets his lines over. Esther Howard has the role of a vam- pire and she has Uttle difficulty in get- ting Into the good graces of the audi- ence. She is pleasing, clever and ver- satile. Moreover, she Is funny, and that, perhaps, is what Is most looked for in '■The Sweetheart Shop."' Her stage Presence is good, her wardrobe leaves ittle to be desired and some of the business she pulls registers decidedly. She Is Just as necessary to the piece as the male comedian, and probably to many she is the star. • The plot involves a matrimonial agency and a plan to Insure that brides will be faithful for one year. Gideon Blount, who has been Insuring things other than brides, conducts the agency. Many complications follow the insuring of the particulars of the play and three acts are required to get It properly straightened out. When, Mr. Blount sens his plans getting a bit mixed the .oppor- tunity is created for much funny stuff. As a bride who has been insured. Miss Howard does "vamp" stuff. Paul Nicholson, a musical comedy veteran, is well cast as the proprietor of the shop where sweethearts are in- sured. Daniel Healy sings well and Is no mean figure on his feet Mary Harper, Zella Russell and Helen Ford registered well with the audience. Una .Fleming dances so well that she was called back several times. The songs include "Didn't Tou," "1 Want to Be a Blushing Bride," "Caravan,'' '^Qlow of the Cigarette," "The Dresden China Belle," ''Life is a Carousel," "Waiting for the Sun to Come Out" and "This, That and the Other." The la<t song, Mr. MacOregor says, is an extra number, but. owing to the length of the show It has been decided to take It oUt' "The Sweetheart Shop" goes to Chi- cago with a few stops enroute, instead of New York as was announced. It will open In New Tork' In August It really ought to to big on Broadway. Bkefflngtoti. ■■ FLORODpRA. AtlsAtic city, March 81. "Florodora" was last night revived at the Globe Theatre here. To the writer, Whe covered the original Casino Tl^eatre openinir over 20 years ago, "Florodora" . in Its new dress surpassed the past with one swift, sweeping flourish. In beauty of costume and color of eye attraction it surpasses the former event. At the same time it seems to prove that the beauties of Leslie Stuart's music have no compeer to-day, that "Florodora" Is of a sohool of masterpieces in light music that Is not known In its simplicity of plot and de- light of music in the present day. Its clean wholesome spirit is a revelation tp the present new generation in the thea- tre. The combination of beautiful or- chestrated musio. Jolly low comedy, happy faces end glorious coatnmef Ip this revival would be hard te exceed on any stage. The Famous Sextette, with new beau- ties who sing almost prettily, If such an expression' can be applied to musio, is re-' vlved with youth, stately grace and house filling voices. Then there is Elenor Painter who sings the role of Delores; George Hassell as the phrenolo- gist copying much of the original of DeWolf Hopper and Francis Wilson. The ..entrancing ways of Christie MaoDonald also, made her appearance welcoine after a long abseiice and her voice as Lady Hollywood brought memories of many loads of the past. Combined with Miss Painter's soprano' was the nearly equal beauty of waiter Wolf's tenor which blended harmoni- ously. Titere is something refreshing in the honesty, fun, music, beauty and good staging of this "Florodora" revival; It makes us wish for less of the degenerate spores of our present day composers, less of the sloppy vulgarity of their books and a return to "Brminle" "The Mikado," "Pinafore" and "The Merry Widow" end its composers. The new sextettjS composed of Dama Sykes, Ddrothy Leeds, Fay Evelyn, Bea- trice BWanson, Maroella Swanson and Muriel Lodge offer a seemingly perfect ensemble. In the famous "Tell Me pretty Maiden" number a, novelty has been In- troduced in the addition of a duplicate sextette dressed in the costumes of a decade ago—the original dresses of this tivmber.' Elsewhere in the cast are Marie Wells. as Marauita, Perle Germonde as Paqulto, Nace Bonville as the vtlllan Leandro; Harry Fender as Captain Arthur Done- gal the rightful owner of the castle; unusual Margot Kelly with her wealth of auburn hair in tne role of Angela and John T. Murray comedian and singer who was Cyrus. Gilfaln, proprietor ^f "Florodora." Anyone who misses "Florodora" mlepes an event. Not only as a reassurance that the period of a decade ago was richer In light music than we are to- day, but for pure entertainment It stands practically without a peer in the pres- ent seaHon. Three songs from the Leslie Stuart score stand forth. "Somebody" sung by Miss Painter and Mr. Kelly: "Shade of the Sheltering Palm" by Walter Wolf and the most famous of all "Tell Me Pretty Maiden" with Its simplicity of tune and lyric. fou may also remember the humor of "I Want To Marry a Man I Do" and "When We Are On The Sta^e" marked by the groteaqucrle of Mr. Hassell. For novelty there Is "Galloping" with Miss Kelly and Mr. Fender and "When I Leave town" and "Philippine Islands" by Miss MacDonald who also sings "Tact." Two other song numbers brln^ Miss Painter to continued prominence with a Voice that Is predominately superior to the surrounding of ensemble and chorus. The production follows fairly close to the original lines, Harry B. Smith hav- ing touched up the lyrics with his clever pen and made some "modernisations" In the text—all of which fit the original and add to It There were ihterpolated songs not programmed. acheutr.