Variety (July 1921)

18 7 r.'* v^ti^s/Pir ^.^^'r^^?lifl^WV'iWT?^^^; ■.■^^■^tJi.-.fr>M- R|"J7 m^ .'-^•v-uuiiii^pmiv^^Mp^nBKvvarn^l^' "TT"!?!^ ^^ f» ■V'yWT7»-*«»A''. W' ^.V^ VARIETY FViday, July 22, li*21 FOREIGN REVIEWS -> THE GO-OPTIMISTS , IjOdUod, July n. TluH ontprtainraortt, prfHcntod by a llttip baud of WoKt Krul "HtwrN" whoM' optiiniHin haH led thoin t(» defy th4> Biuinp nml th«> ultuost tropical weutlior in a roiMiiion\v<viltli rndoavor, in tli<> best Khow of itN kind kpcm in London HiiU'O the great days of rollissier's FoUieK. Tho whole show is replete with bon- Loiiiinie and the joy of lif<' an<l thiH feeling; obviously existiiif; among the players kvIh ov«'r tlie focitlights and Ui.ikrs til*' most jaded audience Kit up. lindtli" Clifr. I)av<« Hurnaby. Mel- ville (;i<l«'on. Cilbert riiilds. Stanley llollov.jiy. Hetty Chester, lOlsa Mae- Fail.jiM. r.ahs Valerie, and Thyllis MonkiiuMi are all "names" and they work to/cther splendidly, help in each others <liornses, work eachy other's eiTects, in sht)i t do everything or any- thing to hrin;; Ku<'iess not only to the individual but to the party. Fr(jm the opening chorus during which Ihe company acknowlcdgcH that every member considerH him or her- Hclf the greatest thing that ever happened, the T*rogram goes with a Kwing. Among the many good thingR are (iilbert (Miitda tlitty about the Roast Heef of Old England and wbfi^t it has «lone for ua; the nemi-tinale by Hetty ('hesler and "very full Royalty Theatre company," this being a bur- lesque of one of Laddie ('liff's own big spectacular revue linaled in which humble domestic uteoHils take the place of valuable "props" and the week^a laundry has to mastpierade as the gorgeous scenery generally seen; "Operatic (Jolf," in which the male members of the crowd have much to say, Kin;;, and dance about the most ancient game: "The .lunior Turf (wasn't the ".Tiinior Turf," however, a cabman's shelter and not a cfiffee- ■tallV) to which Cliff and Oilberl Childs appear as two hard-working • nd raucou8 voiced cofTcc-stall keeper;K; "Fool Dog Gerald," a bur- leutpie of the Wyndham melodrama with drugging, fights, and all the fun Bo belove»i of the Lyceum gallery, and "Choosing the Test Team." this last, however, while being t(»pical is the weakest thing in the show. Other good item«, the majority be- ing far in advance of most vaudeville acts are contributed by Retty ('hester who ;;ives a line rendering of an ex- •ceptioiially powerful song, "Sea Fever,' Stanley Holloway. in tinely rendered baritone niunbers, ('liff in negro melo<lieK and fiances, Melville Gideon with his own compositions at the iiiano, and ("liilds, vainly trying to put a baritone number over while the rest of tlu' <ompany search ou the stage nnd in the auditorium for a shilling Rurnuby is alleged to have lost. The only dull moments in ''A Mid- summer Night's Scream* are those oc cupie<l by tl>e intermission. The Co Optimists deserve every success in their venture' and it is not ^urprising to learn that, while (»ther mnnagers are hemoiining their fate. th«'y broke all records for the theatre on the first Saturday of their "run. The costumes and s;"enery, simitle but doubly effective on that a<'count, wore designed by Hugh Willoushby. Oorc. GRAND GUIGNOL Raris. June 1!0. A new hill has been put ou ifl thif) theatre. "La Somite Polonaise." by Marc Daubriac, is a drama 'lescribing a cruel ofljcer who contrives that a noble lady shall give the s gnal for the execution of her husband. He prevails on her to play the sontata. whi(h is the prearranged sign for a pri.s«»n< r to be i)ut to death. When the horrified woman learns it is her beloved husband s|)(> puts an end to the sar<'asti<' officer. "I'n Reveillon au Rere Lat-haise." by I'iern' Veber and ^I. He (Jorsse. we have already seen. The keeper of a ceiiM'tery gives a Chr stmas I»arty. when the guests are start IcjI: their nierrvinaking has resuscitated <Vnint Lapierre. who is able t.) re- ti^n home to find the countess (•<•!- ebrating his demise with a friend. The count returns to the |>atty in the k<'ep««r'v lodge, as moi'c con- genial society. 'I'he c(nmtes«^ next day seeks the aid of the police, but the authorit es will do nothing, as no action can be taken against a person officially decease<l. Very amusing, hut glum. Jean R>astia has supplied a funny sketch in "La Suite n demain." A po|)ular novelist is on the pt)int of having his hero guillotinetl. Nu- merous readers ai>|>eal to him to change the seipiel and s:ive the hero's life. 'J'he author iTienlally declines, until a girl he has long courted' pa.v^ liim a visit. Her object is only to ask him to change the end of his novel. In rtjvenge the author <l;ishe>4 off )iis last <*lia|ttcr and has the hero exe<ut<'(|. Tliis is a ir.os; amusing study of pj-opii* uho fer vently follow the "'I'o be <-otit'nue(| in our«iicxt" adventure. The drama of the program is "Rne Fille." by Jean d'Ast.irg. A police inspcitor tcc»tgni/;es in a woman brought before him one night his forjner wife, wh<» has be<*ome a street- walker and now accused of hav^"<», murdered a mai^. During the investi- gation their son is announced, a young fellow of 20. The father forbiils him to enter, while the mother trembles. She swears she is innocent, but the inspector pursues the inquiry. Final- ly the miserable wonan is shot by a detective as she tries to escape, her ulentity never having been re- vealed. The horror is forced, with many faults in criminal investigation, even in France. Still, it is au ab- sorbing effort. Kcndrcw. MAITBESSE IMAGINAIRE Paris, June 20. The new 3-act comedy of Felix (■andern and Claude Gevel, produced at the Renaissance, is not so naughty as anticiputtd when the name of (jandera was first mentioned as col- laborator in the new program. It is a nice little vaudeville, adroitly con- structed, albeit the last act is a little inferior to its predecessors. Sinione considers her fiance far too timid, and she complains to friend.s when they congregate on the seashore of a French oyster city. The mother of Robert real- izes the situation is ridiculous, and to spread the news she confident- ially confides to close acquaintances that her son is madly in love with the actress. Maud Harritt. Robert, as a matter of fact, is not a simple kind of fellow, and when by chance he accidently meet? Maud he considers he "has to live up to—the reputation invented by his mother. Maud becomes interested in the young man, his timidity being -a novelty for her, and invites him to supper. How- ever, he remains cold, and it is only by a subterfuge that she causes him to pass the night in her flai. Next day Robert and Maud ap- pear happy, and during breakfast recall souvenirs of their delicious ad- venture. The actress finds the timid chap ia by no means contemptible, while he declares she is adorable. They arrange to elope, but arc pre- vented,by the unexpected arrival of ^faud's divorced husband, who preache.^i reason, and convincwi his former wife she is spoiling the life of lier young lover by winning him away from Siui-i-.e, who has be<'ome jcalouP, and is ready to accei>t her betrothed ati a des:rablu man of the world. "The Imaginary Mistrca.^" (the title of this smart comedy) has be- come a reality, and during that operation, revealed tactfully to the audience in appropriate dialog, we arc entertained by one of the sweet- est love stories rendered in a broad farce, not precisely moral but humane all the same. "La ^laitrcsse Imagina re' should be a success in spite of the hot weather. refused consent to the marriage. He iH consequently embarrassed to give Nini a date when she reveals a ca- price for society. He finally agrees to meet the lovely creature at mid- night at her home. In the secoud act, a bedroom in a country mansion, we meet the previously described char- acters, who alternately turn up with the purpose of 1 irting with Nini. with the inevitable exhibition of the fellows in ridiculous semi-undress. To con«*Iude, Andre elopes with Jacquelne, and charitable Nini as a consolation promises one of these days to grant a redeny^vous to the gallant notary. WhereuF>on he agrees to his daughter's marriage with his clerk. The troupe of Manager Gabriel Tcnot carries this broad vaudeville through with necessary ginger. It is a gay entertainment, elicit ng many laughs, and essentially Parisian as a farce. Kendrcw. The title re- guaranteed to LE BONHEUR A CINQ SOUS Paris, June 17. Thin three-act come<ly by Camille Dreyfus, from the novel of Rene Roylesve, has been profluced at th2 Comedie Montaigne, fern to a magazine bring hapi>iness to its readers for five cents (pre-war prices), though the author invites us to avoid popu- larity if we seek to be happy. Jerome is an <»bscure literary hack whose wife is anxious to see famous. Why shrudd he not have the same fame as Jack London'^ When the pid)lisher of a sort of local Satur<lay Fvening P(>st notii'es Sylvie. the eiidiryo-author's charming s|)OUse. .leroiiie <'onsiders it time to go to inoie st'i-ur*' regions. They seek the country where .leiome enjovs the charms of v Huge exis;e;i<e — fishing and playing cards with the curate. He has been commissioned to write a novelette through his wife's influence, but the work means small i)r(»gress until the publisher comes to claim his coi>y —and see Svlvie. The serial is tlu-n annouJiced a boom a^d the author is fired the common craving for fame, and his wife return to the city become the moth around the candle. "Ilapjiiness at Five Sous" is a delightful comedy, well told and suit- ably acted. Only the dog days may handicap its run. Koidvcw. A FAMILY MAN Ijondon, July 1. This new play by John Gal y warthy is excellent comedy, bi^dli^tly written, daring, yet not too embit- tered or cynical. Although John Galsworthy is not generally consid- ered -a commercial writer, "A Family Man" should be n big puccess. John Builder rules his household with a rod of iron and bis weak-spirited wife has reason for her depression as have his daaghters for their re- bellion against bis tyranny. The elder girl, Athene, kipks over tbt traces and leaves home. Init when Builder is considerii^; an invitat'oo to become may<^r of the town he con- siders a reconciliation necessary for political purposes, i He goes to Athene, who is liying her own life, i. e., she is the mistress of an aviator whom she has refused to marry, owing to her dread of having a home Ufa Kke her mother's. On learning the truth Builder promptly casts her off. He returns home to find bis other daughter has determined to live her own life and, having been told she has a "screen face," has determined on a kinema career. He is furious, and things are not bettered when he, himself, has a moral lapse and is caught kissing the French maidservant, ft is Mrs. Builder who catches him, and she promptly packs and leaves the house. •Ruihler follows to bring her back and fmds her with Maud, the would- be screen star. This young lady he promptly thrashes with his walking stick, thereby falling foul of the law. Police court proceedings follow, in which Maud, a young policeman, a black eye, and various other things I figure largely. Maud, however, witli- I draws her charge of as.sault, and tak- ing everything into consideration he gets out of the affair very easily. Neniesis, however, in the person of an inquis cive young reporter with a super news nose, is on hi s trail. Th«' young man interviews the w(»r- ried martinet, whom he leads into making all sorts of damning admis- sions. whi<*h are duly given the bene- fit of leaded type and a good posi- t'on. This lea<ki to Rudder resign- ation from a political office. Fventually, however, the tangle straightens out. Norman McKinnels' performance was magnificent. Oore. with with He and J'VEUX COUCHEB AVEC Paris. .Tune 2r». "1 Want to Sleep With Nini." is the title of the new farce in three act**, by Paul .Murio, produced at llie ('luny. 'i'lier*' is. of course, the usual bedroom scene. Nini is a youii}; lad.v richly ujihold by .I<M-omc, son of a wotnau who has made a fortune ill sclliu<; Poston beans. The (leiiii inoii(l:»iiic coaxes the young sap to bii.v her a villa, for whicli |Miiii'»se sIm> visits the piibli«' notary. Fuiidii. who has a green heart, in spit(> of \\\< Mhite hair. At this .'ittorney's ot'lice Nini UH'cts .\nd?'c. \\1(> h;ii.|MMH«l to lun-e Iteeti in l>y;;i>nc <hiys one of licr sweet- Ik aits. lie is mtw Fundus first • •leik. TInTi' i>» present lIor:ice. the se-ond «lctl<. at'd a Ir.nn.'in o.wff-r witlioiif iin\ pearl, althoiigli a poel. Andre :i|i|i»';irs to be uivific the gl;id v\v to .l;ici|iiclirie, his employ- er's daughter, but the attorney ha* THE WRONG NUMBER Ix)ndon, June 27. This really good eome<ly had a rousing reception when jtrodticed at the I>ukc of Yorks by Phillip Michael Fara<lay. The play, by two (.'anadian aiithors, Harriet Fonl and Arthur <riligginH is one uf the best of its- type »eeu in London for many a long day. Ahhough it is free fr(Mn sug- gestion, double entendre, or burlesq»ic f<» the extent of eccentri** absurdity, tin' laugh is always tin-re. "The Wrong Nund)er" has sev«'ral great claims to success anxuig them its (uiginulity, wholesomeness aid the clever "touch and go" playing of an exceptionally line cast. Robert F<'ssenden has a pretty French wife with whom he is somc- tiujes al variance. The chief catise is his love for the country and the simple life, while she i»refers the whirl .Mild glitter <»f cities. They and their dau);ht<r Dorothy are on one of tlieir trips to theii- country home and have as a guest, this is a bright idea, of .Mrs. I'essenden's. an actor, Ronie Oliver. They aie without servants. Fcssemlen 'phones an employment agency for a butler and a cook. The exchange puts him on a wr<Mtg nu.'n- ber and he describes his wants to a detective agency which, respecting his delicacy in asking for s**rvants instead of sleuths, send two of their staff to fill the vacant positi<ins. These worthi«'s naturally enoiigh im- aginr» they have becwi sei.t in d(unestic guise to <'lear up some dark mystery and get bu*!y while attempting to <lo the (luties <if tin* |»e>»|)le they are sup- pf»sed to represent. They g«'t on the trail and the atmosphere of susfticion tlK-y manage to create leads to disas- trous contret(Mu|ts and the predica- mt'tits so beloved in ccuiiedy. Sam Livesey and Clare Clreat are the life fif the piece as the detectives, gett ng every ounce out «»f their parts. Yvonne Arnaud and <". M. Ilallard are the h'essendens and both are excellent as is Frank Denton as the actor, All Uia ai\it*r <*hjirAciarH are well-playcd, PARIS By E. GEORGE KENDREW Paris, July 1. Av if the weather were not hot enough the management of the Con- cert M'jyol has mounted a warm pro- duction by Henri .Verna and A. Foucher; music by Esteban-Marti. It is frankly advertised aa an "operette galante,' btlt Oscar Dufrenuo has seen that it does exceed the former risky shows at this- popular i^isic ha 1. * Mile. Spindly was listed to open with Balieff and his Russian troupe of the Bat theatre, Moscow, at the Femina, but reasons of health are stated to h>avc prevented her debut. However, she was seen at the dress rehearsal of the Theatre dc Paris revue the same night, so our anxiety was calmed, and duly appeared with the Russian a few days later. According to present plans Sarah Bernhardt and 8acha Guitry will be the chief protagonists of the lattcr's new play, "Adam and Eve," to be cre- ated at the Theatre Sarah Bernhardt next season. After •The Two Orphans" the popular melo, at tlie Porte St. Mar- tin, we are promised **8apho," with Jean Goquelin, Louis Gauthier and Berthe Bady; at the Theatre'Michel' a revival of "La Danseuse Eperdue,'* with Albert Braasenr and Uie ere- ators at the Mathurins. The Chatelet has c'osed for the summer to open July 80. Tou need not ask the new show; it is Jules Verne's "Around the World in 80 Days." "The Moulin Rouge." destroyed by fire in February, l!lir>, is to be rebuilt at the cost of the lessees, Peter Oarin, Hartmann and Dentee- ghem, the cost being to a large e.A tent covered by insurance. This was the outcome of the lawsuit brought by Joseph O'ler for the cancellation of their lease, which has several years to run, on the grounds the ten- ants were responsible for the out- break of the fire. In the ruins there was found a stove placed in a cos- tumes roon? by Faber, the manager, and Oiler, the landlord, maintained the conflagration originated in that part of the bui'ding. T^eon Vidterra, director of the Ca- sino de Paris, was recently married tind then crowned his ventures by winning the grand steeplechase of Auteuil. The name of his horse is Roi Beige, which he purchased by a fluke a few weeks previously. Velma T/Ouis Sutton of Nebraska, who appeared in opera at Philadel- phia last year, has arrived in Paris to pursue her musioal studies. Mayo violinist, week at cess. Wadler. young Americ<in made his Pars debut last the Salle Gaveau with suc- M. le R.nrgy returned to the Com- ef*Ie Francaise Jure 21 in "Le Duel" nfter many years* absence due to S sfpiabhle with the direction, now for- tiinately patched np. The popular actor was entbusiastiiral'y received by the habitues of the house. "Une Petite Femme dans le Train." three-act farce by lyco M'irches. pro- fluced by the summer management of Potiniere. is not sufficiently mac- netic to attract capacity even at this little theatre. It is the usual story of adidtery. A womian is bumming and allows it to be understood sV.e visited friends in the country. The evening press announces a terrible railway accident It is the train the woman is supposed to have taken, and her hushiind goes to seek her body. A later edition denies the news of the catastrophe, which leads to a mixin<? of falsehood*^, all un- raveled at the end. Germaine Russie Jape Raymond, (^barles Lorrain nnd Galinaux play this nonsense. Wliy do French playwrights take pleasure in depicting their women folk in such shady tints? France is a mora! na- tion >flnd we must not judge the peo- ple by its stage production, any more than by its matches or tram- car monopolies. Some managers npp''al to a bl-ape |)ublic by fuggesfive titles. Two ex- amples this week: "I^es Satyres de Ma Soeur." farce in three acts, by the company being one of the best seen recently in the West End. "The Wrong Nund>er" has a further and very firm claim to distinction, being the vehicle chosen by P. M. Faraday to break away from the time honored custouj of "packing" the first night house, in other words pro- viding an unpaid but reliable clacpie of aristocratic friends and hangers on who can always be relied upon to applaud at the right moment. Suc- cess folhnve<l his ex|)eriment and the most energetic crowd of "dead heads" cimld hardly have given tho piece a bigger or more hearty reception than did the audience all of whom, with the exception of the prfsp had paid thei.r good money to see the show. Qore. Jean Kolb, and George Lignereux «>.refu>nted a't the Dejaatet June 24* and "Le ('oucher de la I*ompadour," three-act operetta by H. Varnu and Armand Fobcher, at the Concert Mayol. Farnand Pradlnes, French com- poser, died at.Tonouse, France. He wrote songs for the famous PauluK. Guy Croswell Smith, associated with Balmer Cushing, has established offices in I*aris, to represent the "Rig Four," under the trade name of the IJn'ted Artists' Cori>oration. Their first release here will be "Polyauna." .. Tlie action of Robert dc Simone, editor of "Scenario," against .M. Renouprez has been settled ^n favor of the defendant, the courts ruling that as the alleged slander was ut- tered at a trade show the comphunt of public defamation could not be con- sidered. The judgment would seem to establish in France the privilege* of Tbel provided it be within the body of a picture trade show. The press presentation by L. Gau- mont of "L'Orphelin," a serial in 12 parts, produced by L. Feuillade, was a big success. The new thriller is to be released in October. The cast is the same as **Two IJttle Urchins." while the story is mainly la'd in the South of France, Algeria and Tunis. It ia a yarn of the substitution of a lost daughter by a band of crooks after the father's fortune, who in- troduce inlo his home an adventuress as his child. The Eclipse Film Co. has com- menced the new production, "l^ea Jeux et de I'Ombre ct de la Lumiere" ("The Stakes of Shadow and Light") by Pierre Maudru, with Mile. Chris- tine Vernon as principal. Gaumont's next reel, now in hand, is "Chicbinette et Cie." adopted from the novel of Pierre Custot, being pro- duced by Desfontaines. A Berlin organ states the Ameri- can stars, Daly, Elliott and Eddinger, are going to Germany to play in a number of pictures in order "to econ- omise the cost of production." "Hunky Dory" Ends London. .Inly 20. "Hunkv Dor\" concluded its run at the Apollo July IG. extravagance ruin of the accompanie<l bar tender. (C/ontir»ied on page 23) LA VICTOIRE Paris, .January 5. A stage society known as the (*om- pagnie des Jeuncs ('omedicns FVan- cais offered a matinee last week at the Odeon, presenting a new play by a new Belgian author, Horace Van Offel. It lutks simplicity. Entitled "The Victory" be introduces Ruedens, a boat builder in a small way. whose dock-yard is about to close for the Want of orders. (Jerman ctmipetiion having ruined his business. His com- petitors are better e<piii>F>ed, old Ruedens not moving with the times, but contersted to dream of the past. There are two sons, R»dand, who has emigrated to America to seek a fortune, :ind Alfred, a ras«-al whose h.Ms contributcil to the firm. Roland returns, by bis wife, a former His American tr.iining <piickly reveals the main causes of his father's bad business arid he sets out to repair the evil. He obtains fresh material, machine tools, and is able to secure the order for a sail- ing ship intende<l for a North pole expedition. However, he has to neidect his wife, giving his whole energy to the boat building, an<l she be<'omeH a prey for Alfred. In vain she begs her husband to return to. America, hut Rolaial imagines she, liki* the others, has no confidence in his suc- cess. I'hus on the day the big ship is launched .the woman is found drowived, in the embrace of Alfred. Stifling his grief the young man continues with the preparatiiuis for the launching of tho boat wlHch has brought ])rosperity to his fatjier'fi ruirod firm. There is a jollilir^ation in the yard to mark the event, while Roland secretlv weepw. His domestic happiness is shattered for the benefit of his business. Tliis story is not convincing' and might have been handled to better effect. To terminate tlie procrilm thfre was offere«l an :innising act. ".Mar^'(»t, ferme la iK>rte" by Fmiie Ko-.tdie. A barber has recently mariied .Mar- got: one day he oi-ders hi< wife to sh'!t the door. The tone di-i-leasf'" the young wife and she sulk-, until a costurner arrives with wlion! ^^I'*" flirts by wav of revenge. Tlie b.irber, novk-ing the manouvre, kicks the iu- truoer into the street, finali.v wlcsing the door himself. As usual the we- nian reached her ends. Thi*- tiif*. is ohl in diverting dialugu4>. ^virf'>#ji \n!> ^"11.1*^1 Ml >|0«>.'*.ie.i *-'Hi)%t\'t 'ti" e ^ » 'iv • J-'-i • «•>• ■V* -^ V*,*^^r*i*,, «^. ^ jl, /f»-<l-««»Vr! i*J*u\ 1i,i H %t iVt ;«»]ii *.'«*-v< \v o V>l>^ O t«liH#*i1