Variety (October 1921)

V '■■ r If FrkUy* Octob«r >i. Mil jsa. Tjfi. -t :tr/ OUT OF TOWN REVIEWS ,•1 "^ srr LEGITIMATE If :l GOOD HOSmOTG, DHASIS WasLinffton. Oc^ 19. Cbarle«JDilMn«ham'» newest mu- -jcal comedy, "Qood Morning, Dearie," *» without doubt going to Wmva to be the marvel draw of the 0eaeoQ. At the National tonight, after a fair opening Monday, the Kouse wag near capacity an4 enthu- -lnotn ran unbounded all over the olStce Unique bits followed unusual Seeing flpeclaltiea and the musical gcore is a gem. To Jerome Kern, who wrote the score, must be ac- oorded the distinction of 8uppi>iii^ gffgae twenty-odd numbers, each getting repeated encores and of the ^tMM that is eurcly going to be whistled. Anna CaldweM wrote the book-.ind lyrics. Both Wfe spTmr^i,^ uncon- scious comedy that is clean, a story well told, ft, little love story of a wealthy boy and a shop pirl. and then what a cast has Dillingham given it. little Louis^ Oroody is the featured player, and she Is sim- ply a delight. Then, too, there is Oscar Hhaw. Harland Dixon, Ada Ijewls. William Kent and the Pony Ballet that stopped the entire show both in the first and second acts. It can hon^.stly be sHvled that never has a new offering aroused a Wash- ington audience to express its man- ifest approval as this one did to- savlng grace of cleverneflB In a sin- gle Instance, There are 16 ecenes, which would more properly be called acts. The only other comedian. True Rice, gets more laughs at times tlian Wynn does. Wynn is responsible, accord- ing to the program, for the whole show, producing, writing, lyrics and general supervision. Leon Rose- brook is in charge of the orchestra, and as usual displays his masterful ability. The orchestrations are the redeeming feature of the music, which, lll<e the rest of the show, is commonplace. ^ One of the scenes is a mind-read- ing turn, with Wynn the Rajah and True Rice among the audience so- liciting questions. Usually a sure- fire comedy opportunity, the come- dian fails completely. His attitude is^ serio-comic, at times showing that he knows the raind-rcading recipe, at others attempting to be funny. The a()ene drags, with the audience unable to fathom the whole thing, whether Wynn wants them to laugh or take him.seriously. The closing question asked Wynn. possibly with the aid of a plant. Is: "Here's u man wants to know If he will have children." Wyrin answers: •Toll him I don't think so. but his wife may." That gets as big a laugh as anything else in the show, and is a good .indication of the night. From the very offset there ' ^l"alty of fun. was ft feeling throughout the house j ^^}^*^^. ^^^ *'^»o^ needs Is more that sor ^^hinr unu«u;il was about ^'f'"^»^ situations, less monolog. and. to be given us, and that something '^ ^^e monolog must otay. It should was surely realised. It Is so good P«'t « thorough overhauling, with that It's rt-a-v a shame it nnally ! sf"™* *w^«>>« »««» «f»i«rted. Irtie mu- had to come to an end. t «*c J» typical musical comedy stuff. It Isn't by any means a one-sUr Peking any newness. the ezcell«nc» of ftn)r onr player In ft cast notable for its splendid work. The costumes and scenic effects are a constant delight. The play suffers somewhat from fta effect oC disjointedness producfn! by the great gaps between the phases, which mast bo filled in by the imagination of the audience. Otherwise "The Wandering Jew" is powerful in Itj appeal and of un- flagging interest. Ulon'mgcr. attraction, each player has fjutl op|>ortunities, and they-grasp them, too. William Kent and Ada Lewis carry the comedy honors as they alone c|tn do. Miss Itewls is so well known that the whyfore and wherefore of her comedy methods need not be set down, and as for William Kent, well, his almost over- night rise to stardom has apparent- ly readied its pinnacle. He, as ft comedy detective, portrays tiiree distinct characters, a <'hlnam;i .. ;iic eccentric detectivt- ftnd in the final bit the drunken old man doing his funny falling business that he util- I»ed in vaudeville. Miss Lewis and he Just had a dandy time of it to- night Harrison. WANDERING JEW Wilmington. Del., Oct. 19. David ItolaMco ami A. L. Krlan- ger's production of "The Wandering Jew" gave this country its first RIGHT TO STRIKE Washington, Oct. 19. It has generally been th3 rule that when a play carries a serious message, that play doesn't attract at the box ofllce. In this KngUsh importation of Richard Walton Tully, presented for its first Ameri- can showing at the Shubert-Garrick Monday, all indications are that not only is its message going to be brought forcibly home, but from the sheer merit of the play and its ex- ceptional cast it will cause a lot of people to gladly pay to hear its story told. It would seem that fate has played into the hands of Mr. Tully, with the pending railroad strike cau.sing uneasy conjecture as to its outcome. It deals with the right of all classes to etrike< not only the worklngman. but the doctors and others as well. The play doesn't argue the case of any faction of the world-old fight of capital and labor; each of their various arguments are brought forth convincingly, only to have all dif- ferences wiped out when therealira- tion of the rights of their fellow- man—to live and let live—is broug it home to them. The final adjustment of it all and tho bringing together of those in this three-sided fight is brought about acceptably. The cast, a lengthy one, with a necessarily large number of bits that all have their own particular value to the story, has three male leads, each strikingly'different, rep- resenting the Wbrker. the smooth- tongue*! )nder and the man of the middle class, in this case the doctor. These three roles have been en- trusted to Rdmund Lowe, who por- trays Dr. Wrlgley. Harry Mestayer NEWS OF THE DAILIES Lee Kugel will bring "The 6.50 with LilUftn Albertson to the Hud son, Oct. 24. Russell G. Colt, iui.sUand of Ethel liarrymore, and Rosweli C. Coll have filed an appeal from the will of their late father, Col. Samuel Pom- eroy Colt, who divided his estate, after some charitable bequests. In three pafts equally among his two sons and his brother, Senator Le Baron B. Colt. * Oliver Morosco is offering $50 as Ji prize to whoever suggests a new name for "Wait Till We're Married." Ktiiel Barry more, playing in "De- classe" In Boston, would make no statement regarding the contest over the Colt will. Brock Pemberton will present "Enter Madame" at the Royalty, London, with Dennis Eadle. actor- manager of the house. In Norman Trevor's role and Gllda Vnresl fn the part she created here. Several of t|ie original company will be taken to London. Dudley Field Mulone announced this week that he estimated It would cost Alexander Smith C'ochran l.'iOO.OOO to divorce his wife. Mme. Ganna Walska. Lee and J. J. Shubert have offered employment as sandwich men to the Jobless. Sothern and Marlowe will come to the Century in Shaketipcareau rep- ertory. Oct. 81, and hope to scale the prices low enough fn so large a house to make \* possib'j for all to afford them. A benefit will be given at the New Amsterdam Sunday niglit for needy Britons. presentation of E. Temple Thur^- irays ur. v^ngiey. narry Mesiayer ton's drama at the Playlvouse on ■« Gordon Montague, the labor itudtr. and Ronald Adair as lk»n Oct. 11 The piece has been stagpd with a repressed magnificence by Fred L. Latham, who lehearsed the play. As its title implies, the entire ac- tion Oi the play centers about Mathathias, the Jew, who cursed by Christ and doomed to wander the Oscar Shaw, there Isn't a better {earth for centuries, v/ins salvation musical comedy Juvenile. Is given at last. There are four phases, the the b^t of the song imin^ jo. and first being at the time when he In- he puts them over as only he can His Qulet. unstagey manner made hUn another of the outstanding aJt- trrt)utes of this remarkable aggre- gation. Because Harland Dixon and Louise Groody are mentioned after these other players does not m i that they scored any less eflfeclive.y. As the little shop girl. Miss Groody won every one's heart; she Is viva- clous, dances gracefully and so nat- urally. Dillingham made no mis- take m featuring this little lady. Hajrland Dixon, as the downtown tough who has Just gotten out of curs the wrath of Christ, and the remaining three dealing with his wandering life. The first scene is In Jerusalem at the time of the Crucifixion. Judith (Helen Ware), the beloved of Math- athias. is dying of fever. She has sent tl^e Jew to beg Christ 'ie and heal her. Mathatlii > returns, bcsi(t^ ^imsclf with rage at the mes- sage or the Nazarene, that she would be cured If he return her to her husband. The procession, on 1*8 way to Calvary, is seen passing the window. The Jew in a rage of Jail, scored an individual hit. Not scorn rushes out to spit upon the only his dancing, eveiy number of Which it is stated he created him- self and which are all absolutely new, but the clmracterlzatlor he presented as well, made his partic- ular atld very important share of the piece a real triumph for him. But enough for the cast. Every <me of them were good. That stands without any quibbling or buts. The elioni^ too, wbi'^'h is ft mlghtv large one, ftnd then the ponies. Those gIrU did go over big. Edward Roycc la credited with staging the entire |>erformance. If he conceived the dances executed by tb p*^ sixteen girls and then trained them in it, he eftmed his money. The piece Is divided into two \cts with three scenes to the first and two to the last. The numbers are put on wonderfully well, dressed, .exceptionally artistic, which, coupled wl*h the tunefulness of the num- bers themselves—well, what more could be asked? Some of the out- standing hits Include "Rose Marie" by Miss Groody, "Didn't You Be- liever* by Miss Groody and Shaw, which is a positive gem, and "Kai- lua." by Mr. Shaw, that Is another of these. It is haunting, that's what it is. The piece is set to open at the Globe. New York, Oct. 30, following in John Charles Thomas on that date, and the best descriptive phrase that can be utilized to Judge iti chances for success is to quote some orte leaving the theatre wl.o said, "It's a knockout." Mcakin. A PERFtCT FOOL Pittsburgh. Oct. 19. ^,. ,. rr , i >.• * k. ^Aiming to be funny, Kd Wynn's : Church. He is condemned t >b Show falls to hit the mark. After P'i'r"od at the stake._ As the finr Christ, despite the frantic pleas of Judith. He returns, broken and overborne by the curse which he has received. The scene closes with his futile attempts to kill himself on discovering death has taken his beloved from him. The second act is eight centuries later. The Jew is an unknown vie- torious combatant in ft' tourney at Antioch. His iAftmorfttft comee to his tent a^ night, a scene of pas- sion is At its height wben she learns her lover is he who has come down through the centuries as the note* rious defamer of her Christ. In Sicily (00 years later the con- demned wanderer is about to seek escape from a pogrom of which he is warned. His wife, overcome by grief at the recent death of her son, tias without his knowledge found consolation in Christianity. At the moment of departure he finds he has lost her lo the Church. This blow brings to bim for the first time a slight realization of the power of Christianity, and the curtain falls as he watches her witji her lantern winding her way up the steps to the convent on the hill. In the final episode Mathathias has become a wealthy physician of Seville at the time of the Spanish Inquisition, well known and loved for his deeds of kindness to the poor. Betrayed by one whom he has be- friended, he is denounced as a Jew and brought before the Tribunal Chamber. He delivers a scathing arraignment of Christianity as prac- ticed by its exponents of that day, and in a splendid scene of dramatic intensity defies the Tribunal and refuses to become a convert to the be Ormerod, the worker. Each was particularly effective. Edmund Lowe, who, although the character throughout has line after line of argumentive intensity, never for -a moment fell to ranting, and though forceful and convincing, never stepped over the line. Harry Me6ta>ft has added an- other link In his chain of splendid performances. His .absolute as- surance and baiting smoothness of speech as the agitator were large attributes to the success of the per- formance. Ronald Adair is. It Is feered, a case of too good a dialect as the Lancashire worklngman. At times he was not understandable; but even this cannot mar the value of his performance. He gave It what was needed, a sincerity of pur- pose that would sacrifice his wife for his cause. His performance rang (rue. Of' the remainder of the cast, which is principally a man's play, David Torrence was splendid as the old doctor; John H. Brewer in the only comedy b:t was a delight, while Oypsey O'Brien as the bride, although losing a little In her last act appeal, Justifies her selection for the role. Katherlne Rober in the only other female character, that of Bliaabeth, Is also deserving of men- tion, as to George B. Rlddell as the labor leader and member of Parlia- ment, Walter Dewhurst. Cieorges Carpentier has decided not to retire, and is cabling Tex Rickard about his coming battle with Tom Gibbons at the Garden in February yon crossed swords in the World and American respectively. Broun taking Babe Ruth's side and Run- yon Judge Landls's, .In the contro- versy as to whether Ruth shall or shall not be permitted to barn- storm. Samuel TTntermeyer, as <^unse1 for Alexander Smith Cochran, re- plied to D. F. Malone's statenMBts on behalf of Mrs. Cochran (ICme. Ganna Walska), that she could not sell his client a divorce for $fi00,009 or any other sum. Mike Gibbons and Mike O'Dowd, principals, and Jess Willard, ref- eree, were all arreeted In KaaMUi this week, charged with consplrliic to give a 15-round twxlng malelL Inasmuch as the bout had been transferred to Tulsa, Okla., the gf« rests came as a surprise. _. . Jack Dempsey has been named as ci>-respondent in the divorce suit brought against Bee Palmer by Al 8legal. Dempsey says Miss Palmer was engaged by his manager, Kearns. lo tour the Pantages time with him, and that Siegal was also offered a Job as pianist at Miss l*aimer's request, but refused. This 4s all he knows about it, he aajrs. Miss l>alnu>r is suing for divorce In Chicago. Led by Senator Cieorge H. Moses, of New Hampshire, himself a news- paper editor and publisher, strong opposition is developing to the Walsh amendment to prohibit the printing of news of-gambling or of any event on which money could be laid down. This woukT reetrlet the freedom of the prees and Is ridicu- lous. Senator lloeee says. Seofttw Stirling is offering an amendment along the same lines, but leee dras- tic. The Supreme Court of the United States has been asked by Bud Fisher and the Wheeler Syndicate to deride whether the Hearst pa- pers havie the right to take Mutt and JelY. characters created by h1.»Nher. and show them in a set of cartoons different from those copy- righted by Fisher. The latter ap- pear in New York in the World. Heywood Broun and Damon Run- wasn't a weak bit of work done by a single member. The play has been produced un- der the direction of Mr. Tullj, who has handled it very well indeed, and who, as the producer, has sup- plied an adequate scenic Inventure for the three sets required. Meak\n. for the son. One thing about this production Is that It does not deal in boudoir and ^oes not rely on mlj^takon identity, nor doors, nor hiding places for its comedy. Its dialog without the Belasco touch woul<l be vulgar. Lionel Atwlll Is ejccelliint. but without his oppor- tunities .-XH in "Dehin Ml." His digni- fied humor Is a rare treat, but he needs a better vehicle for his talent. The outstanding work is by LIna Abarbanell. Her Mile. Martinet is a gem, a role that could be cheapened V • , _v .,.-Mj Her bit in the second act at the piano is dciightf uL The vivid portrayal of tho opera singer turned music teacher Is charac- teristic of Miss Abarbanell. Mr. Shine as th»^ millionaire plumber is not quite sure of himself and will There} improve. These three carry the THE GRAND DUKE ii.HtlUHylO, Out. li. Omnd Duke Psodor Michaelovitch Lfonfl Atvv'ill Michel Al«xtf Morgan Farley Vormllkw John L. Shln^ A valet • R. Ferrer Woodlev A hotel pSfe Rilwia Dupont Mile. Martinet • I^ina Aharhnn^li Marie Vermilion Vivian Tobin al The premier of the English ver- sion of Sacha Quitry's famous French farce was at Ford's, and held the usual David Belasco au- dience. As to its future success little can be predicted. Unless one is somewhat familiar with things Parisiennc It falls flat. No doubt It Is a true farce In the fullest meaning of the word, but American audiences have not as yet adapted themselves to subtle French humor, and what is chic to them is risque to us. The story of a C!rand Duke who a couple of days in Atlantic City, the latest edition under the guid- ance of "The reifect Fool" lire.zed in here with plentv of advance bill- ing that told the truth when ii re- 'trre<I tti a well -trained chorus ,ni<1 «ome pretty setting.", but which otherwise was all wrong. A.s in other years, Wynn is the Sturm center f.f all the comedy— ^'^hat there Is of ft. That little mite J>f fun Is nullified by too much an- tique comedy, all recognized; very httle new stuff. The whole show itself has nothing on the creative or- der, and follofwed the stereotyped curtain descends ho is shown .sur-j ha.s fur.saken iiu.'Jsia for political rounded l>y the blazing faggots with rea.son and is tem|K)rarily established a lipht from heaven streaming down j in I'aris. Here he comes across a upon hini rnvl a wom.m's voit c c ry- j former mistrfs.i. She. like himself. itit; out lli.if it iw the Lifiht ot (lod upon this Chiist-lilxc m.in. Tvronc Power in the .stellar role, burden. The play is simply set, with the thoroughness expected. ANGEL FACE San Francisco, Oct. If. Nat Ooldstein, who recently em- barked in the music publishing bus- iness and lately formed the Gold Prohibition Director Yellowley has informed all hotels they nsajr be cloeed for a year if they peralt drinking on their premises. While he was saying this, former Prohibi- tion Rnforcemmt Offfcw Oeoiwe &. Kidner was being eent to AtuiBta penitentiary for three years for an attempt to extort money from a Newark saloonkeeper. - "■> So far this year the theft of S,447 motor cars have t>een reported te tlie police in this city. By the will of her father-in-law. Colonel Colt, Ethel Barrymore In- herited her home in Mamaronecfc, N. Y.. $25,000 bosldes, while each ot her threp children got $50,000. It is understood the will was drawn because of the break between Miss 1 tarry more and her hiistaand, Rus- sell G. Colt, and that resentment over this has led to the contest. Edith Stockton Rexes, picture ac- tress. Is petitioning Surrogate Co- halan to appoint a co-administra- tor to .erve with Townsend Pinkney In the administration of the estate of his brother, Cornelius P4nkney, by the terms of whose will Miss Hexes Inherits $100,000. The will neglected the widow, and Miss Rexes accusses Mr. Pinkney of being disposed against her. Meanwhile, Burton King. Horace Q. Plimpton. Gregory Lindner and Herbert Lubln have been ordered to testify aa to whether the late Mr. Pinkney In- vested heavHy In pictures through his Interest in Miss Rexes. Stuart Walker will mount D«a- sany'ft "Alexander" at special mat- ineee during the winter miih McKay Morris aa the king. "The Grand Duke." witlr liooel Atwlll, will open at th« Lyeensi, Carr Production Co. and secured the Now York, Nov. 1, with. Llna jLhar- rights to "Angel Face" for Coast banell, Vivian Tobin, Morgan Farley production, opened the show at the and John L. Shine. Columbia, Oct. 17, after playing a few oae-nlghters and a week at LfOS Angeles. George Lederer Diad,a the trip from New York to stage the piece, which got a full downstairs at $2.60 top. JUDGMENTS First name Is that of debtor; creA« Itor and amount follows: Nonpsreil Feature Film Cofp.| Marguerite Zender, Nat Carr and city of N. Y.; $43.21. Norah Kelly head the cast, which includes Tyler Brooks. Joe Mack, William Cameron, Clem Bevins. Bruce Buddlngton, John Rolnard, Willard Hall, Neil Moore, Ethel Martelle, Bertha Belmore. Sarah Movicker, L«illian Young, Agnes Patterson, Evelyn Oreig and twelve choristers. Goldstein deserves much credit for gathering together such an ex- cellent cast, who sent the piece over with a hang. Individual hits were numerous, with the first night honors going to Norah K«»lly, who had .^evt-ral very good new numbers whirh were atld^^d to the show from Cold.stein's catalogue, although an has ohtalned a position In the honn-j original song remains the hit of a newly rich plumh^'r who wIsIk I to have his daughter glvc^n an edn with his rt'."onant \oice and com-i cation he has misse<l. The (Irani niaiulitm li^jnre, le.'ivcs nothing | Duke becomes n. tutor and liis wanting. Tlii.s may well he said to i former mistress u music teacher to be the gr«'at<st perforn\anre of his ! the >onng bud. career. Mi.ss Ware. altliouKh on the! 'In the happy d.iys of Russian ex- stage hut for the Ih'st scene, gives i trav.tganco. a son was born to the a sincere performance, handling the emotional possibilities with com mendable restraint couple. He. is now a young man The play lias to do with finding a suitable and wealthy husband for Buuical comedyT^vue wUUout the I Xt la difllcuU ta caU alteaUoa to < the mlsircss aoU a beautiful wife Civrr and Miss Zender divided next honors, while Tyler Rrooks won tremendous favor. Joe Mask, as the delertive. created a near sensation with his really wonderful dancing ver.salility and proved a big favorite .ill through the show. This excep- tionally strong lineup, coupled with the successful musical piece, makesr' tin Gold Carr debut in the produc- tion flekl look like a success. Joncphs. Panama Am us. Co.} same; eame. Am. Cinema Corp. anrf Walter Niebuhr; W. North; |S»1.M. Frsnk 8. Evans; H. R. Mea4e; $1,858.28. CsrI A. Helm: A. Lewis; $101.ld. Bisnche Dreyfeoe; W. P. Qamett; $430.20. Leon Epstein; Plaza Music Oo.; $34».94. K. A O. Amue. Co.; City of N. T.; $43.28. Charles O. Seeeel; Japanese Fan Co., Inc.; $138.4a. Jsne Haggin; Chrl.=;tinc, Inci; $175.04. Modern Yiddish Theatre Co., Ine., et al.; J. V. Nuc^e; $sho 20. Hal Benedict Studios, Inc.; M. Silverman ct al : $134 r.o. Seme; same; $.109.4.'.. Wilner, Romberg Corp.; M. Bundt et :il.; $126..'>0. Am. Cinema Corp.; Craftsmen Pilm Labs.. Inc.; $2,490.27. Morris M. Ksshin; same. $56'i.87. ATTACHMENT. CIsrs Kimball Young et al.: OaTld Levy. $13,000.