Variety (March 1922)

Friday. March 24, 1922 LEGITIMATE OUT OF TOWN REVIEWS JENNY JONES ^.__-ii- Amelia Jackson 5f*Si Puialor Jean Wanll.y --nnv Marjorle Rambeau Jfm W^'tKirbV. .Wilfred I.ytell Count St.iiiislaua Nevskl.....Robert Fisher fer':*.■.f°.:"^^^^^^"■:■."°'/»^^^ Baltimore, March 22. With an airy manner and several trunkfulls of gala attire, "Jenny Jones" blew Into the Monumental City Monday, but don't get the idea Jenny isn't respectable. Now and Ihen Jenny might tear ofC a few cuss words, but she is a virtuous young in^ison. Wlifutner it be- comes necessary for a man to pay her rent, and discuss the bad news with a waiter, Jenny insists tliat this particular man conform to the rather obsolete custom of marrying) ,. , her. Thus, we have a portiait of. ^^''^^ "^''P ^o Miss CJreenwood in r.ing the hPioine, wlio is holding forth at *"ff a -P.luebiid Bluts' s /C= ^ FOREIGN REVIEWS Vi; 'J M they alwaya did la vaudeville, sing, always together, and do some fairly creditable acting. To them fell both "Every Little Miss" and "Coo-Ee-Doo"; Paul Burns, with some rather clever lines, and some worse than banaU hardly raised a titter In a "fresh salesman" part. Hia "Greenbaum" song at the open- ing fell flat: Stewart Wilson had an unusual part for a musical comedy, that of a dope fiend, and his one song, "Dope Song" was excellently done, but hardly apropos In a mus- ical show of this kind; Master Gabriel's scant three feet were a good foil for Miss Gi-eenwood's six. and he got his comcily lines over in [ then believed, forty years ago, the fine style, getting as big a hund as any in the supporting cast. Ray Raymond was a personable hero with a good, thougli not out-of-lhe- ordinary voice. Fiances Victory did a clever juvenile part, and was a BORIS GODOUNOW Paris, March IS. Moussorgsky's musical drama from the booic of Pouschlvlne, com- posed between 1868 and X871, and created In 1874 at the Theatre Marie de St. Petersl)urg, was sung In French at the Opera, Paris, for the first time produced by Serge Kous- sevitzky, the French version being signed by Louis lialoy. Vannl- Marcoux holds the title role, which is one of the best of Chaliapine's repertoire. The opera of "Boris Godounow" remained afciiost unknown until after the composer's death, wiio was a patriot of the Tolstoi school, who BROADWAY REVIEWS VOLTAIRE ing thp Auditorium, In the winsome, charming person of Jklurjorie Ram- beau. It recurs this piece is subtracted from a French comedy, in which conventions were — cr, rather — French, so to speak. Tlie French Jenny didn't care a hoot u'^out the marriages. But—there'd a gay Paree atmosphere nHfcut the play, although Gladys Unger hasn't been a howling success in translating it for American consumption. Tlie theme is supposed to engage a love- ly, frolicsome and ratlior carnal young creature, who by hor—er— contour, and general physical charm, mouhts from the shop girl's strata to a de luxe society charmer. Jenny, we see oi'iginally as the ^(Afe of Jim Wetherby, a song writer and cabaret singer. They live in the usual home of a song plugger—in New York. Herman Krauss appears with money, and Jenny and he do a disappearing act by removing to Riverside Drive. She hires an in- structor, brushes up on doportmoiit, spends Herman's money, and is pre- pared for the next step, which de- velops when Hamilton J. Power happens along. Then Jenny moves • to Park avenue, when the litigation! Is straightened out and the neces- sary conventions regarded. Jenny really acquires some brains in this position, and everything ia jake when sentiment or fate, or some- thing enters into the scene, and real love finally penetrates her little heart, or soul, or whatever it is that love penetrates, and there is the logical climax. Miss Rambeau Is magnificent In the part. In fact, the wliole cast is excellent. In Its present shape, however, "Jenny Jones" is some- thing of a hybrid production, partly farce partly comedy and partly libretto. T,et's hope it will soon bo In a position to measure up to Its ■^r. a ret mack. song which oozed with sentiment. Some of tlie others liad more serious r.ctitig than comed.v or singing, and did ac- ceptably. Miss Greenwood had a son? called "Long, Lean, Lanky Letty" more typical of her usual stuff than any- thing else she had. Tlie audience couldn't get enougli of it. Tlie general consensus !«i that "Letty Pepper" is one of thoj^e plot- saivation ot itussla would come through the lower clafsses. Indeed llip name of Moussorgsky remained unknown in musical (irtles for many years afterward. He was in- troduced into France in 1903, when Diaghilew's company presented "Boris Goudonow" in Russian at (lie I'aris Opera with Challapine. The present version has been well received. less musical shows which so shrewdly combines sentiment and humor that it catches the popular fanc.v. Never uproarious or par- ticularly jazzy, it still has pep, good tunes and a chorus that is pretty and very hard-v.orking. Waters. Sotllncr* by Robert Edmond Jonts btaged by Arthur IIopLlivi Francois Maria Arouet d« Voltaire..... Arnold Daly. Jean I.e Rond D'Alembert, lawyer and mathematician Lionel Hogarth Artatlde Freron. chief of the Mfcrct police of Paris Frederick Truesdell r.« Due do NavalUea Horace Hraham Maniula de Villelte. a youi'g courtier and phlloaophor liralle Auaten Father Adam, & refugee JosuU John 8. O'Brien Molsnel, another refugee. .Oeorce LeOuerre Wagrri-re, Voltaire'* eecretary Howard Claney .Tanvier. a jfcndarme Marcel Rousseau Miie. Clalron, o£ the Comedlo Franoalse Carloita Monterey Hfme T>(>nh, VoUnlre'a rt.-ce ntnl h«ni*e- ko'pcr Jnne AVheatley itaii** rornelUc. grranilnlcce of the great dramaliet, adopiod by Voltaire MiUBui-rlto Forrest Gendarmes, Watchmakers, etc. have, most likely, a far more gen- erous hearing. In France, as well as In these hera United States. It will not flourish, for It la exotic to the climates of republica, having only aa a central figure ona of the Immortal! of liberty, ona ot tha clarion voices of all timaa against Intolerance. Lait. NEWS OF THE DAILIES ; Two college girls, Leila T^lor and Clortrude Purcell. newcomers in filaywriling, got their chanc© In _ _ _ 'Voltaire," their maiden product. I ^f "■jfjj'^" |j^gj'*^nt'e~{alnment8 of the OUKr and wiser writers could | ^^^go^^ ^^^ gj^olls like money. THE HINDU Maharajah Don RlchOelA Harl Maurice Harrett Shlraa Mlgnon McCllntook Clarice rartrlfht Hiss Sydney Shields Denton Morgan Ian Maclaren Prince Tamar "Whiteside A Priest Stanley O. Wood Princess Tashda Maude Allan fihinsl Grant Sherman C.autamar William Cooray C'lupta ..R. Pazumba Mullah*, Priests. Hindu Servanta. etc This Is a glittering game of hlda and seek, flashed up with mystic- ism and far cast gimcracks, and haa every element to make a success and Walker Whiteside to clinch it. It is one of the worst plays and ona Tlie will of Kert Williams, dated the day of his death and with a marlc because lie was too wea'K to write, leaves his entire estata to his wife, Charlotte Williams. The petition accompanying the will states that Williams left no real estate and his personal property is worth "more tlian $L',000." M. J. Ritterrath, inventor, recently demonstrated his "cold light" be- fore a group o£ Los Angeles scien- tists, which is expected to be of use for picture projection machines. The light is said to' be pure wliite and free,of heat to the extent where a celluloid film may be subjected to it for hours without burning. The inventor says the heatless illumi- nant is the result of four years' work. 'Tm Parney Oldficld. Here's your ticket." Miiifrod started o(t with the law still following, and wl.en he got up to 24 m. p. h. the cop on the "solo" maeliine handed him an- other clip for speeding. The first was for driving without a license. ,»• LETTY PEPPER Philadelphia, March 21. Oliver Morosco's newest "Letty comedy with the elongated Char- lotte Greenwood, Is In some respects the best of the series, but Is not cer- tain to be the most popular. The answer lies In the stylo of Miss Greenwood herself. For the time, anyway, she haa dropped the coarseness which characterized her comedy methods In "Linger Longer J*tty" (and to a lesser extent In So Long Letty") and Is seen In a part Into which she trle.^ to bring both pathos and dramatic acting. She pets away with it rather cleverlj'. but It l3 a question whether her particular clientele will liko the new Greenwood, or whether she can Win a new following. "Letty Pepper" Is anotlier one of J WW "^^<^"e" affairs, sticking quite laithfully to plot, and even introduc- ing a bit of heart Interest and a smattering of melodrama. It fol- lows ^ ho Charles Klein comedy in / ui r ^^^^^ ^^^^^^ scored so heavily, laithfiilly throughout. The book Is accredited to Oliver Morosco and ^eorge V. ITobart. and while perhaps jot the latter's best is distinctly in His better vein. The music is by Werner Jansson wno wrote some pleasing melodies jor Morosco's "Love Dreams" e.arly "> the fall, nons of which were wnislloahie. In the present case, he nas apparently solved the riddle, as ful^^ ^^^ ^ number of fairly catchy *jnp«. the best being "Every Little Miss With "Coo-Ee-Doo" and "Kay or biin.«<hitii^'> «~ I eo e the A movement to provide entertain- ment for the Insane in England by means of exhibiting pictures at the asylums was suddenly put to an end through an official declaration saying movies would make the in- sane "madder than ever." Films in England are 85 per cent Ameri- can. ®r bunshine" as runners-up. wood and Irving Pibo wrot 'yriPs and Julian Alfred and George 4 ♦* ^^ staged the production, firof ^ Pepper" Is In two nets, the J^^i^^/ery plain almost bare "stock An^fu ^ department store" scene. ""?, ^"0 second a rather more that primarily elaborate "display room" cw"^ *" *^^® »^^^ store. The ^norua was dres.sed throughout the enn. ^^t In black, with plain white nn',"' ^"d cut as striking a com- inVr r^"**® ^a the most elaborately t2Z ,^ ehorus ever did. In the Wn^ .^^^ there Is an elaborate dis- tft K ^^ ^^^^ Poiret gowns claimed ^0 be worth $15,000. the - ^^^^^^^o" to Mi.ss Greenwood. ^ Mary, who'behave just JfVoi^tr' car." To w hich the cop replied: Conway Tearle Is being sued for $25,000 damages and $3,000 In doc- tors' hills by Max Weinberg, a woolen exporter, who claims his four-year-old son Is permanently disfigured and may be totally bald as a result of having been bitten by Tearle's bull terrier. The attack took place Dec 16 at Chappaqua, N. Y., and the case will be tried in the White Plains Supreme Court, That the theatre Is In for addi- tional church prominence and that many another debate on the morals of the theatrical world are In the oflang seems to be a probability upon the announcement that three of Doc Straton's children, of whom there are five, will follow their father's footsteps. The eldest son. who Is 17, has declared his intention of entering the ministry, also the son next In seniority. The third has ambitions to be an evangelist singer, while the fourth intends to take up medicine. The only daugh- ter has asserted her ambition for missionary work. Rector's restaurant, situated at 05 th street and I'.road way, which recently filed a petition in bank- ruptcy, received a visit from mem- bers of the dry agents contingent recently with the result a waiter and George Hector were each handed summonses. The tax which the French gov- ernment has placed on the tli'-aircs and which seriously gives evidence that all amusement places in France mav shut down before the middle of the summer. continue.«^ to provoke oetings of all tlieatrical men and icatre owners seeking a s(/Iuti(»n to the problem. The plan which carries the most weight at present is that of all the French comedians who have decided to form a syhdi- cate of their own, pledging to pro- duce the best I'rench farces on a profit fcharing basis if tlie man- agers consent to give up their copy- rights. Ralph Mulford, famous ai'tospood king, was arrested in P.rooi:lyn last week. l'i>on being t"'ld to ' i.nll over" by the motorcycle cop the racing driver quoted: "I'm Italph Warrants were sworn out for the manager, special olflcer and a musician of Paul's Cafe, formerly the Moulin llouge, Atlantic City, on New York avenue, when It was learned that Mr. and Mrs. Wesley Kempen had been forcibly detained at the restaurant from 11:30 Sun- day to 7:30 the next morning be- cause of a controversy over a $70 check. According to the statement of Kempen, his wife, a party of friends and himself dropped into the cafe, where they had several rounds of drinks, resulting In an original ultimatum of $3G, which the party refused to pay, whereupon the total was jumped to $70. One member of tho party donated $32 as what he thought the refresh- ments were worth, and when re- fusing to come through with the balance the Kempens were assault- ed and robbed besides being held. The husband of the couple claimed the loss of a $200 watch and $50 in cash. scarcely have engineered so auspi- cious a combination of circum- stances as befell, ^uite by the whim of chance, these two youngsters. A production by Arthur Hopkins, the connoisseur and dillotanto of the American theatre; a star role cre- ated and enacted by Arnold Daly, who is a favorable star to st.art plays with, at least; Hopkins* own theatre, the Plymouth, a house of intelligent as well as polite patron- age and fine though young tradi- tion; and a premiere without oppo- sition, which means tho concentrated attendance of the "regular" critics, professional and volunteer. It was a great 'Torcak"—begin- ners* luck. It had everything In Its favor except "punch." When these two girls ripen, when they shall have tasted a sweet success and Its fruits and suffered tho cruel apathy that can be expressed only by rows of vacant seats In a theatre, then they may write a great play. For thej have a great deal to write It with—almost everything except that one advantage denied brilliant. Im- pulsive youth—experience. They may learn what Hopkins Like "The Bat,** It must not bo tipped off. The pleasure Is In sit- ting on pins and needles and cran- ing the old nock and guessing—and hoping. The premiere at tha Comedy March 21 was an uverflow; some- how, In New York, they ferret out the successes before they cvwi sneak In. But no opening audience Is tha ducksoup for this show. It differs from most of tho recent arrivals in that. Instead of having a great first night and a light second week, it will really begin to get over as the sharpshooters dwindle off and tho good folk whom Aba Lincoln said God loved because he made so many of them—the common peoplo—begin to come. "The Hindu" ia not ao much for the tired business man or the retired business man as It la for the pop-eyed shoe-clerk and the agi- tated stenographer. This baby haa tha works—mys- tery, aex, shooting, salaaming, a stolen "moonstone," the palace of a Hindu prince, a beautiful British virginal heroine, a well-dressed and dirty villain, atartllnir fireworks, will never learn and does not want • native muslclana, secret chambers to learn—that "costume plays" are and sliding panels, magic doors, a The 70th Street Amusement Cor- poration has bought three lots at 79th street and Second avenue, upon which they Intend to erect a picture theatre. Lillian Russell, who haa been abroad three months studying the immigration situation, returned here on the Aquitania last week, and previous to making her ofiRcIal re- port stated: "I have come to the conclusion that immigration should be stopped for fully five years.'* Estelle Taylor, named as co- respondent In tho divorce action brought by Seena Owen against her husband, George Walsh, has brought suit against Mrs. Walsh for $100,000, charging defamation of character. m thea cast includes; King Sisters. Jane Mulford. I *^f'^j^,!^^^ ^° ^''k®i* The will of A, Toxen Worm was filed in the Surrogate's Court Mon day, and disposes of property "worth more than $5,000," dividing practically all his estate between a brother and niece In Denmark and leaving $1,000 to any two institu- tions devoted to tho care of indigent actors and newspaper workers. Ho also directed that his body be cre- mated and ^Is ashes thrown Into the sea. Joseph E. Ncwburger, Suprem'^ Court Justice, has ordered tlie sale of the old Gotham theatre on East 125th street, New York, to satisfy a mortgage held against It by tl'c Frederick Roosevelt Trust. The estates of Timothy D. Sullivan and Cieorge J. Kraus owned the prop- erty. The Lightning Film Co. of New Yorlc, of v.'hlch the Supreme Film Co. is a subsidiary, has purchased 20 acres of land about two miles nortli of I-akewood, N. J., and has started the erection of two studios. An autonjobilo race track, as well as a base hospital, will also be built. Creditors of Lucille, Ltd., the modiste establishment founded by Lady Duff-Gordon, filed a bank- ruptcy petition against tho firm in tho Ignited States District Court on Monday estimating the liabilities at $175,000, with the assets placed at (Cantiaved on. pige 40) the natural temptation to tyros and the most diflflcult of all theatrical wares to sell to a preoccupied, neuresthenic, jaded pul^llc, which wants commentaries on its own life rather than on historic lives, no matter how poignant r fascinating or illuminating. See the sporting extras—and the libraries of classics. Each Sunday yellow sells moro copies each Sunday than all the works on Voltaire or Moliere or Byron or equally engaging, thrilling rascals of the ages have sold In mankind's lifetime. Plays of this kind can get over, rarely. If they have a violent sex reaction or a searching religiou» penetration they have a chance, and even then the cunning commercial managers, unlike Hopkins, the en- thusiast, the dreamer, the altruist, turn their backs on them and run. But a piquant, biting, clever, harmless, teethlesg cameo 'comedy like "Voltaire" Is no food to hawk over the delicatessen counters of the Broadway scalpers or tho side- street burglars. This column Is not the place to take ls.^\^e with a state of popular taste which cannot whet over tid-blts unless they are over- seasoned, canned or cheap. Lament- able aa It may be, however, there It Is. And only two optimistic, college-bred girls who cannot know such thinga, and Hopkins, who de- fies them, would ever send a lance fragrant with the attar of truly lUa- toric and romantic roses against the rhinoccrous hldo of today's popular box o.Tlco demands. "Voltairo" is beautifully staged and presented, by a reasonably competent cast. Daly has done bet- ter things than Voltairo, which one might have fancied would be his best; ho was singsong, theatrical, often monotonous, though he had rejoinders and epigrams and ob- .servjitions wiiich either were culled from tho lines of Voltaire, and which made him famous, or were written by tho girls, and will make them famous. Carlotta Monterey, his leading woman, from whom much may always be expected, had but a bit, charming yet never es- sential or commanding. Of course, Voltaire is the story. Torne.^ have been written about him, and his spirit, his courage, his per- fumed acid, his intrepid philos- ophies and Ills inspired prophecies. The incidetitH forming the play have to do with his harboring refugees from the torture of the Bastlle In a period of ruthless persecution against free thinkers and protes- tant.M, Voltaire saves them with some Indc-^cribably simple intrigues, the thread of the plot b^ing nowhere more than a nursery fairy story. At times ho rails against conditions, and, though ho Is Voltaire, he Is a nul.sance at those times; at least, Daly made him so. Tho play Is a comedy with a touch of melodrama. It is Interest- ing and even Important, and lightly entertaining, but leaves the emo- tions flat. Therefore It will prob- ably not excite the pabulum or en- tice a fortuns. IA England It will python, turbans, Scotland Yard, conspiracies, Inter-intrlgues, Indian slaves, quotations from Kipling, cloth-of-gold robes, Oriental sun- sets, action, punch, comedy, philos- ophy, hokum, eloquence, subtlety, an economical cast, atM a great future. Whiteside Is Incredible. The man Is superb in his delineation of a character as specious yet as efTcc- tive as Hajl, the Begger, or Chu Chin Chow. As a producer he is devilish In his astuta picking of material, settings, props and supporting play- ers. As a star he is compelling and commanding, yet very close to audi- ences. As a player he is a genius, and as a personality ha is one of the miracle-compounders of modern theatredom. He talks and talks, yet never gets talky; he is a host, a lover, a liar, a brute, a sycophantic penitent, a hero, a villain, a gentleman, a black- guard—and always right and always In the "sympathy.** Not since his ; immortal creation in ''The Meltinff ; Pot," in a role aa far removed from i "Tha Hindu" as Ludlow street Is from Mandalay, has he scored so convincingly as he seemed to in his latest appearance and presentation. His triumph is shared by Miss Sydney Shields, a leading woman with shadings, charm and fire, a beautiful woman, and a gorgeously human artist. Her role, like tho star's, runs through many switches —some closed to most of our most famous lending women—and aho never touches tha wrong key or strikes a blue note. For a woman who has as much explosive power as she shows at times she has nd- mirable repression and poise. She helped, second only to the old mas- ter, Whiteside, to make "The Hindu" a transcendant evening of thrills and fun, and an apparent smnsU success. Ijait. LEGIT ITEMS The Stelnway, Astoria, L. T., dis- continues pictures next week for the Jack Johnson vaudeville road show for five days, commencing Monday. Tho Johnson show will bo used to determine whether or not the house will bo given over to an attraction policy. The Stelnway played vaudeville at one time and has been u.<<ed for dramatic stock for several seasons. Harry L. LIpson is now treasurer of the Comedy, having succeeded Lew Woods, who went on tour with Olga Pctrova and "The White Pea- cork." LIpson has been out of theatricals for a year. Spitsel Brothers snd Mack, soma years ago a prominent vaudevllla feature In America, and who havt been in Europe for the past liv# years, will roturn kara ahOEtkr^ d