Variety (June 1922)

Friday, June 2, 1&22 BROADWAY I REVIEWS LEGITIMATE IS RED PEPPER [iuyRo** • K*bel Blaine Sr.h Latlui Lillian Roaedale r«l Shelbx Bright Han Qulnlan ffiir hli daughter Florence Ray field Sjcbard Pitney B » rro " Greenwood nollr Pitney Feme Rc«ere Krd Oathe-Coyne Ch \ r *^ " r ? wn 5^» ty Rob Nelnon £Tm # Bull SaMl Foo.shee fimmy Swift l>an Brennan Tommy Dodd i,** 1 *? *£"<** rirlat Ike Bee Ho Gray JJ"T_ Ada *bummervl|le ft. R.' Attorney Oeorge Youngman Rembrandt George Youngman fUmonda Eacamlllo This is the Shuberts production for Mclntyre and Heath, who rate as the oldest biackfaced funsters on the. boards. As a team they are Hearing their golden anniversary, and their managers rightly figured the nearly two and a half decades before the public had won a natural draw on the road. "Red Pepper" had its genesis in November, having been continuously on tour virtually all season. The show jumped into the Shubert Monday night from the Apollo, Chicago, where it played seven weeks. "The Hotel Mouse" leaped westward in exchange. "Red Pepper's" business was fairly good at the start in Chicago, but eased off for the latter half of the run. The show never was intended for Broadway except for an emergency. That arose when there was no suc- ceeding attraction for the Shubert, a house which the Shuberts desire to keep open continuously. Mclntyre and Heath were on early and often. They drew a hearty greeting, as due them after a season or two away from New York. James Mclntyre identified himself as "Jun- iper Berry," explaining his father was a hound for gin and wanted to keep the name in the family. Tom Heath as Jickson Weed could not disguise himself from being a bear for the bones, a gambling boy every time he saw money. Edgar Smith and Emily M. Young wrote the book, Into which is writ- ten in part the vaudeville bits so often employed by the team. One was the "whole shirt on your back" betting bit; another was a variation of the tomato idea. "Red Pepper'' has a supporting cast of vaudevillians, with four or five turns worked into the going and several specialties spotted where they were of the most benefit. Bee Ho Gray was allotted considerable time at the opening of the second act for his lariat manipulation. Gray chatted during his exhibition. (Which ended with roping "Onion," a white mustang ridden by Ada Som- merville. Gray worked in knife throwing and whip stuff during the comedy hold-up and tomato scene Of Mclntyre and Heath. Bob Nelson, first as a race track tout, is one of the few changes in the cast of the show after the first fj* °J eteht weeks. Set down near the finale, he stepped In for a hit with his nut, nervous style of song delivery. Herbert Heswon was at the piano for Nelson. A Chink num- ber sounded freshest and Jt was put across excellently, a first encore baving Nelson singing a new small town Dixie number. Florence Ray- neia is another change in the cast as originally lined up. She was an extremely nervous Ingenue during 12* " rst act, but improved under Jhe steadying influence of Barrett Greenwood, the Juvenile. Svhn Fooshee Sisters, Gladys and Sybil, were refreshing and good to t?mi-^?u'*T WorkIn S wcI1 several fh?i7« lt! f £ elson and wortng with S?rJ pc ?!? Ity in " one " The y also S2 f . tne ranch scene which 2nd j m« he ^ Cond act Vivian "OH SSJtHnl a i n £°?? dal ° wcro on twIcc ' th« i. g u bolh tImes e^ctively. In Hal TffS 8C ^ no Dan Br °nnan and iev P r«i 2 V dancIn S as a team in ■everaI spots, won recognition. awav^,JJ abe i ! Elalne wh0 walked n7mLr Wth ,^ he snow,s Principal 5„ C S' w^tten by Albert Gumble, Sis pKV rphy and IIow ard Rogers! hilhh? Ine ^ a3 In bur "t cork, as a highbrown whose hand was sought SUmSKS and . Jlm P«°n. "Strut the flSi ff comin e as the finale of of th^enTire 16 ^ CasHy the b ° 81 I scenes they featured. There is still a hearty laugh-kick In the old team, and It is bound to count. "Red Pepper" came in on a warm evening, it is aimed to stay two months of summer and a bit longer if possible. At a scale of $2.50 top it might make the grade, though the management probably does not look for heavy takings. More than mod- erate business would be surprising. With the rent period over the show ought to operate to profit in low gear. /ac - DRUMS OF JEOPAHbY Kurokl. Emmet O'Reilly 5?3* Kar,ov Paul Everton mH^li »•••.; William CourtLlgh Edward Burlingame Bernard Reinold Kitty Conover Marlon Coakley Antonio Bernini George Frenser Stemmler. John Colvin John Hawkuley C. Henry Gordon Patrick Conroy M. Tello Webb Dr. Richard Harrison Victor Harrison Stepan Gregory Reginald Barlow Chauffeur George Golden stepped strutted score. Miss aside while the Elaine ^velvet SS *tf«WffW*S5 of t£ „™ ,0 ?SI* «wallow-tail coats hat, ,„ S ' 1 ^°. t L lmmcd ln wh »«. *""< S^BP.JS whit0 «*"•• scene finale in the oh'° act ' had the dancers of melon Si T ea i Iy drc9Sed ln waup. like all K !t ,5; XCO,>tiona,, y vv e". and, "*e ail strutting nnmiw„.L. it i„L^^,i Miss Elain aniah with a hard shoe routine: vi*;i rutt,n8r num bers, it landed.' KSh wSl! 16 f tep P cd aIo »e for the iiwp h a hard 8hoe routine, tine nn /L OS L or is credited with put SS5.S?.i h « dances. He appeared t« "The Drums of Jeopardy," by Harold MacGrath, ran in the "Sat- urday Evening Post" about two years ago as a serial. As a printed story it was interesting in its telling, the book itself also enjoying some- what of a vogue later. As a play, dramatized by Howard Herrick in collaboration with the novelist, it is the most obvious, unmystifying and uninteresting sort of "mystery" play imaginable. Coming on the tag end of a cycle of "mystery" mellers, the past success of "The Bat," "Cat and Canary," "Charlatan." et al.. will so far overshadow this one by compari- son that the word-of-mouth adver- tising of playgoers will only boom- erang. The title refers to two emerald stones of almost magical power which have rested in a branch of the now defunct Russian family for ages. Cutty (William Courtleigh), a benign sort of war correspondent who has mysterious power to salve the police, is also an expert on gems, and recites part of the history of these drums of Jeopardy to Kitty Conover (Marion Coakley). It so happens that they are both dragged into the mystery as to who owns the emeralds as John Hawksley (C. Henry Gordon) has taken a room on the same floor in Kitty's boarding house. Hawksley proves to be the last descendant of the royal family, although educated in England. He has been followed around the globe by Bolshevikl intent on seizing the baubles, to be converted into food and supplies for their starving kins- men. Boris Karlov (Paul Everton) heads this insurgent band. Karlov is a madman who fancies he had been wronged by this fugitive scion of regal ancestry. Kitty Conover, as Irish in spirit as her name, refuses any suggestions from Cutty (Mr. Courtleigh) to change her abode for safety purposes. Cutty, on the other hand, refusing to divulge any reason therefor in order not to cause her any fear. Evidently the authors had intended to mystify the audience very much in this fashion, and thus increase the suspense. The objective was missed. The stage mechanics were so artificially obvious bare in- terest ln the developments flagged, if anything. Hawksley is the most manhandled character in the piece. Having been corporally assaulted with foul in- tent so often It is surprising he sur- vives for the curtain. A bang on the head evidently is dragged in to Jazz up the piece, the final k. o. resulting when Cutty and he goes to Kitty's rescue from the hands of Karlov. How Kitty in the first place has been enticed to Karlov's attlo is barely explained and not plausibly. As a matter of fact the inconsisten- cies are numerous. There is an in- coherence that defies sympathy and almost insults the intelligence. The attempt to ring in the anti-Bolshevik propaganda was palpably artificial and "American flag applause" ln in- tent. The audience scoffed silently and let it go at that. The piece cost little to put on, so Alfred E. Aarons, who is sponsoring the production on his own, will have little to mourn for. The play is ln five acts (programed merely as sccnes) t three the same, all interiors. The cast represents no great ex- pense. If there is a sufficient num- ber of the 2,500,000 readers the "Sat- urday Evening Post" brags located in the metropolis "The Drums of Jeopardy" may beat locally for a couple of weeks, with the assistance of Joe Leblang's bargain salesmen. Abel. which" r£l e 2? tnoso two " numbers, Plete - 0 ^ e J ed U P t"e almost com- chorus A absence of "looks" in the ALHAMBRA PLAYERS, N. Y. The fifth week of the summer stock policy at this Harlem Keith's house (regular policy, big time vaudeville) has proved its practic- ability as a summer innovation. Its pormanency throughout the year would not bo a bad idea. Dramatic stocks are few and far between In the metropolis, and it la doubtful if one as high-grade holds forth in Greater New York at any time of the year. The neighbors appreciate the com- pany, and from personal knowledge several inveterate theatregoers, who for some roason or another have als in most of the other missed certain shows, travel quite «roD hart M ? n ? wlth a *° lf ,,nks »ome £?f M ? Intyro and ,,oath with thSff nwn terIa ] not identified with it is »m ' and the comedians made 'ntm i? Ui i ng - *i Cath offcred Mc " «i iMftrfS a ha ™rd w a-«cad - an'Jf, n Qu«nlan proved himself ^ thj Dri-^"- ra - ,Rht l ° th ° COrr '° dy some distance to this 125th street* house. "Smilin' Through" is the current attraction. While the recent release of the Norma Talmadge film version of Allan I.angdon Martin's play might be deduced as affecting any stock presentation, there was no evi- dence of it Monday night, according to the management. The Tuesday holiday was off, both matinee and evening, as was to be expected on a holiday. At that business was not so bad Tuesday evening. The man- agement avers that the first four weeks of the new policy have drawn consistently near-capacity audiences Dorothy Shoemaker, Dwight Meade, Houston Richards and Ted Wilson still head the company as fe- male lead, leading man, juvenile, and heavy, respectively. Miss Shoe- maker displayed unusual ability in the "Smilin* Through" role of an Irish lass, with a wealth of brogue and blarney at her tongue's command. She was a complete surprise and revelation compared to past per- formances in some of her vaudeville skits. Dwight Meade, the male lead, who because of the script appears in an old character role for the main part of the action excepting the 50 years' flashback scene, did a flnc piece of work. Mr. Meade is said to be a stock favorite in the New England section. He should be re- viewed as a Broadway prospect. Ditto Miss Shoemaker, who has al- ready appeared in legit, and Mr. Richards and Mr. Wilson. The latter is an unusually convincing heavy. / The play when produced a little over two years ago with Jane Cowl starred did not mean so much on the "spiritualism" phase that is rather deftly handled. Just now, with Doyle, Lodge and others so much to the fore with their doctrines, it bo- comes a striking element in the re- count. For the final curtain, after the man who for 50 years has har- bored a grudge against the man who wronged him, Moonyeen Clare (Miss Shoemaker) "materializes" in spirit and meets her amour from whom she was so prematurely parted, say- ing, "if only these poor dears on earth who fear death would realize what awaits them, their whole life through they would keep smilin' through." Such propaganda for spiritualism is far more effective than reams of sernuns a d lectures. The play, which has been fully dealt with before, admittedly is a sweet creation. It has proved itself by its long stay at the Broadhurst two years back. As a stock favor- ite it will always please. Its pro- duction and props make it highly practical for any high-grade stock company. William Webb, the director of the company, is deservant of commenda- tion for his staging. Abel. ALHAMBRA PLAYERS, B'KLYN The Alhambra Players are ln their second month at Ward & Glynne's Alhambra, Brooklyn, lo- cated at Knickerbocker avenue and Halsey street. The house formerly played vaudeville, with stock in- stalled this spring for a trial. The recruiting of a generally worth- while organization put the new policy over. The Alhambra is well situated for stock. It is a neigh- borhood house in a thickly popu- lated section. A goodly portion of the clientele secured with vaude- ville has been retained and the more staid members of the community added. For the current week, 'The Naughty Wife," a comedy ln three acts written by Fred Jackson and Edgar Selwyn, is played. As a Broadway attraction the piece failed to attract much attention. As a stock production it fits nicely. Short cast and two sets. As produced by this Brooklyn company it proved entirely satisfactory, the clever handling of the lines and the two attractive sets used helping the piece materially. The Alhambra company has Charles D. Pitt as director. Pitt put on "The Naughty Wife" in ex- pert style. His people were well directed and gave an entirely satis- factory performance with the ex- ception of Margaret Bird, the soc- ond woman. She appeared at sea throughout -nd became the only discordant note ln the entire pro- duction, lone Magrane handled the lead capably. Miss Magrane is a leading woman of experience. She can effectively handle an engenue lead, or the heavier dramatic type. The present crop of new plays for stock call, to large extent, for an engenue leading woman. The Alhambra company Is well fortified In this respect with Miss Magrane. Robert Hyman played the male lead. He has established himself as a leading man should. His work in "The Naughty Wife" was admir- able. He secured all that could be gotten out of the part and added a comedy touch at , mes that pro- duced returns. Orris Holland, a juvenile comedian, was entrusted with the third Important role. Not- withstanding a certain staglness In his work, the part was worked up nicely. Character roles were en- trusted to Carrie Lowo, Louis Al- bion, Bernard J. McOwen and Wil- liam Davldge. The minor parts were II well placed. The Alhambra company has es- tablished itself on Its merits. An up-to-date selection of plays has been made, with th* productions FOREIGN REVIEWS WHIRLED INTO HAPPINESS London, May 19. "Whirled Into Happiness," a new George Edwardes production, had its premiere at tl Lyric last night. The original book 1. by Robert Bo- danzky and Bruno Hardt-Warden; English adaptation and lyrics by Harry Graham. Music by Robert Stolz. Described on the program as a musical farce, the phrase should really designate it a romantic mu- sical farce—or, better still, an at- tempt to produce a romantic musical farce. This is not an easy task and the demerits of the presentation can readily be traced to such an effort. Producers of musical shows have always found it a difficult matter to blend romance with farce for the reason that when the author shifts to romance the farcical action is delayed in its progression, and necessitates practically a new start at the conclusion of each "romantic" interpolation. The story itself is essentially romance, but so elemental in plot it would not meet with general ap- proval unless unfolded via the farcical situations and dialog. A young marquis has arranged to oc- cupy a box at the theatre wearing a monocle with a blue ribbon at- tached, by which the daughter of a wealthy plebeian will recognize him. He arrives in the foyer of the the- atre where his mistress, Delphine, hearing of the proposed meeting, slaps his face, knocking his monocle off, and It Is left upon the floor. Enter a barber with a gallery ticket, who picks up the blue ribboned monocle. A theatre attendant mis- takes him for the young marquis and insists on placing him in the stage box. It is hardly necessary to go further into details of the complications arising therefrom. Whilst such a premise offers un- limited opportunity for comedy, the author has not taken full advantage of it, and as a consequence "Whirled Into Happiness'' will probably prove a halfway success when it might have been what we in America would describe as a knockout. The piece starts very slowly, practically the entire first act being taken up in developing the simple plot In a tedious fashion. The music is not the kind that will be sung and whistled about tow^i, but it does nicely. It varies from mild synco- pation to dignified concerted num- ber. Billy Merson heads the cast in the low comedy role of the music hall attendant who annexes himself to the bogus marquis in the belief that he has become the valet of a titled gentleman. Tori Walls contributes a legitimate cockney characteriza- tion of the millionaire hat manu- facturer who is anxjous to break into society. Lily St. John supplies beauty, youth and an excellent voice to the role of the daughter. Mai Bacon makes an attractive French music hall start, albeit an over- weening desire to lift her skirts and display her lower limbs, which predilection does not seem to have been at all curbed by the producer. One of our high class new musical comedy producers might be able to stage an elaborate edition of "Whirlod Into Happiness" In a manner that would appeal to the American public. In its present form it is not likely the piece would succeed there. Jolo. DEUX MASQUES SHOW Paris, May 20. Marcel Nancey, running the Deux Masques on the same lines as the Grand Gulgnol, has presented a new program, equal In all respects to the former, with both quantity and quality—perhaps more of the former. Five pieces are given, the hcadliner being "Vers l'Au-Dela," drama in two acts by Paul d'Estoc and C. Hellem. This Is another medico-tragedy, describing an ex- periment made by a physician to solve the query whether the brain survives after the heart has ceased to beat. A woman Is to be executed for murder. Professor TIercelot obtains permission from the au- thority to repeat the trial made years ago In Brussels. At the time of the execution a girl is mes- merized, ordered to believe she Is the prisoner, and after the latter's death the said medium Is supposed to feel the sensation of the entrance Into eternity. The medium is a medical student, daughter of the prosemtlng magistrate. She offers herself for the experience unknown to her father. At the moment of the prisoner's death ' y the guillo- tine she shows slqrnq of pain, kicks and faints, and then also expires. The doctor Is cr.rry at this conclu- sive result, and b* comes delirious, while the father Is In despair. This above the average f<<r stock. The admission scale is 7. r » conts top at night and 33 cents for matinees during tlie week, and 50 cents Sat- urdays and hollda s. The house Is managed by George Kann. who has conducted It suc- cessfully for the owners for some time. Th# Henry Frankel orchestra Is one of the prides of the com- munity. , uorU drama succeeds ln creating an at- mosphere of horror, considered Im- perative for an entertainment af this category. Another drama is •'Solitude," two acts by Piere Palau. laid ln the backwoods of Canada, where a Dominion official pretends he Is summoned to a distant village, In- tending to return to the log cabin and rob himself of the rents he has recently collected foi the govern- ment. His own wife, not recog- nizing her spouse when she detects a man entering the room, fires her revolver and kills the guilty sheriff. It constitutes a good sensational drama for this class of little theatre. *'Edouard," one-act comedy by Ernest Depre, concerns a burglar caught by Blanche, vaudeville artiste, ln her flat. Smooth- tongued, he quickly wins the confi- dence of the woman by making her a present of the money he has previously stolen from a cupboard and becomes her protector. "Le Procede- Vibrant," a spicy cynical sketch by Michel Cazavan. terminates the mixed bill which begins by a sporting farce, "La Tuyau," by Jack Abeille. On the whole, in the opinion of those who like this sort of dope, the new program is up to high- water mark. Kendrcw. —r-M i— PETITE MAIN QUI SE PLACE ^ Paris. May 13. This light comedy ln three acts and an epilog, by Sacha Gultry, re- cently produced with success at the Theatre Edaourd VII, is reported to be the 40th theatrical effort of the versatile young actor-playwright In this Instance he has not taken much track of the plot, but dressed his title to get the highbrows won- dering what the little hand was doing. "Une Petite Main qui se place" ("A little hand that gets a place") refers to a dressmaker's assistant, termed a petite main in the vernacu- lar, who secures a Job with a doctor after ho has examined her under the belief she is a new patient. Em- ployment ln her own trade being rare, she seeks a position as parlor maid. The doctor discovering his wife is deceiving him with his best friend (that Is the usual role of the best friend in French comedy) does not hesitate to take the needle plyer for a walk in the park, while a de- tective secures motion pictures of the wife's treachery which are pro- jected for the edification of the audience and are warranted to ob- tain the requisite divorce. This unique plot is told In the very best Sacha style, recommended as an after-dinner cocktail. The first act particularly keeps the lucky fans In a continual giggle and is a prize-package for early attendance. Many other authors tackling this modern subject would have flopped. SnL J' 0 M ng i ® acha irrespectively dabbed like the rest of us by the rising generation aa a petit vleux. is equal to the occasion. He has studied human nature. Is experi- enced in observation, has evidently a kind heart and a ready wit, so he easily fashions a gem from the com- monest me'al, or a silken purse out of a sow's ear. I know of no other playwright who can attract a crit- ical public, anxious to find fault, with such a trivial plot as that so often handled by Sacha Gultry But he must not ovordo It, notwithstand- ing he has again made good this time. ,*#??* * of hln a8s<4 t« Is the choice of his troupe: In the present comedy he has the right person for each part, himself likewise perfoct as the elderly doctor who practises medicine as a pastime. Yvonne while Betty Daussmond ably invl personates the unfaithful wife. Kendrcw. UN JEUNE MENAGE -,. . - Paris, May 20. miT «♦ ?° W . f0 " r " ac t Parisian com- SSLv a^ ,s ^ e r nouU Panted last week at the Potlnlere is on a moth- eaten subject. Robert, an^ Idle young guy, on the council of friends marries Madeleine after a short ac- quaintance in order to got rid of an embarrassing mistress. The young couple quickly perceive they ha vl made a deplorable mistake and de- cide to get a speedy divorce. Hwi« ,o r thla forma, "y oven the £VS!S!nf 8 .° m ° tan S |b '<» Pretext, so Robert declares ho has another of old letters written by the former ml8tr P j S . Madeleine', pride Is hurt KLff*!, EW? 1 ** nnd flhe Pretends heir friend. George, has made over- tures to her. Such confession ex- rites the ..ushand's Jealousy, until he Innocent George Is able to prove It* i!i e a ""jPterfuge invented bv MndoMno bemuse she felt voxo,\ SSUVS ,,,M9,on of 8'ncere af- fection Is merely a matter of amour prnj.rc, , ut !t is sufficient for Ihim lo 0 vr„^V ndCr *• Ino PretensesTf love united several months loncer when, as ft mutter of fact thev Ann My divorce. * thCy Two years later Madeleine cnlN o son ncr former husband to ask Ms a.lvice relative to her remarry- ing. Do assures her there jj no (Continued on