Variety (August 1922)

u LEGITIMATE »i\ I *'. i.in.i.iri..> .11;'1..I. I ■ . .ii. t E u:\..mu ' • ,''Ti- Friday, August 11, 1923 1 BROADWAY REVIEWS SHORE LEAVE **Bngt ' Smilh, U. S. N... JamrB Ronnie Cap'n Martin Rf'KinaNi Harlow Ji'red Itwynno Kchuyler I^iild JRtsir Admiral Bniith StHiiity J«-mhup flmlth, H petty oftlcer Samuel K Hinca "HHt" fmlth Tht.ma» E. JuiKson Ftri«t RhiIop John F. Hamilton i)e4 on<l Sailor H. l'«:rcy Wo«dl«y Third Senior..., Paul E. Wilnoi, Fourth Sailor Demard Sui"«man Fifth Sailor Jose Torres Fixth Sailor Jose Yovin Kc'veiith Sailor Kenneth Diven Bimby Nick Long Oonnie Martin Frances Starr iS.T9. Schuyler-Payne Kvelyn Carter (.'arrinRton Aunt IIC'P'O' Mrs. Jacques Martin OeorKle Demerest Audrey Hatnl Kvelyn (lanlner Ellen Kouthbrook Irene Ketty Alden Gladys * Marjorie llooth Ruth TtriB TA>rinR Edith Devah Worrell act, and of rourse that ended the pla^, at about 11.10, after Htarting around 8.30, with three long inter- missionR. Mi.sH Slaj-r played Connie as Connie would have been if Connie had been. Hor friends will like her, but the role may keep many a youthful family from settling on the New England coast. Mr. Kennie ran away with the playing, as playing goes in this play. He was closely followed by Reginald Barlow as the uncle, while Thomas E. Jackson caught the most laughs as a gob. Mrs. Jacques Mar- tin as the aunt was another natu- ralist. "Shore I.,eave" is an added cause for complaint against prohibition. 8imc. "Shore Leave" in manuscript must h<ive re.'id quite impossible. It plays much the same way on the stage of the Lyceum, where it oi)cned Tues- day night. But it may get over "betauHe it has the Belasco stamp and because it is called a conncdy. More often the story suggests farce, and even more often travesty, for its implausibility cannot be overlooked by the most credulous Belasco be- liever. Mr. Belasco selected thi.s piece by Hubert Osborne to star Frances Ftarr. If it gets over, his perception nhould be credited, for it's doubtful Jf another legit producer would have seen plossibilities in its tale of a kiss that brought three acts together with a lapse of two years after the first and between the second and third. The Innocence of Connie Martin (Miss Starr) on the stage has never found its counterpart other than in the burlesque and va\ideville skits of the "You-never-have-been- kjssed" type. There that old stuff was warned off the stage by audi- ences that refused longer to laugh at it. In "Shore Leave" the laughs have been bo well timed, though widely spaced, that it could easily be sus- pected Mr. Belasco himself did the timing. The dialog bringinb' the laughs is never brilliant nor punchy, ' but, like the play, just fol-de-rol. Connie was left an orphan, a cot- tage, a derelict freighter (by her ocean-going but deceased father), and a family heirloom in the focrm of a bestudded necklace, besides a penchant for a sweetheart. She re- sisted the latter, perhaps because, being the village dressmaker, an aunt and uncle kept her closely at home. But one evening Connie wandered to the commons of the town, over- looking the sea, that could be seen through the window of the cottage In the first and third acts. The second act was on the deck of the freighter. In the first act the evil happened. Connie confessed to auntie or uncle that while on the commons and seated on the bench a sailor boy In the uniform of our navy asked po- litely if he could seat himself be- side her. Connie, not to be outdone Jn politeness, answered he could. CJoing the limit for New England hospitality, Connie invited him to drop in at her home that evening. He did that, too. The sailor lad (James Rennie) was nice enough, strictly respectable, even when on shore leave, though Connie in her boiled dinner igno- rance left a terrible opening. But the Bailor lad with the naval uniform only kissed her in return for it. Then he left her. And that kiss! For two years after Connie remembered it as an engagement blessing. The sailor had said his ambition was to be captain of .a freighter. After he left her after he had kissed hear once, but saying he would come back—some day—Connie sold her family necklace for $5,000, salvaged her father's- boat, be<1ecked the deck of it with llowers, and went looking fof the man who liad forgotten to ask her her name. So she asked one evening every sailor Smith in port to attend a Stnlth party on the boat. Her sailor lad was named Smith—Bilge Smith. All the Smiths aboard with sailor suits were queried about Bilge. Bilge himself arrived Jaterr climbing up over the side as though just from a swim, but still with his naty uniform on. He saw her, but couldn't recall her. But Connie recalled herself to him. speaking of the biscuits he had had "that night." Connie felt hurt when ho neglected to remember "what he had done that evening." Bilge was cautious also in speaking of it, but finally that it was a kiss became re- vealed. Connie pressed her Inno- cence to the limit around this time. Bilge was about ready to marry her, probably to stop her talking, when he learned she owned the boat and had money. He said he wanted no woman to k« ep him, and after a film fist-fight with another sailor he again passed out of the picture once more for two y« ars. The third installment was back to the cottage, an<l hack to the cottage came Smith. He loved her, he .said, and since he had heard she resumed dres5^maklng, he wraild marry her. though he now had no money and had lost his Job with our navy. He nearly balked once more, but Connie led him for certain in the third WHISPERING WIRES Ann Cartwright.iv.i. Bertha Mann Walters Stanley Harrison Paynon (JeorKe l.ynt h DoriB Stockbridge Olive Tell Storkbrwiffe Urn Johnnon Jnmes Hennett William Webb Hurry McGili Paul Kelly l>rew (ieorge Howell Delaney M. Tello Webb Jacknon Willard Robertson Trouble Hunter Malcolm Duncan Jeanette Oaby Fleury An unusually intelligent and well- constructed mystery and suspense play, which, had it hit two or three seasons ago, would have been the sen.sation that "The Bat" proved. It resembles more "The Thirteenth Chair," but is far superior to it in artistic and technical elements. / The Shuberts pro<luced this diama, adapted by Kate McLaurin from a "Saturday Evening Post" story by Henry Leverage. The stag- ing by J. C. Huffman and John Har- wood matches the fine work contrib- uted by the author, the adapter and the presenters. The scenery is not credited, but whoever did it de- serves honorable notice. The cast is rather effective than attractive. Olive Te?h in a dramatic ingenue lead role that harps on two notes, was not especially happy in the part, choosing to be heavy and weepy; her clothes, also, were not quite becoming. She is apparently far more striking in character roles than in "straight" ones. Paul Kelly, one of the best dram.itic juveniles of the day, seemed bereft of all lighter shades as well. Between them they made the love interest more tragic than romantic. But Bertha Mann kept the story vibrant and tingling. As a secre- tary with a cloud of mystery as well as a huge pair of horn-rimmed glasses camouflaging her, she gave the story an unceasing swing and pov er. Miss Mann is an expert at her p.'ofession as well as an artist In her practice o' it. She doesn't make a false move, and her voice has a thousand keys. If there was "another pronounced personal triumph in the performance it was pilfered by Gaby Fleury in a delicious French maid fragment, the only comedy essayed. Ben Johnson was lumbersome and always on the bass pedal In his first- act role as the man who g?;ts mys- teriouftly murdered. He is shot in sight of the audience, but the source is so well concealed that it holds through two succeeding acts of ten- sion. No one can guess how it Is done, but everybody agrees It should have been done, for old man Stock- bridge, M seen at the Forty-ninth Street tneatre, is a merciless, heart- less, soulless be.ast. There is a lot of detective work— ojneaking. creeping, lights on and lights off, clue-chasing, telephone- maneuvering, and all that goes with the establishing and nursing of such a show. "Whispering Wires" is much more plausible than "The Bat" or "The Cat and the Canary," but not so amusing as the former or so creepy as the latter. It should draw patronage, how- ever, for It is a clean, punchy melo- drama that clutches without horrify- ing. As a leader-off for the new sea.«on it promises well and as an August augury it is optimistic. Lait. OH JOY If Lewis Rogers had brought the colored show "Oh Joy" into town earlier in the summer he would have secured a theatre for It along Broatl- way. But with the new season ready to ''go," Lew had to take a tent. Perhaps that was Harry (Hoc) Kelton's idea to stcart some- thing in the Van-Kelton "stadium" which is a tennis court at 67th street and Eighth avenue. Open air pic- tures were only so-so for the night pennies and he believed In taking a chance. Thus the proposition to throw up a big top, giving the .athletic place the Identifying name of Bamboo Isle and put the show on at moderate prices, looked like a good gamble. Kelt on botight the tent for $1,000, spent $2,000 in put- ting up a stage of sorts and wlicn he counted up other items found tht nut for a "house" standpoint was close to $8,000. The jaded bunch along the mai?. strip will fall for "Oh Joy" and "Bamboo Isle" may get others. Its just likely that the show will outplay tho outdoor sea- son, and if so there wan enough shown in the opening performance last Thursday (Aug. 3) to warra * it getting indoors tor a nin.^ (WHTfi it work out that way. Kelton ought to be "in" on the play, forUie took a risk greater than Rogers. "Oh Joy" is new only to Broad- way but It is probably not new to playing tents. The organization has been out for nine years and known as "The Smart Set." It has been around In some stands under other names, the most recent before the Joy label, being "Up and Down." At the Lafayette there was a **Smile" title too. It has played the colored hou.ses over a wide territory, but not in its present re-vamped form and in the South there is little doubt that the canvas top was more the regular thing than at the theatre. Though Rogers is a bit late riding into town on the sable wave that invaded Broadway following the record run of "Shuffle Along." But he had the right idea in buying the services of an expert director of dances and the chap he engaged is one of the best known in the field. The work of the "Oh Joy" showed his hand. The 16 gals (one a blonde) and eight boys worked so well under handicap that they count as one of the show's strongest features. They sent both acts off to spinning starts and counted In almost every num- ber in which they were concerned. Rogers has well costumed his show also. Actually "Oh Joy" Is a colored burlesque show and it has all the earmarks. There is more paper money passed around than In any American wheel troupe, or certainly as much. In addition to plan of the book another resemblance on the first night was the number of en- cores. There was not a song or dance that was not repeated at least once. The repeats were so frequent that the performance was marred. A suggestion of applause only was necessary to bring about encoring and many of the encores were prepared, so the burlesque idea w.'is all the more persistent. Any other night but -the premiere would have brought the ''bird" on the en- cores in some spots and the man- agement will have to cut down on them or the speed of the show will drop off. S. T. Whitney and J. Homer Tutt who wrote words and lyrics are the featured players, along with Amon Davis. From their work the trio has been with the show for some time. James J. Vaughn and Edgar Dowell wrote the score, with in- terpolated numbers by Eddie Kam- netz. Most of the numbers sounded new, there being but one popular song known outside of the show, of- fered all evening. Whitney came before the curtain to announce that a beautiful theatre would be made out of Bamboo Isle. He plunged over his head to declare it would be the most beautiful theatre of its kind anywhere (maybe in a tent). Then he made a grab for big words. He just couldn't help it, with that opportunity. So it was a comedy start. Margaret Sims a little chocolate lass, with very good looks was the first of the cast to score. She has a voice, can dance and In all her ap- pearancea was an engenue decora- tion. That she encored too many times with a junveile. Leroy Broom- field, was not her fault. She ran a bit to the same kind of title songs, the first being "Smile on Sue" and the later "Sally Sue." There was a plot thread called "Revenge" which had two grafters annex the role of one old boy Perkins. A chase on the latter for his money was effectively carried out by means of the lobster- spot. The bit was repeated, not without good cause however. • - A new blues singer was called in late In the person of Julia Moody, said to hail from Baltimore. She practically went on cold and ought to score strongly when set. "Da Pa Strain" in her handling was put over cleverly. The Moody girl showed class in all she did and it looks like a little working Is all she needs. The "Da Da" number figures as one of the best In the score. The chorus was In again with a hands over the body movement that the crowd did not tire of. The show has its colored imper- sonator, Julian Costello. He was on with an Oriental song and dance, "Valley of the Nile," that sure at- tracted attention. Julian's ".«inake dance" was very feminine, so was his attire and manner though his arms are the most muscular of any impersonator yet seen. The "boy" has sonle fins. Someone out front must have known him, calling out "Marjorie." Andrew Tribhle played a comedy dame all the way through. In a theatre scene he came through for several laughs with a Missis- sippi bit quite funny. Emmett Anthony, a sm.all-slzed tar baby, didn't get a chance until well down in the second act. Then with "My Dog." a song that fitted him like a glove, he went across for the individual hit of the show. The crowd couldn't get enough of the number. Anthony kept on giving the choruses over and over, but all were earned. He would exit each time, "With a funny strut that count- ed for laughs too. Whitney had his chance with "What's the Use," a lyric which he recited. That kept the very good melody down low. The music, how- ever, can stand on its own. J. An- thony Mores, a dignified darky with an appearance and trained tenor voice was the surprise of the show. He sa.i g 80 well In a cafe scene j^n»UJ^ classical number was ^n- K> a fare thee well. Mores was nohow ashamed about it either. He seemed to delight in re-' peating the final bars. The crowd probably didn't know he was sing- ing "Auf Wiedereehn." In the sec- ond act he sang "At the Old Stage Door,** it being bite of the old Will- iams and Walker ditties. Mores Is said to have been with the team. One of Ernest Hogan's numbers was also given. He has the voice and carriage of a platform vocalist. Tutt was the "Bon-Bon Buddy" of the troupe. He was best with "Male Vamps" near the finish, when eight of the choristers were dolled up in white satin irousers. silk mo- hair coats and novelty hats of straw and silk. They looked good then and in the "Brown Boys Go March- ing By," a movement number at the opening of the act, which called for the entire chorus. A dapper colored boy, Johnnie Nit followed all the dancing of the show proper and landed a hit With his hoofing just before the finale. Nit is a stepper of parts and a bear on endurance. He encored with a sand dance, well earning the honor and making the spot with ease. "Oh Joy" opened to $3 top, the biggest admission for a tent show, with the exception of the combined Ringlings and Barnum and Bailey Circus. The regular scale for the show Is $1.50 top, with most of the seats at $1. There are tables in the front for those who ask for them and desire refreshment during the show, with the price there also $1.50 a person. The <H)ening night saw very few colored perst.is out front and they were segregated to the side sections. The show Is close to "San Juan Hill," a colored set- tlement to the west and north of Columbus Circle, and It Is near the subway that taps the Harlem black section. The show, however, figures to get the white trade for the perform- ance is fast and is ahead of other coloijed attractions still tr\ing but only^. getting a moderate play on Broadway. The first night's show was two hours and 35 minutes long. With the superfluous encores out there is little other cutting neces- sary, and the show would be off inside two hours and 20 minutes. Last Thursday the curtain parted at 11.35. with the 2.10 finale seeing most of the crowd still there. The management plans two shows night- ly with no matinees and the first performance starting at 7.30. The seats are benches, partitioned for each person and Individual cushione —which are very necessary. Ihee. SmO SING ASKS CO-OPERATION (Continued from page 11) tainence of thl» dramatic ac- tivity among the prisoners is most Interesting to those throughout the country. The stage, which Is a portable one, was donated by Mr. Belasco several years ago. It contains not only an up-to-date lighting system, but in equipment finable to stage almost any production except those requiring elaborate mechanical effects. Since its gift the prisoners have not only been able to pro- duce their own plays, but the managers in New York have Invariably been most kind in donating performances of their best productions at all times. The world's premiere of "Miss Lulu Bett" took place on this stage, and such actors as Hol- brook Blinn, Alice Brady, Vera Gordon have appeared in their productions there, and have most enthusiastically received. For the coming season it Is the plan of those who have the management of the entertain- ment not only to bring to the men the best of the season's plays and concerts it Is possi- ble to do, but to present, from time to time, a bill of one-act plays of ethical value, as well as musical and dancing acts. It Is hoped that authors and producers of well-known plays will speak to the men at in- tervals through the winter, and it Is planned to start a class In dramatic literature and action from which the performers In the productions will be chosen. A splendid list of playlets has been compiled from which the various evenings' entertain- ment will be chosen, and it Is Interesting to note that this list Includes the work of such people as Lord Dunsany, Lady Gregory, Percival Wilde, Mer- ritt Wyatt, Pinero, and others of the very first rank among dram.atiKtP. These performances will, of fourse, be for the prison au- dience solely, but just before Christmas the big annual enter- tainment will take place, the several performances of which are open to the general public. and the receipts of which will considerably swell the fund of The Mutual Welfare League. It Is from this fund that the constructive work of the league is able to be done; work such as the maintainence of the Vq, cational School which teaches trades, the payment of the ex- tension courses from Columbia University, and the many other things that the league controls. Stags Equipment Meagre The stage equipment of this little theatre is meagre a« far as scenery is concerned, and while it Is the rule nqt to ask for donations of such things the men there would weieome any gifts of scenery and props that would enable the work to be better done and the visiting companies to more effectually put on their shows. The scenery from any little stage would be suitable, and the great need is a cyclorama of any color; this would permit of a satisfactory staging of almost any Interior The "flats" of this stage ari only eleven and a half feet high and the depth not more than twenty-five feet, but anything that admits of alteration would be welcome, as the men there are clever with their hands and are able to change and cut down what people might be generous to send them. The prison truck could call for anything In the line of sce- nery or props that would be given them, and the gift of such would earn the gratitude of the twelve humUred odd men eon- fined there. This would seem a splendid opportunity to do a good deed and give what per- haps one has had stored for years without the possibility of future use; things which with a little touching up wduld ^rove Invaluable to the men in Sing Sing's Little theatre. Any communication addressed to the Director of Entertain- ment Mutual Welfare League. Sing Sii-o', will be immediately answered and any further In- formation desired will be gladly given. f LEGIT ITEMS Tom Kane will handle the ad- vance for the special "Lightnin*'* company John Golden is organising for the important week-stand cities. Thomas Jefferson, Bessie Bacon and Ida St. Leon will head the cast and the tour will open with a three weeks' engagement at the New De«. troit opera house. Aug. 27. Kanf handled the Milton Nobles "Light* nin'" for the past two seasons and during the summer he has been In charge of try outs out of the Goldsi office. Nellie Hurley is now private sec* retary to Flo Ziegfeld, having fe^ cently resigned from Tams & C04 where she held an executive posi* tion. Miss Hurley was formerly with the Shuberts, secretary to C. A4 Bird when he was general manager for the firm. She is considered one of the most capeble business women in theatricals. Kitty Dix has re- tired as secretary to Ziegfeld. LITTLE THEATRES The promotion campaign In be* half of a little theatre, or repertory house for Kansas City has quieted down, although it is reported that those interested are still accepting subscriptions for stock in the pro- posed corporation, which Is to' finance the affair. The stock li offered at $100 a share. The plan is to Incorporate at $10,000. Those pledging to purchase tickets for the first ten days will be asked to buy stock, in addition to their seat sub- scriptions. Hyman Adler, star of 'Broken Branches" last season, has joined forces with Sam H. Grlsman, the- atrical producer. Grl.'^man hni linked up a chain of theatres in col- lege and university towns for ths presentation of little theatre pro- grams. , REMOVED AS GUARDIAN Cynthia Teal Paddleford. adoptea daughter of the late Ben Tfal, thli week went before the Superior Court and had her foster-mother, now the wife of George Paddleford. a millionaire, Mexican cjI ^'^*'''"!^ removed as her guardian and bo* came legally the ward of Charlotte Flather, a former actrcf*i«. Mr.«». Paddleford 1p now inca^ cerated at Budapest en '^^'•^'"^^!^ . larceny and fraud in eeveral E«* ^ ropean capital.s. It appears th** f^ is the wife of one NauKhton, wn jumped his bail when fi^^^^"! ,„\[ one of several men involved in •gambling swindle In n ^"•''^'*'"J^^ apartment on 55th street about 10 • months ago. She Is only 17. J —^— A I