Variety (December 1924)

4.l|iLliV>^H'.'i)i lU'^WWV »«WP"»»?P"W«WT' .^» iimwipi ■wiiP"«^^w«^w7i7^* '.'■ , "J' " 1'"^ «;h2£ii«; 1I«££^'miifS LEGITIMATE <^ VARIETY MEW PLAYS PRODUCED I OUTSIDE NEW YORK OTY THE HOLD-UP MAN 'Oaoedr !■ tbrM aeU, «t tk* A<M»hl. AiwCOk I^o'- *<^- *>r AiftoMu Pttou. aSirrliC JimmdIi Racmn, and wttli the tai- InrhW «Mt: lUrira fUhn. rrad TXMr- SrMC*. AlbMte CuiUn, Chkrlaa La Tana ~ JoMph AUtnton. •■a ▲ugOitiM Pitoa brlitca forwArd a new t«iM>r In this lateat of hla un- tffrUtkinss. who cUuMlfl»s »» a popular auccvasor to Flake <yHara an4 Chauncey Olcett. but la given a much different setting. That jnoMpb Regan is billed as an "American" rather than an "Iriah" tiaor and has for his vehicle a play ■g. far removed from Eria as Chl- «|Co Is from Dublin, ahowa that ^t. Pitou ia trying In "The Hold- 1$ Man" to overcome the criticism tiat O'Hara and Olcott received for asking too coae to the green. ,7hls play, while not of the type IMT^fltable for long among the Mphlsticates of Chicago or New Twk, is nevertheless built for cities ^•Xanaaa City, Sioux City. Mlchl- gka City, Jefferson City, and othera of their sise—and has everything in ttt favor to make money as a one- apht stand show. :.The piece la a combination of many Ideas, some of which bear the familiar stamp of "The Time, The Place and The Girl." "A Stubborn Cinderella'* and "The Bad Man." .It concerns a wealthy eastern (amily—father, two daughters and 'father's male secretary—who are flapped by a bold bandit In a lonely bitchelor's adobe hut in Arizona, U^ar the Mexican border. The teadit makes them act as his ■irvants for five days, during which hi sings his way Into the heart of the elder daughter. In the end he turns out ts be not the real bandit, but an opera singer, playing a prac- tical Joke for the sake of romance. Regan as the bandit, and Alberta 0M11>a> the elder daughter, who ae- eopipanles him, and also alngs, pro- Miis a musical treat. Marion Hahn •9 . tha younger daughter merits praise and shows promise of futiure ptttaimnents. Vba i^y Is quite obviously built ftround Regan's voice. From the •pplause which followed each ballad bwnbar the author, Robert Conrad, (Miald have Jselvded several more yiMea la the script for songs. Began Is comiparable ta any of tha better Irish tenors. His voice kas considerable power, true tone •ad mellow sweetness. His present iplace win effectively Introduce him •■ a new star among the American Isnors of Irish oligln. X<oop. r THE LOVE TEST ' Chicago, Dec. t. A rural comedr-drama In thrc* aeta Vf*- feattsd Nor. 80 at (ha Central theatre, Chl- fcea■D, by Carl A. Barrett with the fMlowlu •ait: Nancr Marvin, Laurette Allen, Hart tier Oolden, Jatnea P. Jndse ftha autkar), Iton Ralck, Robert Wayne. Esther Il»«- aaa, John BheniiO<)d Clublejr. WUII* Hall ap Ralph Ttniuaim. , ' ■ : ' ', ' ,^ " >.M- : Another BarNWAov.lu this local tetrepeneur'a «WB cosy' Uttla up irtalrs theatre oa Yaa Buren street fist off Michigan boulavard gives promise of repeating the modest but profitable paoe of . "Welcome Stranger," its predecessor. _^"The Love Test," from the stand- kjflnt of a very sophisticated person, la so bad that It would be a howN laf success as a revival of Old- tina rural comedy, if not nelo- 4tta,ma, of the "Way Down Baat," IBhoreacres", and "East liynns" liphool of playwriting. ;The story of "The Ix)ve Test" baa »n itiia t4 many times la a* ^aaay lerent ways that one suspects P. Judge, Ita author, gad chief tor at the Central, mulled over ^ys of IS years ago and borrowed i little bit from each for his "brain lid." Of course. It contains two Iprtgages. a. skinflint villain In the rson of the village banker, his no-account son, the little gray- Jialred widow and the beautiful pure young girl, who are the victims of the villain. Also the mysterious atranger from the city and the prin- ciples of the secondary love plot, -an amiable ex-convlct and bank robber,' whcj^fcourse, helps save the day, and acTiBftMl^irt. stranded are giving several hundred people •very night the kind of entertain- ment they want, and what more could any set of actors or any play do? Jjoop. MY BOY FRIEND Boston, t>ec. f. Although Ita premier waa a bit premature. "My Boy Frined" had a hilarious opening last night at the Shubert, with Kl Breadel practically single handed in the matter of com- edy. Originally titled "Gus the Bus" because based on Jack Lalt's char- acter cartoon stories, the name was changed to "My Boy Friend" through the lack of eastern appeal to the character created some ten years ago by Lalt In Chicago. Billed as a new type of musical comedy. It shapes up like a valuable bit of property for the Shuberts. It is riotously funny throughout, con- taining several whlstly but reminis- cent numbers by Con Coarad. but being still spotty and broken as re- gards structural plot. With 14 scenes, it made a tough night for the flymen and the grips, and. for the shape the show is in, last night's opening was a pleasant surprise to Frank Smlthson and Max Scheck, who staged the production and the dancing, respectively. I^ attempt, apparently, was made to approach the revue or the gor- geous type of production, the aim seeming to be toward real hauslcal comedy in Cohaaeaaue vein, with broken continuity and lo let-up In action. Brendel and Bert, who are the only featured principals, are practically carrying the production, although the Three Faa^uales, as an acrobatic team, actually stopped the show. The production is oVercaat, if any- thing. Lfisale B. Raymond, who had been given conaiderable publicity on her return to the stage, seems to be miscast or, at least, not to have found herself. Breudel's scene with the cake of real Ice and the hotel icebox with the door that won't atay open shapes up like a coanedy classic, and another scene, where he plays with Alex Morrison, the champion golfer, will alao develop Into a wow laugh bit. By the end ot the week the show should be right. Libbey. i?e^ i. NEW PUYS PRESENTED WITHIN WEEK ON BlAY TUir QTIirtFNT PRINPF finally moves him to return to (In Heidelberfl) Kafter being coacbed by Princess Shnbert i>rodacti«n of operetja __tn_ four Margaret) is making ready to acta ant a prolot, aUaed hy J. C. Huffman. Book and Irrloa br Dorotkr Donnelly: aoore by SIscBund Rombars- Dancea atased by Max Scheck: aeUtefa br Wataon Barrett. Op«ned DrcembM* 2 at Jolaon'li Wth Straet, New York. ...Frank Kneeland ...Wllliaoi Nettam ...liawranoe Walla ...Harry Anaeieoa mller Malliah .Oraak Bvana lat Lacker. < tad Looker. «rd Lacker- 4th Lacker. Van Mark.. Dr. Basel.. Prince Karl Rudar Ortahan RBl.. tlet. Frsns, Yon Aatarberg. MtOlMM Kathle Lata ...>....iir*H. wwu ......<Tlolet Carlaen Adolph Link ...Raxnomd Martowe ,.rder«rlo WoUX ....^'..Patil Kleeaaaa ..avad WlkHMi . Oeorg* Ifn aill „ CtacMa WlUlama OfBsd Dacheaa Aeiatsala Weeaaca Motriwm Prtaoen Marsarat SobarU Beattr captain Tanita Jolui Coast Oaoataaa ' Baton Ai Preaier dancer - „. nodoiph Winter Luclue Met* rreabman BImer Piohler QapUla ot the Ooard C. Sparin m Taraita joiui uwk •aa LejKlea Daour OidLland Arsbalai /^JButbnt OaUar er dancer Martha Maaoa The Shuberta* Introduction of "The Student Prince" at the Jol- son la apectacular and triumphant in every sense of these words, which are prominent In the program and front-of-the-house billing. It's a musical smash, colorful, gorgeous and beautiful The ensemble effects of the large chorus of mixed voices are the most impressive punch of the per- formance. Not that nae Marvenga, the diminutive soprano with the big voice, or the sympathetic Howard Marsh and the others are BOt Indi vldual hlgfaUithtsltn tfaelr own fieida But thero is a Ictck" to the choral woric, as ia tho driakinc song, that pttchea the enthualMn to a thrllUng point. For a costumed aperetta, "The Student Prince" has If all over "Ma- dam* Pompadonr" la antertatnment. The coetnminff. if aotBM>re gorgeous or 'expensive,'^If ,injo?e colorful and Impressive, ||iar ihema story more wholesoase, tb« divertissement more fetching, the singing more superior, the comedy ditto. Possibly the only diffecsnce Is the Romberg and Leo Vallacores. There Is beauty to both, although the Viennese strains In ^U'^ music possess a substance and charm whlQh Romberg does not quite attain. The Romberg music In popularly pleasing. Its simplicity and appeal- ing lilt will do much to attract at- tention. "Golden Days," "Deep In My Heart," the "Serenade" and "Just We Two" are several of the outstanding numbers. The familiar Heidelberg story has been Interestingly metamor- phosed into a libretto by Dorothy Donnelly. • The prolog shows the young Prince Karl Franz (Mr. Marsh) preparing for matriculation at Heidelberg. The first act, set in _ the Garden of the Inn of the Golden Ip tho town, who is amSTtier TO>Wn-f;^ppj^ jjt the university town, in- imond. But the audience was '" "— '" —-•- -^.. ially interesting. They guff.awed Bdly at each time-worn laugh line became lugubriously sad dur- the "heavy" heart-throb Bches. The only line left out was famous city siIclser-little Nell 3 Seriously, the aotin;? l.i earnest •Id the actors not without promise df better things. Among them Willis H.all as the villainous banker #0od out as being experienced and ■tillful. His work was so far above niat of the others as to heighten the amateurish atmosphere, but that troduces" nir-ttlirty-six male elu Aents. llse Marvehft? as Kathle, the nt^tf^ the innkeep«r,_ls oppo- site Wr the young prince in U?e love Interest. Marsh Impresses ihw^^he role of a scion ot royalty who w^ comes the freedom from com-t con* flnement which he finds at the uni-' versity. When the physical condi.« tton of the king compels liis return^ (to the royal palace, the dramatic values register in their fullest. Two years later (the third act) finds the young ruler fighting for time In his Itetrothal of state to Prlnc«s« Margaret. His longing V* 9«UUoc,acaiqst.tiia »th«rs. Thex for M>« ¥»ffai«. 9( Uia batt^^arOaa. 3^ marry her cousm instead. The prince turns t<o his chosen be- trothed aa the only alternative, al- though the prlncesa ^xpreases an envv for the girl who could rule Karl Franc's heart where she couldn't. That third get, the only one designed and execulbd by Weldy of i|Mrard ManA^arls, , tops everything for gor- " " '~ geottsness and plctwesque artistry. Possibly exaggerated but theatri- cally effectiva are the movements of the oharaotera ia their gatidy .... „.__„ epsMunes of state aa they execute .'.JUa Marrensa4.the waits ensembles and gavottes. The casting ia excellent .aad at the same time extri^mely frugal. George Hassell as the prince's per- sonal valet oxafta coasidorable comedy through exaggaratod snob- bish affectations. Marsh is a manly tenor in the title role. He is human and natural la the drinking scenes. Greek Kvans as the stu- dent prince's tutbr and mentw gave his barytone fine play in "Golden Days." Use Marvenga as Kathle scored a personal triumph with her vocal efforts. Violet Carlson, Ray- mond Marlowe, Frederlo Wolff, Paul Kleeman, Roberta Beatty and John Coast also Impressed. The close harmony always idan- tlfled with "Alt Heidelberg:''. is. ot course, the outstanding feature of the score. It Is given full play. Al- though the show raa from 8.20 'to ll.tB it could b* whipped Into the necessary time limits If the en- Corea were omitted. However, the demand seemed to warrsmt the ohorus repeats, . particularly the large ensemble numbers such as the drinking song and others. *;Xhe Student Prince" la a good shosr and good entertainment that should command mass attention sufllclent to warrant a. healthy run. Compared to the 9S.S0 scale for "Pompadour." tb* Heidelberg oper- etta la a bargala at t4.40. Ab«t She plants discontent with the wife, and the young wife decides to test her husband. By framing him for a rendezvous la another home, she disguises her- self as a Turkish princess, and there meets him at • p. m. When he awakes (In the hotel to which he has taken her) at t a. m.—and what must have happened If the Vajda-Hopwood dialogue can be trusted!!—she has fled. Ho goes home to explain to his wife he was out acting as second for a friend in an early morning duel. The wife trap* blm. noakes htm confess, and then cuts loose with some more filth, for she tells him that If he can be such a pas- sionate lover to remember that charity begins at home. He, of course, declares that he knew her all the time, just as the wife did in "The Guardsman," when hef hus- band revealed himself aa the Rus- sian soldier with wtaom she had been having an affair. Lenore Ulric has the wife role, and In the second act wears a harem aostume, which reveals much. Added jlO. this is the Ulric appearance of YoVuptuousnesa, intensifled by con- tinuous breoat and tummy heaving. In the first act Miss Ulric has little to do, but In the succeeding scenes she does truly splendid work, and although it Is wivk wasted, it still proves that Miss Ulric is a great Uttle. actress, not only from a box office,' but from an audience angle. In the first and last acts here she wears a large blonde wig, which looks well enough, and her method of speaking Is strangely like that of "Klki," when words gushed forth In uneniding torrents. # William Courtenay Is the color- less husband, but Lennox Pawle as a friend of the family and as a gent who would like t* liave cornered the princess for himself la corking. Virginia Hammond as the discon- tentment planter ts okay, but not dlatlngulshed, but Robert Fischer as the Turkish prince la very fine. Marjorle Vonnegut in a maid role hasn't much to do, but does that well. Two sets are used, both excel- lent. The first Is a simple home In- terior, and the second a silken bou- dohr. The lighting Is fine, but be- cause of the artinclalty ot the play, none of the actora save Miss Ulric and Mr. Pawle. really achieve any- thing approaching naturalness. "The Harem^' la ' h»" for New Tork. It has started off like a house aQre with the demand heavy. out of town this shos^dld 824,640 in Washington, then went to At- lantic City, and against very bad weather (snow and rala» drew over |14,0OO on the week. But the mir- acle of all was in Baltimore, where it picked up $21,085 during Thanks- giving w*«k. Any show that can get sugar like that In Kid Ceciilus Calvert's home town is the box of- flea borriee. and that adequately de- aoribe* "The Harem." But even If It Is, there are many Belasco adherents who will be of- fended. Some were In his audience Friday night and audibly expressed themselves. entirel}' without such kaowledge. L One of the crooka posing as a postal inspector engages the girl to wheedle the secret from the other bad boy. In the cross word prob- lem the authors have worked out. the dead man gave part of the solu- tion to one pal and'part to the other. The combination of the two Is necesMtry but with the two crooka distrusting each other the situation becomes involved. It Is decided to trap the amateur detective In the "haunted" house wherein the bonds are hidden. The kid has part of the secret, having filched the paper from the better of the two thieves, whom the other had attempted to bump off. The- bad men^recover the bonds but tho house is surrounded by post offlc* bulls and everything comes out even. Tlie second and third acts both, stand up nioely. the opening see- , slon being merely preliminary. The humor comes through the small ' towti chatter of Green, he of the: i correspondence school. IVhen a . cubby hole is opened aa the result _ ^ of part of the disclosure of the.'. loot's hiding place, a cat Jumpa out., i I and that nearly gives the kid hWtf^ full growth. Gregory Kelly as the boy detec- •' tlve is the show's best bet. Anyon* ' in the spirit of "Badges" will enjoy;' his playing. Lotus Robb as the girl Is entirely adequate though her role Is not one which affords much show' . of spirit. It's more or less of a'. ' subdued role for her. Felix Krembs' ' Is excellent as a double crossiitv • crook, with Louis Bennison equally ' capable la the role of roblxy with a • tendency to respect honor among theives. "Badges" ia at IS.SO top which ' seems a high scale for an atti^ctloa without a star. The 49th Street ia of moderate size but another book- ing has been made for it starting ^ about Jan. 15, The new play win ^ therefore be moved to another b^rth If It remains beyond that date. Its comedy Is mldly pleasant without being crackling; Its drama Is Inter- estihg without being punchy. No particular vogue fur it Is logical. Ihee. ' THE HAREM Tliree-act comedr br Braat Tajda. adapted far the American ataara by Avery Hopwood. Produced by Darld Belaaoa at the Belaaeo. Dae. 1, with Leaora Ulrle atarred. Roland ValettI William Conrtenay Carta L,enore Ulric Manon Vtrsinia Hammond Petri Lennox Pawle Prince Hllmt Robert riaotaar JacI Marjorle Vonnesut Lulu Arthur Bowyer In "The Harem" David Belasco has a "dirt show" which will make barrels of money, which will remain for a long run at his namesake house, hut which will be forgotten a year after it finally expires (which should be a long time). "The Harem" is a play of vicious intent, a play wnlch, despite Its clever writing and workmanlike construction-, la nothing more or less than an exctise to be dirty, an ex- euse to thumb the nose at art and caress the f}Ox office. , The plot arrived In New York about three months ago—and 11 years ago. 'for "The Guardsman" has the same basic theme, that of married deception by means of dis- guise, and "The Guardsman" was first produced here 11 years ago at tho Lyceum under another name, "Ignorance is Bliss." Here a young wife trusts her hus- l»band. He trusts her. Into the Vliome rom«>s another woman, a tt^wn-up gal, who knows the differ- j^% b*tw*«4 Ojr aud.aanA jMnv. ;* eiik. BADGES Oemedr-draraa In three acU by Max Mar- alB *n4 Bdward Hammond produced »t tlie atuTlRreet two » by Jalaa Hurtle; «'- raetad br Bdsu McOresor. uSi* Siaon Eleanor Wo*lruff wPmm Holt a^^K^y Bd. Olllaeple '•"* Kr*mba SLuSlMo^n ^JSn^STiTey S?BviM ' " J^'''* Aait. Houae Detective. M. Tello Webb Cnief Peaui InaMCtof Stephen Wrlsht Officer Dn«an..7r 1 :;'"*'" ^^^,'J'l Smith Al'f'l '■ '*'«»" •Badges" Is rightly described as comedy-drama, with a strain of mystery throughout. Its coniedy is rather cleverly strained, which made the mystery element dominant and Interest was maintained throa«hout. It's the second piece for Max Marcin, whose 'Silence is aftiong Broadway's cturent best things. Marcin collaborated with EVlward Hammond in the writing of "Badges," a play which may build to profitable proportions, though It is not to be rated among the leadera The second night was excellent, while the third was only fair down- stairs. Heavy rainfall may have hurt. The balcony looked well populated. The new play Is a tale of "cheat- ing cheaters" with the comedy relief in the guise of a correspondence school detective—a seml-wlse, hlck- ish youth smart enough to come In on the reward for the capture of postal dispatch thleveswlio grabbed $2,000,000 in bonds. That feature and the secretion of the loot sort of resembles the notorious Round- out, III., train holdup, the per- petrators of which were recently convicted. Franklyn Green, .aspirant to the privilege of wearing a real detec- tive's b.idga,0tumbles in on Miriam Holt, recently out of a girls' college because funds were suddenly denied her upon the death of her father. It appears the pater had turned thief to give his daughter things she should have. The old boy waa one of three men who stuck up a post pftlce. only shortly thereafter to be murdered by ontf of hla pals. The postal authorities believing she held the secret of the bonds which the dead nutn hid la a western .tAauw.aaiUk .uodArgUad obc umL i4 Man in Eveninc Clothes Comedy br Andre Pleerd and Tv«« Mhraade, traaaUt« by Rath ChatSWat. with Henrv Miller uaned. P radeaad ba Henry Mi'ler br arrannaieat with David Bataaco and C. R, Cot^ran at Ika Kentr MIHar. New Tork, Dae. S. SetUnsa k» WlUlam B. Caatle. OoMe Da Laaaansa Heorr Miller Loali BInwr Browm Ntmette Marjaria Waaa. D'AUouvlUa BaglBaM Maaoa (Br eoortasr af David Ba!a*eo> BulTetautc i...^..Orsat Stewart' Arlatade... Habbatd KIrkpatHck Oermalne De LssMUisa ■. .Carlotta Monterer Helene Ann Wtnaam Ilaltre O'Uotal WtUlam Laraasa Caahler Noma Havey ' Orebeatra Leader Hubbard Klrk*atrioh Marsot ; Valerie Jon** , Blanche Irisa KemeUa A t,adr Aldan Uay A Lady Patten Bathrra Marrdltti A Man Patroa i lasMk BInsham rtrat Walter Lonia LaBer | Kecond WalteTv.y Clemaat O'l.oush1e* , A flenlleman..'. P. L. Car»ent<-r : A Man Diner Lark taylor , Coat airl Irena rteemsn ■ A Ladx Oueat Jean Lamoat'' M!le. Totoche Batty Al.l.'n MoniardUi ^ L'Batraasa MIUnMa Oullda ..^ Laaoard Budle ftoyer I^oni* Morr<<<i Oaby Cordler Harjorto Date .«> , neoreUrr ....LSf* Tavior : Berkeeper Loeia LaHry i Treaaurar „...,.Katbartr.e Mere>!Uh . Had this Piece sttttalaed the pice and splclnesa of Its first 10 mtnutet It might have stood a chance. The sexy stuff could probably have done the trick In prolonging longevity !■» this current era when spicy farces seem to be the proper spice tor, theatrOgoers. Instead it digtassea- Into heavy comedy, feebly slmu-; latlng farce in spots, but never once striking that rollicking tempo. Whether the original authors are^.- responsible for the retarded dialoK>V and uneven situations save for »~> fairly diverting secobd act, or; r whether nMst of its •ffectlvenesii';' was lost In transit Of translation la;, a matter of conjecture. As It stands It Is just comedy, not over-scintll- latlng with either lines or situa-,^ tionr enlisting a competent cast.;' but doubtful If even they can carry^ It l>eyor\d moderate favor. 1' The locale Is Paris and the sfory^ revolves around Conte de Lussange/ (Henry Miller), who has separated from his wife and squandered .V,l fortune In the night clubs of ParlH. ■^. also upon divers mistresses. He j^ is at the end of his rope when tiie. f^^ play begins, with creditors atta-Jh-,* ing everything save his eventng clothes. True to form, he has spent his - final night with a filng at the Am- bassadeurs and has brought hi>m^ one of the coquettes. This planted' . ' early provides the dash of spice with the girl taking a shower (off-i , stage, but nevertheless realistic) ' and emerging with a request that Conte give her a rub-down. Conte's man obliges so that the master may sleep. The girl is given Conte's last 100-franc note and sent on her way. Topping it all comes a visit from his wife to inform hlni that she has :, met someone who cares for bar and. submits a proposition to give her a div<irce. Conte adroitly conceals financial embarrassment and sub- sequent removal of his effects hv the sheriff's men by explaining ho tAau>\atig.gfi4i«..CMUttJwA.«uuxii ; i*. - ^.. _. »a