Variety (December 1925)

Wednesday, December 2, 1W8 LEGITIMATE VARIETY 28 -«« most famou« of hla reper- •^ done perfectly. Interspersed *"v-o«n these wer» some cabinet a trunk IlluBlons, principally one ^^^oiine five women. '•tT-H Houdlnl. with hlB captlvat- ,-i and compeHlnsf stage personal- ^ his vast knowledge anaTYicom- «ar&l>le tecnnmuo, d..»v.^,« -.., w-. ?fw» of Its class without going in J';', huge or blinding production. Sh« sets were pretty and artistic, l»t not of the circus type, running in drops and drapes, mostly. This show 18 good enough to at- «<^nt Broadway, though Houdlnl is ^^ hplleved to have this In mind Si the present. In New York the .Dlrltuallsm could go further, as was the flrrt Intent of the venture. In any event. It is still a certainty that Houdlnl has all his gifts and faculties for mystifying and amus- :_- besides doing probably a great huinan work for decency and hon- Mty He has given new dignity to the too-often maligned trade of "magician" and has helped bring the profession to a new estate of aignity and standing. Lalt. The Fascinating Devil Chicago, Nov. 26. Melodrama In three acta, written, statred Md pres'ntfKl *t the Selwyn, Chlcar>. by Myron C- Ka»an. , , , Dickie Willi' Andrew Lawlor. Jr. Roberta (Bobble) Carr. ..Katherlne Revner Bobbin* •i^,'^"\,T°.''*'" Dr Fred Power Minor Watson Mi*. Jay Brighton Jane Gr.y Jay Brighton Bernard NeJell p/ Field Frederic Hurt KMinetb Montague Harry Bedding Florence Trawy Marjorle Wllllama Myron Fagan'a Ideas of playwrit- ing are aUviatlo. He Is a throw- back to the days of the Blaney melodrama, the blood-curdlers of the 10-20-30 era. Before the movies had exhausted all the possibilities of poison plots, "The Fascinating Devil" would have been a sensation. The audience is usually six speeches ahead of the actors in this hodge- podge of Jealous school boys and cold-blooded murderers. While Chicago has a definite audience for melodrama as proven by the consistent. It moderate, grosses at the Central, where they put on one mystery play after an- other, it Is doubtful If this one will havo much appeal upotted In the Selwyn. It is merely a filler pend- ing the arrival of "Dancing Moth- ers" late in December. A ballroom sheik is Jay Brighton, whose glib tongue has won the heart «f one of those young grand- mothers of the present day. He has a henchman in the house. While the sheik udmlnisters tslow poisons in his wife's medicine the hench- m.in'a task is to elope with the flapper grand-daughter, so th»t be- tween the two they will get both ends of a five-million dollar fortune. But villainy is checkmated by the sleuthing of a gruff old family doc- tor. And the doctor has an assist- ant who is the long-lost son of Grandma Brighton. So the son falls in love with his mother's nurse who is otherwise the deserted wife of the ballroom sheik. It is a high compliment to the cast that "The Fascinating Devil" Is not as antediluvian In the play- ing as it is in the telling. Ifal charm and "front" although not sympathetically cast. The story Is familiar. The seam- stress conjures up a romance be- tween herself and her mistress' son. The latter is unaware of it but to Eave her embarrassment he does "straight" when occasion demands with the result he actually becomes smitten. The score Is tuneful although the best numbers are interpolations credited to J. Fred Coots. Maurie Rubens and Pat Thayer who wrote the "Iload of Dreams," thnme song, and the sprightly "Mayflower, I Love You" which should step out as a stepping tune. The 20 girls are not particularly pulchrltudlnous and the octete of "gentlemen of the ensemble" look like typical Shubert chorus men. Thire isn't much to recommend "Mayflowers." Being a Shubert show In their own house—the now Forrp.st, a beautiful auditorium by the bye—It will probably be forced foi I while which may uUHlify Its final rating, but on its merits It doesn't merit prolonged attention from cash customers. Abet was so-eo at times and poor at others, never enilstln^ audience sympathy. Malcolm Duncan clicked In a smaller role. Before "Young Blood" opened here, the out-of-town report was that the piece did aotuethiug like $18,000 In Pittsburgh. That It will ever do any such buslnoss here is unlikely. If It ever reaily jjets into the money for a real run, then there will be many expressions of sur- prise. For It looks like a mild stay largely on the strength of the cast. Siak, PUYS ON BROADWAY YOUNG BLOOD Comi>dy-drama In three acta by Jamea Forbes. Directed by Mr. Forbes and pro- rtureil hy the Dramatlste' Theatre, Inc., at tho Hit*, New York, Not. 24. Settlnga by Clark Itubinson. Alan Dana Norman Trevor Alan Dana, Jr Eric Pressler Ixjulse Florence Eldridge Snmmy Hlsxell Monroe Owsley (!( ifsla Hlssell Helen Hayes William Kamea, Ph. D...Malcolm Duncan Rlmmona Cameron Clomena A LADY'S VIRTUE Drama In three acts by Rachel Crothera. Preaented by the Shuberla at the Uijou Nov. 23. Mary and Florence Naah starred, Hobert Warwick featured. Staxed by Mias i.'rothers. Mrs. L.uoaa Isabel Irving A. Maid Klorence Arlington Ually HalsteaJ Florence Nash Madame Slsjnn Mary Naah Walter I.ucaii Qei^rge Barbler Ralph I.ucaa lieorge Meeker Harry Halstead Robert Warwick KuKinlo Ouido Nadzo Tshataiioff Martin Berkeley Montie Joseph King THE DEACON Samael Wallach production of three-act comedy by John B. Hymer and L« Koy Clemens; staged by Priestly Morrison. tfpened Nov. 24 at the Sam H. Harris, New Tork. Brick McQoorty Leo Kennedy The Deacon Berton Churchill Tmy Clyde Veaux Jolia Adams Donald Foster Brakeman Sneb Howard Phyllis Hallidar Mayo Methot Mrs. Clark Franc^a Und.rwood Willie Clark Master Jerry Devino JiB Cunoingham Frank Monroe Ed King John P. Morrli^sey Mn. Gregory Vrl^lnla Howell Iioella Gregory Kaye Barnre "Slim" Sullivan Averell Harris "Bull" Muran AI Roberts Mrs. Pike Viola Morrison Fanny Pike .\r:ine Tucker Mrs. Clayton Hetty Tlut'.and Mrs. Hoynton .' Anna Bentley Mrs. Howgert Marie L,'irin(? Mrs. Maxwell Kva Randolph Deputy Ralph Morehouse "The Deacon" is a sanctimonious appearing man who lives by his wits and dexterous ability to shuffle the pasteboards of chance either at bridge or poker or whatever occa- sion arises. Back of The Deacons partiality to bharp card playing is a human appreciation of justice. The manner in which the lovable faker makes that possible endears him to the audience from the start. A sympathetic crook is sure-flre for the mob out front. Borton Churchill's personation of the benign pseudo-church dignitary enhances the basic appeal all the more with the likelihood The Deacon will preach to large flocks for some time to coma "Weeds" wa« the title of 'The Deacon" on the road, where it at- tracted good trade and notices. De- spite the raves out of town, the play "satisfying metropolitan fare. The action opens with a prolog. the Interior of a refrigerator car, eastward bound from Denver. Four tnights of the road and the run- away heroine dres.sed in boy'.s Clothes are Introdjced, the s.ene containing enough to remind of outside I.«oking In," where Hiythe •L>a y i8 similarly introduced In ma progress and if it survives the holi- day .season, will probably eke out a profltable run, although not a "smash" attraction. AhcU MAYFLOWERS Shul>ert production, etarrlng Joseph Sant- ley and Ivy lawyer, with Robert Woolsey featured. Musical In two acts, fouV scenea and pmiog, founded on Arthur Richman's play, ••Not So Long Ago.^' Hook and lyrics by Clifford Orey; mujilc by Edward Kun- neke; additional numbers by Frank S. Tours; interpolated songs hy J. Fred Coots, Maurie Rut>ens and Pat Thayer, Interpola- tions being the outstanding nuinbcrK. Staged by William J. Wilson and Joseph .Santley: dancca by Earl Lindsay. A Uypsy Wm. O'Neal His Daughter Jo«ephlne Duval Jane Nancy Carroll Alice Francetta Molloy Mary Virginia Lloyd Tom Geo. C. Lehraln Harry Jules Cross E:.sIo Dover Ivy Sawyer Sam Roblnaon Robert Woolsey Mr. Dover David HlgKlns .Mrs. Uullard Ethel Morrison lJr."!u!a dalle Beverly Miss Kaye Hazel Beamer Mlsd Watlilns Charlotte Ayre.s Maid Ll.la .Mao (Cicero Norman Sweetser Rosamond Ui!l Nydla d'Arnell Billy Ballard Joseph .Sanllcy Rupert Hancock William Valen'Ine Sylvia J"sci)hine Duval CHORUS Grace CanJee, Kayo Tortonl. Peachea Tor- (onl, Sybil Stokes, Madeline .Moiitclln, Mirlon Bymc.s. Marie Jensen, Charlotte Fitzgibbona, Margaret Byrnes, Christine l>kiunl, The, dora I.yoper, Betty Tascu. Sally Bronls, Ronnie Madison, Jean Du- val, Kathryn Browne, Thelma Horde, Elaine .sim.s, June Leslie, Anthony King. Harry Peilerson, Geo. C. Oeorkli'ir, d-o. Li'hrain, Jules Cross, Fred Burke, Will tiould, NIcIiolis Indiveri, Malcolm DullleKl. As an attempt for another "May- tinio," "Mayflowers" inibses the mark. With a good story, a good ca.st and tuneful music, the fault lies with the llijretto. ClllTord Grey is credited lor both book and lyrics, Mr. Grey having won wcU-earneil (l.stinctlon in tlie past as a lyrici."3t, this presuniahly his first attempt at a "book." Therein lies the .show's shortcomings. The comedy is shy, and although Ro'oert Wooi.sey is a willing worivcr his attempts at nifties floi)i)od. fi!"i'^*!i ^^•^^vever, there is not enough i Samples of the humor: "There are Included to worry either side. The discovery of tho girl's sex causes a frank fight for her pcs- sesslon with one of thorn dra^'Kln^.• ine girl by the arm for a despeiatc JUmp-oft. The prolog incidentally w embellished with stercopticon scenes to complete the lllualon of a moving train. ♦h action proper is confined to xne small town of Ilerlngton, where „ f,,°«niKn "Deacon" Ca.svvell docs a nttle fancy trimming of would-be tnmmer». in between, the !<>. e Btory between the girl and the ?r*"°,"-hobo is developed, .she boins lorced to steal away l.i the nii,'ht inrough hpr guardian'-s rnistroat- ment. The boy a,.so Is not a oom- 'non pardon variety of 'bo. On top ont ,' "^^^ Dea.on tattes a fall "ut of the .scheming capitalist of the ">wn who Is dui'iig the truKtin;; v',°^-"wner of the commoioial tinro i'"^ *'^<> facilitates tho cap- ry, ''" escaped murderer. In i» e* '" '^'"^'^ popular apitoal stuff f^h, :?'"' curtain to curtain, .Mr. «-nurchili in the title role confril.iit- anH "• "'» sjinctimonioua air how appfirent gullibility, which, tunl '*'I"' ''" "o^ af^'Ct his good for- fnr t * I" *•** cards, count heavily o»Ll''T^ returns. The support is oiherwi.,^ well balanced. ino l>aoon" should build with two people I hate; you're both of them." In an.swor to a line that someone is in bed with ni.ilaria thrniiKh being burnt with tropi(;al stin.s, Woolsey answers: "So wonder he has troiiical sons, being In IiimI with malaria." (This latf'r only at- tempt at spice). For tho rest the .show is too clean and old-fashioned. Someone Is l)ounil to hop on that (lisparaginR refi-renc© to cleanliness hut the fact remains that In niodi-rn musicals thry demand pep and spe'-d. ••Mayflowers" procei'ds altocrether too pacifically. The post-Civil War rosdiming in .■<hown throURliout. There Is no compromise ihroin.-h modernization as in ".\Iaytinie," for Instance when the last genera- tion was shown in mndfm sty!" and fashion. Santloy i.s a corkinir Juvenile and Miss Sawyer Is satisfnetury in her rolo although not actually cnnvlnc- ing as tlie iriKcntie. Woolsey Is not partitularlv funny. Of the minor jirinclpal-i. William O'N'oal with his s\nipathftIo tenorlnp of "Hoad of Dreams," the theme song, soore<X hugely. Individually. Oayle Bevor- 1. y's comicalities clicked, this girl Impressing as a "ronier." Xydia d'Arnell Impres.sed rhieflv on her personality. Miss d'Arnell nctu'iHv domin.itod fh» scones witli h«T Once more the question of the j'ounger generation has arisen in the theatre, and once more a dra- matist has undertaken to set be- fore the public two specimens of the younger element, to show off certain of their characteristics in such a fashion as to attract money box-ofTlcewards. James Forbes Is the dramatist in this case, but the author of "The Famous Mrs. Fair," "The Show Shop," and "The Chorus Lady" doesn't seem to have been so successful, for there is a serious Haw in his young hero—the hero is a sap. A brief outline of the plot shows that to be true. Given are Alan. Dana, Jr.. and his father, a big business man Whose time is too much taken up to pay much atten- tion to the .son. So the boy flunks out of college and comes home, where a maid tempts him Into get- tlncr drunk and then spending the night in her room. A few weeks later she comes to hlra with "bad news" and he says he'll mairy her. Biit his little sweetheart, Georgia BLiiaell, gets busy and questions the maid, putting her to utter rout and saving the day for father and son. Before the girl got to questioning, tho father offered the maid a check for J10,000, but the maid, still play- ing her game, tore it into pieces. In tho last act she Is seen search- ing the basket for the pieces. She Kots the pieces and hurriedly puts them together. She may have believed there was a chance of cashing a pasted to- gether $10,000 check, written by a Itromincnt man on an established bank. That the boy, not loving the maid, be'.lovcd her is certainly not the average boy wise in college life. Forbes's Idea of current slang Is also 'way off. The head Is always referred to as the "old bean" and simi'ar archaic bits of Americanese. His character drawings of the chil- dren are far from accurate, which al.so hurts. In short. It is all very theatrical. Althuufjh Us second act la effective, the business of making the boy dumb so that he can give what In- lii::i;f nre he should have possessed to tho Kirl was poor judgment. For fjinr/ria Hissell Is shown as a sharp- witlod and thoroughly lov.able youngster about 18, whose brain is (iiiick and whose persistency in g< tting tlie boy she wanted was admirable. The anting is better than the play. Hcl(:n Haycs, Norman Trevor and l''l(iroiiLe E!<lrldge give good per- ronn.inoos, but of them, Mls-a Kl- (Irifl^e stands out. That Miss Hayes didn't run away with the show is line partly to a now style of acting, a pianissimo method, which she has adopted. It had changed her so much by Friday night, she didn't o\on pot a recei)tion on hor first ontianco. Only once in a while do<s .Mi'-s II -yes lapse into that cliarm- imr (Tiilishness which has ben her poition for so long. Somehow there seems to bo a p.inic on among the actresses of today to get a Hamlet complex— to try and bo serious always and steor away from anything that sniac ks of iirdlii.'ity iife. The furef;(iin;j Is not to ho In- let iiretod to me.'in that her por- foimance was not good, for It was always lliat. In tho .^c^r^ond art and for a whilo In the third .Miss Hayos striielc great momr-nts. but all hor girlishneos Is lost, all that cunning coquetry which some of the funny critics eschew but which the pay- ing puljlic adores. .Mr. Trevor was his usual cxc<l- Unt self, while Mls.i Kldrldge han- dled tho maid's role with real skill Mary Nash and her sister Flor- ence together in Uachol Crothers' newest play, that has been given much thought by the authoress. It's sexy and holds interest all the way. It must be pleasant for the sisters to be co-starred together. Mary's flair for the emotional is given some chance in "A Lady's Virtue," but Florence, in order to team with Mary, accepted a rolo guile differonl from the saucy parts that won her a public. For two acts it almost seems that this play is nn Indictment of tho marriage institution, but at the fin- ish it seeks to prove that wedlock is the best and most stanch of hu- man relationships. Principally con- cerned is the Halstead family, resi- dent in a city not far from New York. Sally, the married daughter, feels like stepping out. In her trips to the big town she has mixed with a free-love set. . Though the mother of two children, married life has bo- come a bore. She welcomes Madame Sisson, a concert singer, and rather encourages an affair between that lady and her husband. There Is a showdown between Sally and her husband, Harry, in front of her shamed parents. He flies to New York with the amorous songbird, and a bit later Sally goes there to Join Montie, a chap whom she thinks she loves. But In his apartment she realizes there could he no man for her except Harry. Sally invades the apartment of Ma- dame Sisson, begging her to give up Harry, who had said Sally just could not give herself to another man. Tho artiste, realizing that this man and wife are really In love with each other, sends away the hus- band, although he Is her own Ideal lover. Florence has many of the lines, but few nre alined for comedy. The rather frank ideas on sex freedom are expressed through Sally's brother, a young college Instructor. The flrst act scene betvvoon Florence and Robert Warwick, the husband, was brightened with dialog almost too true to life. Sally believed her hubby played around with other women and demanded tho same rights. As different as the sisters Nash are in appearance, so la their act- ing. Mary, affecting a I'Yench dia- lect, gave a striking portrait of a temperamental woman taking her loves as she found them. That she made the sacrifice of giving up her lover may not be consistent with the (haractcr, but it afforded a dramatic curtain. She shakes with racking sobs as the man walks out the door and out of her life. Mary Nash Is colorful. Her characterizations are always of the positive kind, as Is true in this new play. The support is generally excellent from W'.arwick down. Tho son v.-aa made genuinely likable by Oeorg.^ Meeker; Ouldo Nadzo was corking as an excitable Italian pianist; George IJarbler contributed a real father rolo, and Joseph King was a regular fellow tis Mgnfle. "A Lady's Virtue" was not keenly accepted on the road, but Broadway flgures to support It (hrotigh a fair- ly good enrr-nromont. It is not t lo kind of a play Ihat evokes rounds of plaudits, but It Is worth while that makes drama look better than it is. Tl; before he appears to have an edge In his favor in 'Paid," a play that tried out recently lus "The Winner Loses." "Paid" has an electrical genius rising from «»ro to a position among - the great men of the world, through the invention of an incandescent bulb. Hut there is a secret worry, shared only by himself and hl.s clever wife. In the flrst act the inventor la at his bench. He is on the brink of success but in need of money. His appeal for funds are unavailing be- catise his invention depends on a secret filament. A quick change of scene pictures a llooiwallicr count- ing an approximate $5,0110 Ijia sav- ings which he refuses to bank. The scene shifts back to the rooms oi the genius. He has secured thi needed money. The ether man's wife had started for the bank to deposit the money, a thief had snatched her bag, and when the crowd pursued had thrown It Into a hallway. The inventor had picked it up and come homo. With mis- givings as to the moial riuhl to use the money, man and wiio decide It is the only solution to their prob- lem. The final scene in tho fir.st act la the coriter of a small cafe two years later. The genius has become a muitl-millionaire and, with hi.-- wlfe, has discovered tho n'..in whose lost money had .saved tlicui. The> h;id sworn to repay with a large bonus If tho inV'tition ranticd oai Tho man l.s a waiter in tho eafo nnH ■a bad one, worry over the Htoleii savings having preyed upon his mind. The inventor places him In a managerial berth at the electric plant and later gives him a block of stock. Believing his suocess to be the result of his own ability, the regenerated waiter develops into an unbearable egotist. The climax comes when he learns from an ex- convict, who found the stolon money. The exposure is highly dramatic but a relief to the mil- lionaire genius and at the flnale there is a more kindly understand- ing all around. Big flgurea are talked about in "Paid," and that somehow makes the item of the lost money appear unimportant. But the author seems to h.ive erred in a more important factor, that of building up distaste- ful characters too much. It is not easy to like the grubbing, sneering, slimy Individual who prates about himself and makes himself believe It was his money that made the electric genius a flnanclal wizard. That character almost becomes the lead. The port was well enough played by Edward Ellis, undeniably a clever actor. The Inventor wuh cast to Carl Anthony with moder- ately satisfactory results. <>all Kane, as his wife, afforded much satisfaction through creating u woman of strength and character. Uoger I'ryor was splendid as the manly son of the Inventor. Several old actors came through like thor- oughbreds, especially Herbert Saun- ders, as a butler, and Joseph Ken- nedy, as a flnancler. The last act furnishes the beat drama, and yet there la sometlilng missing In it. Thoro is doubt, how- ever. If "i'ald" can draw real monoy. It is drama that Is not highly excit- ing and not offset with enough laughter. Jhcc. PAID Drama in four a- <s l,y """^.''''ly'''^ J'VJ- ,Iuce,l St the H..OII.. .Nov. J... I.y .SHni M II ,,ri« I) r.'.ti"l hy 111'- atitli'T. , „ o^.m^ev .•.irl Anth.ny •"h^ , m" v'Jr ........."'"•""'1 »""•'<'" '■ ".„ ii-,v,r i.lara Burns Mrs* llelet. Ilax>r M^.rjn-le l..Iton Mr Clirkc (lordon Mullen Mr" nail;e!i Kaihle^-n Mullen |..,u'; Howard Ilii'I (lil'son .l.'.hn' liamspy, Jr B.'^.r I'ryor jt,,l„.r's Herli'Tt Saunders Airn^s JSTiTtpr.... i....... K»t»»«rliie VVll«on 'Ihe .Strancer Joseph M. lIoi;i'-Uy A Maid.'. flrare Durkin Mr. Cnriton Kdward F. .Naniiiry Mr. Itut|n.1-.r Jo:;eiih K<iin'dy .Mr I'atlersun Kntl Ad itns .Mr. Kranklin W. H. I'enderguat MASTER BUILDER Ibsen's three-act drama revived f.ir spe- cial matinees hy Kva Letiiilleno. Sl-iK^d by Miss LeUallleno. Selllnirs .leaigned hy O. K. Oalthrop. and palmed by P. Do'M Ackerman. I'mduced at the M^ixltie Elllntl .Nov. 10 to run on subsequent Tue.sday and K'riday matinees. Kiiut Bruvik Sydney Machet Ragnar Brovlk, hl» son. a driughtsmnn. J. Waneu Sierllng Kaia FostI V.ulh Wilton Sam Forrest has boon S^^m ll.'ir- ri.V stage director for nitiny years, In fact ho has hold that post with Cohan and Harris. In additi<jn to staging, I''orrest is a playwright. He knows the theatre well. be writes Interesting drama, arid he and power. .Mr. Drossier «• the boy'knows the art vt injecting lhc_ pace Last Sfvison Kva LeQalliene st.igod special m.ttlneos of llauptmann'f "The Assumption of Ilannelo." while In so.isoiis before that she has ap- peared often in vaiious ailis Ic en- terprises, all of which have stamped hor as being tho one youn« aotros^ of our Hl.ii^e who reeks to have part in tho revival of the more modern frjiri^n classics. This '•viv.il of Ib.son's "The Mas- ter liui.der" Is a croilitably done thing, played effectively by a cast headed by Miss LrfJ.V.Uene, Egon Hrecher and Alice John, the last n.'imod par Icularly effective as the wife of Solncss, the master builder, whoso fame was founclod on sand and whose besetting obsession was that a younger i;<-neration would take his laurels aw.ty. Miss I..«'''lal- llenc played Hilda W.angei with much emphasis, whi'di was com- bined with a quiet effectiveness. Done economically, it is nonothe* le.'is done adequately. Its second matinee at 'he Elliott drew fair monoy r»'"pfuise, »h»* win»l»»w- w^i* being p.'irticul.irly surprlsins:. True, the players ate probably giinildlns with Miss I.,of;a):.eno, as several of theiti were a;;sociafed with her ^n the recent production of ''I'lio Call of Life," i>ut on hy he Act<rs' The- atre. Po'-ause of this po-o[)<-ra ion it will probably he i)(,sr<ible to keep the play oii for iievcr.il weeks at special matinees. As a .--Mraiglit oommoreial proi)osition, however, II is pot to bo looked U))im with favof^ theatre guarantfes being what hejf are. ««**»• "