Variety (December 1925)

Mlbl.H.JIMUHIJllJMIVi^i.'UJI'ftl^J.VJrHirr''' ."■-^■"^ »9i7*-;c': •^■9iramir'\^\ nrf^c -'"-r a" vz^i»^-. 14 VARIETY Wednesday, December 30, 1925. LADIES OF THE ENSEMBLE (. f I- I lA m "Vagabond King" Chorus The chorua of "The Vagabond Xing," the musical play with num- bers staged by Julian Alfred had very little to do beside parade in their elaborate costumes. The voices of the chorus blend unusually well. As a whole the Klrls are quite pretty but no more than in the average musical play. A few of the coirTures •re Inappropriate considertnar the time around which the play is writ- ten. The chorus singing numbers were staged well and finished with • punch; numerous times finishing •n the stage which aroused sym- pathy for the chorines as they scrambled for exits. The "Song of ifie Vagabonds" and •A Flagon of Wine" are most im- pressive and prave the chorua the b<»8t opportunity for vocal dl.splay. Set In the Louis XI period, one doesn't expect dancing to predomi- nate. Maxlne Marshall of "Cocoanuts" has a new string of pearls. Vtrglnln McCune, same company, hkt> a Bylphli!;e form now. She has lost 15 pounds. Rose Lois Stone was trying to .ell • n l!:ngllshman she had dropped one of her names. Knowing he failed to understand, she explained. "I've dropped the Rose and not the Etone," whereupon the said English- man replied, "Shall I pick It up for jrou, old deah." Lillian Thomas was such a little girl when she Joined "Vanities" last year, but how she's grown. She was a "pony." and now she's a show girl. Elva Pamfret has Joined "Sunny." She Is Just 18, and from Washing- ton Heights. Beatrice Wood, understudy, had a chance to go on in the feminine lead of "The Student Prince" in the Chi- cago company and did very welL Rose Wenzel has a new Pekingese named Pango. Eva Marie Gray Is t&kln« vocal lessons. Margaret Callan Is with tbe new "Vanities." Victoria White has joined "Merry Merry." Flossie Cryon is at the Caravan Club after leaving "Louie 14th." Gay Nell ("Merry Merry") has been teaching dancing lately. Polly echaffer. with brown hair; Molly Morey, blond; Ruth Conley, a red- kead. and Vivian Marlowe, a brunot. of "Merry Merry," have orgnnizcd their own club called "The Merry Four." Polly and Molly can be heard every Tuesday night on sta- tion WHN. so une In all Te with the New Year splr.:. Vivian and Ruth are understudying the two ■leads In the show. They have lunch- eon together at Itast once a wceU. It seems ll'<e all four are one and one four all. Mildred Kelly, "Cocoanuts," is doubling at the Caravan. Harriet M.irned has left the Caravan and Sone to Philadelphia until after New Tear's. Rose Wenzel has had many offers to pose for artists since demon- strating L. M. Bull's "Antics of Arabella" In the N. Y. "Graphic." Rubye Stevens Is giving a New Tear's party for all the girls of the Cverglades Club. Marlon Dale Is giving away a lot of things for Christmas, but she won't give her age away. And her birthday Is this we-'- INTERN'T'L SHOW BIZ (Continued from pa<e B) to vaudeville of the world—prob- ably realized too late, as usual. There never has been *n domestic or International show business the peer of H. B. Marinelll ■ a thea- trical agent. As an International agent, he never has been even ap- proached, before or after his death, yet with all of that and with the greatest agenting system ever built up, H. B. Marinelll worried himself Into his grave at an early age. That for that and there Is more. The deterioration of big time vaudeville In America has been marked the past year, and also rapid. Abroad the artists of the several countries have their eomplainta many soundly founded. Although It is unlikely that in Germany for in- stance they will receive much al- leviation, since It has been proven in variety theatres like the Sea la and Wlntergarten, Berlin, that the mixed bills, with the major portion of the acts Imported, have mode steady profit for those houses. In America the sweep of the pic- ture house is a tidal wave Jeluge. AMONG THE WOMEN By THE SKIRT 8ome Pat for Eric Dressier Step forward, Eric Dressier, and get In line with Gregory Kelly and Q!enn Hunter. That's where you belong, after your performance In "Young Blood." Youn^ Dressrer is a revelation as a college boy who flunked out ind got iressed up at home. Helen Hayes Is adorable as a young pal. She has clever lines, especially when explaining what Is expected of n wife. Norman Trevor as a millionaire father looked, and, of courA, acted It. Mr. Trevor couldn't do wrong In any role. In dressing. Miss Hays is a young girl living In the suburbs, wearing the simple sport clothes of the day. "Young Elood." If It survives Christmas, should pick up considerably, f^r here is a play ^ill fathers with sons and sons of fathers should see and will. If It Is properly campaigned. Ths Beautiful Jans Cowl A more glorious picture has never been seen on the New York stage than Jane Cowl, as she appears at the head of the stairs In the third act of her play, "Easy Virtue," at the Empire. In a Frances gown of silver lace made on long lines with tiny reflectors used as trimming with a narrow panel forming a train and long ends hanging from the shoulders lined with green, MIsi Cowl is indeed beautiful. Emeralds were in the ears and around the throat while InnumeraUe bracelets adorned the wrists. Slippers and fan were green. In the first act Miss Cowl was In a plain grey frock made plain with buttons as a trimmlnif. A coat of green had a sliver thread running through it. in the second act the star wore a white crepe with a flare flounce of heavy lac?. Noel Coward has provided Miss Cowl with a p'ay that should keep her on Broadway for a long time. How well Mr. Coward knows hi.s England! Country life over there la perfectly reproduced on the Empire's stage. With very few exceptions English women are atrocious dressers and never has it been so emphasized as in "K&By Virtue." Mabel Terry Lewis and Marda Vanae, as mother and daughter revel in sweaters. In evening clothes they are far worse. ip DRESSY SDE By SALUE What Steel Can Do A daring rescue, thrills, comedy and melodrama in "Steel Preferred,* but the tangles are all smoothed out in the pretty love tale that adds much to the picture. In Vera Reynolds' atmospheric home she Is in a luxurious white dinner gown oddly cut and designed. One side Is very short and the other trail, mg the carpet. A portler effect In crystal beads dangles from neck to floor, while a cluster of roses Is used for dressing the left shoulder. Her mother, the highbrow of the family, Is tn a beautiful white cut round neck embroidered with crystals with flowing chiffon wings. A sumptuous table service is dl8p:ayed as well as the furnishinga, which only the profit of steel could furnish. -^ The Xmas Picture A« a Christmas gift the "New Policy" radiated a holiday spirit at ths Rivoll, and what care they for old Dan Webster as long as the "Publix" get a real thrill. "A Kiss for Cinderella," with Betty Bronson as the dream child, gave it. She enlarged, if possible, on Barrle's delightful fairy tale. At the ball given in the mind of a child whose Fairy God> mother was played by the lovely Elsther Ralston in white flowing clinging crepe with a coronet headdress partially concealing her mass of blonds locks and a wand that responded to her every mood. Tbe little slavey. Betty, with appealing eyes and nice profile. Is dressed in maid's outfit tn the early scenes, but with a stroke of the wand she changed Into a Princess in white wrap with much white fox collars, cuffs and bottom. A white silvered frock and her hair in curls with a Jeweled coronet and an old-time coach driven by reindeers take her into' the land of the make-believe ballroom. Velvet Season This Is the season of velvets in the dressing of musical shows as well as many plays. "The Vagabond King" is smoothly gowned In varylns shades of salome velvet with many greens, reds and golds brought Into play. There is a stirring climax of the third act gorgeously put on. Ten girls dance In two-tone green chiffons, lead by a premiere In leopard skin and fleshings. The stage sets are attractive, as well as the voices. Caroline Thomson sings her prettiest. Too Much of Too Much Another crook picture, this time 'Seven Sinners,** with Marie Prevost breaking into a millionaire's home wearing a tar.or-made pain suit with small hat, changing immediately into a maid's outfit, and finally lands a Job as the rich man's secretary. The picture Is fairly entertaining. It's a question whether crooks' in- fluence on the movie fans leaves the flavor Intended by the scenario writer. Too much of any one style picture in a season tends to cheapen and puts it in a class with the 5-10 chain. CLEVER MANIPULATION Sarg's Msrionsttcs PIsy 'H'reasure Island" "Treasure Island" was presented by Tony Sarg's Marionettes at the Charles Hopkins theatre (Punch and Judy) last week, under the direc- tion of Mr. Sarg. It was a clever performance. The most interesting of the char- acters was that of John Sliver, who handled his wooden leg so well it was almost unbelievable. Eight dilTerent displays of scenery, each realistic and effective. Cheer up all you In the chorus, see what some of our chorines of last year are doing. Margaret Quimby, who was In the chorus of George White's "Scan- dals" In playing leads In pictures opposite Jack Dempsey: Soni.n Saunders, who went to Hurope in the chorus of "Little Jessie James." is now doing a dramatic net in vaudeville, and MadeMene KUlecn. formerly of "Mercenary Mary." Is now a principal in the new "Vani- ties." Dorothy Arden left for Florida to •ppe.ir at one of the clubs there. Polly Luce Is bound soon for Florida with her sister, Clair, to appcor In the revue Ziegfeld says he's going to do down there. Margy Bally has left ".\o. No. 7'xnette" to Join "Tlp-T< -sa" Sally Santos is on the road with •Vanities." Irene Swor has replaced Betty llealy In the road Hhow, "Vanities." Rita Mayer has had a very serious •peratlon on her ^oot. Dorothy Thattel has smarted with the new Hammerstein show, "Song Of Flume." Lucille Upton, sister of Pei^gy Joyce, Is back from her yachting trip for the new» "Vanities." Teddy Dauer is with "Tip-Toes." Valma Valentine and Agnes O Lotigblin danced at Sherry's for a fev of the debs at the conven- tional coming-out parties. FOR WOMEN ONLY By Dorothy Paddock A Likeable "Patsy" The public has an odd habit of liking plays In which a Cindcrella- ish sort of girl is madly in love with a man and wants to know how to ■get him." Claiborne Foster has this role in "The Patsy," a comedy, at the Booth. A strange, imagina- tive, amusing little creature is she. She lends what glamour "The "Patsy" has, but she is not the whole show. The uplendld Inter- pretation which Lucia Moore gives of a socially aspiring woman of ths middle classes Is nothing trivial. When she goes into hysterics to gain a point, or weeps, or raises her hand and commands: "Not an- other word!" she makes her audi- ence forget the high cost of giving. Mary Stiles, as a selflsh, climb- ing, catty older sister, gets a great deal from her lines. This character is a bit ignorant, too, and the idea Is gotten over very neatly in the impossible things she says. The play is full of quips, some of thera sparkling, but many commonplace. EVERETT JOHNSON And Hit SINGING CAOET BAND Which ln<:lua.-s Wilson Hutrhl^on^ Gene Rclmd. Mrih^urne Colby. Howard Freeman. Joe Kubes, Frank Kubcs Lawrence Ua'laceHalph Grimes. Gkn CiagK^. Wllli.im Shnner, LouIb Kl.l.art, Joe U^nglvln and Joe Dcschencs Wish a HAPPY NKVV YKAH to THKIIt KitlENDS and ALL HBADRU.S of vaAiR-^Y " "'■' ' * Direction WILLIAM MORRIS OFFICE. We are now making our Flrxt Eastern Tour. Irene Bordoni Can Do—Does The metamorphosis which Irene Bordunl effects in the song-farce, •Naughty Cinderella," would cause Herr Hertwlg to write another chap- ter on tbe genera feminse. So grad- ually and faithfully does she Imper- sonate the grub-worm, hungrily in need of food, emerging with radiant abandon into the fluff who gets the food, that her audience experiences with her the change and the cause. The situation. In the first act, is the neatest bit of acting through- out the ei.tire song-farce. But why this pseudo-naughty girl is termed a Cinderella is not made clear, and, to dispel further the fairy-book simile, the hero Is not such an all- ftrcd princely chap. As a matter of fact, he's stupid. But sophisticated. Just so. Miss Bordonl's songH are the life of the j.arty. She has a fetching way of humming little strains, here and there, as she dramatizes their Intent. But Miss Bordonl's hlgh^ notes are touched gently, too gently. She dodges the high register In all four tunes. Her speaking voice Is much more persuasive. Her elo- niietit facial e presalons, the talk- ative movements of her hands .aid the lady In her contradictory role. Adrle Windsor, as a show girl, avoids the subtleties, ller's Is the part of nn out-and-out wise crack- er. Evelyn Gosnell, also In the cast whi-n the porf-<rmance was watched, doos nn Inf'^rcstlng Job of holding a faithless wife up for public inspec- tion. ■HaiaaM^dMa