Variety (Apr 1927)

Wednesday, April 27, 1927 LEGITIMATE VARIETY 47 all In a single set, the Tarce becomes as gossipy as the title, without add- Ing much to the lnlti.il Impression that the lovable Danny Grundy is a hopeless tale-bearer, hannlesi in his intentions but harmful In the results. The occasion is a house party thrown by the estimablo Howens. Bather pretentiously set, with extra butler trimmings, it is somewhat incongruous that the most Is so financially involved because of a $12,000 loan. There is a hint that the loqua- cious Danny has stung his friends through some phoney stock in a new ahaving erean, but with the plantillg of that seed it becomes Obvioua that shortly before 11 o'ctoek the shaving cream stock will sprout dividends. Grundy is not a particularly easy assignment for any player, but Overman's naive handling does much to make him a tolerable and almost lovable character despite his vicious tattling. A sturdy cast does much to offset the talkiness of "The Gossipy Sex" and in a measure succeeds in mak- ing the evening enjoyable. From the veteran Thomas W. Ross and Overman down, the cast- ing is consistently high grade. The performances are on an adequate level, but with few distinctions. While amusing and well done, the plays lacks lasting qualities, and, With the advent of warm weather, Is 4i0ttnd to fall off. AheU GOAT ALLEY Tousaaint riayefs present this throe-act 4rama of Nesro life by Edward Howard Cttlbartson, directed by Kgon Brecher. openiac AprU 20 at th« Prlncesa, Mew Tork. Lucy Belle Donwy..*. ..Bvelyn Bills 8Um Dorsey Edward Thompson fiam Reed A. Gomathier« Aunt Rebecca EllsalMih Willlama Lizzie Qibbs Dorothy Paul Jefl HiMbee I. L<ouis Johnson Chick Avery Baron Bryan Jeremiah I'ocher Hayes L.. Pryor Fanny Dorsey Margaret Pttty Israel Dursey..* George Watson Policeman • • Jack Carter "Goat Alley'^ might be termed a levival, having seen production at the Bijou in 1921 and two years be- fore that as a one-acter. both by amateur troupes, this production qualifying as the initial professional tiry. Toussalnt Players borrow their name from Toussaint L'Ouverture, flm iireeldent of Haiti, but other- wise represents Kgon Pn chor and Charles Munster, two 100 percent Caucasians ftt present identified with Eva Le Gallionne's Civic Rep- ertory Co. on 14th street. Besides being financially Interested^ Brecher directed "Goat Alley." Outside of the all-negro cast, with the one exception of the white cop- per, the creation and the presenta- tion ot the play is ail white, includ- ing Ernest Howard Cutbertjson. au- thor, who was induced by Mencken and Nathan, when of tlie "Smart Set." to elaborate *'Goat Alley" from its oriKinally published one-act form in that periodical into a full-length play. "Goat Alley" la interesting as a play only because of the negroid components. One ventures the sur- mise that had it emanated from a native mind this sociological cross- section on colored life.in a Wash- ington, D. C, ''nigger heaven" would have been wholly different. What has resulted is a white man's aspect on dusky, folks* loves, hates, yearns and infidelities. Culbertson takes this* attitude with his Lissie Gibbs, a torrid mama who craves the one-woman spade. In the social relations of his heroine With her perseoutors It's Just another ca.se of dark villains still pursuing her. Substitute an all-Equity cast in lieu of the Harlem thespians, and it's pretty familiar stuff about the^ shero who would remain faithful ' to her heavy lover who's in the hposegow, but Anally inherits off- spring complications because of eco- nomic pressure. "Goat Allege is interesting only as far as its cast is ebMeerned. It I)ermlts for seine excellent perform- ances, and those white audiences so quick to discourse on the **hegro problem" (if problem it Is) will trite- ly aver that Culbertson is, at least, a relief from Van Vechten's concep- tion of the jazz age negro. That is true, but as far as these same ^hite audiences are concerned no negro theme can command Caucasian at- tention if wholly restricted to the ooldred race, and as s^n m the miscegenation theme is Introduced interest is piqued and so is the peace of mind of th(i imMie ^efMidevii so here, too, a stage exposition of a colored play is perforce limited. Evelyn Ellis, despite her iMellna- tions to overact a couple of the "big" scenes, is quite convincing as the virtuous liUlu Belfe* 4if the play. A. B. Comathiere, J. Louis Johnson, Baron Bryan and Edward Thomp- son as the hero, villain tmtf ftMoric^d sub-heavies, also stood out, as did Porothy Paul, the darktown shrew. Muifbter end Brecher have theftrtfii' cpss imd<>r guaranteed lease for four weeks, which insures at least that much of a stay. It wit! ncrt linger much beyond that, being rac'ally limited for appeal to the negro be- cause of its palpable r#fl«*tlbn of col()r«'d contemporary life at its worst. For reasons aforementioned thp wfitt# tir^H not cntton to this en- try. JLM, be vocalists, but who sure know how to put it across. Later tin* romantic pair reprise it. Incidental- ly the latter do not have any of the outstanding numbers of the show, which is, in a way, a bad thing. The show is attractively staged, the first act setting showing a dvck scene (much like that in "Hit the Deck") and the second the salcMui deck. With the book chopped an>l. especially to the first act, revised and the cast shifted, "Listen Dearie" has a chance. Right now it has a aong-hlt, * funny scene and thref «3KoelleBt people. Watert. Mask and Wig Show Philadelphia, April 26. This year's production of the Mask and Wig Club of the Univer- sity of Pennsylvania, which is called "Hoot Mon," is the most elaborate in costumes and settings the club has ever essayed find rates better than any show they've had since "Here's Howe." in 1921. Incidentally, "Hoot Mon" is the 89th annual production. It Is now finishing a two weeks' stay at the Garrick^ where it had to play be- cause of the demolition of the For- rest. Although the grosses will be considerably under recent aver- age. "Hoot Mon" will clean up money here as usual, and that doesn't mean Just U. of P. students and graduates either, as there is a large portion of the theatre-going public that will never miss a Mask and Wig production. "Hoot Mon." as the title infers, has plenty of Scotch in its make- up. This gives an opr >rtunity for the Interpolation of "Annl»^ Laurie," worked into the first act finale by the use of skillful counterpoint that reminds one of the act finales In Ed Wynn'a revue. Several years ago the Mask and Wig made a big hit by bU nding "How Dr>' T an\" and •'There's No Place Lliie Homo" in a finale as a counter. One group is rendering a niai\li that is featured in this toorc, ami the other group is singing "Laurie." It's a knockout. There Is alsd nov- elty in a weaving of a Black Bot- tom motif into stirring old Gaelic tim»'s, and also the playing of a Black Bottom on a bagpipe. The score of "Hoot Men" is, gen- t'rally speaking, way above the av- erage. A well-known music house made the remark that it has at legist five numbers that could be plugged into nation-wide hits, and that it has at least four times as many really catchy pieces at IttQSt modern musical shows. Clay Boland and Dave Zoob (lat- ter remembered for his "Sweet Lady" in "Tangerine") wrote the songs. Outstanding numbers are the "Hoot Mon Step" (In which the Black Bottom Is woven into old Scotch ballads), "The Campbell Chant," a stirring march; "Oh. Sis- ter." comedy solo; "Chasing the Clouds Away'; "Blue Heather"; "Paddle Our Canoe." and "Just Let Me Live Like a Gypsy." "Canoe' is a dandy, and put over and sun;^ a little better undoubtedly will be a sensation. It seems a shrune that with so line a scorp and so elaborate a pro- duction the book isn't better than it is, but that, of course, is a fault of many musical comedies these days, and the college boys can claim company in their negligence. The ideau or scenario, furnished by Paul B. Hartenstein, former Mask and Wig star, had many possibili- ties, but most of them are lost. In brief, the story concerns the making over of an old Scotch castle Into a modem hotel. It deals with a feud between two clans into which several American tourists are drawn. The comedy Is bolstered up by a number of pt»tty clever gag linos, one of which has been already t;tk - n by a couple cf pro- fessional music shows. The "C«'iu- edlenne." asked who she is, repllea: "I'm ChI's uift to the American people who didn't see Queen Marie.* In dajulntr. the Mi.^k and Wi« show is auain a wvunle.r, with the boys wcrkiriK' li.itdcr ihun any pro- ffs.^-ional < ll<n•u^s < »>iild cvtT be per- suaded to do The famous VFlr«t Chorus" of the club h.os a lot of intricate and difficult ensemble steps and they cover themwlves with real distinction. One novelty is patterned on the black and white number done by the Albertina l^seh Girls in "Rio Rita." only the colors are the U. of P.'s.—red and blue—and the danee is done before a silver curtain. Specialties are furnished by B. B. Truitt and R. R. Wier and by the Haynes Twins. The former pair, remembered for their "Apache* number last year, do an "adagio* affair this year that's a lou loow The audience laughs, but the laughter is of the scared varietyt as the feoys take plenty of chances and try some holds and jumps that skilled teams woukl balk at. It both of them go throuKh th« en- gagement without broken bones it'll be a nurat'le. The cast is only fairly good, with Francis Curtis, three-year veteran, out8t;inding as the "comedienne.* J. Alexander Bliedung, just a fresh- man, very promising a« the "lead- ing lady," and William Scott and Harold F>11und both highly satis- factory as the rival Scottish chiefs. Two settings are most attractive^ and the costumes very elabofmtit with the plaids and tartans. The show will appear in New Tork Saturday.jnatinee and nIghU May 7. Waters. PLAYS our OF TOWN LISTEN DEARIE Phlla.lclDhia. April 2«. Musical comedy In two act.o. by HaroM Attcrlilge and CJertrude Purcell, presentp*! by Charles Gilpin. MuhIc and lyrics by Mr. (Jilpln. dances by William Seahury; •ta^ed by Frank McCormack; settinga by RoUo Wayne. At the Chestnut Street Opera House. April 2S, 1927. . Charles Gilpin, listed on the pro- fram as "presenting" this new musical comedy. "I..isten Dearie.*' new having a tryout engagement at the Chestnut Street Opera House. Is a rather well-known local com- poser, who for many years was allied with the Mask and Wig Club of the University of Pennsylvania, writing all their music. About two years ago the club de- cided to change its policy and to t|ie scores written by undergradu- ates. It is understood that Gilpin has had the music for this show done for a couple of seasons, and several producers were rumored as about to do it. It is also under- stood that nilpin has a lot of his own money in this show, which is boing sponsored by the Shuberts. nowevor, although they aren't men- tioned in the proj^rani or billing. As It stands now, "Ijisten Dearie * has just a fair chance and ne<.>ds * great deal of fixing. The first •Ct Is In bad shape, but the second has considerable inherent comedy jnd Some corking .specialties The book is most in need of revision, although the basic idea, taken, it « said, from Siflncv Drew's old comedy 'I'.iUy's Tombstones," has plenty of posaibllities. It is pure flpj • apparently always sure- The story concerns a young col- •JPRe football hero who losos four ft^nt teeth in a game and takes an ocean voyage while getting used to wise molars. His sweeth< art hr<p- Pens to be aboard, and the trouble come n ^ y hen h e lugua ili e falsi " teeth and doeen't dare explain to BEN HOLMES Featured in "Gay Parce" AlVlN THKA., riTTNBI R<ilf. AtRIL 1S.S1 D'rtetion Mr. J. J. thuhfrt her. The lady's name i«i Beatrice, and he cahiiot say that Without the teeth, which provides a very funny love-making scene in the second act that has the audieAoe howling. Several of the second-f^tring critics sniffed at this as a subject for comedy; iMit UU^M 4enyliig that t i) e croWd' ' ietS ^'A.:' lot ■ of ^ laU9jhS|'. trom it. Kddic Jonrad is saddled with a lot of vapid clowning, and doesn't click at all as a "ham" variety of coimt, wlio proves to bo a scoun- drel. Charles llcjward as a con- tinually soused detective is also more silly than he is amusing. June Day as Kansas Quinine, night club ])roprietress, loses a lot t»f elY«ctiviness by ovi'reniphasis, but miglit easily be subdu< d. Eddie (larvle is lost in a small pari. On the credit side are Stanley Uidges, in the leading role, which he imbues with more comedy and clowning than is generally expected from a handsome hero; Fred llille- brand, who is honestly and un- (lualilicdly funny as the hero's in- defatigable press agent, and Laura Ij<'e as tlie hero's sister. The l;ist- named two play together, iiille- brand being a lanky six-footer and Miss L(^e a reg^ul.ar half-pint. Some of 1 iillebrand's mateiial is old, faiftillar In both vaudeville and the le>,'it. but he's got a wealth of new stutT, too. and he puts it across better than he ever has before, espociallv with this Lee girl as an ideal foil. She's the indivuln il hit of the show, a little blonde bundle of p<'P, not exactly a beauty or a gre.it VOeftlist or the worlds greatest (!ancer. but filled with "it" avl with a personality all her own. Kvery number she had clicked neatly and s.'veral of them stoftped the show. .Shirley Vernon does n<»t show to the advantage she did in "H«.n. v- inoon Lane." but her plaeid. blftnde beauty is still there and she pliys i i'r Im p Tlio w r yi ir w We i l l rhoruM is peppy and Well traine... and a number of merely so-so songs are put over by t»i" spirit' d work of the ensemM-'. As a whole, the score is tinklintr tnd pi. asant Without beiuLr r:..t iM'- There is a nnrnbr r. "Tit for Tat" (from which Xho sh'.w was once tro- ing to be namf>d) which Is made for plnr-rinir. and «honM crash throuch to isurrofiH anywhero Tt is not snng bv Uldires and Mi-s V. r- pnn t! " I.-ids. but by Tlilb-brind and Mi.-- ^' who don't pr'f" 1 to sma/J size slippers — do come to the Showfolk^s ^hoe shop this weekj Never before has the petite foot—the foot that wcara size 1 or \Si or 2*-becn able to choose from so wonderful a selection of etyles! ? Special window display of small sizes 'n everything! Tiny shoes in every conceivable style and every imaginable matcriall Tiny shoes to make tiny feet even more bewitching! Come and see them —in our windows all this week or in the Special Department with* in the store! Special display of Hosiery^ , ^ /// Small Sizes . I. MILLER Showfolk's SAxoeshop BROADWAY at 46tb STREET OPEN UNTIL 9 P. M. When in Los Angeles, visit the shop of I Miller at 525 West Seventh Street ff