Leon Errol

Comic dialogue.

"The Guest."

The Errol act, called "The Guest," and first shown at the Majestic, Chicago, about a month ago, may have created the most pre-interest in the current Palace program. Jed Prouty is doing the straight for Errol's "drunk." It has been many years since Mr. Prouty played vaudeville, appearing before as a part of a male two-act, then doing the straight likewise, and since appearing in a musical comedy. The Errol act is a bedroom scene, with Errol flopping and falling all over the room, smashing crockery and knocking statues off pedestals. It's the "Errol drunk" business, done with something different in "fall," Errol now doing his falls more in the way the trained dogs like Barnold's "Dan" and Vokes' "Don" were taught or forced to do them, staggering sideways for several steps, then slowly toppling down in a heap, still sideways. For a "fall" by a human it is much more effective than a flat flop formerly done by Errol and others. Mr. Errol made them laugh with this business, also some of his remarks and the plate-smashing, sure-fire since the days when first discovered to be the cheapest laughing prop. Errol also got some laughs at first when blowing his "drunken" breath into Prouty's face, and Prouty's show of being overcome by the avalanche, both mentioning something about the gas pipes being out of order to make this more difficult and repulsive. The Palace audience, and to a far greater extent than the $2 houses, Errol has done it before in productions, did not howl over the bit. For everyone who laughed three were silent, and some looked disgusted. It was repeated so often the final couple of breath blows passed away with nothing. Errol has a comedy act though, and it appears his individual work and personality more than his material are getting it over. At the opening he is ushered into a bedroom with the butler explaining things to him. The bedroom is fitted like a shop for statuary. For the finish Errol does his Indian wrapping in the blanket and pillow, to remain under the comforter in bed.

Variety, 53:6 (01/03/1919)