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Singing skits.
While the new Gus Edwards act can hardly be classified as his best work, or anywhere near it, it serves to introduce a little girl to vaudeville who will eventually be heard from in higher theatrical circle. Mr. Edwards is repeatedly discovering new youthful talent and has given to vaudeville many a "find" but in Beatrice Curtis he outdid himself, for this girl, apparently just beyond the working age limit, has all the earmarks of a musical comedy star and will, with proper business direction, develop into one. The turn is just one of the typical Edwards singing skits, Edwards himself getting in a big "plug" for "Welcome Home Laddie Boy, Welcome Home," the successor to his "Laddie Boy" number and a song that looks like a certain hit. Vincent O'Donnell, the miniature John McCormack, tenors his way to individual honors and Alice Furness, a pretty little blonde, adds much to the general picture. But above all, Miss Curtis stood out, in appearance and ability, and the audience, a critical one, too, readily recognizing her talent, showered her with applause. The medley by Edwards is poorly introduced and should be rewritten to provide a proper introductory verse for no one knew Edwards was singing medley of his former hits. And the music was only several bars behind the singers most of the time. Perhaps this was due to the fact that Edwards carries his own musical director. The house director might have fared much better. The concluding song was a bit overdone in choruses, but this, of course, was a business move and Edwards can hardly be blamed. On a bill mostly composed of singing turns the new Edwards act did nicely.
Source:
Variety, 53:8 (01/24/1919)