Gelli Troupe

The Gelli Troupe speak French and look French. There are three men, small boy or midget and a girl. The members have a clean appearance, work neatly and fast, and hold some new tricks in acrobatic and risley work. The two men at the opening burst through a paper frame in the form of a billboard upon the stage. The front is lettered, Gelli Troupe, Alhambra, Paris (the Alhambra is the vaudeville house of Paris). One of the men holds as a perch a U.S. letter box from his shoulder. Pressing a spring, the top flies open, revealing the youngster, who thereafter becomes an important part of the turn, making himself further noticeable through a shrill laugh, probably intended for comedy. Otherwise the fun of the turn is negative with but a particle gone after. Three of the men turn a back somersault at one time, in close formation, a very good sight trick. Another is for one of the men to go to a risley mount following a series of flip flaps on the ground, the bearer on the cradle sitting up at the edge of it, rapidly adjusting himself to the exact position as the flip flapper approaches. This is another sight trick, a variation of the straight acrobatic work of similar nature, adapted to risley and never before exhibited over here. The two tallest men (they appear more like boys or young men of 23 or 24) have a bit of fast double work with one whirling another around his back and over his shoulders, repeating this until it seems a wonder how the flier retains his equilibrium. The quintet work easily and smoothily, whether doing single acrobatics or anything else and while this could be said on this side to indicate a certain loss of value through improper showmanship, it is the continental style, and as such as much showmanship in its way as the other kind. For ensemble acrobatics the act scores. If a recent importation, or this is a first appearance over here, the group seems remarkably adaptable in appearance, dress and work to the American idea. The quantity of work performed in the eight minutes consumed, together with the quality, make the Gelli Troupe an acceptable turn for any house.

Variety, 53:13 (02/21/1919)