Mme. Petrova

Singing, recitations and speeches.

Here recent experiences before the picture camera have done a lot for Mme. Petrova. It has not taught her just what is best for her to present in vaudeville, for Mme. Petrova is using a ballad for an opening number, followed by the parrot song which she used when last seen on the two-a-day stage. Up to this point Mme. Petrova showed no improvement, but suddenly shifting, she hit the right path by offering a dramatic bit, announced as an excerpt from "The Shulmanite," in which the Russian actress appeared several seasons ago. This gave her an opportunity for a very clever bit of dramatics, with a death scene for a finish, and those in front, who know Petrova best as a picture star, saw what they came to see. But this is not all that Petrova has learned, or acquired since quitting vaudeville for the films. She makes a speech of thanks, and it is a gem. Compared to it, Al Herman's "Make Me Dance," and the famous quotation, "If I come out again, I have a surprise," of J. Francis Dooley's, pales into insignificance. Mme. Petrova says she is sorry she was not born in Philadelphia and adds "if it ever happens again, I'll arrange, etc." It's old, but it sounded great to those "movie" devotees and got Petrova several seconds more of hand claps. As an extra, she recited about a child and carried a golden-haired kiddie on in her arms for a final bow. She informed the audience it was not hers. If she is to remain in vaudeville she can help herself a lot by hunting up a couple more dramatic bite for her offering and leaving the songs out. The speech will do the rest for Petrova is a picture star who will draw at the box-office, which is the all important thing to be considered in her case.

Variety, 54:8 (04/18/1919)