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Comic and dramatic dialogue.
"The Red Flash."
The advance guard of the Bolsheviki species of vaudeville sketches has arrived with John T. Doyle's "The Red Flash," a skit combined of comedy and melodrama, well played and carrying enough of the essential merit to warrant big time attention. It opens in one, a special drop showing a part scene. The so-called proletariat mopes along, followed by the inevitable woman. Signals are exchanged. The Governor's special is to be wrecked. The Secret Service man hovers in the shadows, sufficiently close to overhear the conversation. To full stage and the headquarters of the Intelligence Bureau. Doyle is in charge. The woman, none other but a trusted employee, enters. Cross dialog, exchange of reports over the phone; etc. The woman is accused. She stands pat. Doyle crosses here, gives the secret pass word, which he has cepped from her handbag, and convinces her he is one of the gang. She falls for the story and tells him the desired information. He saves the train and through relayed instructions bags the entire mob. It sounds very "meller" in description, but it's not it's decidedly funny, carries plenty of good situations, has a few surprising turns and carries an interesting theme, despite the fact that such themes have been over-exercised in vaudeville. The part in "one" could be better played. The dialog is very essential for introductory purposes and the principals could afford to speak louder. Doyle is perfect in his role without drawing out the character to ridiculous lengths, as is usually done. It's timely, well staged and sure to hold its own on any bill.
Source:
Variety, 54:10 (05/02/1919)