“Sporting Widows”

Impersonations of Harry Fox, Richard Carle, Nat Wills, Vesta Victoria, Charlie Chaplin, Anna Held and Chauncey Olcott. Singing and some comic bits.

Jacobs & Jermon's "Sporting Widows" are in poor condition to make the eastern tour at the present time and unless circumstances compelled their appearance at the Columbia this week the producers should have temporarily side-tracked the show until alterations were completed. The book is practically shattered with no rhyme or reason, although apparently undergoing the process of gradual strengthening, but it should have been moulded into better shape for the New York opening. The production makes a credible showing, and the cast, or at least the majority of the cast, seems entirely capable of staging a good performance, but the present vehicle is wholly unsuitable and beyond carrying the usual possibilities might be classified as worthless. The show is given in two parts with four scenes, three utilized in the opener. The latter introduces a cast review with the principals impersonating a number of stage celebrities. This might be entirely eliminated in so far as its value is concerned, for the effort is wasted. ... Harry Short acted as master of ceremonies, at the same time impersonating Carle. He did well, but the good impression registered by Short was eclipsed by the bungled efforts of his associates. Ruth Lockwood as Anna Held scored substantially, and Billy Evans, while not a riot in the Wills impersonation, recorded any number of laughs with Wills' material. The Chaplin bit was sloppy and so crudely done it failed to aid. Of the principals, several showed up sufficiently well to promise a good future for the reconstructed performance, especially Miss Lockwood, Evans, Short and Ave Leavitt, who brings to the big wheel several numbers and bits from the second circuit. Leavitt assumed a light comedy role throughout, but he, too, was noticeably handicapped, although continually trying. Anna R. Mack, tall and of good appearance, is evidently the principal woman, while Daisy Mayfair, who seemed acrobatically inclined, is scheduled for the soubret duties. Vincent Ducey and William Grieve held unimportant parts in both pieces and Lorenze and Fox rambled on for a brief few minutes in both the first part and burlesque to offer their specialty. With this list of principals it seems reasonable to believe Jacobs & Jermon will eventually bring the aggregation around to semblance of a good show, but just now any serious comment would be quite useless. The show, as it stands, is decidedly clean and the numbers, also being rearranged and tried out, look sufficiently promising to warrant their retention while the general staging passes the margin mark. The troupe could stand a few weeks or at least one week for the necessary rehearsals, and under the guidance of Leavitt and with the cast at hand should develop into a good staple, entertaining burlesque show.

Variety, 40:10 (11/05/1915)