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"A Romance of the Underworld" has three scenes. The first section Armstrong has availed himself of that "dramatic license" by intermingling the procedure of a police and higher criminal court. It also brings the "mob" and prisoners together. The second section, in "one," neatly fills the time necessary to make the second act a corridor in the Tombs, with prisoners in cells awaiting their call for a ride to "Sing Sing." The prisoners in sight are those who, in the first scene, were sentenced in the Criminal Court, for various offenses. Perhaps borrowing from "The Boss," O'Leary is a young politician in love with a girl, who is in love with a real estate clerk. The politician frames the other man for a robbery charge, having him convicted. On the day of the sentencing, a lawyer with the ink barely dry on his legal certificate obtains a warrant to have O'Leary arrested for conspiracy.
Armstrong said "This is not a sketch nor an act; it is a play." He spoke in response to cries for the author. The speech was the second distinct departure and step forward in vaudeville that Armstrong made that evening.
Regardless of whether it was friend's of Armstrong who started the "author" cries, they were thoroughly deserved. He has not stopped at construction, but has what vaudeville asks for in dialogue and action. The comedy is nicely placed and executed. The courtroom scene is actually superior to that of "Madame X." The jail scene was leans towards the melodrama genre. Armstrong was able to gather the most capable and largest group of actors for speaking parts in the dramatic piece that vaudeville has ever seen. He has casted a play that will not fail. Of the twenty-one speaking parts there was no flaw, except for the Judge, who spoke as if new to the lines. The minor characters in the guise of "types" were true and brought comedy to the play. Actors attracting special notice include: Farnia Marinoff, the sweetheart of a crook and one herself; Charles H. Phillips, a fighting Irishman; Ralph Theodore, the young lawyer; John McLaughlin, one of the best stage detectives ever; and, W. Tammany Young, a crook. Every Manager who wants something new and good should book the Paul Armstrong Company. This is a sketch that makes you forget all other "dramatics" and jokes.
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Variety 22:4 (04/01/1911)