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Singing comedy and talk.
Fred Wayne, Loretta Marshall and Truscilla Candy have a singing skit entitled "The Intruder." It lacks class for the big time. Parlor set, and Miss Candy is trying to light a small lamp. She calls to the stage manager the remainder of the people in the playlet have not arrived as they are playing a benefit and she wants the curtain lowered which is done. A man in a loud tone of voice seated in the orchestra states that it is always the case when he wants to see a good show, some act disappoints. The girl then makes and announcement of the non-arrival of the principals. A woman sitting next to the man in the orchestra does "straight" for him asking if "there are any good acts on the small time" and he replies there "are some good ones in the cabarets he goes to in Hoboken." The girl invites him on the stage and the couple go there remarking the "Keith circuit could get good acts even if it had to go to East St. Louis." The couple step on the stage and do an old time song and dance. The woman goes off stage to make an imaginary change of costume and the man sings a comedy number about the "necessity of woman," that gets something. The woman returns in the same street dress and sings a high class number well and the girl interrupts some comedy talk to inform the couple the time for the act is limited and they had better go into their dance and finish. They then render a ragtime version of a review of the war between an Englishman and German to the melody of the sextette from "Luccia." The number went exceptionally well. The couple picked up their coats from the stage floor and departed through the audience, stalling for bows a they strolled up the aisle only to be halted by the girl who wants them to take the salary lost by the act unable to get to the theatre in time. The reply is they "don't work that cheap" as the tag line and the lights went out on a diverting novelty act for the small time. The firl has little to do and Fred Wayne and Miss Marshall acquit themselves with honor about even. The act needs a classier arrangement of talk, song and wardrobe before it can look for big time.
Source:
Variety, 53:8 (01/24/1919)