Ronair and Ward, No. 2 after intermission, fared considerably well with their crosstalk in “two” over a rural hedge, in which the couple recognize themselves as former neighbors, and engage in pleasant familiarities and reminiscences to the delight of their audience.
Dick Duffey and Hazel Mann found a ready market for their very neat and brightly dialogued “Via Telephone,” offered in No. 3 spot. This turn isn’t designed for a comedy punch. But there is plenty of humor. Both the players are neat workers. Neither can sing, but they don’t make any serious efforts at that and their turn gets a standard rating.
The show was classy but quiet. Comedy was missed until Harry and Emma Sharrock brought on their sparkling personalities and happy dispositions to open intermission. From their entrance down to the old-fashioned hit they registered, the house was all smiles. Maybe an extra laugh came when Miss Sharrock parked her feet on the “ballyhoo box” which has a broken board and cracked loudly.
Manning and Lee, Manning a clever comedian and Miss Lee a sweet patootie have a lot of original, wise cracks and though their voices are a bit weak, they put their songs over in high style and were recalled several times.
Lewis and Norton have a pastel production and four episodes of quiet but punchy humor called “cost to cost,” staged in four resort hotels from coast to coast in the four seasons, typical of {illegible}, Bar Harbor, French Lick and Palm Beach. With many laughs neat dress delightful deportment and a sweet dance to close, they drew the first hit of the night.
Ned Norworth, who was with his company refused to play No. 2 at the Majestic, had no trouble in proving his worth. He clowned and cut up to the enjoyment of the audience. “Fixing the Furnace,” which has been seen in every small house around here, was new to the State-Lakers and did fairly well.
“Kloroform N.G.” (Special Drop). Val Trainor has a new vehicle that is bound to make the, laugh. A special drop on a railroad station in a tank town is used. In itself this is good for a laugh or two. Mr. Trainor is a drummer with dancing shoes as his line. He jumps off the train and bumps into a comedy miss who tells him she is an artist’s model. After some talk they tell their names, learning they were childhood friends. He speaks of his shoes, and says that he will demonstrate them. This he does with a little dance. Finally they decide to get married and end with singing “Home to Indians.” Lots of business that is certain laughs. Trainor does some magical stuff with the changing color of his gives, which will also gain them interest. His partner has a string of slang that can bump to best of them. As a laughing of comedy two-act Trainor and Helene are there. They can fit into any bill.
Neither act gave the show much headway, and Leon Stanton and Co. who followed, failed to tilt the skids. Stanton does an inconsistent G.A.R. veteran much addicted to wise cracks in modern slang. In an effort toward comedy he ruins his characterization and doesn’t aid comedy end much either. An excellent character woman depicting a shrewish old housekeeper saved the turn from an ignominious flop.
Sam Lewis and Irving O’Hay, in an act that they are discarding after this week for a new one by Joseph Browning, held the next to closing spot and walked off with the laughing honors with little competition from the preceding acts. Lewis is of Lewis and Dody and more recently of burlesque, while O’Hay last worked opposite Frank Conroy. With a vehicle they should be one of the best of the two-man comedy standards.
“Did you vote?” featuring William E. Morris and Co. (New Acts) preceded Will J. Evans the “happy nobo [sic],” in very Nat Wills get-up and a gag routine that possibly antedates the days of Wills. Evans is wanting for material, but otherwise is a monologist with a pleasing voice that bespeaks possibilities. He is sure-fire on the present time, but a rejuvenated line of talk is advisable. Some of the old boys have been “released” so long they sound almost new, although Evans’ author probably was some minstrel joke book. Evans concludes with a dash of stepping that could be built up, although he suffices as a talker were he fortified with modernized patter.
