With their Wild and Outlaw Horses. 16 min. F.S. A Typical western cow-boy feature, the best I have ever seen on any stage. The things that are attempted have never been seen except in a large open space. Miss Mulhall is a beautiful girl of the western type, and knows horses and the rope like a true woman of the soil. The act opens with a good baritone solo ,well sung by one of the cow-boys on horseback, getting good hand and encore. Thence follows Miss Mulhall’s exhibition with a trained horse and with the lasso. This is followed by a bronco-busting novelty within a fenced space, which is sufficiently exciting for anybody. The act drags a little in spots, showing a lack of showmanship and that it is not yet been brought down to the movement of a vaudeville feature. When it is, it will certainly be one of the strongest closing acts in the varieties.
Spectacular Musical Comedy. 30 min. F.S. This is a typical ambitious Lasky production. It is very spectacular being set in showmanlike manner, and the characters charmingly costumed. It is, in fact, a miniature musical comedy of the extravagant tropical order. The plot is simple. It concerns the vicissitudes of Robinson Crusoe the second, on a south sea island, the introduction of Capt. Kidd, who rescues him to civilization in return for a ship-load of gold. There are six women and six men in the cast, including Ben Decley, who makes a good omodian in the part of “Friday”. Star vocalist a little short of requirements. The musical numbers are varied, and to my mind exceptionally good, though at times a little too reminiscent. Each number received applause. The act, while draggy in spots, made good with our holiday audience, bringing four curtain calls at the finish. It will work into a splendid vaudeville headliner.
12 min. in 1. Imitations of stage celebrities. Not satisfactory act ever as imitations go. Received some applause for her impersonations, but Miss Blanchard does not fit in a house like this. Well buried at the pink-tea hour.
On the Revolving Ladder and Hand Balancers Supreme. 14 min. Opens in 1. Close F.S. This is an excellent act. The two young men prepossess the audience very strongly from the first, fine looking and well costumed. They open in 1 by doing several acrobatic stunts of the Bellclaire order, and then proceed to their more skillful work full stage on a revolving ladder. Each feat was well appreciated. Final feat got big applause. Two curtain calls.
In the brilliant little Playlet “Our Baby”. 22 min. F.S. Advance applause. This act has been greatly improved since its last presentation here. Barring the fact that it is six or eight minutes too long, as a sketch it is excellently written and strongly presented. Audience gave it a most respectful attention. Miss Wainwright’s support is much stronger this time, and the love and quarrel scenes were natural and amusing. Bringing on the living baby at the close helps to make the act a hit. Strong closing hand and three curtain calls, at least one for the baby.
On at 4.42, 7 min, full stage. Sly old Hassan Ben Ali is up to his tricks again. Instead of twelve acrobats, as formerly, there are only ten with this troupe, and several of the stars of the last two years, notably two of the clever youngsters, are missing. Somebody has got to talk to Hassan, or some of the other houses that need more than 7 minutes for an act of this kind will be making a howl.
On at 3.42, 12 min, in 1. Am playing Miss Levey this week principally because a name was needed in this bill. She was very hoarse at rehearsal and wanted to quit, but I prevailed on her to go on even if she could only make an apology, rather than disappoint the audience. It was therefore an agreeable surprise to find that her voice had cleared up considerably when she went on, and she was able to do her full act, although the audience realized she had a severe cold. I think she did better today than she did when here in the spring.
On at 2.30, 12 min, full stage. Two English acrobats in clown make-up. Open with some hand-balancing, followed by some unique work with a large rubber ball. They follow this with a very droll novelty which they call “The Nightingale’s Courtship”, a very laughable mixture of pantomime and whistling. Made a big hit here today. I think that it would be a mistake to close a show with this turn, as much of its value would be lost doing so.
ON at 4.04, 15 min, in 1. While they hold this place satisfactorily, there is hardly any difference in the act from the times they got $175, $200 and $250. The only reason I can se why they are getting $350 is because they can hold the next to closing spot.
On at 1.54, 17 min, in 1, 3 shows. I was a little nervous about placing them in this position after reading last week’s Philadelphia criticism; so I was somewhat surprised to have them get by creditably. They employ Matthews & Ashley’s idea of one singing a song straight and then the other parodying it. One of them also makes up as an Italian, a la Ben Welch, and sings “Marisuchia”.
