Location:
Theater:
Date:
Type:
Hypnotism and mind reading.
Singing and instrumental music.
"Ben Bolt."
[Svengali], with Elsie Terry, does the musical mind reading, Miss Terry playing the pieces whispered by the audience into Svengali's ear, also singing to them, in a rich contralto. Besides, Miss Terry is a good looking girl, and lends class to this act that looks to be the best of its kind that has shown around New York. Svengali makes a brief announcement after "hypnotizing" Miss Terry, who enters singing "Ben Bolt." While playing she never ceases to watch Svengali as he walks through the orchestra, but she plays and sings continuously, making it a prolonged medley, changing tune and tempo instantly, as often as another number is called for. The songs ran from opera to rag. No matter how the player is cued, the act is excellent, especially for the small time where it should make a very big feature.
Svengali makes a good appearance, speaking with a slight accent. The one fault with this act, as with others similar, is that when the main is working under the balcony the upper portion of the theatre is helpless for amusement or attention, having only the pianist to watch. Remembering this it might be well not to go beyond the vision range of the first rows upstairs, but keeping well down in front of the orchestra would be even better. Svengali is said to have been the first in these latter vaudeville days to present this sort of a turn. He has played the middle west for a long while, but that has not kept the act from the class it has secured, and which would enable it to appear in any house.
Source:
Variety, 38:12 (05/21/1915)