Life — October 17, 1907 — page 25: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

THE BOODLEWORTHS, WHO HAVE BEEN DOING EUROPE IN THEIR TOURING CAR, ARRIVED YESTERDAY ON THE perhaps better understood from the British point of view than by those who have never encountered just the laughable type of lower-class English person she pictures. Mr. Fields has enlisted in his large com- pany a number of well-known musical comedians of both sexes, and to each is assigned something in his particular line that is cither funny or effective, or both. Being what we have described it, “The Girl Behind the Counter” at the Herald Square seems destined to amuse New York audiences for a considerable time to come. * 8 # Equally lavish in expenditure, equally gorgeous in setting and costume, in quan- tity although not in quality equaling the other in the chorus-girl lure, “The Gay White Way,” at the Casino, looks for suc- cess to the same class of theatre patrons. The keynote of this particular mixture seems to be “imitation.” It contains not one spark of originality. In Paris similar entertainments, called Revues, are equally reminiscent, in fact more faithfully reminis- cent of recent stage attractions, but they are characterized by a witty and amusing thread on which the special features, them- selves witty and amusing, if in a measure imitative, are strung. This piece starts with a stupid and badly written appeal to a sup- posed popularity of President Roosevelt. ‘o try to work up any enthusiasm in this poverty-stricken community by the men- tion of our present Chief Executive's name is a fine proof of the cleverness of Mr. Syd- ney Rosenfeld, who wrote the book of “The ay White Way.” There is nothin SOCIETY NOTE matter with the author's memory, though Every wheeze and trick known to vaude- ville and burlesque for the past thirty years has been rummaged for something to put into this mixture. It suggests a chifionade salad at a cheap restaurant, The wretched attempts at verse made one sorry for Mr. Englander, who tried vainly to set them to music, and sorrier for the singers who tried to make the impossible lines fit. their musical delivery. The piece is made up largely of imitations of well-known performers in well-known roles. Out of the multitude of these com- mitted to members of the cast, entirely with- out regard to their fitness for the task, a few stood out by their excellence. Of course, Mr. Alexander Carr’s well-known reproduction of Mr. Warfield’s earlier efforts was abso- lutely faithful. So was Mr. J. Heron Miller's imitation of his father in “The Great Di- vide.” Maud Raymond recalled Miss Frances Starr in “The Rose of the Rancho” a little bit, and Laura Guerite, who imper- sonated Anna Held, did fairly well what might better not have been attempted at all. At all points Blanche Ring’s agreeable per- sonality and considerable abilities stood out in pleasant relief. She is good to look at, is grace‘ul, has a musical speaking and singing voice, and seemed completely pos- sessed with the desire to please. When one thinks of the time, effort and money expended so lavishly and generously on “The Gay White Way” without pleasing even the poor tastes it was intended to cap- tivate, one cannot help wondering why the writ de lunatic enquirendo is not more fre- quently employed. Metcalfe. LOOTANIA LIFE’S CONFIDENTIAL CUIDE Academy 0} Music—" The Old Homestead.” The best of the “down East” plays, with Mr, Denman Thortpron in his famous im Uncle Josh Whitcoms, Astor—Mr. Raymond Hitchcock and competent company in The Yankee chable musical version of “The Galloy Relasco—Prances Sta Hamilton Revelle and a most excellent cast in“ The Rose of the Rancho.” Beautifully staged and interesting drama of carly California days. Bijou—Theen's “The Master Ruilder,"* with Mme Nazimova as the prind pal attraction. Symbolical and mystical, but interesting. Casine—"The Gay White Way.” Sce above. Criterion—"* The Dairymaids.” Musical play from London. Of the customary type, but ncither as funny nor as musical as usual Daly's—Margaret Anglin and Mr. Henry Miller, very well supported, in" The Great Divide.” Un: usually well constructed play of American life Em pire—" My Wife.” Diverting French comedy amusingly acted by Mr. John Drew, Billie Burke, Mr Ferdinand Gottschalk and good cast Garden—Puccini’s “Madame Butterfly” in Eng: lish. Dainty story set to delightful music Garrich—" The Step Sister,” by Mr, Charles Klein. Notice later. Hackett—" When Knights Were Bold,” with Mr. Francis Wilson as the star, Comedy-burlesque with, laughter-provoking low comed: Herald Square—Mr. Lew Fields and company in “The Girl Behind the Counter.” See oppo. Hippedrome—" Neptune's Daughter” neet Days.” Gorgeous spectacle, ballet a West, All excellent Keith ond Precor's Theatres—Stock companies and Lincoln Syuore tory of light opera. Lyric—Mr. James O'Neill in his familiar and very 00d melodrama," Monte Cristo.” Majestic—" Anna Karenina terpreted by Virginia Harn fairly good company. Ei high life. Interesting. Stuycesant—Mr, Belasco's new theatre, with Mr. David Warfield in a new play entitled “The Grand Army Man.” Notice later. Weber’s—"Hip! Hip! Hooray!” Notice later, West End Opera Honse—Traveling attractions. Aborn Opera Company in reper in dramatic form, in ir, John Mason and rama of Russian comicbooks.com