Life — February 23, 1911 — page 21: what you’re looking at

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

on and relieves Mr. Lew Fields from the necessity of providing another of its kind ior New York’s summer visitors. So far as Mr. Fields himself is concerned this piece gives him more opportunities than he has recently had for the kind of fun- making which gave national celebrity to ne Weber and Fields production in days gone by. As a country barber in a pa- iatial Broadway shaving emporium he manages to extract from the audience an average of at least two laughs a minute all the time he is on the stage. “The Hen-Pecks” is as gorgeous in mounting as any of its predecessors in the same line of endeavor, it has an unusually good cast, its music is of about the usual quality and its chorus girls are as multitudinous, shapely and comely as the most regular patron of Longacre’s lobster palaces could desire. inaa a oe as UR WORLD” lasted one week in New York. It was valuable as an illustra- tion of the lack of judgment shown by men who are willing to invest very consid- erable sums of capital in the production of untried, plays. It is a favorite claim of pro- ducers of failures that no one can tell inything about the reception the public will give a play until it has been per- formed. This is not true. There are some plays lying in the middle ground, so far as preliminary judgment goes, which may prove on actual playing to be ch more effective or much less ef- fective than they seemed in reading, or even in rehearsal. There are others about whose appeal there can be no doubt if they are properly cast and prop- erly staged. And there are others which, MR. AND MRS, H. DIFFER ON THE WOMAN'S SUFFRAGE QUESTION “HE DIED FOR HER SAKE.” no matter how they are done, the tyro of things theatrical could tell by reading would not please, convince or interest an audience. “Our World” belonged in this last class. Its fate should convince some managers that the extravagant pay- ment of competent play-readers would be real economy. @ g 2 ? g opBERES a whole lot of dash and go in “The Balkan Princess.” Also there is, marvelous to note, a real plot in the libretto, which survives to the very end. The music is by Mr. Paul A. Rubens and is mostly written in the prevalent Vienna-waltz style. The lyrics are ragged in spots and the humor is stodgy. Louise Gunning is the prima donna and the sweetness that used to be in her voice has to a considerable extent given place to increased volume. Mr. Robert Warwick, taken from the legiti- mate stage to look and sing a stalwart grand duke, is more stalwart and pic- turesque than musical. Mr. Herbert Corthell is the comedian, and manages to get a number of laughs. The restaurant scene in the second act is more brilliant and joyous than a similar one shown in the recent “Two Women,” in which Mrs. 397 Carter disported herself, but despite the similarity and an equal disregard of con- ventionality failed to convey the idea of depravity. There is some good dancing in “ The Balkan Princess,” and, altogether, it is one of the most pleasing of the musical shows of the season. Metcalfe. Astor—" The Boss,” by Mr. Edward Shel- don. Mr. Holbrook Blinn’s faithful delines- tion of the low type of local politician Belasco—"* The Concert.” Adapted Euro: pean comedy dealing satirically with woman's worship of the musician. Admirably pre- sented. Bijou Miller, angle road The Hen-Peck Casino—" Marriage a la Carte.” Musical farce with Emmy Wehlen and Mr. Harry Conor as stars. English in origin and with some amusing songs. 2 Cohan's—" Get Rich Quick Wallingford.” Humorous depiction of. the confidence man, his games and his victims. —" Tl Be Hanged if I Do.” Light American comedy exploiting Mr. William Col lier and his fun. on——Mr. Victor “The Havoc,” with Mr. He: The old theme’ of the domestic t ee above. loore in “ The Hap Notice later. Last week of the curious comedy satirizing modern ideas from the point of view of mythology. Empire— The Twelve Pound Look" ar lice-Sit-by-the-Fire, . J. M. Barrie Notice later, Gaiety —** F. a y Mr. Rupert Hughes, ! Notice later, The Slim. Princess.” Elsie Janis and Mr. Joseph Cawthorne in a diverting mu sical piece. , _ Hackett—" Over Night:” Farce along old lines. Not very funny and somewhat risky in spots. Herald Square —“' The Balkan Princess.” See above. Hippodrome—Brilliant Ballet and spectacle with new circus acts, Hudson —“ Nobody’s Widow Blanche Rates heading a good company in entertain ing, light American comedy. ‘nickerbocker—" Chantecler.” Edmond Rostand’s poetic satire and allegory turned into an American spectacle, with Maude Adams in the, title part Lyceum—" Seven Sisters,” with Mr, Charles Cherry. Notice later. Lyric—" The Deep’ Purple." drama with New York “crooks” as the prin- cipal characters _ Majestic—" "Way Down East.” Rural life in New England in long-lived drama Maxine Elliott’s—" The Gamblers.” Well acted and well staged drama, based on pres ent-day business methods Nazimova—" Baby Mine.” Extremely laughable light comedy of the newly we New—Repertory with “ Nobody's Daugh as the novelty ee above. Republic — “ Rebee of Sunnybrook Farm Charming stage version of the stories of child life in a New England village. Wholesome and refreshin, Wallack's—“ Poman- der Walk.” Dainty ro mantic comedy, well acted and delightfully staged. Weber's—" Alma, Where Do You Live? * Crude farce with some tuneful songs. Well acted NEW PLAYS “ wonopy’: DAUGHTER.” comicbooks.com