Life, 1920-02-19 · page 27 of 48
Life — February 19, 1920 — page 27: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page reviews theatrical productions on Broadway, with a photograph illustrating a scene from "Breakfast in Bed," a French farce starring Florence Moore. The image shows two women in period dress in what appears to be a bedroom setting, with the caption quoting dialogue: "I ain't goin' to argue no more. Ye'll raise me wages or ye'll button that other shoe yerself." The reviews are typical theater criticism of the era, praising or critiquing performances and productions. The satire is gentle—the critic notes that while Moore is a "remarkably eccentric comedienne," the French farce's adaptation is "unskillfully made," limiting her comic effectiveness. The page represents early 20th-century Broadway culture, when theater was a major entertainment form. Most productions listed are comedies, farces, and melodramas—popular genres of the period. The reviews assume readers are familiar with Broadway venues and performers, indicating Life's audience was urban and theater-going.
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Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Helen Watterson called “the uneasy sex” there are doubtless women who have been driven to great lengths by an aversion to boredom, but hardly a career and such a sudden re- n to maternal form as that here need in the case of Mrs. Prudence. ¢ play is entertaining, if we do not ze it too closely, and the charming da well chosen cast enable us to possible. RENCE MOORE kfast in Bed” sufficient vitali- r in fun-making to make al- me go, but the adaptation of this farce from the French is so unskil- fully made that a large part of her effort goes for small profit. She is a remark- ric comedienne with a most al personality which could be better it seems without difficulty, character than in the present case. er, even as it is, she makes many hs in “ Breakfast in Bed.” QPSSPBRPQRLA’AEe ITH all the effort brought to bear, “My Golden Girl’ is only a girl- music show of the usual type. Mr. cr in the book provides compl of a very familiar kind, and in the side of the finished workman. there is very little of the Victor nert of other days. Metcalfe. In what 1 supplies to 1 Ship- as the t. play of American life 0 seems to have met perpe Istor.—" Fast Is West.” by Messrs Bainter co.— The Son-Daughter,” by Messrs ugh and Belasco, with Leonore Ul e poli plots of Chi in plot of a very picturesque melodrama lo: ted in New York's Chinatown. t.— "His Honor Abe Potash.” by Glass and Goodman, with Barney the title rile. The career of the and Perlmutter firm continued in & politics, th —"The Purple Mask.” by Mr. Lang, with Mr, Leo Ditrichstein ince and entertaining melodrama of the when the first Napoleon was Consul * Through.” by Mr . with Jane Cowl. | Spiritual- mance and sentiment, with the beauty star to decorate those themes. i ttle Whopper,” by Messrs hand Friml. Roarding-school adven s to a tuneful musical accompaniment, ury. —“ Aphrodite.” The wickedness y of ancient Alexandria in gorgeous Grove-—" Midnight Whirl.” Ca. baret substitute for sleep. Central, hard vith Mr. Sam Irene Bordoni. Girl-and-music brilliancy. Ine Night in Rom by Mr. Martley Manners, with Laurette Taylor, F ne-telling made attractive by the star in an interesting play. Cohan and Harris.—“ The Acquittal,” by Rita Weiman. Crime melodrama holding the attention throughout, —_— — “1 AIN'T GOIN’ TO ARGUE NO MO! Comedy. y_ Friends,” by Messrs Nvitray and ; with Mr. Clifton Craw ford. Farcical comedy, laughable and well done, Cort.—" Abraham Li Mr. Drinkwater. An impre preted epic of an inspir can_history. Criterion, —" Pietro, and Mr. J ner, Comp! acter dr: star in a fairly congenial réle. Empire.—" Declassée,” by Zoe Aki lo. Ame n ng and well done, Eltinge,—" Breakfast in Red.” French farce with Florence Moore. See above. ihth Street—" The Storm,” by Mr. Langdon “McCormick. Melodrama’ of | the Northwest with the brilliancy confined to a forestfire scene, Forty-fourth Street—" Fy Elaborate but vulgar girl Fulton.—" Mamma’s Affair.” by Rachel R. Tatler. Showing in well played comedy how the woman invalid messes things up for er folks. John well_inter- ma with the society jes of 1920," \d-music show, .” by Messre. Winchell The divorce colony amusing in well acted charac- The Power of Dark. very gloomy tragedy by Messrs. Agreeable girl-and-music Globe. —" Anple Rlossoms.” Kreisler, Jacobi and Le Raron. demonstration of what the show ought to be. Harris —* Wedding Bells." by Mr. Salis- bury Field. Admirably acted and very laugh- able light comedy. Henry Miller's. — “The Famous Mrs. Fair,” by Mr. James Forbes, with Blanche Bates and Henry Miller. Satire on the wom- an in public life, clever and very well per- formed. Hippodrome. —“ Happy Days.” Big de- velopments of spectacle, ballet and vaudeville. __ Hudson.—"* Clarence,” by Mr, Booth Tark- ington, Liberty.—" The Nij ‘a and Kern, with Ada Lewis and Mr. Juha E. Hazzard. "See above. YELL RAISE THAT OTHER SHOE ME WAGES OR YELL BUTTON versene’ Little —" He and She," ter. jacre.—" Adam and Eva.” by Messrs. and Middleton. Diverting comedy ion ef one way to deal with an n.— "The Gold Diggers," by Mr. Hopwood with Ina Claire.” Amusing nd well staged depiction of some phases in w York chorus-girl life. te—" Always You." by Messrs. merstein and Stothart. | Girl-and-music of fairly diverting qualit Marine Eli fn by Mr. William Hurlbut, w Elliott. See above. Morosco.—" For the Defence.” by Mr. Elmer Rice, with Mr. Richard eit. Very well acted melodrama of sex an " Revond_the Hor: Mr. by Rachel Croth- Ham- show in Se h M let,” © Maxine Messrs, Herbert and K Park —Repertory of ligh ly rendered. Plavhouse.—" The Ruined Lady.” by ces Nordstrom. with Grace George. Cheery comedy with the star successfully displaying her finished art as a comedienne Plymouth —Last week of “The Test.” by Mr. Sem Benelli. with Mr, Tohn Rarrysnore. Powerful drama of medieval Florence, very well acted, Republic.—" The Sign on the Door.” by Mr. Channing Pollock. Metod of er and sex, ingenions in constry d sorbing in interest. Se —"' Ruddies.” by Messrs, Hohart and Hilliam. M agreeably applied to ri mantic episodes in life among the A. FE. F. in France. Shubert. — “The Magic Melody.” by Messrs, Kummer and Romberg. Well staged and interesting musical drama. Thirty-ninth Street, —“ Scandal.” by Mr. Cosmo Hamilton. Society sex comedy, well written and well played. Vanderbilt, —“ Irene.” by M. gomery and Tierney, with Day. Sprightly and enjoyable girl. ic show. Winter Gorden, —“ The Passing Show of 1910." Another cheer-up for the t. b. m., gorgeously disguised as an elaborate girl-and- music show, operas. pleasant. vy Fran. . Mont- comicbooks.com