mtr " 10 flOODWIN'S'WEEKLY
I I I ' " The First Nighters I
' I T
H 111 NUbh HERE have
1 II m (T 11 een wo rat"
1 m. J tling good
H II &r 1 1 shows at the
B i" I Sait Lake this
H I 'rTfTTy1 J week, both fea
fl t u r i n g well-
M known stars. Blanche King and cap-
B able company held the boards the first
M three nights in the typical Morosco
H production, "What Next," and Kather-
m ire Grey is winding up the week In
H "The 13th Chair," a mystory play of
fl unique type. Both shows are worth
M seeing.
H It is always a pleasure to see
H Blanche Ring. The years seem to
H have dealt kindly with her she is just
H as clever and chipper and shapely as
M ever, and prosperous, too but some-
H how or other, she seems to recall bet-
H ter days, the days when authors wrote
H real songs and the stars knew how to
H sing them. This is no reflection on
H "What Next," for it is way above the
' average of present day musical com-
M' edy productions. There is really a plot
m to the play, that thickens and thins
H' ' as real interesting plots should, to-
H' gether with some exceptionally clever
H I lines and a good song or two. Also, the
Hd male contingent can sing to beat the
H band, and the several specialties offer-
H ed are sufficiently varied and finished
H ) to satisfy the most exacting first night-
H "Mary Brown" proved to be the
H song hit of the performance, but the
H inimitable Blanche was at her best In
H "Cleopatra," a song which she sings
H with characteristic action and abandon
H that suggests that old favorite, "Rings
H On My Fingers, with which she scored
H J one of her greatest triumphs. In less
H j competent hands, one doubts that the
H play would size up to expectations,
H but the resourceful actress, ably asslst-
H ed, easily supplies the mirth, melody
H and motion necessary to save the pro-
H duction from mediocrity.
H And one must "not forget Marie
H ' Decker, whose stage presence is so
H natural and whose personality is so ap-
H pealing, whether she sings, chatters,
H shows her shapeliness, or simply
H smiles, that you can't resist falling In
H love with her. Also, Charles Mlnnin-
H ger in his eccentric German role, and
B, Neely Edwards, a poet who imbibes,
H and Ed. Flanagan, an actor who had
j seen better days all tlnee husbands
K of Mary Brown (Miss Ring) at one
W tfme or another are all admirably
m) ', cast and contribute to the merriment
K 1 in a manner that Is intensely pleasing.
Hyj, Altogether, the company is of a high
; i order and the show proved to be a
HrL real treat to Salt Lakers.
Bfii
Bi
i "jHOSE who care for mystery
m U drama in all its blood-curdling
HI. 1 1 i amif icatlons will experience a suc-
H, ' I ' cession of thrills and chills that
HI should satiate their desire for a long
-
time to come. Not that it Is fair to
characterize the play as altogether
morbid, for it is cleverly finished in
every particular; but the plot re
volves around a double murder that
calls into execution all the artifices
of the professional "medium" and all
the brutal tactics commonly employed
by modern police methods, to unravel
the tangle, clear the innocent person
under suspicion and fix the guilt
where it belongs.
It is quite probable that Craig Ken
nedy, he of exceptional "book detec
tive" fame, would be delighted with
the play. At that, there is consider
able comedy1 runing through the lines
sufficient, at least, to periodically
relieve an otherwise unbearable ten
sion. A love affair plays a prominent
part in the scheme, of course, and
this, together with the Impulse df a
mother's love, inspiring the medium
to accomplish the seemingly impos
sible in crime detection, is the sav
ing situation of the play.
Katherine Grey is admirably cast
in the lole of the medium and plays
the difficult part to. perfection. One
could not help wishing at times, how
ever.that a happier selection had been
afforded her to display her extraor
dinary talents. The company accords
her able support. As was observed
above, those who care for this kind
of drama should see the play.
ORPHEUM
ypAGNIFICENT music coupled with
W beautiful stage effects add to
the Terpsichorean act headlines the
Orpheum this week. Of the several
numbers it would be difficult to say
which was the best, for all 'are beauti
ful, all alluring, all graceful, all classi
cal. Theodore Kolsoff premier Dan
seur of the Imperial theatres in Mos
cow and Petrogad, has assembled a
ballet that, like himself, is the personi
fication of rythmic" motion. Add to
this the fact that among the members
of his Imperial ballet is Winnifred
Shaughnessy De Wbolf, who has many
friends in Salt Lake and whose artistic
interpretation of the Aztec poem was
a dream. But you must see this won
derful act to appreciate it.
There are many good things on the
bill, variety enough to please all; some
better than others but all good. Worth
particular mention are Horace Wright
and Rene Dietrich in their song offer
ing which is somewhat different so
much so that it is out of the ordi
nary their Hawaiian numbers being
more than pleasing.
Of course there are laugh producers
must be to make the bill acceptable
and these are found in. the acts -Of
Florence Baird and E. Charles Behsee
in their "Songiflage;' in the "A Two
Weeks' Notice," by Dorothy Hays and
company, and in the act of the "Won-
derboy" Archf Onrl, assisted by Miss
Dolly; and in the talk and songs of
Alf Grant. The Five Nelson's con
clude the bill -with "Hoops My Dear"
in ah act tlia't pleases. On the 'screen
are fo be seen for the first time In
Salt Lake, pictures of the American
soldiers as they appear in France.
PANT AGES
"Frolicking in a Gypsy Camp" is the
headliner at Pantages this week and
it is as the old fellow would say
"well, worth the price of admission,"
for the music which the six Venetian
singers give is charming and Is height
ened by the camp stiene. It is the
sort of music 'that lingers with you
when you leave the playhouse.
Owen McGivney presents the "mur
der scene from Oliver Twist," which
runs a close second to the headliner
McGivney, through quick changes, por
trays five characters Nancy, Bill
Sykes, Fagln, Artful Dodger and
Monks. His quick changes are re
markable. An acrobatic act in which
Claire and Atwood appear is exceed
ingly clover. They are agile comiques
' and their stunt makes a hjt.
Early and Laight have a dualogue
that provokes much laughter which Is
also true of Frank Morrill in his song
and monologue act. There is noise
galore In the act of the "pianophl
ends," Reeder and Armstrong, and
that is about all that can be said of it.
The tenth installment of the "Fatal
Ring" and pictures of the campaign in
Salt Lake for Liberty Bonds are
shown upon the screen. The show is
worth seeing.
ANNA HELD MODISTE
BNNA HELD as an entertainer
bids fair to give way to Anna
Held, the modiste, if the fashion ex
perts where her musical comedy, "Fol
low Me" is playing, do not stop run
ning to the theatre solely for the pur-
T
MRS GENE HUGHES, WHOSE SARTORIAL COMEDY, "GOWNS" WILL DE ONE OF
THE INTERESTING ATTRACTIONS OF THE VAUDEVILLE SHOW WHICH
OPENS AT THE ORPHEUM THEATRE NEXT WEDNESDAY EVENING