The evening world. Newspaper, December 24, 1918, Page 12

i at * Gueninde St soa am BE a ll COMIC PAGE Tuesday, December 24, 1918 BY CHARL LL of us—at any rate those of us with imagination—have cherished the thought that if we were _ == make our mark on the target fascinating, if not at all practicable. This much, at least, may be ia ® vague affair that may appeal t to make a distinct impression. “Whimsical” is a ready word to in describing Barrie's hemor, but it is a word that has been . Overworked so far as dramatic value seize upon goes, “Dear Brutus” is a comedy in ‘three moods, and the chief mood is that of ° Midsummer Night's Dream.” Barrie has turned to Shake- “speare by way of seeking relief from ‘the ills of the world, and made his Mouthpiece a combination of Bottom “nd Puck. An impish old man named Lob works a spel! that carries com- Monplace English people out of their Maily environment into a more or less jenchanted wood, where they have Their “second chance” at life. Nat- urally enough—and herein lies the wense of the thing—they do not rise to glotivus heights, Lady Caroline finds herself the willing slave of her fat sand bewhiskered butler, while other members of British society, in its somewhat restricted sense, are in- felined to follow paths on which no _ Anyway, stein at the great light shines, It was as the artist with true ideals that William Gillette gave a teautitul touch to the play. From first to Jast his acting was admirable, ‘though in the earlier part of the play the was compelled to act the part of a “@runkard. Various characters made “Listen Lester” “Listen Lester,” which was pre- sented for the first time at the Knickerbocker last night, Broad- Way gets another entertainment Whose name was parently drawn from a grab bag by a blindfolded man, the name :s the poorest ‘Ahing about the musica! comedy, for even _ the book of which Harry L, Cort and George E. Stoddard are responsible, and for which Harold Orlob wrote ghe music. “Listen Lester” is des- eribed in the programme as “a musi- ‘eal entertainment.” It is all of that, and it might also be described as a @ancing handicap, for the first cur- tain rides on a songless dance and the performers gallop gayly and generally @racefully through the rest of the piece. Like most of the offerings of a similar class there is nothing in the way of a story to annoy the brain weary ‘goer, but there is @ succes. sion of some of the most tuneful wongs heard this season and the aforementioned dancing. Some of the lines are fairly bright despite a superabundance of uninspired puns. lohnny Dooley, Paim Beach ‘Somebody’s Sweetheart’ OMEBODY'S SWEETHEART," the two-act musica) play pre- sented by Arthur Hammer- Central Theatre this week, is due for a long run if the applause of the audience is any cri- terion. The scenes are laid in Se- “Ss ville, Spain, and in both acts three arate couples are desperately try- ing.to clear up their individual love affairs. With seventeen catchy musi- eal numbers it affords ample oppor- tunity for the lovers to find expres. #ion in song. ‘The daughter of Colonel Williams, American Ambassador to Spain, is engaged to be married to an adven- turer from the United States, Harry Wawards. Sam Benton, a college chum, of Edwards, likewise decides to hecome a benedict, by wooing Colone! Williams's younger daughter. To make Edwards's marriage a success, it is planned to have a typical Span- THE NEW PLAYS A Gentle Gillette In “Dear Brutus” ained from “Dear Brutus,” the fantasy called @ comedy by J. M. Barrie, capitally acted at the Empire Theatre last night by William Gillette and his worthy associates. Worth Listening To. | LITTLE MARY MIXUP Good MORNING. MERRY CHRISTMAS This Was a Case of “Mixup Mary!” SAY @ 1s MY NAME MARY CHRISTMAS) OR MARY MIXUP 2 HELLO THERE MERAY CHRISTMAS HowDY Do MERRY CHRISTMAS 2 ES DARNTON given a second shot at life we might at which we are aiming. The idea is ‘The play itself © sentimentalists, even though it fails their way into the !maginary wood by turning abruptly to the right or left | instead of taking a path that intelil- | ent stage management should have provided. But once the artist found himself among the trees with the daughter for whom his heart longed we were given @ tender, human bit of acting by Mr, Gillette and Helen | apes yu prem Pe { Hayes. THE BIG LITTLE FAMILY Above all, it was @ nt Gillette | ‘eo -TH' BRUTE! who won admiration. He played as “MAN” (6 A TYRANT- only @ man who loves children can | play with a child, This scene gave AINT HE “LuKe” ? q # Reewing Wortt “Dear Brutus” a beauty as refreshing as green leaves, It brought the heort of a man close to the heart of a child, and it was acted with | feeling rare in the thi niente. 1 \ ANOTHER CRYIN LETTER doubt that Ly jaye *” Who romped about ith all the ehet FROM YOUR “SISTER and freshness of youth, adored M ABOUT HER HUSBAND? Gillette, while he seemed to worship || a. 9% -ER- REALLY ) MY SEAR I HARDLY -ER- 7. WOYS “THAT her. H Other characters were acted with and understanding by Hilda Spong, Sam Sothern, Marie Wain- | wright, Louis Calvert, Violet Kembie | Cooper, Elisabeth Risdon, J. H. Brew- | cr, Myrtle ‘Tannehill and Grant Stew- | art. But for the most part these characters might have been lost in the wood without regret on the part of the audience, \ Happily the aytist was up with the birds in the mbdrning eager to take| his easel and his wife into the fields. Only Barrie could work this wonder in a man who, the night before, had | been drinking more than was good | tor him ° | skill hotel clerk, cavorts in his easy way during the greater part of the action, and shares honors with Clifton Webo and Eddie Garvie, Hansford Wilson, in the name part, is as funny to look at nost players are with their best lines, and he docs an eccentric dance |" | that is as funny as he looks. | Of the feminine entertainers, Ada} Mae Weeks is a real joy when she | dances, and Gertrude Vanderbilt, as a “vamp,” brings tremendous charm in | singing and dancing to back up anj unusually clever charagterization, Ada | Lewis, in the role of the inevitable musical comedy widow secking an- other mate, was effective. * e | the musical numbers, “Waiting | sung by Miss Weeks and | Dooley, backed up by the Four En tertainers, a sonorous male quart was easily the favorite—one of the things that the audience hears during the Intermission. “A Very Good Baby in the Day Time,” sung by Miss Van | derbilt and Wilaon; “I'd Love To,’ Miss Vanderbilt ‘and Dooley, “For a Girl Like You," by Dooley and! | Miss Weeks also won quick popu | larity, . A chorus, boldly proclaimed the | ‘daintiest. danciest Broadway ever | ave | is not all that, but It serves to| | set off the A th Copyright, 1918, Press Publishing Ca (N.Y Evening Wora) WHAT'S THAT QUEER OboR , Joe? IS ANYTHING WRONG WITH “THE ENGINE! ax LXE PAINT BURNING! CA MERCIEUL GOODNESS . Joes \T's THat AWFUL CIGAR — !! “HRow Tr Awan! JOE THIS IS THE MosT WONDERFOL XMAS PRESENT YoU EVER GAVE ME! ISNT (T CozY AND EV'RY THING? SAX! Tuar’s a TEN CENT«eR! Great! NOTHIN" Like ir! attractive principals, | t ten worth listening lookin, | ightand Breezy. ish three-day fete. Enter Zalda, a} a a 3 ee 3 ae to mary Bdecray pra sneaget} ‘SOMEWHERE IN NEW YORK “Twas the Night Before Christmas.” States, and when that worthy learns | that she iy to be present, he is some. | what peeved. Appealing to his| MA LAYS OUT THE PRESENTS fROUNe ’ THE TREE~ ANO PAW PAANSES A DISCOVERY: LookIT WHAT WILLIE’S GONNA GET! ETAT a OT IN NTA ARAFFLE-HE SAVE ‘era ALL CLAUS!IAE LIKES AND SAY! DEUcE OF THE Kips AIN'T 1 THe Te dT3i— ANOWOSTIE StENS Cigetine : 4 JOB GETTIN Te Ge Te BEp! bosom friend, Benton, he persuades | I Rew q HW’ KKIDOIES AND him to make love to Zaida te take her | PERITT TERY” A SETS J mind off his coming marriage. | AINT GONNA BE CHRISTMAS: u a! THIS, Big Ben Hud, the chief of the| PUCK LEFT OF IT © WONT BE AN SAY! TG Sypsy band, is not altogether pleased | BUT BONES — STAD I rorGor that this American should trifle with 4 ETS HOLD A THAT SomEsoDY the affection of his star entertainer, ORUM-THEM ole AFTER ALL MY Benton, in turn, is agreeable to Big GREMCALS Pan y STEWIN' AND? Ben's Interference, because he is in ONS AN” WeRKIN! MY SELP THINGS! love with Bessie Willams, Seren- om LPERSE ading and dancing intermingle wit Stee eeu = EC Uron! rs rmingle with SYOGE MENT Maseeines! ie ela Pretty girls, gorgeous costumes andy Seer elgle a artistic scenery. One of the sur Prises to the audiénce Is the intro duction of a four-year-old, who sings "“Peep-a-Boo.” Her name js Rot on the programme, Albert Backett enacts the role of Colonel Williams, while the lovers layed by Arthur Klein and Eva n, Willlam Kent and Lovise| Allen and John Dunsmure and Non- ette. EYE FOR BUSINESS, BRIGHT eyed little boy in a sailor suit saluted the occu- pants of a passing motorcar *0 quaintly that they stopped to give him sixpence. “You're a ver polite little fel. low,” the lady mo- torist said, strangers who pass in the way?" “No, no, ma'am, only motorists,” the Poy stammered, fingering his wix- @ence nervously, “Father says I've to be polite to them, because motor! ears bring him trade.” ‘The lady seemed disappointed “What is your father’s trade, my Mttle gnan? Does he repdir motor fare?) “No, ma'am; he's an undertaker,” fves the little feliow’s response,—Lon- “Do you salute all the same |, { ————— al is The “Nobodies” Will*Get Him If He Don't Watch Out! \ THE PAST FORGIVEN, ILLIE, the office boy, who is getting five a week and is convinced that he is within the to category of “employees essent al the success of the enterprise," | sked the boss last week to ral 7 nd to seven-ffty. . (, fi eae Why, Willie,” the potentate some i S for met What pompously replied, unblushingly cet using the old stuff once more, “when : 1 was your age I worked for halt what you're getting now,” “Aw, come on, boss," Willie, “All I want is the raise; J \in't lookin’ for no lesson in early American history.”—Judge. $< You wanted US, Now take Care of us Zz Always my rene on™ time’ You Could “use me e his] T Increased your salary ' Tew give me Jorme Pu biicity, lin the Nobody that returns hor owed umbrellas lve been sent te you 24) times and yeuve used me' nel only once’ f | i) eo) ' x “Use m q '/4 again! im ( always good 1 never gosnp! lcome first, Lin the guy that loves the Aaiser S Secand and you me In the wa fi = ae countered SENSIBLE THOUGH UNUSUAL, | | LADY acquaintance of ours| | cently while hiring a girl, The girl had not brought her r ences, and the lady asked her to pome back with them on the follow- . ‘You won't hire an i} inquires the Fao haxloualy. ooat “How can I be sure wager" ones the lady We oie e@ girl opened her pocketbook, took out a dollar bill, ond denny it to the\lad : “Bee, I leave you @ deposi Transoript, ms Dear Ri - “SE eader- Ur Perfect; “haber, 43 Duvich ay CaS a MU -- e