The Washington herald., 1907-09-29
Joe Weber's Failure.

As we said in a criticism Of Joe Web
er's latest musical show, Hip. Hip. Hoo
ray. which was produced al the Belaseo
Theater on Tuesday night, It is almost
/ impossible for so we'll known a comedian
and producer TO have an utter failure,
but. indeed, this time he seems TO have
come perilously near H. That he him
self recognized the justice OF The Wash
ington Herald's criticism Is evidenced by
the fact that before the end Of the week
came around the whole plan and purpose
Of the show was materially changed.
That impossible hOuseboat scene. which
left a strip Of the stage about yard
wide as the only field for the players.
has gone altogether. and that silly and
puerile initiation scene at the close OF the
second act was likewise relegated 10 the
scrap heap. Rehearsals were held every
day, and often far into the night, the
producer. the dialogue-writer. and the
soug-writer all being present to help out
with suggestions. They win have 10
continue 10 work for some time longer.
and in about a month from now. when
Hip. Hip, Ho0ray' goes into New York.
il viii. in all probability, be a rattling
good show, but il viii be a mighty diff
ferent show from the Hip, Hip, Hooray"
shown 10 Washington's theater-goers.
As It is now there is hardly a fragment
Of real wit in the play. What passes. for
comedy is the same sort of horsepIay
that is INDUCED in by the cheaper class
Of comedians at the vaudeville and bur
lesque theaters. Il finds its highest ex-
preston when Joe Weber himself breaks
canoe paddle spanking a fellow-co-
median. and when. II the end Of the second
act lot Of bladders are brought in so
that a comedian may fall on them and
make the audience laugh al the noise
they make in bursting. All this sort Of
thing Is quite unworthy "a first-class
musical show. and is miles below the
standard of smarness and cleverness. set
by the older Weber & Fields shows. An
other objection to the show is the ex
treme vulgarity of certain of the lines
and throughout the play there was en-
tirely too much swearing. In the first
act alone there We're five "damns." n is
one of the curiosities OF the public con
science why swearing on the stage should
Invariably get a laugh People who in
private life would be immeasurablv
shocked If a man should swear in their
presence. stin go into roars Of laughter
when a comedian says damn" on the
stage. and. for some strange. psycholog-
ical reason, II one comedian will saw 10
another. Go to h it seems the. acme
Of brilliant repartee. In truth. il betrays
the paucity of wit Of those who built
this show. There is not, in reality. one
single new idea, not one original thought;
not new dance, a new ensemble. new
electric effect It is all a strange hodge
podge Of old jokes, old situations. backed
up by mIsic that is remarkable neither
for its prettiness nor IT'S newness. and
only saved from utter stupidity through
the cleverness Of some of its principals
and the vivacity Of its chorus girls.
When new show is presented before
an audience for the first time outside Of
New York they call it trying It on the
dog. Washington was the dog" in the
case Of the Joe Weber show, and IL is
evident that Washington theater-goers do
not Ike the role.