New-York tribune., 1909-05-24
NOVELTY AT THE BROADWAY.
"'The Midnight Sons.

Lew Fields has set a pace for the purveyors
Of musical shows In q varied entertainment re-
foicf0g in the title of The Midnight Sons. with
which the Broadway Theatre was reopened on
Saturday night under his management, he has
shown that this class of amusement can be MADE
clean and engaging without being mediocre Those
managers who have contended that the variety
show. unattended by offensive situations, filthy
chatter and abominabIe dances. must necessarily
be an amateur affair, innocuous and uninviting
should visit the Broadway Theatre during the run
Of the rresent attraction. They Will discover on the
stage Of that old playhouse the Cheeriest spectacle
that has been offered here in many seasons 1t is
a show but a genuine one Apparently 1t was de-
signed to be nothing more Nobody worries ABOUT
plots or the cross purposes Of the play with music
The spectators 90 to those amusements hoping 10
be entertained by the antics and the songs and the
dances Of clever performers. They do not give a
ran for the person who presents the show, but
are deeply concerned about the quality Of his
Offering and # he has publicly boasted Of its
charms they expect TO behold something skIfuLy
executed. The real playgoer rarely pays return
VISIT to the besstIy exhibition, and readily brings
to mind Of the person responsible Tor It's
production. In this instance the public Will find
much for which TO be grateful: varied entertain
1nent. skIfully staged; several good performers:
well trained chorus and two or three novel pic
t5riaI situations Every feature Of the light and
fznciflI attractions IS to found here excepting
the vulgar Jest and the nude Representations
Glen NacDouough and Raymond Hubben pro-
zideE the inspiration. and the result is q musical
moving picture In eight films, admirably staged by
Ned Wayburn The incident IS not important,
though It probably was intended TO be a satirical
representation OF the foIlies OF rich young men.
The essential thing IS the performance. 1t begins
in q luxurious banquet hall where are gathered
q numerous assernblage Of rIotous Hvers, all the
rIesrs of Senator NOyes father OF four gay youths
known as the midnight sons" The Senator max
ing himself nterocutor of the occasion, introduces
thu principal performers, who sing and chatter in
an entertaining fashion The chief performers are
Blanche Ring Harry Fisher. George Monroe Fritz
Williams. Lotta Faust. J. N. Ratclif, Denman
Nalev. Vernon Castle and Norma Brown. OF the
numerous pictorial effects. the honeymoon eN-
r~ess. ana the garden fete pleasing to the
eve The Illusion cf the observation train is per
feet.
There are more than half hundred persons in
the spectacle but none more attractive than a
group Of Young performers led by Miss Norma
Brown dainty lass who sings agreeably and fits
about with grace and agility. They appear at in
raryaIs but are especially pleasing in a Jingle
called The Little Mary Gardeners" Miss Ring
sang dltty called Rings on My Fingers which
viii prove 10 be infectious.
one Of the best novelties is the exhibition OF the
art OF dancing given by the Marvellous Millers'
Their performance is both entertaining and in
srrrIctive They move with wondrous grace to the
r,.r,sc Of a waltz. executing various motions with
their heads and arms and feet. Presently the or
chestra plays a two-step polka, and they give
an exhibition Of rapid and rhythmcaI precision IN
the execution Of those dances