Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-12-27
New National.

4 great big production is "Follies of
1910" 1t is truthfully announced as r.
Ziegfeld, jr.'s. best revue, judging from
the commentator accorded at the New
National Theater last evening by an au-
dience numerically SO large that the
standing-room-only condition was reached
long prior to the rise Of the curtain. The
fact that the entertainment embraces
! three acts and sixteen scenes is evidence
that there is plenty Of action. The stage
pictures are sumptuous. These follow one
another with such rapidity that the entire
absence OF plot has no bearing on the
matter at all. a revue probably is not
supposed to possess a plot. Mr. Ziegfeld
has long enjoyed the reputation, of being
able TO corner large proportion of tho
very best looking young women who APP
pear before the footlights, and the Fol
lies Of 1910 affords ample proof that he
is entitled to be known as at least one
of the heads of the beauty trust" There
are girls galore, all young. all pretty;
girls who can sing and girls who can
dance. The comedy is supplied by an
exceptionally large coterie Of comedians.
Including Bickel and Watson, Billy
Reeves. Bobby North and the colored en-
tertainer. Bert Williams. -. leading
comedienne is Miss Fanny Brice. while
| most OF the solo work rests with Miss
Shirley kellogg and Miss Lillian Lorraine
The Follies of 191O' is teeming with
novelties and surprises. 4 substantial
! portion of the entertainment is given in
portions of the playhouse usually allotted
| TO the audience. this feature starting
| early in the evening. Billy Reeves is
| the chief participant in a genuine thrill
| er." After climbing onto the stage from
a seat in the orchestra he mounted ter
| race, with characteristic unsteady foot
steps, and suddenly plunged downward
| head foremost. There was gasp from
| the audience, followed by laughter when
| a splash was noticed, for the comedian,
| in evening raiment, had landed in a large
! pool OF water. hitherto unseen. Dripping
| wet, he climbed from the pool, and, clutch
| ing for support. grabbed the nearest GIRL
| she wearing an evening gown, and the
pair topped back into the water. This
| afforded excuse for all the other girls on
| the stage to unfasten a few ''hooks and
| eyes, discard their gowns. and in bath
! ing suits make use of the pool for diving
and other aquatic pastiines.
| The fun is so fast and the scenes shift
so rapidly that 1t is difficult for those in
| the audience to retain a clear reconec-
ton of all the good things In the feast
| provided for the eye and the ear. There
| Is reminiscent ragtine revue, made I'D
Of hits from previous revues and other
| shows. going as far back as Fay Tenn
| pleton's "Rosey Posey'' of Weber and
| Fields Music Hall days. One Of the
| a fake motion picture Of the Jeffries-
| johnson fight Is being taken. Bert Will
| liams representing Jack Johnson, with
Billie Reeves as Jim Jeffries Bickel and
| Watson have a rehearsal in disccrd of their
big military band. and then there is
! swing scene. the swing being constructed
| on a new principle. a beam being pro-
| jected SO that Miss Lorraine is moved far
| out above those sitting in the orchestra
| chairs, where, while singing Swing Me
| High, Swing Me Low" she distributes
! carnations Furthermore there il model
| heunery with all the we'll known fowls;
| the return Of Roosevelt is portrayed and
| q march given by the West Point
| Cadets" headed by military band.