The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-08-23

saw vaudeville bill that from start to
finish was replete with excellent fea-
lures.
Odiva Is the feature Of the programme.
and she comes last-on that principle
OF vaudeville bill that saves the best
TO the end For ms is one act that
really comes Up 10 and surpasses ali that
the enthusiastic advance agent said about
it. 1t is an act unique on the vaudeville
stage. Annette Kellerman gave exhibit
lions OF diving but Odiva gives also ex-
hibitions Of swimming and aquatic gym
nastics that well earn for her the title
OF the mermaid" The act OF Odiva
is done in a huge glass tank. filed with
water so clear that every movement Of
the swimmer can be seen. She dives into
the tank fully dressed, undresses under
water, and comes up clad in her swim
ming costume. She gives exhibitions OF
floating, fancy swimming sewing under
water, eating az the bottom Of the tank.
and. as a test Ct endurance. remains
under water for over two minutes Her
act concludes with fancy dives from va
rious heights. Odiva IS the personihca-
ton Of grace. and her exhibition is mar
velous. as showing how easily one
movements may be controlled in the
water-if one has the skill and conf
dence.
Another feature OF the good bill was
the Valerie Bergere Players in a new
act, by Victor H. Smalley. we'll known
in Washington. entitled What Happened
in Room a." II is a cleverly written
sketch. that during its playing threatens
10 develop into dire tragedy. but which
turns out 10 be sheer farce and good
fun II was admirably played by Ruth
Raynor. Edward Hemmer, and J. Fred
HALFWAY. who made some clever fun
as the bell boy.
Lew Hawkins. the minstrel man, Is
back with a lot of good new material
He leads the way with lot OF new Jokes
about Reno. Of which it is inevitable that
we shall get plenty this season. He has
some sood songs and PAROLES, and he
mads a decided hit The Frey Twins
give a novel exhibition OF the holds in
wrestling, and conclude an act that is
graceful and exciting. with a sure-enough
wrestling match that is fast and furious
The IL opens with Dolly Burton's Dog
Circus. much more animated and clever
ly put on than some OF the animal acts
are. II is plain that the act owes much
Of its vivacity 20 the cleverness Of Dolly
Burton herself Olivottfs Troubadours
play some popular selections very well.
and the Avon Comedy -Four manages 20
raise few laughs The menu Of good
things was exhausted by pictures. by the
American Vitagraph. There IS only one
trouble with Chase's opening bnl-lt sets
such high-water mark in the matter OF
quality Of entertainment that the man
agement may be put to II TO keep up
the pace that the opening sets
''Wndfre. the racing comedy by
George Broadhurst and George Y. Ho-
bart which only short time ago served
as starring vehicle for Lillian Russell
was the attraction at the Academy last
night that served 10 draw a crowded
house. and proved so clever an entertain
ment that IL is sure 70 attract large au-
diences all the rest OF the week In a
way II is a society comedy; but, dealing
with racing and love. as it does. it's ap-
peal IS almost universal II has a human
attractive; Il has tense dramatic situa-
tons. a romantic and appealing love
story. and enough comedy throughout so
that neither players nor the audience can
take themselves too seriously, but can
Just give themselves UP TO a hearty
laugh.
Since Lillian Russell starred IN this
play in the high-priced houses only a
short while ago. the piece has lost none
OF its attractiveness or, apparently, It's
drawing quality. And it was remarked
last night by many who had seen the
original performances that the present
production suffers not at all in COM.
parison with il. bearing UP well the repu-
tation OF Harry DOel Parker for putting
HIS plays on III lavish and adequate
stvle.
Miss Luella Mercy IS the star now, and
she plays the part Of Mrs. harrington,
the owner Of wildfre. the race horse
that gets all the good people in the play
out OF their difficulties by winning
critical race. with a verve and grace
that won her hearty applause and ad-
miration for her cleverness The part IS
by no means an easy one. 1t is one OF
those parts that was evidently written
for a star and it requires the actress
playing ii to be on the stage almost
continuously But Miss Morey does not
suffer by this test; is not subdued by
the difficulty. OF agreeable presence and
cultured voice, she was always pleasing
when on the stage, and in one or two
~ L H.
how. Wildfre should be ridden in the
race-her dramatic force quite carried
her auditors away Her performance
was strikingly clever throughout In
deed. the feminine part Of the cast is
entitled to praise all through. Jeanette
Wolf as Hortense. a colored maid. gives
a notable example Of good character
acting Miss Elaine Trap did well as
Myrtle. and Miss Bonnibel Hay as Janet
Sterling made small part stand out
strongly by reason Of her ability, no
less than the charm Of her presence
OF the men. Mr.. Roland Edwards as
John Garrison did some notably clever
work, being especially good in the love
scenes with Miss Morey. Mr.. Devere
as Matt Donovan was good. but a little
bofsterous, and Gus Alexander. always
funny, does some Of the best work Of
his career as Bud. the stable boy. An
other very clever piece of work was the
John Duffy Of Robert Clugston. John De
Weese as the colored jockey won many
a laugh. The BERTHE Aimsworth OF Lance
Burrit was pretty tame and much too
nasal for an Englishman, and w II.
Roche as DR.. woodhurst seemed to be
afraid 20 give his character the exag-
geration that alone justihes the presen-