New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-11-12
AT THE VARIETIES
Minnie Dupree Has Absorbing
Act at Union Square.
M'GRAW BACK IN HARLEM
Hammerstein's Has a Bill OF
Almost Pure Enjoyment, the
Most Ambitious Act Failing.

When a man does thing that is par
| ticularly good he is very seldom shy
about taking the whole world into his
! confidence about IT, It is all the more
| wonder, then, that the author Of THE
Man in Front" the playlet which Minnie
Dupree presented for the first time in
| New York at b. f. Keith's Union Square
Theatre yesterday afternoon, fails 10
have MS or her name in big black type
on the programme. Who is this marvel
, I'm our midst who can write vaudeville
sketch which is distinctly good and yet
does not herald his identity from every
ashcan and billboard in the city?
1t begins conventlonslly enough with
what the critics call "the eternal TRAN
gle" of husband, wife and lover. Even
here, though, It takes a new turn, for
it's husband is himself one of those dra-
matte critics of whom George Bernard
Shaw has made fun Of so amusngly in
"Fannys First Play" This husband is
tired of the triangle himself, not sus-
pectlng that he IS one corner OF 1t. lie
leaves the wife and friend alone While ne
goes to see play on the subject, leaves
them to quarrel and to discover that the
friend has grown tired of the intrigue
and is I'm fact. TO be married to another
woman.
Then the husband comes home but
first surprise-not to find the guilty pair
and to discover their guilt. From that
no,nt on the playIet proceeds with sweep
that is powerful, bringing its surprises
hearers without murmur.
Throughout the playlet the acting Is ex-
cellent Miss Dupree playing a dlfhcuit
and unsympathetic character with stead
ily maintained interest. she mas espe-
ciaIly good support from Arthur hAltiand'
who plays the husband with power that
is excellently simulated.
A second noteworthy number on the
current BILL noteworthy more for what u
will be after a few performances IMAM
for what Il is now, is Jesse l.. Lasky
latest musical comedy in miniature, Inc
Little Parisienne." The sparkle OF the
French and the dourness Of the Scotch
do not hit il off well in real life, but on
the stage and in this act they piehd ih'o
an attractive conceit
AS usual. Mr.. Lasky has not spareo
money to give the best possible productlon
of this connposition Of Cecil de Mile, Will
tam lie Baron, Deems Taylor and ROBERT
Hood Bowers
"The new American beauty" to quote
the nrogrs mme-Miss Refine Davies-ls the
third feature at the Union Square.
,ris a pIty and pity tbs true, that mere
ambition is no guarantee OF eAceHehCe'
Al Hammerstein's Victoria TINS week '"e
act which is the one with the hlshest
ort,stic aims is the only one which isn't
pure enjoyment.
whole the bill is excellent vaude-
VILE. unusually So until the Ford Sisters.
Mabel and Dora, appear In a oahciHs
number called Legends OF Mythology
All the settings OF an art production
are in evidence, from the aristocratic ana
genteel green plush curtain to the scanty'
cheesecloth-like costumes of the classic
dancers. But while the two sisters were
CAPITAL when they were vaudeville team
with their brothers as the -Four tords IN
clog steps and the like, they are not
rivals of Isadora Duncan and Maud Al
lon and what they aim TO make an as-
thetic bit is neither good vaudeville nor
good art.
on the other hand Stella Mayhem could
never be called a devotee OF art In It's
most serene sense. but she is jolly sood
fun. She reappears with new songs and
the same husband, Billie Taylor, and
both are what vaudevilians like.
The bill presented at Proctor's Fifth
Avenue Theatre this week has at its head
that capital actor Julius Steser, In the
playlet in which he has appeared here be-
fore, Justice" The story told Is a grip
ming one and loses nothing by repetition
either I'm acting or retelling.
Miss Flavia Arcaro, remembered for her
appearance in the popular Chocolate
Soldier" is another leading player upon
the bill presenting a musical act IN
which she both sings and plays, as well
as changes her gowns.
Tho honor Of holding tho leading place
on the bill at 3. +. Keith's Colonial Thea
ire for the coming six days is being con-
tested by Florence Roberts, star OF
many emotional plays, and the musical
sketch college Days" In which Florence
Tempest, dancer, appears. Both made
their debut in this city at the Union
Square Theatre two weeks ago and arc
still receiving the popular appreciation
given them on that occasion.
In swinging around the vaudeville cir
cult John ]. McGraw, manager OF
the famous Giants, is appearing this
week at b. f. Keith's Alhambra Theatre
where in his stories OF baseball and its
associations he is repeating the success he
achieved. at one OF the downtown thea
tres recently.
IQMklMS EXPLAINS PLANS