The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1913-04-23
PENSY PLAzYAT
OPERA HOUSE
SUCCESS
LARGEST AUDIENCE EVER TO A
AssEMBLEfIN THE PLAY HOUSE
WITNESSED THE PRODUCTION
AND LOUDLY APPLAuDEo THE
PERFORMERS.
BY GILFILLIAN SCOTT.


A record house; the largest audience
that has ever witnessed a play at the
Pensacola opera house; even larger
than Billie Burke's, which was the rec
ord previous to the presentation OF
Pensy Play, is the proud boast of Mr..
Sidney P. Levy can make as the re-
suit of his initiative and enterprise
in producing his latest play last eve
ming There is no dougt that such a
record attendance was based upon
keen recollection ~of Mr.. Levy's previ-
GUS successful plays, and the public
were not disappointed.
From beginning to end of Pensy
Play, the house fairly rocked with
laughter; laughter which made ones
sides ache. which threatened apoplexy
for the stout ones and caused the thin
ones to double up and gasp for breath.
There wasn't a line without laugh
in it, and the truly wonderful feat
ure was the apparent spontaniety of
the multitude of quips and jests and
local hits.
Hits indeed they may be truly call
ed; for. before one had time to re-
cover from one sides splitting joke,
bang came another and another and
another, until one began to feel a
sense of alarm, and a weird sensation
that it would all end in coroners
INQUEST, with a verdict of died OF
Iaughingitis."
The unanimous judgment of the de-
lighted audience may be summed in
scome again, Sidney, come again"
Doctor Mallory Kennedy voiced this
in one of his verses, which, in an
aside to the audience, he stated he
had written himself, and which ran
ssMr. Sidney p. Levy will make big
hit some day"
Pensy Play is an extravaganza,
with just enough plot in 1t to give 1t
FORM and built on such easy going
lines as to provide ample room for the
introduction Of just anything topical;
and it was this simplicity of construc-
ton which made 1t such an admfra-
Bile vehicle for local hits.
Everybody got it; the bigger the per-
sonage, the harden the blow which
probably accounted for Nick Smiths
share in the fun.
To particularize would take an en-
tire issue of The Journal, with the
advertisements left out. The cast in
cluded the irrepressible and inexpres-
sible Harry Wagenheir1, whose funn1-
ositfes and absurdities and gestures
and facial expression were agonizingly
laughable.
enough, came that king OF comedians,
Doctor Mallory Kennedy, whose affec-
tations and graces and love- making.
intermingled with bursts of fury and
fighting, made his part a veritable
Kaleidoscope of variety.
These two were certainly the fun
niest couple one could hope to see in
lifetime: they have the stage bust
ness at the tips of their fingers, and
can do anything they want with
laughter-loving audience.
Mr.. stephen J. Harvey. "a servant
of the law" was very "divil'' of an
Irishman, true to life, rollicking, and
bursting with 1lumor
Mr.. George Hervey, who. as every
one knows, is an actor true to the
manner born, and is never so much at
home as when behind the footlights;
n1ade no end of fun, and showed re-
markabIe ability in collecting money
on every possible occasion. He was re-
sponsible for the safe launching OF
many laughter provoking blow at all
the most staid and respectable insti-
buttons of law and order in Pensacola:
and We're delivered with an air of
gravity which convu1sed the house.
Mr. Clarence Avery whose loving
propensities are very much polished"
carried through a delightful part with
Miss Fannie Wagenheim: who, as the
only lady in the play, should proper
Ily have been mentioned first.
Both are we'll known for their abfl-
ity on the stage, and they confirmed
ali previous judgments by their per-
fectly splendid acting. Miss Wagon
helm was entirely free from anything
like nervousness, and sang and play
ed her part with the confidence and
ass nf q real arfiSfe
Her duet "Tl Get YOU" with Mr.
Clarence Avery, was charmingly sung
and thrice re-demanded: and again,
in the quartette, ITS the Pretty Things
You Say, Dear" with Doctor Mallory
Kennedy, Mr. Harry Wagenheim and
Mr.. Clarence Avery. she proved quite
irresistible and the audience clam
ored insistently for more.
Mr.. Willie Brent proved a splendidly
capable allay and his entries were in
variably received with laughter. he
succeeding in getting in some really
funny bits with telling effect.
Mr.. Joe Grant. Mr.. John Frenkel,
together with Masters John and Ern-