New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-05-06
in VAUDEVILLE HOUSES
Spring Days of Widely Varied
Entertainment.
MANY OLD FAV0RITES
Kitty Gordon, Jose Collins and
Carmencita, and Elsie Janis
as a Producer.

While Sarah Bernhardt may he said to
be not merely the headliner but 1.-THE
whole show" at the Palace Theatre, there
is I'm the vaudeville bill of this house
during the present week an ingenious
novel novelty" in the form Of a comedy
sketch adapted from the German by
Philip Bartholomae. A popular novelist
seated at his desk. reads aloud the last
chapter of his new novel. and as he reads
his characters appear on the scene. suit
ing their actions to his words. Not only
the characters but stage properties Illus
trate his text-the moon. the clock. the
lamp. the furniture. It is amusing fool
ing. ending in n triple tragedy. Inciden-
tally. but not without premedtation. the
skit illustrates the vast difference between
the dramatists and the novelists medium
of expression. Elsie Janis. as author and
producer of a singing act, Three in One. -
takes upon her shoulders fun RESPONSE
bili;y for II. and exonerates the actors on
placard that slowly moves across the
stage. Mayor Gaynor. his private score
tary, Nj. Adamson: Police Commissioner
Waldo. Fire Commissioner Johnson and
Street Cleaning Commissioner Edwards,
in Edisons motion-talk pictures shown
at this and other houses this week, need
synchronlzing badly. and should talk
louder please"-at the Palace, at least.
with such capital entertainers as
Frank Keenan, and Kitty Gordon heading
the list, the bill at the Fifth Avenue The
atre is strong and diversified one. The
short play. "Nindication." at which the
former came back To the house where ne
made his vaudeville debut. gives him an
opportunity I'm the role OF an old Confed-
crate soldier for as fine piece Of char
acter work as has been seen i'm Broad
way recently. besides having in itself
quality that enlists the sympathy and
grips the attention of the audience from
start To finish. Mack Barnes. who played
opposite Mr.. keenan,. furnished Just the
right contrast To acccntuate the dramatic
strength OF the piece. Kitty Gordon. IA
diant In a stunning gown of most daring
outline. sang three songs in delightful
manner, and was most pleasing to both
eye and ear. Lulu Mcconnell, who was
assisted by Grant Simpson In rollicking
tabloid farce. entitled The Right Girl. -
called forth much laughter by her re-
markable vocal accomplishments. ranging
from gurgles 10 screams. Melville and
Higgins were very amusing I'm a come
dietta. Just Married. Others on the bill
were Art Adair in musical impersonatlons,
Chief CaupCiican. monologst and singer,
Ed Wynn and company In THE King 3
Jester" and CorellI and Gillette in an
acrobatic and singing speciality.
Topping an interesting bin at Hammer
STEMS this week. Naleska Suratt appears
In tabloid musical play called BLACK
crepe and Diamonds" In which the dla-
monds were very much more In evidence
than the black crepe. which. I'm its turn.
was not nearly 80 funeresl as the word
might imply. The play opens with Miss
Suratt clothed In shimmering black
gown and shackled by heavy chains TO a
yelled woman impersOnating Woe Love.
In the shape OF George Baldwin. has re-
solved To bring light. laughter and all that
sort Of thing 10 the unfortunate damsel
and 10 release her from her chains. The
succeeding stages OF Loves conquest show
Miss Suratt sometimes more and some
times less In a variety Of dazzling gowns.
Two dancers In the company. acting as
Loves assistants, do combination tango
and breakdown. which eventually wins
Loves case for him. and so captiyates the
erstw lille wOful lady that she allows Love
20 bear her off In his arms
The piece was written by George Bald
win, who plays the principal male role. II
is most deliberately and tastefully staged
under the direction OF Mr.. Jack Mason, to
whom Miss Suratt awarded sound
smack a the fall Of the curtain. Among
many others on the bill were Elizabeth
Murray with several new songs. w G.
Fields. the silent Juggler. who plays pool
with tennis balls: John f. Conroy. the
lifesaver. who does poses and fancy
diving with his two models the Great
Howard. Scotch ventriloquist: Willard
Sims, who Is making people laugh as
much as ever they did with his paper
hanging stunts In a furnished room, and
Alexander and Scott In their new songs
and dances