Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-05-13
New National.

When the curtain went up at the Ma
tional last night on Ziegfeld's "Follies OF
1912" showing immense billboards in New
York for the background of the first scene,
Leon Enrol. acting manager sedately
walked to the footlights and announced
that the management had great difficulty
in securing novelties and any suggestion
from the audience would be appreciated.
Immediately a large man in row F arose
and suggested an Old-time song and
dance At it's completion a young man
selling chewing gum walked down the
aisle with the shout Rotten He was
asked to explain by the manager. and
said he could sing better than the boys
on the stage. He walked down to the
end of the aisle and pulled off, clever
yodel song. Then an interruption oc-
Cured by a supposed Frenchman. who
wanted some French opera. He was
quickly called to account by Harry Wat
son, who occupied seat in the second
box, dressed as tough. ana as the
wrangle became warm he pulled off his
coat and tried to jump over the rail on
the Frenchman, but was restrained by
Miss Carlton who was with him. These
surprising interpretations, kept those In
the audience craning their necks ana
almost continuously laughing.
The big show then proceeded along
regular lines and everything was up to
the Ziegfeld standard of excellence. Leon
Errofl. Harry Watson and Bert Williams
are the chief comedians. and this trio.
with numerous opportunities, kept things
spinning along with a scream of laughter
for every minute. The hack scene in
front of the Herald building with Enroll
and Williams and a fake horse was one
of the funniest numbers introduced. Will
liams was the colored hack driver en-
deavoring to get big fare out of Enroll.
who was '.rounder" winding up the
night The second act takes the audience
to Atlantic City. giving the chorus a
chance to dance and sing in fetching cos
tunes, none of which are of the outre
style. although very close to it. Elizabeth
Brice. we'll known to the patrons of
vaudeville is the leading woman of the
organzatio and in her songs individually
and with Mr.. Enroll, created a splendid
! impression. her original song. Great Big
| Blue-Eyed Baby" scoring great hit.
The "Follies'' as an organization is well
| able to go it alone. bu, to emphasize his
reputation as a producer of novelties MIR.
Ziegfeld has secured Ching Ling Foo. the
| great magician, and a company made up
| entirely of Chinese This added attrac-
| ton is show in itself and was intro
duced in the third scene, which takes
| pace under a big circus tent. Exception
| ally clever gymnasts on the horizontal
| bar and straps were seen. and little Miss
| Chez Toy sang couple of American
| songs that were attractive on account
/ of the unusual clearness of the words
| coming from a Chinese girl Tum0ling
| and Juggling followed by a trio of little
i chi dren.
| Ching Ling Foo presented his well
| known tricks. and, although he is getting
| well up in years, his performance is as
1 clear cut as ever. He had the eyes OF
1 the audience bullying when he pulled
large marble bowl filled with water from
underneath the waving rug and it's size
| was empha sized when haf-dozen buck
| cts of water were then emptied from it.
| Ching then takes off his flowing out
| side gown SO that nothing can be con-
! cea,ee. and just as quickly pull from un-
| der the rug large glass globe filed
| with goldfish The magician was given a
| great reception at the completion of his
numbcr by an audience that packed the
house from fcor 10 ceiling.