Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1914-12-26
'QUEENO OF MOVIES"
is At THE NEWARK
By IRVING n. BACON.


The Christmas spirit still is in the
cir. It would seem like perversity to
mar the general harmony by utter
sng a dissenting opinion concerning
"The Queen of the Movies" Thomas
w. Ryley's musical comedy, at the
Newark Theatre Besides, New York
has put its o.. X. upon the produce
ton. And, in its own conceit. New
York is like Sir Oracle-"when
broadway speaks, let no dog bark"
In the thirteenth century there
was famous philosopher, Abelard,
whose name Is remembered In his
tory not SO much for his learning
Che was considered the most learned
man of his times) as for his romantic
love for Heloise. He advanced a
philosophic theory which was OPP
posed TO the current views, and many
sought to set him fright" by citing
passages from the Fathers" as the
great writer's of early Christianity
were called. But Abelard's theory
was based upon q well-thought-out
conviction, and. so in reply to his
critics. he declared, Even with all
the Fathers thus, nevertheless not l
tlrus." And with this precedent be-
fore me, feel that l may venture
: a ozark" even though the theatrical
Sir Oracle of America has spoken In
different key.
OF course, l do not mean TO say
chat "The Queen of the, Movies is
absolutely bad. It is only relatively
40. That Is to say, II 1t is regarded
ms q musical comedy, 1t certainly Is
not up 70 the standard of some of
the less pretentious plays that have
fbeen produced at the Newark If,
however, Ii is regarded as a high
class burlesque, it Is exceptionally
good.
The plot and its situations are too
absurd to have any reason for exist
. ence outside of burlesque or farce.
And, at least at the matinee yester-
day, except for some sporadic good
ainRing by Frank Crumit, Miss May
.De Sousa. Frank Moulan, Stella
Hoban and the chorus, the vocal
efforts we're generally drowned by the
music of the orchestra.
Mr.. Crumit affects a stammer (per-
maps it is real, 1t is so naturally which
Is one OF the funniest performances
IMAGINABLE. He sings suffering
cong which is real gem of humor.
But the song which stands out as
aha one which the auditor himself
would like to sing Is "Oh, Cecilia,
sung by Mise De Sousa and Mr..
Sior1lan, when the Noon Slyly
Xyinks in the Night" also possesses
q more than ordinary degree OF that
quality which makes one Like to mum
or whistle 1t after the show.
The chorus is the pearl in the dia-
dem" of the play. The octette Is as
beautiful looking an aggregation OF
dancing, singing girls as ever came 10
ony theatre here. And what Is more
although 1t Is called an octette, which
means a group Of eight, there are
{ really twenty pretty girls IN Inc
chorus
The plot is, In brief, the inyeislins
Of the president of an anti-film league
snto the rooms of the queen or the
"novles," where he becomes the un.
conscious performer of number OF
absurd things. His antics ars
"filmed," and are about to be repro
2 duced In public when he manages to
nave the reel stolen. A love story OF
q somewhat unconvincing nature
runs through the play. And, In pass
ing. II may be said that there Is an
( occsslonai coarse allusion which could
Se Topped from the play TO good al
vantage.