New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-12-09
THE PRINCIPAL PLAYERS
BY HECTOR TURNBULL.

Irving Berlin, the young writer Of
popular songs, scored a new success
with the opening of the musical show
watch Your Step" last night at the
New Amsterdam. And the success was
due in no small measure to Mr.. Dilling-
ham, his producer, who has evidently
spared no expense in assembling a good
cast of entertainers and provided one
of the most attractively mounted pro-
auctions seen in this city in some time.
As the programme naively announces,
there is grave doubt as to the presence
of any definite plot in the course of
affairs, so II. b. Smith must take what
ever credit there may be due him for
keeping the show out of Paris.
II all happens in America and ap-
pears to be designed to give the many
different types of stars an opportunity
to display their talents with the least
confusion. Taken in the order Of their
prominence in the show, the Castles
dance. Vernon Castle sings. Mrs. Cas-
tie tries to sing, too, and succeeds in
looking most amazingly graceful and
attractive in some creations designed
by Helen Dryden.
The Castles, on the whole, do a great
deal toward providing the entertain
about the fabulous prices extracted by
them from a worshipping public. Frank
Tinney, who tells how he is kept out
Of the show until the second act be-
cause he is usually bad FOR the plot,
finally turns up as a call boy, Pull
man porter and courtroom boy. He is
as amusing as ever in his intimate fun,
which will probably be changed dali
to suit the well known whims of the
irreverent genius. Taking n short
breath, as these things are difficult to
describe, we next come to Elizabeth
Murray, who plays Birdie O'Brien and
proves just as pleasing as ever with
her Irish songs.
Elizabeth Brice and Charlie King are
very welcome. This new vehicle suits
them much better than their last in this
theatre, and they appear infinitely more
attractive than in their late vaudeville
affair. Coming suddenly upon Harry
Kelly, il is easy to say that he is good
fun, and so is his dog. This leaves
whole lot of people impossible TO rec
ognize by name, but quite pleasing to
watch, and Sally Fisher, who has a
comfortable voice and an attractive
way with her
Mr.. Berlin's part in the affair was
highly appreciated by the friendly
audience, who howled for a sight of
him. The score is, however, lively,
pleasant arrangement of songs that
range from the sentimental to the
riotously syncopated. One of the most
dazzling of these is the ensemble num-
Der in the second act, when Nerdi's
ghost appears bathed in an appropriate
green light to beg the jewellers not TO
maltreat his operate airs. This, of
course, they refuse to do, and Mr.. Ber
lin has succeeded in writing a joyous
sort of ragtime hodge-podge that is
sung in reply to the ghost. The song
writer's lyrics are not strikingly orig
inal, but are not extensively common
place at all. New rhymes often appear
for true" and most of the ballads are
about dancing rather than love.
One of the most interesting features
of the production is the costuming.
The chorus always appears decently,
even delightfully."-, clad, and Mrs. Yer
non Castles gowns are strlklngly beau
tiful. The scenery shows the same
touch, suggesting the influence of Leon
Bakst, and the stage groups have been
effectively arranged by Mr.. Burnside.
Il would be pleasant TO pick out some
Of the numbers that really merit spe-
cial mention, but there are so many to
be listed that space will not permit
There can be no doubt, however, OF the
popularity of the show IL should
please the most critical patron of mu-
steal comedy because of the number
and variety of its entertainers alone,
if not for its many songs and the
chorus. There are no jokes on the
- ear