Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1914-03-25
CURTAIN
CALLS

When "Offieer &C., was produced
at the Gaiety Theatre in New York,
Francis McGinn, who created the title
role was talked about almost as much
as the farce itself. His interpreta-
ton of the policeman was SO perfect
that the public was loathe to believe
that the genuine article had not been
temporarily removed from the force
for this role. Mr., McGinn for years
has been a character actor of repute,
contributing many artistic perfOrman-
ces to the stage. On account of his
huge success, however, 1t was only
natural that Mr.. McGinn decided 10
enter vaudeville. He selected a play
let in which he would be able to enact
policeman. To this end, he COM
missioned Tom Barry to write him
sketch. This was THE Cop" We
hicle in which Mr., McGinn and his
supporting company are now appear
ing in Proctor's Park Place Theatre.
The piece is a comedy drama that
deals with the system but in such a
different way that it would detract
from the value of the act to describe
1t in advance.
The Stewart Sisters and Escorts
who are at Proctor's, first half of this
week constitute a sextette of singers
and dancers of rare ability. Their
act Is handsomely dressed and the
best thing that can be said of IL is
that 1t Is different. The dances are
tastefully arranged and enough va
riety to make them more pleasant,
The Three Stewart Sisters and their
three male escorts are all exceptional
dancers. The state dance 1.-The War
of the Rose Is an unusual and pic
turesque number.
Keeneys Theatre has a brand-new
"tormentor," a beautiful thing in the
general color scheme of the house
decorations, red and gold The new
'tormentor" also makes the big stage
appear much smaller, and monolo-
gists and teams of two persons do
not now appear to be at work in the
middle of a barn floor as they did
when the old "tormentor," that looked
like a huge section of cheap wall
paper, was in use,
"What is a 'tormentor?' " you ask.
Well, "tormentor," in stage par
lance. is the permanent drop and bor-
der that is always in position on the
stage of theatre Immediately back
of the drop curtain. why Is 1t
called a 'tormentor?' When as ex-
nerienced a theatrical man as John b.
McNally. the Keeney manager, says
he does not know why, but that the
first border and drop wings have al
WAYS been called the "tormentor,' we
must decline to attemp to tell you
why it is so called.
Keeney's Theatre has another tor
mentor but this is of the human
kind, and he is a real amiable, hard
working sort of "tormentor." This
'tormentor" Is DOC" Arthur Oliver,
who is forever and always lombard
ing the newspaper offices with stuff
telling how good the show Is at
Keeney's.
Yesterday was the birthday of Man
ager Otto r. Neu. of the Washington
Theatre and he turned the tables of
tradition by distributing flowers of
all kinds to members of the theatres
staff and to the artists appearing
there this week There are seven lit
lie performers at the playhouse the
first half of this week, and so inquisi-
tive were they about Manager Neu's
age yesterday that he finally appeased
them by whispering it into their ears
and giving each a box of candy.