New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-10-06
By HAYWOOD BROUN


Through an oversight Paul D.ckey
and Charles ". Goddard failed 20 give
Elsie Janis an opportunity 10 initiate
Eddie FOy, but every other talent Of
the star was utilized In Miss lnforma-
tion, which was produced 40 the Conan
Theatre last night. As Elsie Janis
would have said If she had initiated
Eddie Foy, as usual, IT'S pretty
thing taior-made, and a neat JOB. too.
The new play is a farcica, detective
mclodrama, which enables the star 70
be in turn p messenger boy, a German
slavcy. "a French crystal gazer, an Eng
lish dude, and a beautiful heroine for
the final ending.
Miss Janis has learned much in her
last trip abroad German and French
are easy for her now, and her English
has lost some Of that rather annoying
nasal quality. But most marked is the
improvement in her dancing Il has al
ways been a JOY TO watch Elsie Janis
glide from place 10 place, and she has
lost nothing in grace and gained much
in the technique and mechanics Of
dancing.
Since her dancing has grown to be
such delight Miss Janis has prac-
tically abandoned singing. She had
only one song last night, and even
then the singing voice Of Maurice
Farkoa was not far away. One may,
we trust, be ever so fond of the art,
rather the arts, of Elsie Janis and still
confess no hankering to hear her sing.
Everything else she can do, and she
did it last night. Most precious OF
the possessions of Miss Janis is a
sense of humOr. She was amusing dur
ing every instant she was on the stage.
For some OF the fun the authors Of the
play are responsible, but the piece has
its thin spots. Miss Janis has none.
An incident in the first act put US in
immediate good humOr. \ jewel rob-
berry is committed. and five minutes
later the maid announces two report
ers, one from The Tribune and the
other from The Journal" We did not
mind that "The Journal should share
in the beat, for we felt confident that
The Tribune man would write the bet
ter story. Neither The Tribune nor
THE Journal" however, could solve the
mystery of the missing pearls. It re-
quired a trip 70 Paris and ever so
much detective work by Elsie Janis to
put the jewels in their place.
The trip to Paris was a fortunate
idea But for that journey there would
not have been a chorus girl in the
show. The first of the merry merries
did not come on the stage until after
10 o'clock. Miss Information" is an
aggravating show, which is calculated
TO cut into a chorus girls evening
most frightfully.
There was no need of a chorus in the
early acts, for Miss Janis herself was
many girls, and all Of them charming.
The plot viii not be traced here, for
the mystery of the pearls IS intricate
and battling, although everything seems
simple enough at the end. IL is quite
a robust plot as musical plays go, but
II had 20 step down for specialists now
and again. Melville Ellis. for instance.
has fifteen or twenty minutes at the
piano and never lifts finger to find
the pearls. lie plays, however, most
pleasantly.
In an excellent supporting company
Maurice Farkoa was easily the best.
His songs, particularly THE Banks Of
the Wye" were done with nice skill, and
he showed talent in comic characterize
ton which we did not know he pos
sessed. His is most finished perform
ance.
Irene Bordoni has q fine catchy mel
ody. "A Little Love, but Not for Ne"
II we can find time this winter we are
going 20 learn 90 whistle il. Many
persons did last night, but our musical
progress has always been conservative
in the extreme. Howard Estabrook was
likeable sort Of a lover, and David
Todd and Frapcis D. McGinn were
amusing in character parts. The
American Band did some rapid fire rag
time.
Several years ago. when we used 10
watch Miss Janis dance and sing and
initiate, we were told that she was nine
teen years old. We did not believe il
then, but we are quite ready 10 accept
her as nineteen now. She never APP
peared younger or more delightful than
in Miss information" And YOU can
enjoy the show from beginning 10 end
u-iFnouf ovor peusfnp "a think