New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-06-22
New Amsterdam Theatre
Sees a Riot of Pretty Girls
and Exquisite Costumes.
ZIEGFELD SURPRISES
HIS PAST EFFORTS
Joseph Urban Proves Himself a
Master of Scenic Effects
and Costumes.


devised and produced under the direc-
ton Of F. 2iegfe!d. ;-.; staged by
Julian Mitchell and Leon Enrol; lines
and lyrics by Claiming Pollock. Rem
mold Wolf and Gene Buck; music by
Louis Hirsch and David Stamper; seen
cry and costumes by Joseph Urban. At
the New Amsterdam Theatre.
Like great flock of gorgeously
plumaged birds, "The Folles" of the
brood of 1915 lew into New York last
night and settled into their accustomed
summer nest on the stage of the New
Amsterdam Theatre. Since that night
way back in 1907, when Flo Ziegfelds
magic wand first brought THE Follies'
into being, their annual heglra has
been one OF the real events of the
theatrical season.
"The Follies" arc now an institution.
Those who constitute New YOrk's sum-
mer edition of who's Who" would as
little think of missing a "Follies' ,
premier as would their prototypes Of
the winter a Caruso Metropolitan first
I.
the country, "The Follies" mark 1t IN
New York, mark it and bring 1t to
climax as does the Grand PIX the
June of Paris. Tout New York was at
the New Amsterdam last night to laugh
with Bert Williams, to smile with Ina
Claire. to cough with Leon Enrol ana
generally TO enjoy and admire the
pretty chorus. itself, and its neighbors.
And let il be said at the outset that
in two respects at least 1.-THE Follies
of 1915" surpassed any of its prede.
cessors. surpassed indeed any musical
comedy or revue of recent years, II
not anv in the theatrical history or
New York. The scenery and costumes,
designed by Joseph Urban, were beau
tiful in themselves. in color, in design,
in harmony with one another. Mr.. Ur-
bans scenery for grand opera as evil
denced in his production of The
Jewels of the Madonna" found 1t:
critics, but there can be no critics OF
the work he displayed last night. II
was art nouveau, of course, yet in the
realm of the revue such art finds its
proper field. From the opening scene
under the sea, with the mermaid sitting
on the bell buoy, through Radlumland
and the Silver Forest we were IN an en-
chanted world whenever Mr.. Urban
chose to wave his wand. Mr.. Ziegfeld
has announced that he had dedicated
his "Follies" to feminine beauty. That
beauty was there last night IN It's ac-
customed abundance, but for the hrst
time in his career, and perhaps IN the
city's musical comedy history, he pro-
vided a setting worthy of its inhabi-
tants. So, with no detraction from the
principals or the chorus, first honors
last night went to Mr.. Urban.
II would be too much in this day
and generation to ask that a revue
possess connected story, yet the
various incidents last night were near
ly all amusing in themselves, and some
Of them distinctly original. The bur-
lesque on former Secretary Bryan was
funny and we'll written. IL resign,
announced William Jennings in the
very lifelike figure OF Will West,
yhereupon the members Of the orches-
ira rose and shouted back: 1--WE accept
YOUR resignation" The house roared
back its approval. Well done, too,
were the burlesques on "Androcles and
the Lion" in which Bert Williams was
as funny as he ever has been, and of
Marie Odile," in which Miss Ina
Claire sang a very witty and delicate
little ditty which will not be learned in
our Sunday schools. Miss Claire sang
of Marie 0dile's rare innocence, and
between the lines gave one OF the best
criticisms of Mr.. Knoblauch's play
that has yet been written. This little
song was really the best thing in the
revue. We wonder, was Mr.. Pollock
its father?
But really the good things were so
numerous that it would be folly To
count them. There was Bert Williams.
Our only objection is that there was
not enough Of him. There was Leon
Enrol, the funniest alcoholic now on the
stage. There was Ed Wynn, and
charming ina Claire, as dainty and re-
fined a little artist as could be wished
for; and there were Anna Pennington
and Mae Murray, and Lucille Cavan-
augh for the dances; and the chorus
always and ever the Ziegfeld chorus!
1t is true that Bernard Granville's
verses on Honor" had very much bet.
ter have been omitted-they were dull
and out Of place. The peoples of Eu-
rope are fighting for high ideals, and
are fighting for them with too great a
neEOlsHl " nave lliCHl oeN'
lied upon Broadway. So also is TO be
doubted the taste of the finale of the
first act. in which the German Kaiser
is placed Just before the United States
in a pageant of the nations. His APP
pearance last night was greeted with
a storm Of applause, followed by an
outburst OF Kisses and boos.
Yet these were but two Isolated in
cidents in an evening OF real enjoy
ment. The Folies of 1915" struck a
note of real originality. In fact, al
times it seemed as if in despair at any
sign of originality, the season Of 1914
rs had turned at his outgoing to the
Goddess of Folly. The goddess, being
kind, gave US Mr.. Ziegfeld, who in turn
gave US Mr.. Urban and Mr.. Pollock
and Mr.. Wolf. And they banded to-
gether with the prettiest girls that
New York possesses, and with Mr.. Will
Jams, Mr.. Enrol and Miss Claire, gave
to last nights audience something
which was both beautiful and amusing;
and something-darew we whisper it?-
which seemed previously much like art.
In short, "The Follies OF 1915" has
surpassed even Mr.. Ziegfeld's standard.
Il will quite reconcile one for having
70 pass ones vacation in New York.
uIvrv cODOOM IM Dill