Evening star., 1915-12-07
New National.

Somewhere in the rapld-nre coIueoy
which fixed and popped for over three
hours in the New National Theater last
night some one said, Watch Your Step"
(perhaps it was Mrs. Vernon Castle. the
diaphanous), and from this single line the
name of the entire syncopated 5amooree
Is taken.
| The program announces that the snow
was made in America, that the music anu
the plot, If any," by H. B. Smith. WIN
out detracting from the applause que
to any of he brain workers" who got
together to produce Watch Your step,
justify the suspicion that H. B. smith
got tired early in the day. and tnat
Berlin went ahead and finished the pro-
duction without any plot at all,
/ And why bother about plot when
one has rag-time music of the sort that
hotels now serve. with meals. cabaret
songs, colors, poster costumes, and the
dancing that makes one think Of a chap
pie staggering away from a soda 1oun-
| tain? (This is one of Frank Tinney's)
Why indeed? A plot is mere baggage,
| serving only to clutter the mind and take
the attention away from the latest fox
trot, of which there are several good ones
served up by Mrs. Castle and Olin Fin
ney.
The piece is full Of life and laughter
l
of Watch Your Step is due to the un-
| firing efforts Of Elizabeth Brice, a COM
| edy star. who last night showed herself
| to bear a major part of the music end of
| the show and make the audience call for
| more. Miss Brice has several excellent
| songs, which she presents with grace and
vigor, accompanied by dances which are
sure to please. THE Minstrel Parade"
when l Discovered You," II Love to
Have the Boys Around Me- and Settle
1loy nrA -,
| numbers which seemed to please the audi
| ence most, and in all but the first one
| Miss Brice is assisted by her partner,
Charles King, young man Of nlmble legs
and willing disposition.
Frank Tinney and Harry Kelly, come
dians working along entirely different
| lines, but each eccentric from the start,
nave plenty to do; and in fact 1t is pos
sible if their roles were heightened it
would be acceptable to those who like
the uproarious nonsense that these two
bring to the footlights. Only in one
scene are they together. Frank Tin
ney's part seems to be a cleverly ar
ranged argument with the orchestra
leader and with two or three of the
performers. He has lost none of his
old-time ease OF manner and original
ity. Harry Kelly and his fish hound"
together with his face, voice and comic
of fun for many shows; and with
Frank Tinney watch Your Step" has
a good laugh almost every minute.
Another topliner taken from vaude-
vile only few weeks ago, is Bernard
Granville, dancer. His part in the per-
formance is important, and he attract
ed favorable attention last night, es-
pecially in his intoxicated song in
the last act.
The piece seems to be well balanced,
with bright and fresh costumes which
look brand-new, plenty of action and
good music of the rag-time variety,
with one or two pieces which be-
came dancing favorites long before
now. One of the musical numbers,
''Old Operas in a New Way" presented
by the entire company, is ambitious,
as the Ghost of Verdi, shows tenor
voice which in volume outdoes the
combined vocal efforts of all the rest
Of a large company.