Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-11-21
ADJUSTMENTS
New National.

A capacity audience, made up of the
alter goers who evidently had been
waiting two years for the opportunity,
accorded Chin Chin" & royal welcome
on its initial presentation in this city
last evening at the New National The
alter. Truthfully. standing room was
at premium when the orchestra be-
gan the rendition of the overture, the
tuneful melodies of the popular whistling
type already being generally familiar. A
tribute was also paid by the audience to
with party. he appeared in one of the
boxes. Cheering continued for several
moments, and the executive repeatedly
bowed his acknowledgements.
The musical fantasy which has been
the smooth running vehicle in which
those versatile entertainers. Montgomery
and Stone. have been travelling along the
road to fame and affiuence for many
months, Is based on the story of Aladdin
and the wonderful lamp, only the Aladdin
OF ''Chin-Chin" is modern type, who
falls In love with a modern Yankee girl
in modern way, and, to overcome
parental objection, acquires wealth by
the aid of the lamp. There are compli-
cations, many of them, but all ends well,
and in frank, honest way. The villain
is told to get OUT" as the play cannot
eod with him present. He replies: Very
well, but neither can it start without me,
SO I'll be on hand at sis tomorrow
evening"
Dave Montgomery and Fred Stone
each portray five different characters.
In turn. and in their characteristic way.
Stone gives limitations of Paderewski,
rider.
"Chin-Chin' is sumptuously mounted
each of the seven scenes comprising the
three acts being a work of art. The
Chinese environment affords opportu-
nifty for lavish and picturesque costum-
ing. The opening scene of act 1 is a
toy bazaar. and feature is Teddy
bear dance by Misses Callahan, Ward
and Valerie. Feature songs and
dances then follow in such rapid sue
cesson that it is difficult to keep track
OF them. Montgomery and Stone, sing
ly and as team, are. of course. very
much in evidence. one of their songs
being in Chinese Gladys Zell is the
beautiful young American girl who
loves and is loved by Aladdin, and she
meets the requirements of the part in
dancer of unusual ability. Douglas
Stevenson as Aladdin has great deal
TO do, and does it well, as do Patricia
Ryan, as the Goddess of the Lamp: Bes-
sic Franklin. as the mother of Aladdin,
and Violet Zell, as the mothers maid.
Miss Zell. diminutive lady. is of Won
derful assistance to MIR. Stone in
dance "Poetique." in connection with
which he losses her about in careless
and carefree manner as though she
Were rag doll.
One of the distinct hits last evening
was scored by the Six Brown Broth
ers, saxophone artists. They appeared
first as clown band in the circus
scene. and earned encores almost with
out number. Using other brass instru-
ments, they participated later in the
ensemble numbers.
The movie camera was employed to
round out Chin Chin. The villain, by
rubbing the wonderful lamp. starts off
through space in pa .oda, carrying
away the heroine. Montgomery and
Stone, as servants of the lamp. hang on
to the pagoda. In moving pictures they
are seen when they are cast off the
pagoda. then observed falling through
space, next landing on the crescent
moon. and later rescued by an aero
plane. They finally fall off the aero
plane and land in pile of sawdust
outside circus tent.
After three hours of melodious and
Kaleidoscope enjoyment the audience
last evening departed. whistling Good
Bye. Girls. I'm Through" in evidence
that "Chin-Chin' had made good and
lived up to the reputation that preced-
ed it.