New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-10-09
Straight Line Theory Set
at Naught in
Show.
TOE OF MISS WHITE
FACTOR IN RESULT
Gorgeous Urban Setting
for Ziegfeld's Late
Roof ReVel.
BY HAYWOOD BROUN.

The success or failure Of the Zieg-
field Midnight Frolic all depends on
how Schopenhauer stands hereabouts.
1t was Schopenhauer who maintained
that he could discern nothing essen
TALLY artistic in the Venus of Milo or
any like her. OF course we do not intend
that the analogy between the lady Of
the Louvre and the Midnight Frolic
should be taken literally. There are
no broken arms in the chorus Of Mr..
Ziegfeld.
And before Schopenhauer there was
Euclid, who set forth the theory that,
all things considered, the shortest and
best line is straight. Only those who
appreciate more dilatory progress from
point to point will enjoy the Frolic.
Nor does a brief survey into philoso-
ply and mathematics complete the
problems that must be raised in the
mind by su h q show as that on the
roof of the New Amsterdam Theatre.
, There should be chapter here con-
corning the effects of alcohol upon the
nsophagus and statistical tables on
the longevity Of cigarette smokers.
Then, too, it is impossible to say the
performance is success, in the fullest
sense Of the word, unless one knows
whether sleep taken between a. m.
and dawn is as beneficial as that en-
joyed before midnight.
Also, it would be interesting to as
certain just how much reserve force
the nervous system contains after a
IL. ha-
fore Miss Frances White. With ever
so conservative move she kicks Scho-
penhauer. Euclid. the human gsopha-
gus and the well defined belief in the
eight-hour night downstairs. And II
the toe of little Miss White neglects
any unwelcome intruder, there are
other toes and other kickers. In fact,
so well trained are the lower limbs of
the performers that at one point in the
entertainment the chorus girls seduce
sweet music from bells attached to
their ankles.
The show is beautified by the hand
Of Joseph Urban, as well as that OF
nature. The decorations are fine and
striking. A blue sky which Urban has
set inside an orange border is as rich
a color as the eye can see, and there
is another gorgeous drop, with the
Woolworth Building looming up into a
star-decked background.
OF the many performers we think
Miss White the most fetching. Her
dance with Rock in the "OhNNQ Gray
Haired Kid" number is much more
dainty piece Of work than the song title
would imply. This very short miss has,
in addition TO her dancing skill, a
piquantly impudent air, which seems 10
be inherent and not in the least af-
fected. Miss Bird Millman does amaz-
ing and graceful stunts on wire, and
Miss Lucy Gillette contributes some
good juggling tricks. Eddie Cantor, a
monologist, is amusing, but he can
stand bit of censoring.
As usual, the public is taken into the
confidence of the players to an extraor-
binary degree, but there is limit to
this intimacy. Patrons who seize the
fish dangling at the ends of the lines
let down by the chorus over the tables
are surprised and delighted to receive
an electric shock. We don't feel that
this is betraying a secret or that 1t
will in any way impair the fun Of the
Ziegfeld Roof for we are glad to say
that we can't Imagine Tribune reader
snatching at fish dangling on the end
of a line held by a Midnight Frolic
chorus girl. Still, we cant speak for
some of the followers of F. p. A.
Thomas II. Ince recently met Wood
row Wilson and cordially shook his
hand. In commenting on the notable
incident the press agen: Of Mr.. lnce
says: "Of special interest is the fact