The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-02-18
PRODUCTION EXCELLENT
"Robinson Crnsoe. Jr."-At the Whit,


Al Jolson Is really the flower Of the
Winter Garden. None Of its other prod
ucts was ever SO popular. OF all its
entertainers he was ever the best liked.
He may really be called a Winter Gar
den growth. since his ability as a come
dian was developed there. Last night
he was back at the scene Of his artistic
triumphs. appearing In an extravaganza
more or less Of the usual Winter Garden
pattern called Robinson Crusoc. Jr."
Mr.. Jolson has not been seen here since
he acted more han a year ago In DAN
cling Around" II Is the part OF Friday
which falls to him after the first scenes
Of the play. II Is not a new role for
fun makers. although II was more pop
ular In the past than 1t has been OF
recent years. Bert Williams wanted to
act the part q few years ago. but Sir.
Jolson seems to rave beaten him to 1t.
The new show last night was described
a. a musical Extravaganza and there
we're the customary talented journeymen
| Of the Winter Garden forces OF the Job.
Harold Atterbridge and Edgar Smith,
who supply bright material so fire.
quently to this theatre. prepared the
text. while there was music by Sigmund
RomberG and James Hanley. The two
acts were under the direction OF J. c..
HUFFMAN. who has previously brought
these productions to triumph.
There was an opening scene in "A
/ country home at Wcstbury and that was
followed by two views OF Robinson
Crusoe's island with a pirate ship to fol-
low. The silver city and a return to
westbury completed the number of pic
lures In which the audience was invited
to witness the fun which Mr.. Jolson and
his assistants provided.
Centre OF Every scene.
1t was Of course Al Jolson who was
the centre Of every scene In which he
appeared. Absence made the large
audience more han ever apprec!ative of
the sp~ontaneity and freshness Of his
humor. He IL q wonderful example OF
what the lack OF self~-conecivusness ac-
complisheo in the case OF a popular
favorite. Nothing interferes with the
evident intent to do the best that he
can to entertain. And he was as divert
ing as ever In all the various incarna-
lions that the librettsts had prepared for
him. OF course he was the irresistible
Jolson in all OF them. Had he been any
thing else his loyal public would nave
resented II. There was every cause for
tho cordiality with which he was well
coined back. Perhaps his songs were not
always out OF the ordinary. But the
singer was. and therein lay the cause
for the rejoicing OF the spectators VINO
had gathered 20 greet him.
He was a chauffeur before he was
Friduu in the dream Of his employer
Then n inflated a Turkish houri for a
few amusing minutes before he appeared
again as mere Jolson and for the sake
Of the public which had been so cordial
to him did a whistling specially that
dated from the first night he ever APP
peared on the Stage OF the theatre with
which for Ave years ne has been identi-
fed. 1t took "A modest celebrity to do
that. Indeed this element Of his per-
Torrance added to his humor. his effec-
tive delivery Of his songs and the ire
sistibie personality helped In being the
hero of Robinson Crusoe Jr.." to an ex-
4 tent which made the evening all MS own
Then he had the advantage OF appear
ing In q chastened n reformed Winter
Garden show. There. were acres OF
tights. No rosy Drawn obtruded. Dim
Piled knees were carefully concealed
under silk fieshings. The historic run
way was utilized sparingly.
On one occasion II was the simple
domestic e~xpedient Of wool that tied the
spectators to the chorus. The knitting
girls tossed the ends Of the yarn into
the audience. Its more enterprisine
members grasped the ends tentatively
The old time intimacy between public
and performers was missing.
Dialogue 10 Reformed.
There was even a great intention &c
reform in the dialogue. There were in
deed q couple Of raw ones. Singularly
enough both fell to Mr.. Jolson. Who
gave them 4 him? They did not sound
in the least like the healthy humoris'
who had been amusing the public with
out the need OF resorting to n sucf
undesirable and exotic suggestions
One-and the less offensive OF the two
referred TO the tough chicken which u
took 40 long to stew. The other hat
It's inspiration In the French converse
! ton In the restaurant. Mr.. Jolson vii
identify them all right.
There was tuneful music from Mr.
Romberg, who rewrote himself cheer
fully, and occasionally a joke showed
|. it's head apologeticslly In the text. There
was excellent taste a we'll as adequate
lavishness in the costumes. A new
beauty appeared in Wanda Lyon, Nine
Caunont is a fat n strange comedi
enne. apparently driven to these hospit
able shores by the war. n both Claude
Flemming and Lawrance D'Orsay added
their share Of background to the pro
ceedinEs. Frank Carter dances grace
fully and sings we'll enough. while Adj
Patrova gave TO one scene an asreeani
solo.
! Grace and Berkes we're two welcome
dancers. In the varied scenes NOR
I than one background was Of strikini
beauty, and against these the ACTIVE
,, principal actors or the well ralne
, chorus supplied constant and graceful
or amusing movement. But 1t wa
2 really Al Jolson's night. For that rca
. son il was immensely satisfying To tn
audience, and many other nights to conn
. will probably prove that the Winte
: Garden has another OF its unique AM
1 entertaining shows.