Evening star., 1916-12-26
ADJUSTMENTS
New National.

Wide latitude seems by common con-
sent to be given the funny man In a
musical comedy, and very often
speeches or actions that would prob
ably be at once resented at other times
and in other entertainments are al
lowed to pass with good-natured in
difference. The. injection by Raymond
Hitchcock in the musical play Betty"
at the New National Theater last even
ing, however, in which blasphemous
comedy was made to crown the our,
lesquing of a noted evangelist. showed
at least impudent courage ana very
bad taste. to put it mildly.
Outside of that, Betty" is bright in
color in the matter of stage setting.
costumes and several we1l-concefved
musical bits. A frothy little cream
puff. in which the cake is missing, IL
makes the most of the froth. but good
bite of something solid in 1t would
part is an attempt to give the old-time
star one of the drawing evenings, and
in this effort considerable well-used
and weIl-recognized humor has been
injected.
Were it not for the efforts of group
of excellent dancers Betty would ne
nothing but an evening with Mr.
Hitchcock and his drawl. Joseph SAINT
ley. a dancer of finished excellence.
easily leads the cast in honors, and ne
is assisted by a group of young women
who harmonic their efforts to great
advantage. The dancing music is tune
full and catchy. Pretty costumes have
been furnished the dancers. among
whom are Lydia Scott, Eileen Dennes,
Nerda Shelberg and Ruth Randall. Inc
role of Betty, assumed by Ivy sawyer,
q most engaging entertainer, could be
heightened to the advantage of the
performance as Miss Sawyer pos
eesses talents which would improve the
piece if allowed greater scope.
B. F. Keith's.
The bill at Keith's this week is one
of the best of the season. and three
large and enthusiastic audiences tested
the capacity of the popular playhouse
yesterday afternoon and last night.
Even the orchestra grasped the spirit
of the holidays, and its selection enti-
tied Santa Claus" put the audience in
proper mood for the fine entertain
Inent that followed.
Much had been expected of THE
GirIies' Gambol" and it made good be-
yond question. 1t is one of the clever
est musical comedy skits of the vaude-
willie stage. The number gets a good
start when the curtain goes up on a
stage setting of real beauty. The sing
ing and dancing of the stars and chorus
is unusually good. Felix Adler, an
original comedian. had little trouble
establishing the fact. Paul FraWiey
and Margaret living handled the solo
numbers well, but the big factor In the |
entertainment is the chorus-and the
chorus is well worth seeing !
Grace De Mar. as an individual en- |
tertainer' without songs. made an eX-
ceIlent impression in different types OF !
women under the title The Eternal
Feminine" Her lines are crisp and |
bubbling over with bright and witty
hits. and the audience applauded the |
little comeGienne to the echo.
The Derkin girls are newcomers to
Washington, and their singing, play |
ing and dancing made one of the hits
of the evening. Both have the gift OF
personality, and are clever IN their
original songs. >,
a sketch "Enter-A Stranger,
served to introduce Robert T. Haines
and company. Mr.. Haines is an actor
of known ability, and his lines enabled
him effectively to bring out both char-
acter and situations. An interesting
athletic turn offered by the Bracks, a
company of seven. made the spectators
sit up and take notice. Lucie Valmont
and Jacques Reynen open the bill with
.sThe Angelus," an operatic onerlng
marked by beauty and high-class sing
ing. An original monologue by VIII
liam Sisto and the news pictorial COM
pleted the entertainment