New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-02-22
Americas Oldest Actress
Makes Her Debut at
Colonial.
JULIA DEAN ALSO
TAKES THE PLUNGE
Appears at Palace in Marie
Rose" a WeIl.Played
War Sketch.

Mrs. Thomas Whiffen is seventy-ono
years of age, and has been on the stage
at intervals for half a century. At
her vaudeville debut at the Colonial
Theatre Yesterday it was not TO be ex-
pected that she would initiate Fred
Stones lariat dance. Nevertheless 1t
was to be hoped that Edgar Allan
Woolf, in turning out "The Golden
Night" TO fit the occasion, would give
Mrs. Whfen something more than
merely the centre Of the stage. Thirty
or forty years from now she may need
lust such playlet as THE Golden
Night" but at present il is unworthy
Of her.
In its early moments tho skit gave
promise Of being interesting. Mrs.
Whifen drank half a glass Of cham
pagne and began to behave like Madge
Kennedy in Fair and Warmer" But
before anything could really happen y
developed that the story was concern
ed with the marital vicissitudes-they
could scarcely be called troubles-of
her granddaughter and her husband.
Thereupon it was the task OF Mrs..
Whiffen to straighten things out in the
cleverly diplomatic manner that Is so
beloved Of vaudeville playwrights.
When the happy couple had departed
Mrs. Whifen and Ter husband blew
out the candles on the golden wedding
cake and reminisced softly as the cur
tain fell.
Mrs. Whifen, naturally, tossed OF
this sentimental trihe as easily as she
did the half glass of champagne. Her
temerity in entering the two-a-day held
at the age of seventy-one is to be
commended, but it must be added that
she is not liable to suffer physical
breakdown while playing The Golden
Night" Edgar Allan Woolf should
take another twenty minutes of some
afternoon and write her regular
sketch.
Julia Dean has not been acting for
fifty years, but she has been on the
stage long enough to become a reason
ABLY accomplished artist. For many
years her forte has been emotional
roles. but she strikes far more human
note in her quieter moments. Possibly
some manager will realize this fact
eventually, and then Miss Dean viii
once again be happily cast
marie Rose" in which Miss Dean
entered vaudeville at the Palace The
atre yesterday afternoon, gives the
star the conventional things TO DO
She is a spy in the camp OF the Ter
mans, masquerading as Red gross
nurse. An aviator with broad should
ers pretends TO fall in love with her
for the purpose of confirming his sus-
picions. At the curtain. when about
70 be led before firing squad, MISS
Dean delivers resounding speech
summing I'D the case against the
crowned heads of Europe. 1t pleased
the audience vastly.
Miss Dean found the role wei within
her emotional capabilities. but the best
performance was given by an actor
named Bert Robinson. The programme
chronicled the Illuminating fact that
the sketch was "by John Willard, au-
thor of The Green Beetle.
The Dolly Sisters, assisted by Jean
Schwartz's frock coat, are again on the
programme. They danced one or two
old numbers and one or two new ones.
and wore costumes the magniiicence OF
which can only be limited at in an ar
ticle OF four or five paragraphs. Their
singing. however, has not improved
since last Monday.
Bud Fisher, cartoonist permitted the
audience 70 gaze upon man VINO Is
reputed to receive an annual salary Oh
100000. Alan Brooks and his com
pany appeared in strengthened Out,
a laughable and well acted sketch.
Walter Brewer brought a new person
ality and some old jokes TO the foot
lights, and scored decisiyely.
Others were Auguste Close. who has
added a limerick by President Wilson
TO her pianologue; Foster Ball and
Ford West, repeating "Since the Days
of gu; Harry Tighe and Sylvia Jason,
with the least entertaining act that
has been at the Palace this season; the
perennial Six American Dancers and
0J;va and her seals