Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-04-10

book by Edwin NJ. Lavino Lyrics by Charles
stased BY cs.9. rrlss Msrea pin r ana
Z, ss OF prodsGton q the Mask and %s
9lS 9GlS Black joe. RAYMOND Z, Stevens. II
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To begin with, you know. University Of
Pennsylvania Mask and Wig show Is
something compounded of color and melody
and brilliant dancing Charlie Gilpin writes
the melodies and Charlie Morgan concocts
the dances and Edwin Lavno designs the
color part-meaning, chieny, costumes
and there you are.
Well, anyway, there aren't any poor Mask
and wig shows, only some Of them are bet
ter than others. And this one seems to be
about the best that has been projected over
the footlghts in many a year.
The dancing, especially, is something to
write home about. Every year these Penn
sylvania students dance themselves almost
to frazzle in well-nigh endless rehearsals
and then they dance themselves Into the
hearts of their particular admirers and the
Philadelphia public in general. When folk
talk abeut the Mask and Wig productions
they usually get to talking about the
dancing end of them. And the perfection
of dancing--the dash and grace and verve
or pep" as tho classicists SAYS marvel
enough
DAINTY COLoRS AND MELODY
my Guatemalan Girl" for instance, Is a
more brilliant and altogether pleasing dance
number than the most hardened theatre
goer is accustomed to. It's a-glow with
dainty colors and grace and ripping mel
ody THE Dance of the Marionettes" is a
second The Carnival Dance" that opens
tho second act is still another Of these won
derful combinations Of arts that please and
bewilder.
In passing it ought to be mentioned that
'Mr. Rip Van Wrinkle" opens, proceeds and
ends without a single Hawaiian number.
"Wicki wack Woo" or even q ukulele.
Instead, Ray Stevens, in the person Of the
well.known Mr.. Old Black ice, brings in
some banjo piny-panking that adds no
small part to the diverting evening.
GLAD-LIKE PoLYANNA
"Polyanna," however. seems to have been
remembered In the composition of the piece.
The play is glad. exceedingly glad; almost
as glad as Pclyanna herself. There is
happy and smiling and so on. However,
when the chorus, in real Winter Garden
style, leans over the footlights and i'm
plores you to smile. you're really quite
happy, quite glad that it does.
This. the twenty-ninth Mask and Wig
production, Is such success that 1t Is
not aniss to make n suggestion or two
of the constructive order. The chief weak
ness of the affair is the lack of a. book that
gets anywhere. The lines are not any too
good. The story drags little in the first
half, though the latter has considerably
more zip"
And the cast ia below the standard Of
other days. with some exceptions that must
not Be overlooked. Raymond Stevens, who
has most Of the work to do, does it we'll.
His talents are handicapped by the nature
Of his role. lie Is n natural comedian, with
ease and aplomb. He could work better in
white face and get more fun out of the
show, too.
Joseph G. Carpenter handles we'll the in
genue part of Katrina. Winfield r. Dough-
erty who plays opposite her Cor him) as
Tom, is reg'lar actor, also.
Stephen M. Birch with a sort of hearty,
good-natured "rube" part makes merr-
ment, and 80 does Sylvan Fl. Hirsch. Ed
ward Longstreth achieves eccentric comedy
as Matilda, including clever handling Of a
burlesque Cleopatra. Z.
ADDING TO CAST WORK
Perhaps it would be a good thing though.
for the Mask and Wig people to pay more
attention to developing the cast parts They
need more of the old stage presence that
used to make the clubs acting a delight.
They need more of the old comedians who,
with natural adeptness, kept the audience
In peals of laughter instead of reaching
out for an occasional bon mot at which
to smile.
To come back to the original PROPOSE
ton, however. this play about Mr.. Rip
Van Wrinkle is one of the most satisfactory
musical comedies the University men have
ever put on. Every cent Of this years
profits, it was announced last night. will be
given to the University Of Pennsylvania for
military purposes WV.