The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-12-08
Behind the Scenes" With Doyle and Dixon in the Big
 "Chin-Chn' Musical Comedy Round at the Jefferson
 Affords Dolly Great Sport at the Red Cross Matinee
By DOLLY DALRYMPLE


 RH HHEN the late MT. Bunyan con
 WNW densed a sentiment as old as
 v V the world Itself into burning words that tell of group of vicious looking lions whose terror-inspiring jaws turned out to be nothing more than Q magnificent bit of prehistoric re-en- force concrete construction, he wrote something.
 One of these days I will probably learn something about the theatrical business. Just at present II feel toward 1t very much like the famous pilgrim of Mr. Bunyon's must have felt toward life III general after he discoverer what lot ol energy he'd wasted by being frightened by the lions, all of which is merely by way of introduction to say that l saw the gigantic musical comedy, "Chin-Chin, from behind the scenes, at the biR Req Cross matinee at the Jefferson yes terday, and for the benefit of the hun dreds who will see it today at the matl- ness and evening performance.
 I wish to remark that it Is not only in- teresting from the orchestra. but mar velously interesting from the wings, so interesting that I'm going to see lot of other things from the firins line" I'm not bit afraid of an actor at close range in his makeup" and his war paint" for they are nothing more than lot of grown-up children, these actor folks, scampering through life Tn the mimic world making other people happy!
 I blew in at the Jefferson just a few minutes before the Red Cross matinee yesterday, and asked the nice young man in the box office if I could go back stage" He nodded and said yes. II l could put it over"
 Of course I did, at the peril of my life, though let me say, for when ar. rived 'behind the scenes,'' where, el- bowed by show girls scowled at by show boys" twinkled at by stars (Doyle and Dixon being the principal ilurnl- naries, and the very ones wanted to see) bumped into by stage employees, eyed with suspicion by firemen, I stood Tn q wing" or rather in all the wings (not at the same time. of course, nothing but centipede could do that, and as soon as I got comfortably fixed in one, was promptly "shoo- ed' to another. where l inspected the tall lights, as it were, of this wonderful musical comedy, where you get three for the price of one and a half, which is some bargain"
 It's funny thing, but do you know that as soon as you get ''back stage when the scenery is placed you abso- lutely lose your bearings; you know, Of course, that there must be a north, south, east and west, but you are in the dark as to which is which. Once placed and deserted by the one who placed you, you are lost. You know you came there, but how? You know that sooner or later you must leave there, but where?
 I felt like a modern Alice in Won- derland," as I viewed the fairy-like scenes with pretty chorus ladies clad in spangles and-er- CT sunshine and cli- mate, and chorus gentlemen in stunning costumes. I flattened myself out like q Swedish pancake and wedged in wing with dozens of the chorus While I'm not what you'd call obese at the same time I'm not really one of the "skinniest" people on earth, but just the same, I found myself "summat crowded with all the big company and the stage mechancs round about. I heard the lat ter mumblng and grumbling q felt sure they were talking about mel, and I im- agined I caught (then I knew they were) something like this:
 "Who tn -" and what tn -" and "how tn - did she get here?"
 Just then the curtain went up on the opening scene and the chorus chorus-ed and the dancers danced, without the least disturbing me, and if the stage people were talking about me I didn't care, for the music was so beautiful and the orchestra so divine that I couldn't hear anything else and I began to enjoy myself in peace.
 And then, suddenly-from right behind where I sat-tumbled out of their dress ing room those two inimitable com edians. Doyle and Dixon, just falling all over themselves, and the vast audience was applauding and shrieking and ev- eryobdy was wild with enthusiasm; turning to one of the nice men near me said:
 Why didn't you tell me that they came in here?''
 Supposed you knew it,' he remarked casually, and I forgave him for being so uncommunicative, losing myself com- p!etely in the pleasure I was deriving from the remarkable antics of MT. Doyle and Mr. Dixon.
 or course. comparisons are supposed to be odious. but honest to goodness now fess up-were Montgomery and Stone every any funnier in Chin Chin" than these two clever comedians, Doyle and Dixon? Which was which? Well, asked that, too, so as soon as I had the opportunity I found out that MT. Doyle plays Montgomery's old part and MT.