The Washington times., 1917-03-20
ZiegfeId Extravaganza a Riot
of Music, Fun, Color, and
Dazzling Beauty.
TRAvESTY ON SHAKESPEARE
cleverly Conceived Scenes, in
Endless Variety, Follow in
Rapid Succession.

Abloom with more lavishly beautiful
creations than the garden OF Ziegfeld
ever before produced. the tenth ami
versary production of THE Follies"
opened at the New National Theater'
last night in q blaze of glory. OF
course the extravazanza still runs to
the night blooming cereus species OF
femininity, but there seems to be
every known blossom, from the be-
witching Ann Pennington, Ina Claire,
and Emma Haig, to the statuesque
blondes and brunettes who populate
the clothes-wearing contingent Of the
chorus.
And comedians are as thick and tai
ented as bees around the blooms. Scor-
ing again In the humor Hmelight Is
Bert Williams, with Don Barclay. late
OF burlesque fame; Sam Hardy, and
w. c. Fields. Also Will Rogers, with
his clever Nlariat work. and many
punch in his speech, figured among the
male amusers, while Ina Claire, in
mimicry, Fanny Brice in songs,
dances and eyes of multiplied clever
ness; Allyn King, Mae Carmen, and
Tot Qualters, in more songs and raj
ment, found space among the top-liners
of the program. Bernard Granville
sang most OF the songs allotted mere
man, and did them all exceedingly
well, and Carl Randall shared in the
terpischorean spotlight, with the dan
cling Pennington and Haig sprites.
Costume Changes BewiIder.
'SThe FoIlies" now current changed
It's costumes with a dizzying rapidity
made possible by the brevIty of what
there was to change: 1t provoked the
audience to enthusiastic mirth at fire.
Quent intervals, disclosed scene after
scene of startling beauty, as Is to be
expected of Joseph Urban's creative
art, and withal, gave full satisfaction
to the appetite for color ana cory
phees usually possessed by THE Fol-
lies" devotees.
Most of the first act is built on
scenes with a Shakespearean touch,
beginning with a prologue In which
Puck introduces to Shakespeare and
George NJ. Conan, on pedestals, the
FoIIies girls since 1907. Then are I'M
folded whimsical and funny traves-
ties, with the Marc Anthony, of Gran
Vile, patronizingly called TONY" by
Julius Caesar, OF Barclay, rivaling in
pure fun the ludicrously presented
burlesque OF "Othello." in which Bar
clay shared the comedy honors with
williams.
The humor in the balcony scene
from Romeo and Juliet was more re-
fined in jest and the song, Have a
Heart" sung by Miss Claire and Mr.. |
Granville. was full of melody and
beauty. On the banks of the Nile was |
the setting for the presentation of
many ladies of Shakespeare's plays, |
modernized but still retaining a SEM
blance of truthful caricature to the |
bard's creations. my Lady OF the |
Nile" sung by Mr.. Granville, added a |
touch of melody to this remarkably |
beautiful scene.
Barclays Clever Dancing.
A take-off on recruiting gave
Hardy. Fields. Williams and Barclay |
opportunity for more comedy, with |
Barclays physical culture stunt rip
pling over with humor. This COM
edian, also, in his impersonation of
Caesar, reached high attitudes OF
travesty, and his absurd dancing |
made one wonder the human frame |
could be so twisted and not actually |
break.
Naval warfare of today was shown |
in a wonderful manipulation of air
craft, submarine and huge ship att
sea; Will Rogers talked and swung |
his obedient lariat for a while, and |
the first act closed with a Hawaiian |
scene in which Miss Pennington again !
displayed her agility, and Granville |
obliged with. another tuneful song |
about the girl he left on the Honolulu
beach.
The second act was not a whit less
productive OF cIeverly conceived
scenes and humor 1t opened with
suggestion of La Spectre de la
Rose" done most beautifully by Miss
Haig and Mr.. Randall A travesty on
'ScheheraZade" gave Williams and
Barclay more opportunity for conf
calities.
Fifth Avenue Girls.
Miss Brice's voice and minicry first
was shown in her song, "Nijinski;'
Bert Williams gave some of his inimit-
able songs: Puck's Pictorial Palace
then opened for impersonations by
Claire, Field, Barclay, Brice, Williams,
ct al, and sandwiched in was Gran
ville's "Good-by, Dear Old Bachelor
Days" and Fields and his performing
croquet balls. Fifth avenue, with its
"Stop-Go Girl" bewitchingly imper-
sonated by the comedy Miss Qualters
and other avenue girls, furnished
scene seventh. The Island of Girls,
with Miss King as a modern Eve, and
Miss Qualters as Miss Manhattan pre-
coded Miss Brice and her richly hui
morous songs and dances.
The evening of pleasure concluded