Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-08-21
MUSIC AND SMILES
MINGLE AT KEITH'S
Donald Brian in War Play and
Walter Weems Offer Light
and Shade

There are things to suit all tastes at
keith's this week, and the show as a whole
will make you forget present day troubles.
1t is quite the fashion these days when
one has written a number of popular songs
to let the public have a look at the author
II gives the people a Closeup" view of
songwriters and they get a line on the
general characteristics of the poets who
thrive on love tales. There are two such
romancers on the bill. namely, L. Wolfe
Gilbert and Anatol Friedland They pre-
sent number of musical heart throbs cul-
minating with set Aside Your Tears for
Laughter" This concerns theuattitude to
be taken In bidding adieu tdpour soldier
boys so that they may go with lighter
: hearts to attend the Kaisers obsequies.
The two songwriters have turned out a
number of successes. including waiting
Tor the Robert e. Lee" and many OF the
wiggywaggy Hawaiian connections The
pair reaped good harvest of applause
Gilbert and Friedland followed a war
sketch In which death and misery raced
madly from start to finish. No less a per-
son than Donald Brian. of Merry Widow"
fame, was the hero-in-chef. The playlet
Is called Somewhere in Mexico"
villa is shown stumping about on a
wounded leg. He is in bad humor. In
fact every one in the play appeared TO be
very unsociable, Villas captains and as
slstant colonels seemed to be just as mad as
MN about something or other There was
much biting of mustaches &and general
bowling against the gringoes.
WORD is brought III by dust-covered
courier that two American aviators have
fallen In the desert. "Oh, fine business !"
Villa orders them before him. The avia-
tors are brothers, Tom and Charlie Villa
threatens them with death unless they tell
Nhere General Pershing is. 1t appears that
these two aviators didn't know that the Cen
eral was now in France. Tom wanted to
live for the sake of mother and was willing
10 hand over all the dope on the Generals
whereabouts But Charlie wouldn't. In
fact he told one of the mad Mexcans TO
XIII ms brother, he was so angry about il
And so Tom was shot. Then Charlie became
defiant and standing close to Villa he cursed
MN MN with vengeance. But shot from
villas revolver ended the excitement
hr' BRIAN was a manly looking aviator
Good support was given by John Sainfoles.
Robert Bentley, Walter Gilbert William
Francisco and Roy Fairchild
Things were quite different when Walter
Weems was on the stage. He recently re-
turned from Australia and brought along a
good crop of stories and ideas. He works
quietly being aware of the fact that good
comedy will get over without noise and
jangle. Mr., Weems offers a drama in which
he makes Charlie Schraedsrs orchestra do
all the work and the comedian gathers the
laughs. His act concludes with a musical
specially which added solid punch weems
is welcome.
Those Five Girls are a quintet Of musical
misses who delighted with violin selections,
singing and dancing.
Too Late" presented by Stewart Jack
son and Dorothy Wahl Is one of the hest
musical novelties seen here In a long time
The couple are unusually talented and put
action In every minute. Herman and Shir-
ley offered something new In the way of
acrobatics; Mr.. and Mrs Gordon Wilde
showed that many things can be done with
shadows. and Lohse and Sterling added a
bunch OF thrills which kept the audience
in Its seats until the finish
Lots or present-day excitement was
flashed In the pictures. j. a q