The Washington herald., 1917-06-10
STARS OF BROADWAY
ENTERTAIN SOLDIERS
Friars Frolc at Fort Myer BimfuI
of Patriotism.
By THE PLAYGoER

0y AAALS La SOL<NAs
And we won't come back till it's
over-over there"
Thus lyrically has George NJ. Cohan
expressed the true feeling that Is be-
hind every recruiting movement in the
United States and thus did his khaki
last night when Gus Edwards invited
them to Join in the chorus.
For George Cohan transplanted
Forty-second street and Broadway 10
the shores OF Virginia last night
Times Square must have looked aw-
fully lonesome after the exodus yes
terday OF those who made up the
Friars' party. There may have been
a few headliners left to amuse and
entertain Gotham but they were In
the minority.
The official announcement of the
performance given in the drill hall at
Fort Myer last night stated that the
Friars would give their frolic in con-
FUNSTON with the Stage Women's War
Relief Association. But this announce
ment does not tell the story. The
real story lies in the fact that these
people who are the topnotchers in
their profession, these people whose
huge dent into the liberty loan, these
people whose time is measured by
minutes and the minutes symbolical
OF dollars, have laid aside everything
that helps to commercialize their call
ing and are giving their time, and pay
ing all their expenses to make tour
of the various army camps Throughout
the country that those who have an
swered to the call to the colors might
have amusement.
The best is noue too good for our
soldiers, seems to be the slogan OF
the. F,riars and the best IN the the
atrtcal world was laid before them
last night.
A review Of an ordinary theatrical
performance would not suffice to tell
the excellence of their performance.
The Marine Band started things on
with ripperary," but before the frst
strains had been played the band
voices blended in almost perfect har-
mony sang the song which may be
their battle cry a few months hence.
It Is the same song that has cheereo
their cousin Tommy as he marched
over there.
Then Sam Harris started to an
GounCe the numbers but he soon gave
way to regular announcer, as James
J. Morton took up the program reins,
Sam was so chagrined at being cheat
ed out OF his Job that to cover his
confusion he started to count up the
house until he was stopped by Jim
Corbett, who told him the tickets were
all punched.
Gus Edwards plugged another
writer's song Just to show that he was
a regular fellow and then the lights
went out because OF the thunderstorm.
But lights could not stop such a show,
Ihere were too many OF them upon
that improvised stage. Someone for
tunate enough to own a Packard had
the car brought in and the acetylene
lamps were trained across stage and
the show went on.
o..
II and Gunga Din. And Mr.. Gran
Vile recited them.
Louise Dresser confessed that her
real reason for coming to Ft. MyeT
was to find a certain handsome SOL
der whom she had seen in a weekly
tivats the soldier audience by her
sweet voice.
Dorothy Jardon sang the Star Span
gled Banner as II has never been
sung before and the old hall fairly
shook with the applause which greet
again in Tosti's Goodbye" And
then little Mabel Garrison, who halls
from the ranks of the Metropolitan
opera Company, forgot grand opera
and sang Dixie" She may sing big
ger roles at subscription rates but
she never sang more sweetly than
in the South's spirited war song.
To name and describe them al
would take hours. There was Merce-
des, SOphye Barnard, she who has
made Poor Butterfly" famous; Felix
Adler. Earle Benham, Gene Green
Doyle and Dixon. Irving Berlin. Will
liam Gould, Montgomery and Perry
the two Harrys. Give and Kelly, Leo
Edwards, Dora Plowden, the Leigh
tons, Frank Tinney. Jim Corbett and
last and most. George NJ. Cohan, who
brought back memories OF George
Washington, jr., when he sang It's
a Grand Old Flag"
Il was a Glorifed show played 10
a house Of gallery gods as their were
no distinctions as to seats and the
breath OF Broadway and the generosity
Of the F'riars served to heighten the
resolution that We won't come back
till it's oyer-OVER THERE"