Evening star., 1918-02-05
ADJUSTMENTS
Belasco. .

There IS no chance to critic!se "Over
the Top" on the score of plot. The
constructors Of the gleeful Shubert
melange took this little matter in hand
at the outset. II am the plot" an
nounces that irrepressible cut-up. Ed
Wynne. producing a bit Of tattered
manuscript as his credentials. He pro-
ceeds to construct an old fashioned
triangle situation in n manner that
deftiy satirizes both the superserious-
ness of the author and the self-eSteem
of the actor. The incident suggests a
clever travesty on Nobody in every
woman. 1t is one OF many bright
hippaucies to he traced to the pens
of Philip Eartholonae. the writer Of
farcsS, and Harold Attrridrs. whose
trolIcSnIne ~anCy has helpeG New York :
Winter Garden 10 blossom radIlntly
through many seasons.
The title is the only suggestion of
seriousness that the production con-
tainS. There are songs in abundance.
some of them revealing excellent mu-
steamship, as in the ballads of Craig
Campbell. Others have a straight
away swing that dances it's way into
the feet like those of Ted Lorraine.
who is a good dancing partner, not only
for Justine Johnstone, but for the ex-
ceedingly clever Oakland Sisters, and
for that matter for the entire chorus.
Those who saw the costume design
ing scene in 'Lombardy, Ltd" found
particular enjoyment in the roaring
Astaire. The conversation of Adele is
as bewilderingly eccentric as the dane
ing of Fred. She threatens to out
Tanguay Eva herself.
The reigning beauty of a show that
makes beauty one of its chief claims
to notice is Justine JohnStone. She is
new arrival and has made 2 sensation.
She sings. dances, and, so far as Mr..
Plot will permit. acts. in addition to
revealing extra ordinary physical graceS.
There is an army of girls with pretty
names as well as faces, going through
the list from Vivian" to Betty" The
personnel of the company is so numer-
Gus that the description covers page
after page of the Belasco progra m,
beginning with credit to J. c. Huffman
for staging the big show. and ending
with due recognition to Nat Roth and
c. Fl. Brown for the enormous man
agerial and publicity responsibilities
attached to so large and various an ag-
gregation.
The audience filled the theater. even
the gallery. so often deserted in the
modern theater re-asserting a claim TO
share of patronage. There was a lit
tie delay in getting the performance
under way last night, which was the
only suggestion of the troubles of the
plain everyday world which over rhe
Top is aNoWedlS designed to dispel 1t
Ns lavish in splendors of costume and
the stage crew is kept busy retiring one
gorgeous picture from the Ackerman
studios to make way for another The
classical dance is not neglected. Ro-
landa's dancers providing a display of
Sraces so adeptly presented that the
positively athletic accomplishments re-
quired were lost sight OF in the eXecu-
ton.
Nobody had a dull moment. Even the
orchestra, which after the opening
overture, passed from the baton of Sol
Minister to that of Louis Silver. was
kept thoroughly busy interpreting the
melodies of Sigmund Romberg. as they
passed with confident facility from
heroic crashes and counterpoints to the
most frolicsome Responsibilities of
ragtime. II is one of the big shows of
the season. and if there is any type
of light entertainment that an auditor
finds lacking. the management will no
doubt send out and try TO get it. for the
one object of the enterprise appears to
be to please every style Of popular
taste.