Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-01-08
ADJUSTMENTS
Equal no ANYTHING AT
THE ACADEMY THIS SEAS

EQUAL no ANYTHING AT
THE ACADEMY THIS SEASON
Tho musical comedy. foot. Toot!'
presented last nigh a the Academy
Of Music by Colonel Henry w. Savage
as Il train of mtrth n melody In
three sections. proved itself TO be "A
very swift and up-to-datc train. with
an entire disregard OF schedules or OF
thrifty economy OF management, since
there was an absolute riot of lavish
outlay in beautiful actresses, elaborate
costumes and captivating melody. the
las, named from the versatile pen of
Jerome Kern, who has contributed the
music 70" many successful plays.
In foot. Toot.' Il musical version
of the farce, Excuse Me-" Edgar AL
Ian Woolf has provided Il very witty
and entertaining libretto. ana tho
lyrics OF Bcrton Braloy afford a SPLEEN
did vehicle for tho Kern music For
the most part. these were well suns. in
particularly tho lyric. The Last Long
Mile" sung By Greek Evans. who has
n resonant baritone. with tho assist
ancc Of the soldier chorus. proved the
hit OF the evening. sud received re-
call after recall. the military atrnos-
pherc Of the setting eliciting tho great
est enthusiasm. Likewise. the Smoke
chorus OF soldiers and feminine pas
scnsers Of the overland Limited was
Il tuncful and extremely effective sclec-
tion. thc ascending smoke wrcaths add
inc 10 the realism.
The play Is presented with an excep-
tional variety of attractions: tho sta.
tion scene IL picturesque. with the dec
parting soldiers, the divorce : seeking
couple. the ~honcymooners. as yet un-
married: the rccreant minister and his
bride. out for their last worldly cxcur-
sion before Settlin. down: with the
friendly crowds seeing the honey
mooncrs" OF. The second scene. in the
Pullman smoking and observation car.
was natural. and the last scene, i'm the
Western mountains among the Indian
tcpccs. also met with approval.
The soldier army. In regulation khaki
and equipment. made an effective touch.
and that there might be no uncertainty
as 10 the military status of the young
men in uniform, their names and de-
tails OF registration were set forth in
full In the program. They proved TO DO
a good singing army. as we'll "a a
satisfactory marching one. even though
their manual OF arms was hardly up to
West Point standards.
OF the characters IN tho play. naught
but praise must he said. Harry Fern,
as the porter. was ct hand continually
with clever speeches and much bright
comedy. Edward Garvic. as the to-be-
divorced husband. WAS full OF humor
and displayed much ability IA a
comedian: Harry Benhain in the role OF
Lieutenant Mallory. the almost married
husband. filled the role admirably:
Frances Demarest, "a Mrs. Wellington.
was diGniied and stately. but not blind
10 opportunities for putting down her
convivial husband. Alberta Burton
made a charming bride-to-bc. evokiuE
much laughter in her devotion to her
''quinine" a the porter termed it: in
sistin. that tho overland Limited" be
stopped and backed to recover the lost
dog and herself pulling tho hcil-cord
for the purpose. Miss Burton was UNI
fortunate in having n severe cold.
which prevented her singing TO adj
vantage. though she did quite we'll, un-
der the circumstances.
The eight Grecian maidcns. In now-
I'M. robes and bandcouX. headed by
Pandora and Hyperion Buncombc, play
ed BY Ruth Harding and Donald saw
yer. was an unusual addition 10 the
play: it was something OF All anomaly
TO see them joining in a dance with
the Pullman porter, which. however.
was a decidedly interesting part Of the
performance; the Grecian dances and
poses came in several inres during the
evening md were at times very bcauti-
full. especially in tho station scene,
wherein tho calcium lights produced
y piiSIS aiSIsilC cIcClS. MT. SEW Ser
In his various dances was good. artistic
and effective Also were tho dances OF
Louise Groody. An attractive miss, and
Earl Benham, as Reverend and Mrs.
Colt.
The play hes its o.ici life and inter
est in the first two acts: the third act
suffering III comparison with the others.
though possibly IL is too much TO ex-
pect the action 10 be kept up to the
high pitch Of enthusiasm that revai lis
in the station scene. Taken as a whole
"Toot. loot" liz an exceptionally lively
and entertaining production. and for at
tractiva staging, charm OF chorus and
GOOD singing. equal 10 anything we
nave had 1T the Academy this season.
1t appears at the Academy again to-
night.