New-York tribune., 1918-08-22
: Drama
Zip Zip! Yaphank
Sweeps On to Success
at Century
BY Haywood Broun

When the draft cuts off cross see.
s'o" ol America it apparently finds
"A'o"e lls assembled soldiers song
"ii'er' Juggler, half dozen acrobats,
9 'oe cancer, first violin, three from
zone play ers, trick bicycle rider. a
'eh'we'Sht boxing champion and few
se"o's Modern civilization is ever so
c0'' "a * but we did not realize that
I"'' 1ully until we saw "Yip! Yip!
ap hahk" at the Century Theatre yes
'' Iuay' 1t Is easily the best of all the
soldier shows.
od Mdoreover, the Upton men have set a
diors ior' i0r or other producers than SOL
W.; we 90 not say this because
1lp. 1lp! Yaphank!" is PLAYED to a
rolilcking pace with a defnite ~ nrofs W q .
Slonai touch. 1t is rather in snirit thar
.'i .'i, iorm that IT should show the way to
aIi musical comedy makers during the
curse oi this war. If anybody on this
S4"e O! the water is to swank and MAKO
iohg 1aces at Germany from a Longer
Instance the right belongs to the man
~ an1 orm who is presently going over
~, nsn0' Almost invariably the man in
uh4lorm refuses his staggering priv;-
has NO musicai show seen this year
mas leaned SO lightly on the war spirit
OF the audience as "Yipl Yin, W, yans ~
hank:" 1t has not capitalized nstriot.
ISM 1or entertainment purposes.
"luch OF the show deals with the life
ol the soldier, but it contents itself
Win an intimate and humorous view of
'hao tile' IL Is not afraid to laugh at
sergeants and second lieutenants and
other vertebrae OF the army. Even the
oialI is touched upon as a human insti-
tulon not above the scope of genial
observation. And the net result IS thar
lhe snow IS inspiring as well as enter
la'h'hg. The American doughboy is
presented III the most attractive LIGHT
as man who has taken to so,dierIne
a. means to an end, as d man who
does not think be must be glum, even
ABOUT The most Important things
duhoH l3 one Of the brightest lights
n the world. 1t is needed in war time
more than ever before. Many times
1t anlmates the leap WHICH goes right
10 the heart OF problem. Don Mar
guns, tor instance, could do more for
me Committee on Public Information
IMAM George Creel because he inter
prets life humorously and therefore
goes deeper than the man who looks at
II literally. There are forms of sed-
quickly and effectively than a propa
sand!st or policeman.
""flp! Zip! Yaphank" is excellent in
substance as well as spirit. 1t con-
tains two gorgeous melodies of Irving
Berlin. One is the already popular
how | Hate to Get Up in the Morn
lng" and the other syncopated tune
called "Rsgtlme Razor Brigade" The
opening chorus, Hello, Hello. Hello,"
ingly.
The show contains everything. but
not too much Of II. And if there were
I' no Other reason for going to "Ylp!
1ip' Iaphank." the spectator would be
rewarded by having an opportunity of
nearing what real applause sounds
IKE. The house was crowded to the
last row Of the gallery al yesterdays
matinee aud for the first time in New
ork We heard applause that actually
put all the back muscles into play. 1t
is something it IS a good deal to rouse
so many Americans to enthusiasm for
play by and about the drafted men.
irving Berlin deserves a cita ion from
every dramatic critic in New York.