The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-09-17
DONALD BRIAN SEEN
ABEARDED STAR
"The Girl Behind the Gum
Marches Into New Amster-
dam Theatre.
MERRY WAR TIME SHOW
Songs, Quips and Humorous
Tangle in Home Life
Score Success.
The Girl Behind the Gun"-At the
New Amstertlam

There was Just little bit of tragedy
IN .Srhe Girl Behind the Cum. which
opened at the New Amsterdam last
night II wasn't war. it wasn't even
Jack Hazards voice. II wasn't the UNI
formed chorus-at was a dim sinister
shadow of gloom which hid Donald Bran
for fifteen whole minutes from waiting
audience Donald wore whiskers.
Imagine Donald Brian with whiskers.
Imagine virtue in the Wilhelmstrasse.
Imagine that the moon Is made OF green
cheese, and II seems perfectly piauslole'
but Donald Brian, he Of the Immaculate
and polished boots and swagger Monte
negrin uniform, with braid on his trou-
sers and curls in his hair-think OF
Donald with whiskers and dust on ms
overcoat-well, it only goes to show
what war Is.
Perhaps K was because II was the
frst time he has burst right out on his
own account as a bright and particular
star, without Julia Sanderson or Joseph
Cawthorn or anybody, and they wanted
TO make Donald individual and different
II so they succeeded, for It took at least
two seconds for the audience to remem-
Der the wave In his hair and the set OF
his eyebrows above the whiskers-a
perfect ring OF Donegals they were I'M
der a French shrapnel helmet-and then
that Donald was discovered.
Four Bright Helmets.
And speaking Of shrapnel helmets.
there were four bright young persons
who must be a credit to their families,
who wore shrapnel helmets as sub
stantial part OF their costumes. and 1t
Is no reflection on Henry Ford to quote
Will Rogers and rise to remark that II
ha
young things. helmets and all, in front
OF the trenches to get the boys out by
Christmas. 1t wouldn't take that long.
As a matts.: of fact, there were four
young officers in the front row who
looked twice at their overseas caps and
ten times at the helmets. as il in GER
tain Quandary.
All of which goes to show that THE
Girl Behind the Gun was just whatNone
would expect of the first Klaw and Err
LANCER musical show Of the season,
which always starts in at the New Am
sterdam with the firm resolution OF
sticking there till the Follies come along
IN the spring and start fair weather
offensive. 1t was as funny as Jack Haz-
gard and Donald's whskers could make
It and as tuneful as Ivan Caryl could
contrive. which leaves not a great deai
to be desired.
Uniforms have come to be recognized
as a necessary adjunct TO certain type
OF musical show, so it could not be said
that there was thing which suggested
war outside of the name, unless 1t were
the matrimonial difficulties OF Donald
Brian as Robert Ldnlbrissuc and Jack
Hazard as Pierre Brerdl, two officers ir
the French army, home on leave. Ano
n Il hadn't been for Mimi Wimi there
might not have been even that conjuga
upset. Mimi Wimi was the littles'
woman 1 ever saw" as Jack Hazard
tearfully exclaimed in extenuatlon. but
even at that she stirred up big muss
which lasted for three acts and seven
teen songs.
Rumpus at Home.
She had been indiscreet enough tc
write to Pierre at his home and Nine
Breval received the letter, and then {
fat cook named Brichoux bobbed up al
Nine. Brevars godson from the trenches
and Robert Lambrissac came in will
whiskers and took the place OF Nine
Breyal's godson and kissed Nine. Breva
iust in time for Colonel Servan. Nine
Prevails rich old uncle. to see 1t. thereby
resulting in Lambrissac shaving hi
whiskers and playing Breval and Breva
playing the cook until the final curtain
And as Jack Hazard said tearfully. "sh'
was the littlest woman L ever saw. pu
at that time he was carrying a trunl
and knitting, so he couldn't have been {
good judge.
There were several very tuneful song
which Ada Meade as Georgette Breva
and Wilda Bennett as Lucienne Lam
brissac sang. and Miss Bennett will
Donald Brian aroused the applause
which one always expects when HI
dances Jack Hazard had song
''women Haven't Any Mercy on Man,
which was called for until he had SUM
all the verses he could think of and ha'
10 start all over again. Frank Doan
played a comic opera COLONEL Servai
with all the yearning one has to b.
young again. All in all Mimi Wimi
started a very interesting evening.