New-York tribune., 1918-03-11

Lets Co. Needs to Make
Its Carelessness Bit
r. More Studied
By Heywood Broom

William Rock and Frances White call
Lets Co. "a costless, castless, care
less revue" 1t does not matter that
1t is costless and castless, but it will
be much better entertainment when
* has BECOME less careless. Every
body knows that a good impromptu is
the result of painstaking preparation.
Lets 20" will not attain the desired
effect of rollicking along without
rhyme or reason until it has been cut
INTO very definite plan. Possibly
most the errors OF rough first night
have been already eliminated. Al
though the show was produced for a
total cost of S99620, the scene shfters
made more fuss and noise in getting
simple hanglngs into place than would
be heard at the Hppodrome before a
battle scene. 1t is pleasant to record.
however, that many numbers were de-
lghtful, and that the hand me down
scenery and costumes were not only
adequate, but IN most cases extremely
attractive.
Of course the S996.2O set down in
the programme as the cost of the pro. o.
duction is a little deceptive. The cos
tunes of Miss White, for instance,
would probably total or better that
amount, but they are from her personal
wardrobe and were not BOUGHT for
LETS Go" The supporting cast for
the two principals is good and the
cutting therefore may well include
some OF the numbers assigned to the
stars. Frances White is a capital per
former, but her limitations are sharply
Defined. Many would sit through an
evening II she would do nothing hut
sing songs about tough kids. When
she. sings "What Do Care" she seems
TO be an artist almost of the first or
der, but in more sentimental numbers
ana IN ridiculous pantomime dance
called "The Inevitable" she is iust so
William Rock knows good deal about
makeup and he is an excellent dancer
lie is not mimic or comedian, and
he wastes his own time and that of the
Mansfield. =
Nothing on the bill was as entertain
ing as Beatrice 1Ierford, but then
nothing ever is. Her art is infinitely
above what is popularity known as a
monologue. The spectator all but hears
and sees the missing persons in the
scenes which she presents through the
conversation of an individual All her
material is familiar, but "The Hotel
Child" for instance, will bear repeti
ton again and again. | hope that as
LETS Go" grows into shape there will
be more from Miss Herford. Three of
her monologues are not nearly enough.
Professor j. Edmund Magee was
amusing in buresque demonstration
OF hypnotism, and Smith and Austin
also made clever fun of familiar vaudc-
vile turns. Perhaps their best skit
was an imitation of one Of those canine
comedies which every patron of vaude-
vile has leaned to dread 1t might
be cut bit to good effect.
With some of the others the reaper
should go as far as he likes and fur
ther. Miss Ellsworth and Miss Palmer
sang in a way to make the spectator
wonder just what the throat and nose
specialists are doing these days, and
Bobby Edwards, from Greenwich Vii
lage, was a fearful. bore The Clef
Club which furnished the orchestral
music, sang some delightful negro mel
odies between the acts. Lets Go" is
to all intents and purposes a vaudeville
show, and it will be an amusing one