Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-01-21
CLEVER ACTORS
IN "DR. OPTIMIST"
Choruses Will Sing Popular Songs
in Play Given by st. Fran
els Junior Aid

The musical comedy 'Dr. Uptimist.~
which the Junior Aid OF 81. Francis Country
House for .Convalescents will present at the
Bellevue-Stratford on the evening OF 1anu-
airy 20. differs in at least two respects from
the ordinary musical show OF today II
actually boasts of both an interesting plot
and moral The moral. or message, aa
Il might be called is suggested by the very
title Of the play. but is further brought
home by the song-hit OF the piece-"Smilc.
Smile, smile; !" and Il would be dficult 70
find better motto for these dark and
somber days.
AS for tho plot, Il concerns a certain
wealthy Mrs. Astorbnt. impersonated by
buy the secret Of youth. She applies 20
DR.. optimist otherwise known as Mr. John
/ Harder), but he refuses TO sell.
In this pursuit of youth and happiness
many complications arise, and some clever
comedy Is introduced by the designing niece
Miss Katherine Burns and Mr.. Stephen
Birch handle these difficult parts with a
skill that Is far from amateurish.
The part OF a "quaclS" woman doctor IL
played by Miss Rosalie Hoban. but as
Doctor Vale dies In the first act, Miss
further opportunity TO appear IN the anus
ing character OF woman lawyer, Portia
Belmont
The two ingenues. Dorothy and An
and Erlish. for both Miss Helen Eustace
and Miss Eleanor Gaiser combine skllful
dancing with their clever acting.
Tho Juveniles, Bob and Tom, are
impersonated by Mr.. Herbert Norton and
Mr. Arthur Hirst, who are both 50 well
known In amateur theatrical circles that
no further mention Is necessary.
With such an excellent cast one might
wonder just how the choruses could equal
their singing and dancing, but from an aux
iliary OF more than 400 young women
only the best have been selected. AS each
chorus comes on the stage It seems az
though this surely must be the best Of ALL
but. indeed, Il would be n difficult task to
select the prize group
One of the first numbers is the Picnic
Song In which the following take part;
Miss Jean Edelman, Miss Dorothy Mundy
Miss Mary Martin, Miss Marie Huber, Miss
Helen Sheeran and Miss Marie Greenfield.
The men are Mr.. Charles Hoban, Mr. James
Schel, Mr.. Frank Scannell, Mr.. Joseph
Kehoe, Mr.. Michael Jennings and Mr.. Rich
ard Sullivan.
The Guatemalan chorus Is unusually at
traetive, for the men wear long scarfs. or
sashes, which, with the flashing glances OF
the laughing senoritas, are used to Introduce
many novel features.
Miss Helen Eustace and Mr.. Harry Flem-
ing lead this group, and the dancers include
Miss Margaret Butler, Miss May Sheeran,
Miss Helen Hare, Miss Margaret Larlkins.
Miss Helen Mccarthy and Miss Marion Van
neman; also Mr., Edward Drueding. Mr..
Henry Pent, Mr. Emerson Treacy, Mr. Mar
shall Vanneman, Mr.. Herbert Norton and
Mr.. Meade Barr.
The real song hit OF Doctor optimist''
which every one will go home whlstling or
singing is "Smile. Smile, Smile" This chorus
is composed entirely of girls, and includes
sone Of the best singers in the show Among
them are Miss Eleanor OLoughlin Miss
Stella Marie Murphy. Miss Anna LarlSin, Miss
Mary Stecker. Miss Frances Mcdonnell Miss
leo FaRN.y NE,r
othy Eustace. Miss Marion Powers Miss
Catherine Mcdonnell. Miss Helen Hare, Miss
Marion Vanneman, Miss Anna StreclSer Miss
May Sheeran, Miss Marie Callahan and Miss
Elizabeth Smart.
Some of the other interesting titles on
the program are THE Milkmaids." SWEET
hearts," Dancing Dolls" and very extra
speciality which introduces some unusual
patriotic features; but this is being kepfraS
a surprise. SO the secret cannot be divulged
just yet.