The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-12-24
NEW MUSIC COMEDY
FULL OF LAUGHTER
somebody's Sweetheart" at
Central, Introduces VIM.
Kent, Fun's Rara Avis.
PLAY TUNEFUL, WITTY
Filtration in Spanish Setting
Affords Basis for Plot Full
Of Quick Action.
Somebody. sweethesre'-At the

What, oh Pan. is SO rare as a laugh
in tune? Especially in this town Of
furious merriment not always kin TO
laughter Therefore salaam and twice
salaam TO young Mr. William Kent OF
the cast OF Somebody's Sweetheart"
which. by grace of the Shuberts,
opened itself and the new Central
Theatre at Broadway and Forty-sev-
enth street last night.
Mr.. Kent, to a soul thirsty for nice
nonsense, IS like a drink OF sweet
aqua in the Bad Lands. More, oh
much more! He or his comedians
art, indeed, is what a mint julep will
be when the Black Coats have their
will and the forty-eight States be-
come as arid as most OF them are
now. lie is fnd--pure gold in the
gravel. Mr. Kent is a genius because
Mr. Kent Knows how to be a perfect
nut. They say that this constitutes
the very apotheosls OF all genius BE
this true or nay, one is ready to be-
lieve it when the little man. after no
end of monkeyshines, no end Of quick
and eccentric patter in his twangy
tones. filters from the stage in a
dance like nothing on earth except
the quavering and Quivering OF the
uneasy light upon a motion picture
screen.
The part assigned to him in Some
body's Sweetheart" which is a musical
play presented by Arthur Hammer
stein, the book and lyrics being by
Alon2o Price, and the music by An
tonic Bafunno. gives fluent opportun-
ity to this agile person. He Is the deus
ex machina, the fall guy, the goat and
the half portion hero of plot which
fox trots from first to last OF two
brisk acts. He isn't the whole show
by any means. but he is a laughmaker
"A real one-and for such Allah be
praised He alone could carry" the
show, but he doesn't have to.
Somebody's Sweetheart" is a little.
tuneful. brightly colored, clean,v con-
ceived, worlimanly acted musical COM
edy. There is not one disagreeable
thing to say about it or anybody in IT.
That fact might just as well be stated
at the outset in case the reader is peer
ing for that hammer which reviewers
are mistakenly supposed never to be
without. II could not be described as
"a notable production" or "a thrilling
success" or anything of that sort. II
IS simply a modest bit of fun and aC-
ton and color and il ought TO run a
long, long time. 1t would be hard, in
deed. To imagine a piece more calcu-
lated to make war weary or wounded
soldier boys forget the ugliness and
drcariness and suffering OF their ser
vice over there. It's good medicine for
anybody who is not perpetual
crouch.
The story is laid in Seville and every
Ertful opportunity is taken by scene
painter and costumer OF the Spanish
setting. Il IS enacted upon tiny
stage by a small company, all of which
serves 10 create between audience and
play an unusual intimacy for pro-
duction OF this character. The action
has to do with a scrape into which a
Young American knocking about Spain
gets himself by flirting with a gypsy
SlTI just DtlOle ne eHSdSeS HlllSeH 10
marry the daughter of the American
Consul at Seville That's enough of
the story II YOU want the rest go to
the Central Theatre TO laugh with
William Kent, the ubiquitous Sam
Renton. the Mr.. FiXit and Do 1t
GeOrg" OF the jolly plot. The only
other word necessary perhaps is that
every person in the cast does HIS or
her work with something more than
good will.
Particular mention might he made
of Eva Falon, who sang beautifully
In spite of a bad attack OF first night
nervousness; OF Louise Allen, who
was an attractive blue eyed ingenue,
ind who danced like n fairy in the
81 tdes Of Nonctte, well known in
vaudeville, who was most attractive
gypsy girl, though she was at rather
a loss without her violin, and of John
Dunsmure, who was most horrendous
gypsy chief. The piece is charmlugly
staged and costumed and the music
- tuneful though light