New-York tribune., 1918-06-19
Drama
By Haywood Broun

The current "Follies" which was
shown at the New Amsterdam Theatre
last night, is perhaps the most beauti
full of the series. Urban hss done won
ders and kept most of his sets lighter
than usual. Almost the only thing he
did not succeed in doing was to paint
singing voice for Lillian Lorraine.
However, Miss Lorraine was as person.
able as the scenery.
VIII Rogers, who is not in the least
pictorial, was second to Urban in pro-
noting the success Of the show. AS
a rule Rogers begins slowly and builds
up his monologue as the season pro-
crosses. But he has good foundation
already. There is the one about George
Cohan joining the nasal reserve and
the suggestion that England give Ire
land Home Rule and reserve the mov-
ing picture rights. Curiously enough
Mr.. Ziegfeld seems bent upon making
Rogers an actor. He is cast as the
way. Rogers can't seem to do much
with other mems lines even when he
can remember them.
Eddie Cantor did not begin to touch
Rogers in his monologue, but he was
exceedingly amusing as a flying candi-
date enduring physical examination.
On the feminine side, and that phase
is not neglected in the Follies, Miss
Marilyn Miller was the most pleasing.
AS yet she is not quite SO delightful
as in her previous appearance here
this season in "Fancy Free" Her
dancing is much more premeditated
and formal. She is not particularly
accomplished ballet dancer. Her best
work is casual and loose and SEEM
ingly extemporaneous. She would be
pretentious sets and costumes out of
her way and just let her come out and
fool around little.
In some respects the fornality Of
"The Follies" is a good thing. 1t is
disciplined show and races along
from one number to another without
encores or other bitches. One number,
called "a MINIATURE" is as fine bit
Of decoration as the New York stage
has ever seen. An oval frame is cut
to represent a mirror and as one figure
dances in front another answers the
movements on the other side of the
frame. The management seemed to
fear that the illusion might be too
the two sets of twins advanced to
the footlights together In the case
Of one team it was still difficult to
tell which one had been the reflection,
for the Misses Fairbanks are as alike
as two Dollys.
The musical number likely to be
most popular of the lot is called "I'll
Pin My Medal on the Girl l Left Be-
hind" A whole trench was built for
this stirring Berlin number with sol
diers and everything, but the pro-
gramme explained that the entire male
chorus had been rejected. Frank Car
ter put the number over the footlights
with vigor.
The fact that Miss Burke played in
"a Marriage Of Convenience" seems to
have had an undue influence in the
Follies. There are two dances mod
elled on that not overly successful lit
tie play at the Henry Miller Theatre
Ann Pennington was her usual active
rolypoly self in two dances of the
grass skirt school and the audience
was quite ready to add the Murray
which usually follows "hip-hip."
There's a good deal to the present
Follies, and we were obliged to leave
before the appearance of Savoy anc
Brennan, who are nearly always anus
ing, and of that clever dancer, Frisco
AS Will Rogers explained. cts great
thing to see the Folles on the first
night, because by the time you folks
are back at your homes in The Bron,
lot of this show will be in Gains
storehouse along with some of my
jokes" However, full measure will
be spared to foil the spectators ane
soothe the public.