The Washington herald., 1919-11-03
of musical comedy IN these United

RA asi X
Of musical comedy IN these United
States.
But Fred Stone isn't everything in
this Jack O'Lantern" show. which
is a marvel of bright eyed and clever
girls clad a la confectionery, hundred
per cent funny stunts and pretty
songs with the smooth Tilt that makes
a ditty whistleable. And there are
those Six Brown Brothers, the boys
with the saxophopes that wall jazz
In close harmony in a way that makes
grand opera seem like hurdy-gurdy
with q pain in its innards.
The show starts with a swing.
Literally, We mean. Six. or is it
seven. strawberry sundae beauties all
lit up (with electric lights) swing out
over the orchestra blithesomely. Oh.
to be in the second row on the night
rope breaks,
After this, the show progresses
finely amid a wonderful succession
Of villainettes and farmerettes and
midinettes. with Fred Stone resurrect-
ing himself from a load Of hay. reap
pearing as an organ grinder, then as
a stick of peppermint candy and
finally In a sky blue uniform as one
of the seasoned troops who are mus
tered In the army and peppered by
the enemy
Perhaps the prettiest bit of the
show. though. is where Stone tells
| the kiddies a County Cork version of
Cinderella and they all doze and slip
on into a dreamland OF peppermint
sticks. lemon drops. molasses kisses
and sugar plums- with diminutive
Colonial fairies popping out Of bonbon
boxes
Every one in the cast is good with
a big. underscored capital G and to
mention any names in especial as
deserving Of praise would hardly be
fair to The rest. But the slim, vimful
young chorus might have a volume
written deservedly about its esprit
0f you don't know French. don't mis-
take this) and charming dancing and
tuneful voices.
The songs strike the same high
level OF excellence. although Follow
the Girls sticks in ones mind more
than the others, perhaps because OF
Stones misadventure with the cafe
au lait brunette and the precocious
3 year old who prefers clear Havanas
To the careless, the unfortunate and
the financially embarrassed who
missed seeing Jack O'Lantern' last
week. we'd like to extend the advice
not to miss It. Hang up the stenog-
rapher's pay or get a pass or some
thing. but don't pass up Jack O'Lan-
term It's a fountain of ginger ale
in the unfiltered and sullied waters
Of musical comedy.
! shubert-Garrick-a BE Good -
There was every indication last
night that the Shubert-Garrick has a
musical comedy ordained to be one
of the seasons choicest for this char
acter OF entertainment
I Betty Be Good" arrived quite un-
obtrusively but it abounds in clean
cut and bright comedy. a score with
more than its share Of catchy melo-
dies, cast and a chorus peculiarly
capable-in all a trinity OF virtues
which are bound to score with the
everyday theatergoer.
Harry s. Smith supplied the book
and lyics and his job was we'll done.
Hugo Riesenfeld is responsible for the
music, which Is some laps ahead of
the average in tuneful and whistly
strains.
II it Is in order to be critical the
main fault Is that the author has pro-
Sided too much. Some pruning of
situations in the second act and the
elimination OF an unnecessary and
forced burglary bit in the third act
which bordered on buriesque. would
: bring the sum total nearer 100 per cent
: real amusement.
J There is a real story to this comedy,
a story m fact with enough farcicaI
and pointed moments to stand up with
/ out music were IL necessary. Few
musical comedies have that attribute.
OF the principals much can be said.
Georgia hanatt as a chic little bride
radiates personality and in her duet
with Frank Crumit, Listen To Ny
Heart Beat registered the outstand-
ing hit of the musical interpretations.
Josephine Whlttell cast as Betty Lee.
musical comedy star displayed a
well trained voice and a capacity for
putting over the blunt comedy OF her
lines Dancing honors went to Laura
Hamilton in the role of a cabaret art
ist although she ran a close second
Tor singing honors.
living Beebe. Eddie Garvie. Josie
Intropidi, David Deandre, Lucille
Manion and Sammy Evans were
others who helped in no small way
signed for laughter.
The chorus is worthy OF especial
mention. not only for pulchritude,
but for ability to sing and maintain
action in the ensemble.
To mention some of the tunes
bound to become popular via the
whistling route are Where Shall
We Go" Tell Me-Daisy." Keep
the Love Lamp Burning" Keep
Them Guessing" I'D Love to Take
You Away" and Betty Be Good"
Judged by present-day standards
Betty Be Good" ought to be headed
for an extended Broadway run for
1t assays considerably higher than
many pieces which the Great White
Way has already taken to it's heart
Gayety-"'Girls a In Carte"
Two Broadway boys, Herk and
Pearson introduced Girls la
Carte" at the Gayety Theater last
night when they presented a gambol.
joyful toney menu of sweetness and
comedy in two burlesques OF three