The sun., 1919-04-09

Did the Marine Productions Inc"
know the Salvation Army was going to
have drive for funds. and did 1t decide
10 stage a musical comedy to boom the
good work? Or is it just a coincidence
that a pan of doughnuts was made the
piece de resistance OF the feast of music
and mirth and high kicking served at the
Nora Bayes Theatre last night on the
eve of that same drive? Anyhow they
were nice looking doughnuts. and com
bined with the pretty Salvation Army
laeses who purveyed them and the SOL
dlers and Motor Corps girls and Alsa-
tiaon beauties and high kicking dancers
in gauze skirts and the music and Harry
Ttghe. and SO on and so on. they ought
TO do lot to help the money roll into
Commander Evangeline Booths Golfers.
Maybe some of the numbers that were
sung last last night wouldn't just At into
a Salvation Army meeting. but the
lasses who capered about the stage In
the well known uniform would grace any
8. A. affair that was ever held.
OF course, as may be guessed. the pro-
duction has to do with the late war.
The two acts are staged in an Alsatian
village. and there Is a mess corps pre-
sdded over by the ever popular and en-
PERTAINING Harry Tighe. who as Mess
Sergeant Doolittle was easily the best
thing in the play. AS every one knows
there can't be too much of a good thing.
and SO the public may be glad to know
that Harry overlooked his uniform Just
the same as re has his other costumes.
The three chins that divided his beaming
smile and his military collar testified
that his alleged worries as mess ser
geant hadn't brought that slenderness
for which he confessed that he longed.
Salvation Army to Front.
The main play was preceded by a
brief prologue, which brought the Sal
walton Army right to the fore. and also
get the stage for the near tragedy. which
supplied the love interest OF the plot.
The curtain rises in the st. James Club
in New York, which doesn't look like its
name at ALL but bears an astonishing
resemblance to the outside OF a dance
hall. Waltz music Issues forth. tripping
figures are outlined on the curtains, and
rresently Barbara Benton and Frank
Maj shall, the villain of the play. come
cut. Then confronts them Tom Nc
Msnus, Barbara's finance, and hoarsely
demands of Frank how he dare bring
Miss Benton to such n place. Barbara
who loves Tom all the time but wants
TO have good time with Frank, Tom
dignantly away with the villain when
along some three Salvation Army lasses.
who remark that they have been work
ing from the morning before till 3
that morning. The tide OF Barbara
life is turned. and 1t can easily be imaR-
ined that when next we see her she is
Major Benton in trig Salvation Army
uniform serving in France.
II Tom and Frank didn't appear at
H.
reason for the comedy being written
and so there they are-Frank, a Lieu
tenant, in charge OF the camp, and Tom
Sergeant who has strolled away from
the hospital where he was supposed to
be recovering from wound. Tom
promptly quarrels with Frank about
Barbara, and as she has let the latter
know that she can never love him. and
he is green with jealousy, and as much
OF villain ms ever. the rest may be
imagined.
In the twinkling OF an eye Tom liz In
the guardhouse and barbara in despair.
Nor Is the villain satisfied with threat
ening to railroad his rival to Ieaven-
worth prison. He contrives TO have
Bdrbdrd deprived OF her rank and dis
missed from the Salvation Army for
having received Tom-who escapes from
the guardhouse to tell her that he loves
her as much as ever, Toward the end
OF the second act II looks as black as
black can be Tor the despairing lovers
and II II weren't for the god who
watches over musical comedy their finish
would he sad indeed. But of course II
isn't. Without spelling the enjoyment
of future audiences by revealing the de-
tails Of the denouement. II may be
gated that Come Along comes along In
way TO content all who love true
lovers.
Harry TiRhe n HIT.
Harry Tlghe, as has been rema rked
10 about the best feature OF the comedy
Some OF his scenes with his little French
sweetheart, Mddeion, are really yer,
good, and his kindly. laundering, biz
brother ways with barbara when she
" worried to death over Sergeant Tom
make him very likeable. Allen Kearni
AS Peanuts. eternally peeling potatoes
is what might be called the lightweigh
fun maker. In which he is aided b,
Peggy Penny, whose silhouette In heI
Motor Corps uniform is all that tn,
newest fashions could desire.
Bide Dudley wrote the book of tn,
play, and John Louw Nelson the song
and lyrics. Frank Jackson directs It
Edward Royce STAYS It and Jack MssoI
arranged the special numbers.