The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1919-01-14
SHUBERT

Sparkling with originality, agleam with color, with a pretty love story running throughout, bubOling with fresh, youthful clean humor and without a dull moment from the r'ise of the curtain on the prologue to the fall of the curtain on the finale of the cecond act, Take It From Me" the musical comedy which opened for q weeks run at the Shubert theater in New Haven last night, Is without doubt the best of the similar offerings at that theater during the present sea son.
 It has all the freshness of the pre- war musical shows and in addition there is seemingly amending fund of humor which brings a laugh every minute. While the music is, perhaps, not of the cid style, whistly variety that will finger In the memory, it is nevertheless tuneful and exceedingly pleasing and well above the average: It is indeed hard. in a play where there are so many high lights of su- periority to set ones self to name the best. but The TangIefoot," in the prologue, The Cozy Little Home" and T Like to hnger in the Lin eerie," in the first act, and The Kiss" and "Camoufage," in the last act, are numbers worthy of special mention. J
 As for the story, 1t is that. of the crusty. old, rich uncle who has left nlS business to his nephew, provtd- ing the nephew can show a prcf1t at the end of one year of management. How well he succeeds and how he is helped to his success by his gay com paions and ''the girl'' is the real story of the play and would only detract from the enjoyment of the peform- ance. if it were set down here. Suf- flee 1t to say that the outcome is all that could be desired in happy end ings aRd that the story is finished to | the taste of the most critical connois- seur
 In the hands of such a cast as Is to
 be seen in Take It From Me" even a merely mediocre play wouI5d seem good, but with such medium for the 1 expression of their individuality and | personality as they have there is little wonder that the show has been huse
 success everywhere it has played | That is one of the musical plays
 which is due for a still bigger saccess
 is foregone conclusion.
 Fred Hillebrand, as Vernon Van
 Dyke, is huge success with his com edy role and his eccentric dance in the first act is wonder Vera Mich elena, who is cast as Queenie La Belle, is too well known to need in l troduction here. She has. been with several big musical successes, lately
 being with Flo Flo.
 The Kiss number, by Miss Mich elena and Mir. Hillebrand in the clos l Ing act is the old "soul kiss" raised to the nth power of perfection. A Doug1ess Levitt as Dick Roller and Jack McGowan as Tom Eggett, the
 nephew, are the other members of
 the trio who, with Hillebrand, carry
 the weight of the comedy of the en-
 tire piece. Charles L. Warren as
 Sherif "Biff' Doyle, though entrusted
 With but 8 small part, warrants de-
 clded praise.
 Miss Alice Hills as Ella Abbott, the
 spinster secretary, is easily the best
 or the female comedy roles .Leonars
 Thompson as Grace Gordon, the gir
 who makes the business a success un-
 der the new management and finally
 wins the love of Nephew Tom. is no1
 only 6 sweet and pretty girl but g
 very clever dancer as well. Othe
 characters which all have their part
 in making Take It From Me" a sue
 cess are Helen Rafferty as Gwendo-
 lyn Forsythe, Harold Wizard as .Attor- lney Horace Turner, William Balfoui z H.s Gyrus. Grabb and nnEotfr Rstts es