The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-03-25
TUMBLE IN PROVES
TUNEFUL AND FUNNY
Adaptation Of "Seven Days.
Needs Little Revamping to
.. Make It Attractive.
OLD TINE JOKES GO WELL
Settings Are Inviting and
Herbert COrthell Is as
Amusing as Of Yore.
OLD TINE JOKES GO WELL

Aunt Selma. Zelda Sears
'"'one good little OIL show" said a FIRST
nighter last evening outside the Selwyn
Theatre. where he had Just seen -Tum-
BILE H." Otto Harbach and Rudolph
Frimi's medium for expressing the mes
sage that the spring freshets OF musi-
cal comedy have set in. And one re-
viewer. cropping for a coruscating phrase
which should be n beacon light for Ar
thur Hammerste!n's production. seized
upon this as final truth. "'Tupmble In
is one good little OIL show
This 10 an adaptation Of Seven Days."
the farce which lifted Mary Roberts
Rinehart and Avery Hopwood out Of
the working class to the sphere of high
kicking and csrolinss about the moon.
1t was worth doing II only to give ono
the sight Of Herbert Corthell, back In
his old role Of jim wilson, performing q
dance that might be called classical,
though Corthells figure lacks the truly
classic proportions.
Since the days when the original farce
was produced Corthell has gone up In
the world-upward and outward. Yet
the fact that ne brought q little more
to the part than baiore only served to
divert the audience In the second act.
when he ieaped about like o cupid with
elephantisis.
Abounds In New Features.
That was only one Of the novelties in q
play that abounded In new features.
among them book which actually made
one laugh without warming the Jokes
over In ones mind, Fortunately Otto
Harbach though fully capable of writ
ing amusing lines. seemed to have real
ised he needn't try to vaccinate the plot
with new jokes after seven years had
passed. Outside OF frescoing the plot
with lyrics and trimming II down to let
In some OF Frimrs always enjoyable
music Mr.. Harbaoh's only departure
from the classic model was to write In
the chorus
1t seemed odd to view chorus trapes-
ing through Seven Days" especially
when Jim WIDOWS home on Rivers do
Drive, where the two acts passed, had
been qusrantined. But there they were.
and one had to put up with them: after
one glance this chorus was quite easy TO
put UP with.
Their numbers were introduced with
out any Jar gave that which occurred
when the members OF the household
tried to break the quarantine and the
Board OF Health guards tumbled ,,them
into the house again-which gave an
excuse for the name of tho piece. This
procedure gave an opportunity Also for
the chorus to appear on the roof Gaping
In one Of the scenes of the second act
~ ain II. 70
which was sore temptation to the
audience.
"Chicken" sons Gets q Hand.
Another song which appealed TO tho
spectators by Its out OF the way char
acter was "a Little Chicken Fit for
Old Broadway" In which Olga Mishka,
appearing hrst as country maid In
goloshes, was put into q huge pot. where
after a culinary Turkish bath she was
turned into q Hive one Olga Mishka
scored one of the individual triumphs
OF the evening with her dancing, which
revived memories OF Adeline Genee and
her twinkle toes. The girls OF the en-
semble also paraded well in THE Trous-
seau Ball." a display Of gowns that Is
bound to 30 strong now that Easter 10
approaching.
And Herbert Cortheli hasn't forgotten
how to be funny In the familiar situa-
tons. though he probably had 10 learn
his part again. Others who put In a
pi Notable evening were Zelda Sears. as
the extremely orthodox aunt whose
patent medicine 10 anything but ortho-
dox; Peggy oNeil, rs the girl who has
control over spirits but is always losing
them. Virginia Hammond, as the di-
vorced wife Of Wtlso~. who prefers the
coal hole to him but changes her mind.
and Charles Ruggles. as the youth who
grows impulsive when his aunt's medi-
cine comes within reach.
Many OF the first nighters seemed &C
qrainted with the farce In tho original
fern. but oven they laughed instinc-
lively at the witticisns. hailing them as
old friends. Certainly to the younger
generation Tumble In will appeal. with
its inviting settings and It's tunes by
Friml that aren't hard 10 carry In the
head. The public Is likely to keep this
play Guaranteed at the selwyn for a
long time.