The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1919-11-18

Somebody threw a monkey wrench
into the running gear Of the Orpheum
Monday, Perchance II was the wealth
erman or maybe a copy Of the Ameri-
can Issue found its way into this play
house or maybe we've had too many
good shows. Whoever or whatever
CAUSED it, the job was a complete one.
First, baggage was lost between here
and st. Louis, recessitating switches In
the order OF acts, then the apparent
crouch of Monday nights audience
seemed to cross the footlights for when
the audience warmed to any turn the
performers seemed to chill and when
the entertainers woke up those in
front went to sleep. No doubt there
we're good excuses for unnecessary
waits and consequently no mention will
be made of any shortcomings backstage.
But the pity OF It all was that on sew
eral occasions the orchestra did not
come to taw. More than one dance
number found performers and music
stverSl beats at vari2nce.
Harry Langdon is a show in himself.
"Johnny's New Car enables Langdon
stagefull of bright lines and to develop
numerous ludicrous situations, His
style is quite distinctive, his ability IN
facial expression past comment, So
Harry Langdon, favorable mention is
yours.
j WO NUlCeSi nOl great Jul plOdoihP'
and four feet of moro than the ordi-
nary nimbleness are reasons why Lois
Josephine and Leo Henning succeed.
Miss Josephine is a fetching little LADY
wearing exquisite but far less daripgly.
cut gowns Thar the one DISTORTED by a
fair patron who sat In front OF ,,ye
critic Monday night. She is fairylike
in her dances and in Hepning has an
able partner. Quite a charming bit is
the Fishing" song. Ted Shapiro at
the piano hasn't much chance to snow
what he can do.
There Is a blue air about the black
face offering of Lloyd and Wells that
is pure and simple local in setting. In
consequences they get across, 1t is
rather hard to classify this teams
dances. They are neither negro in type
or eccentric, but rather a combination
of both. If Memphis had never pro
duced Handy these two would be sell
ing soap.
Billy Montgomery and Minnie Allen
ali but chloroformed Monday nights
crowd. Even that blase gathering
didn't have the energy to talk while
Montgomery and Allen were on. The
man evidently Is an artist at syncopa-
ton. Miss Allen can sing, But neither
have a chance so long as they try the
hokum which fills up their allotted II
| minutes, The team died. miserably, all
because Of Montgomery's would-be
comedy.
Excellent in brass, but a trifle weak
In the reed section, the Chinese Naval
hand il q capable aggregation. Their
score was somewhat cut Monday night
to tit a spot on the bill. but these
| musical children of Confucius stepped
| through classical, martial and fox trot
numbers and topped off the turn WITH
lovers, a love song of old Cathay played
Len Chinese instruments. Thomas Ken
nedy is a bandmaster who knows his
work.
Forced to do their stunts in street
clothes, Espe and Dutton prove them
| selves a versatile team. One song, 2
| few soft shoe steps, some patter ana
a. balancing bit cover eight minutes.
The Three Jahns did not show in the
afternoon and were moved to closing
position Monday night. Delayed nag-
gage caused it all. AS equilibrists they
rank with the best.
One needs must follow Nobody's ad-
vice in "Everywoman' of "be mereiful'