Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-01-14
"OH, MAMAr WINS
VERSAILLES MEDAL
Musical Show at the Adelphi II
Near Paris" Even if 1t Doesn't
Get Any Farther

Theatregoers will laugh at anything II
they are in good humor, according to man
ayers who have tested their taste. and II
doesn't always take great deal to put and
Keep them In good humor The Adelph audi
ence was In good humor last night But IT.
didn't laugh and applaud at everything In
on Mama !" "A new musical comedy with
score by Frank Tours and book and lyrics
by Philip Bartholomae That would have
been too much TO expect oven from tolerant
and good-humored audience There were
plenty OF bright faces in cast and chorus,
lots of bright lights, a few bright situations
and some bright lines but the bright lines
ana bright situations did not bear q proper
proportion TO the other elements or much
relation to each other,
Paris has been selected by the Nbrettist
FOR the localization of his plot peopied by q
number of transplanted Americans Three
Elimpses of Paris are given. a railway sta
ton the winter garden OF n fashionable
Partisan hotel and the cafe OF the same
caravansary One Item of French geography
is Just now tolerably well fixed in the Amer
ican mind--that Versailles is near Paris.
'Oh, Mama i Is "Near-Paris" too, some kilo-
meters less near-about the number between
any part Of Paris and Forty-second street
and Broadway. II is racy of the Rialto, and
that is nearly the only thing racy about It,
II is "Frenchy" only to the extent that q
little French is spoken in IT, It is of the
musiCal-comedy-stage stacy
Mr.. Batholomae, whose over Night" was
both good farce and good fun, and whose
Little Miss Brown delcatcly and delicious
ly blended farce and comedy, has plotted his
new piece about beautiful American girl
stranded in Paris questing n lost uncle and
newly wed pair of Americans honeymoon
ing there on the alimony of the bride and
trying to keep their marriage secret In order
TO Keep the alimUny coming Naturally GAL
liant young Americana spendthrift whose
father cuts Off his allowance at the Interest,"
ing moment he is knight-erranting beau
tiful damsel in distress-comes not only 10
| the aid of his Countrywoman. but shows her
a good time which includes falling in love
| with her, Naturally. too. almost the first
| man the almony- maintained bridegroom
| runs into is the purvcyor of the alimony. and
really IL shouldn't surprise any one to learn
| that he unites in his person the sought-for
| uncle and the agent of the spendthrifts
hard-hearted father. When the time arrives
| for carriage calls Mr.. Bartholomae brings
everybody on the stage and settles 1t just
| that way in what is called the finale.
Justine Johnstone. late of the "Follies" and
| still later star Of "Ovcr the Top" is the
| beautiful damsel in distress. And she is
| BEAUTIFUL, in capital letters. even IL she
| cannot emotionalize distress, even musical
comedy distress. Miss Johnstone provides
enough beauty Of face and figure for n
| couple of shows and five beautiful gowns,
| wonderfully worm Some day some dramatist
is going TO write n show for her cu' to her
| measure. just as her marvellous gowns Az
| cut. 1t will be called ''Jus.Iue ,ne 3eauti.u
| Cloak Model" and its success Will depend
| not on change Of scenes or display of emo
| tions but in change and display Of costumes
| Alan Edwards as the amoner to distressed
| beauty. Harry Conor the alimoner ant
| Helen Shipman and Frank Fay as the ali
| monees provided the comedy and action o
| the piece. Mr.. Conor's ability as an adroi
| farceur. well remembered from the days o
! THE Blue Mouse" in artistic evidence
| Miss Shipman and Mr.. Fay had couple o
| delightful travesties, especially that on th'
| feminist employer and the young man stenog
| raphcr, and Mr.. Fray had a catchy dit.
| about the identity of his sisters suitors a.
| shown by their knocks on the door. Thi.
| was the best of Mr.. Tours music.