New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1920-04-11
Anna Wheaton Is Not
Pretty, but, Oh, Boy!
She's Just Full of Pep

.'iAu tiAiS lHtt udy uHDIellAS were
raised and a young woman made q
wish. The old story tells that wishes
made on a day when there are three
showers come true. She stepped to the
door Of her hotel and waited for a
taxi. The hotel manager reminded her
of the three showers and she brought
her hands together in weird series
of motions, not unlike person using
the deaf and dumb language. Whether
her wish comes true depends on every
one who reads this and upon all others
who go to the theater.
Every one who ever talks about or
writes about Anna Wheaton Is sure
to say that she is not pretty. Yes. it
was Anna Wheaton who made the wish
on the day of the opening of "Three
Showers" at the Harris Theater. She
wished for successful production. It's
her personality, not her looks. that
makes her one of the most popular and
winning of musical comedy actresses.
On the stage she Is Anna Wheaton
herself and not Anna Wheaton trying
to model herself after some other
o. Ooo VIII has Iuduc d success IN the
theater. Perhaps that explains the
charm Of her performance. For vi
vacity, for "tomboyry,' for rapier-likc
thrusts in dialogue, for skillful hand
ing OF lyrics in catchy songs, she has
few equals. Remember her in ooh.
Boy? You like her q little after her
first appearance on the stage and her
first song. You like her almost twice
as much after her next appearance and
before the act is over she has won YOU
and you are Wheaton fan.
Is confession necessary? Anna
Wheaton is going to invite the Tribune
reporter to tea next week if she likes
what he writes about her. But do not
think that any of the foregoing. even
word, would have been left out if
there had been no possibility of taking
tea with the wistful and winsome Anna.
For coincidence Anna Wheaton was
decidedly serious off stage, although
she told her age. In her dressing room
after the second night Of the pretty
Coburn musical comedy she received
the Tribune man almost as if it were
her first interview.
VIVA do you want me to say?" was
her first question. 1t looked as if she
were going to do the interviewing.
Say something cute" was suggested.
Il can always say cute things, ex-
ccept when l want to. When you leave
here ! will ask myself, why didn't I
tell him that?"
The preliminary sparring over. Miss
wheaton talked and made a suggestion
which has long been thought of by
many who have given any thought to
the subJect-opening night.
told tho truth. If am m"s good s"' or 20 If y I
am bad l want to be told so. If the
play ! am In is bad I should like to
know It. But want all this from some
one competent to speak. Obviously.
when three or four plays open in one
night the dramatic critic Of a news
paper cannot attend them all. If he
does get around later in the week 1t
IS too late for him to write his opinion.
50, on opening night he sends an as
slstant, a reporter, almost any one he
can press into service. Why not ar
range openings so that the critic him
self can attend? 1t isn't necessary for
three or four plays to open on the
same evening. While critic cannot
make or break show, he can be of
great help"
Before Vera Ross. whose beautiful
mezzo- soprano voice won much praise
on opening night, had spoken more
than ten words it was evident that she
came OF Irish ancestry and that she
liked to tell of it at every opportunity.
She was making for the stage door exit
when the writer rushed down the stems
from Miss Wheaton's dressing room to
catch her.
II am speechless," she said.
80 am l." was the gasping reply.
Then the interview is at an end.n
she retorted, with q merry twinkle in
her eye.
But it wasn't. Miss Ross has done
concert work, has sung in light opera,
In Gilbert and Sullivan. and has sung
IN many European countries.
II have sung in every state Of the
Union except one, Arizona"
She Is still studying for light opera
tic work, but If her success in "Three
Showers" is any criterion 1t will be
long time before she is released from
musical comedy. And there is sur-
gestion that Miss Ross would not com
plain. There is suspicion, a very
strong one, that she likes musical com
edy work almost as much If not more
than operate work
Maybe it's the Irish In me that gives
me a sense Of humor, and maybe it
is that which makes me like the fun.
the sparkle, the Joy of playing in
musical comedy as we'll as the heavier
work of the concert hall and operate
stage"
Burlesque at Columbia
The Bchman show, one of burlesoue's
standard organizations. will come to !
ha 11, y,