The Washington herald., 1920-11-22
Gayety-.HIts and Bits,


Arthur Pearson's Hits and Bits
one of the brightest. breeziest or
ganizations on the circuit, opened
its annual engagement at the Gay
ETY. Theater yesterday. 1t marks
! the return of Sliding Billy" Wat
son. who has for several years been
absent from this wheel. Watson is
not only the possessor of unique
comedy talents, but is an extraordi-
nary dancer as well.
The Charles Ahearn organization,
consisting of tall men and midgets
trick comedians, is an added attrac-
tion. Their burlesque jazz band and
travesty on Egyptian dancing are
among the stunts presented, in
addition to their trick cycling mum
Der.
Others in the cast are Margie
Coate, prima donna; Jay c. Flippin.
black face comedian; the teams OF
Morrison and Harte. comedy singers
and dancers, and Edna Knowles.
Then there is merry chorus
trained in singing and dancing and
bewitchingly gowned. Its members
introduce, all modern variations of
stage dancing in the numerous en-
sembies and keep pace with the
brilliant cast of principals in the
portion of the work assigned to
them.
The timely book with its quick
fire humor was written by Thomas
Gray. with the music and lyrics by
CareX Morgan and Arthur Swan
strom.
Moore's Rialto-"kismet.,-
h.
stellar role, received it's Washington
premier presentation at Moore's
Rialto Theater yesterday.
This "Kismet," starring Otis Skim
ner, follows Hail. theS beggar.
through all the adventures of his
astonishing round trip. from meridi-
ancy to magnificence, always with
an opulent gorgeousness and realism
to old Bagdad that makes it a part
Of the Arabian Nights" brought to
life. Hail leaves his ancestral throne
on the steps of the Mosque, to re-
venge himself upon Jawan, who
stole his wife and murdered his son.
How in the course of his quest Hail
consents to kill the Caliph and give
his daughter to be the wife of the
Wasir Mansur, ignorant of the fact
that his daughter loves and is loved
by the Caliph. How all this leads
to Hail finding himself in the prison
cell OF Jawan whom he strangles an
then escapes, to fulfill his destiny
before nightfall. the entire action of
the story occurring in one day, is
better seen than told.
For three seasons on the stage,
Otis Skinner played the role of Hail,
and 1t was agreed among critics
that his Interpretation of this pic
turesque character was the best
work of his career.
In the cast are seen Hamilton Re
velle. He plays the Mansur, a part
he depicted with Mr.. Skinner in the
original production. or the women
members Gilmore Fair and Rosemary
Theby as Marsinah and Kut-al- Kulb
ana Cornelia Skinner. Mr.. SINNERS
daughter, give delightful perform
ances. Others included are Nine. CO.
mon, Nicholas Dunav. Herschel Ny
all, Leon Barry, Fred Lansas, Sid
ney Smith. Thomas Kennedy. EN-
nett King and Robert Evans.
Daniel ABreeskin. conducting the
Rialto Orchestra, has provided an
interpretative score. every number
Of which is. Oriental in theme.
[ Due to the great length of the
main attraction. the usual list OF
subsidiary subjects has necessarily
been curtailed, an Out of the Ink
weii comedy and News reel being
all that is shown.
Moore's Garden-tsThe Last Of the
Mohicans.v
Maurice Tourneur's long -heralded
production, The Last of the Mo-
hicans,".~opened a weeks engage
ment at Moore's Garden Theater
Yesterday. This big motion picture
is astrue classic.