Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-04-20
BETTY Be GOOD"
LIVES UP TO NAME
New Music Comedy at Opera
House-o'Hara Back at Wal
nut--orpheum Farce

Opera House---''Betty Be Good is
an up- Ia. date, UP to its job and on
it's toes musical comedy. In fact,
good deal Of it is on it's toes. with tne
gymnastic and eccentric dancing OF
Frances Grant and Ted Wing. the
terpsichorean graces Of Frank Kirby
and Viyienne Oakland, the soft shoe
work of Oswald and Mott. made up with
trick mustaches. ETC.. after the manner
of Montgomery and Stone in the ever
memorable "Red Mill' on this same
stage, and the varied and well drilled
steppings Of a large, 1.-THE and, In some
cases. lovely chorus.
But there il something else besides
dancing in Betty BE Good some.
thing that ought to be, but Is not, part par
of a musical show, namely. music. Inc
score Is by Hugo Reisenfeld, VINO but
good music into the movies at the hislto
and Rivoli theatres In New YORK. mrs,
as musical director and then as genera,
manager of the houses. Mr.. Heisen1ei1
knows how TO develop his themes and
he knows how TO orchestrate with more
than a yamping accompaniment. You
Must be Good Girls" Keep the Love
Lamp Burning" Listen to My Heart
Beat and "I'd Like to Take Away,
succeeded in stopping the show
The pIot IL dccanted from the French,
and as often happens in pouring trench
wine into American bottles some OF inc
sparkle Is lost. The wit IL not aitogether
efferyescing, but there Ia enough comedy
10 keep the audience reasonably iaugh.
Jndvine by come Of the translated dia
lopue. the original must have been noted
for pop and fizz. The plot has to do
with the complications which separate
newly welded couple. Some OF the
familiar figures of farce keep the action
moving, particularly in and out doors.
Josephine Whittell. the .prtma donna,
has a lot Of prettiness OF person, race
and voice. vivienne Oak and, as a
breezv cabaret dancer. played with much
viyacity. in which she was matched by
Frank Crumit. who shared comedy
honors with the well known and we'll
fleshed Eddie Garvie. Lucille Hanlon,
as Madame O'Toole. drolly dry for
tune teller; Irving Beebe az the bride
groom and Georgia Hewitt as the bride
were acceptable, and Josie 1ntropidi,
once n favorite with the Rogers broth
ers. was welcomed back in funny
umothcr part." The settings and cos
tunes were colorful, but always in good
taste.
IIrIC - MISS MdrlO"P utbkHtlui
Kate and Mr.. Sothern's quizzicall "
romantic Pctruchio were enacted again
last night at the Lyric. where the Co
stars began the last week OF their lin
tied Philadelphia engagement. The
Tanning of the Shrew" is one of the
most brilliant pieces in their Shakes
pearean repertoire. It's robust Eliza
bethan farce its greatly rclished even
by modern audiences.
Walnut - Popular interest in the
United States in Irish matters ap-
parently extends to the drama. even of
romantic rather than political theme.
Fiske O'Hara. that sterling exponent Of
Milesian theatredom, in response to pub
lie demand, has been playing return en-
gagements in Down Limerick Way" in
the various cities visited earlier in the
season. Here it ran two weeks at the
Walnut, where last night star and play
returned in difference to popular re-
quest.
Down Limerick Way" is a comedy
drama of the type in which romantic
and good looking actor like Mr.. O'fIara
shines. It has humor and sentiment, it
is brisk in movement and pictorial in
environment.
Orpbeum-Onc Of the most amusing
of numerous recent farces Ia "Parlor,
Bedroom and Bath presented by Mae
Desmond and her players. 1t is about
the troubles of q newlywed.