The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1920-01-05
THE REVIEW OF THE RIALTO


 New York, January 3. 1919. New York has enjoyed it's dramatic sensa- ton this week ''Aphrodite' the much advertised and scantily, clothed lady of Alexandria, living before the days of theatres, came to the Century Theatre, disported herself in summer attire, stirred up 9 temporary hornets nest and has now settled down to what looks like long, pleasant season. The opening performances were accompanied by so much ex- traneous excitement as to whether inc fair lady was was not clothed, that one almost lost sight Of the fact that after gil she was merely incl dental to one of the most glorious pageants the stage has ever known. It was a svn1nony of color, poem of graceful dancing and altogether q treat for the eye if not exactly for the ear. The managers Comstock & Gest, have done many notable and beautiful productions but noth- ing that surpasses the present. The staging, grGEpiugs and dances were the outstanding features. The story, that of coutcsan Of Egypt who se,s her lover a task which entails much danger. and which after he has ac complished his task. spurns her love for that of his famous stature. It is lavish in the extreme. and ranks as one of the stupendous produc- tions of the season.
 "One Night in Rome. with Lau- rette Taylor playing a role unlike any she mas heretofore been associated with. was, a rare treat for lovers of good acting and stage charm. Hart ley Manners wrote the play, and Miss Taylor. for two acts, imper- SonateS a woman of mysterious ori- gin posing as a fortune teller. In hcr final act the mystery is cleared up, and fifteen minutes of acting of rare quality is exhibited by the star, who has excellent support in Phillip Merz ivale, Cooper Cliffe and others. Miss Taylor is gradually being weaned from her imperishable juvenile roles, and is taking on maturity and strength. This is one of the best hits of her professional career.
 'Three's q Crowd'' is another ex- cellent little comedy of the week. It is adapted to stage uses by Earl Derr 1siggers. and John Cort, who pro- duced it. has given it an excellent east of farceurs who make much of the highly amusing situations of a group of former soldiers who enter the home of an a,dOred one who had engaged Tn cCTGeSpOnuSHCe with each during their service at the front To gain this admittance each is posing under an assumed disguise one as a piano tuner, another as a cook and others in various false positions. This furnishes the motif, and it is excellent1y carried out. Ii is highly diverting, and especially in teresting performances are given by Charles Compton aG the pseudo cook Harold de Becker as the inspector ot electric lights and gas and Altar Dinehart as the A. E. r. man who succeeds, as becomes a soldier of the American army, in his mission. Phoe- Dc Foster is prettily effective as the girl ill the case and Nesta Kerin a: the siayey is delight to playgoers
 Elsie Janis brings her gang tc New York in a distinctly original en. tertainment in which she is more thar the "big show. l. is the sort O show she gave in France for tn, soldiers and now an opportunity i: given others to see how she put i over.
 My Lady Friends" with Clifton Crawford. brought the light enter tainment series to a close.
 The Theatre Parisien presented new farce of French origin, acte'