The New York herald., 1921-05-10
'BiH Bing! Bangr
Soldier Vaudeville,
Is Laugh Provoker
The Dumbells, Canadian Vet
erans, Present Lively Enter
tainment at Ambassador.

Something different came into Broad
way last night when The Dnnbells."
every one OF whom served at leas,
eighteen months with the Canadian
troops In France during the war. ar
rived at the Ambassador Theatre in a
remarkably variegated revue called
"Biff, Bing Bang Z! The cast Of thirty
members. which has been brought to
New York by Capt. NJ w. Plunkett. has
been taken from the official entertain
ment corps of the Third Division OF the
Canadian Expedtionary Forces In
France Every man of them did his
"bit' in the trenches. and some of them
were the original Princess Pats" tP.
p. C. l.. ID, that helped make history
as well as fun In the trenches OF France
and Belgium
Yet wisely, "Biff! Bing Bang" is
only reminiscent Of the war and recalls
those glorious days with bits of clever
ness reaching from the noble to the ut
terly ridiculous In a manner to produce
vaudeville show that should not be
missed by the persons who like to have
their fancies for entertainment turned
from an accustomed course. 1t is
first class laugh provoker and hasn't
dry moment in its two acts and twenty
scenes
Naturally there is not woman in the
cast. But there doesn't have to be, as
among those war veteran players are
three of the best female impersonators
that the fi-ty first class theatres of this
city nave brought forward IN recent
years. They are Ross Hamilton, who,
as fine figure of a man makes up In
a manner that should make any woman
proud OF her sex; Arthur Holland, who
is mort typical of the French soubrette
than some Of the real article recently
imported into this city. and Fred Fem
wick, who. with "biff bang at the
close OF the war in the opening scene.
shakes off his aviator's uniform and
becomes a sprightly chorus girl in short
white spangled skirt and black silk
stockings. Mr.. Hamilton talks in virile
barytone. but sings In mellifluous
mezzo-soprano.
''The Dumbells" kept that sort OF
spirit up right through their perform
ance of two and a half hours. There
are several excellent humorists in the
company and among them stands out
Jimmy Goode. whose part Is that Of one
of the few ''coons" who got into the
Canadian service
He instructs the members Of the or
chestra how to play their several IN
struments and even makes music out of
n simulated bagpipes contrived from q
hot-water bottle and three small brooms.
Goode had the good taste to refer only
once before the New York audience to
the delicate subject of prohibition. He
had, ne said, obtained a ten day leave
TO 60. to that smoke hole where the
King works when the train reached
Boulogne On the platform was a man
asking Historically IL an officer from
Montreal might be aboard. Gen. Curry
poked his head from the window and
replied: IT am from Montreal. What
is it?" THANK Heaven" replied the
Ilysterical person. let me have your
corkscrew."
The "Dun,bells" sing as well as they
net in dozen solos. duets and ensem-
bles and In one of the latter is an In
genious setting of Dvoraks "Hunor-
esdue," played by n violin and plano
against an octet singing familiar
Southern melody.
The "Dumbells" made n hit, but their
chief claim to fame Is their introduction
of Ross Hamilton rs a female imperson-
ator.