The Washington herald., 1921-05-16
by EARLE DORSEY.

by EARLE DORSEY.
They breed 'em breezy in the sun
kist belt. which lies between the
heaven-kissing peaks of the sierras
and the camera locations of Holly
wood, Cal, and If, perchance, their
theater technique is somewhat remi-
niscent of the San Francisco nre,
1t cannot be denied that West Coast
comedy is as snappy and as fresh
as Frisco fog.
Take, for Instance. this ''Satires
of 1870" that Fanchon and. Marco,
both Calirornians. tossed into the
National last night It's a revue
that contains some thematic stun
that Broadway will be copying be-
fore fall. 1t whistles along through
a couple of acts with an arresting
gusto that cannot be escaped, and
while 97& per cent of it's content
is the surest of alT sure-fire hokum.
it manages. somehow, to get over
a note that is not only different,
but frequently funny.
Mack Sennett, IL will be recalled.
found burlesquerie in a jazz film
portrait of old East Lynne" 1t
has remained, however. for Marco
and Fanchon to burlesque Mr.. Sen
nett's burlesque. and as long as
the secondary burIesque lasts, it is
merely inches short of a howl
The great trouble with the "Sa-
tires" is the trouble with most
shows of its type: it runs out of
copy by the end of the first act.
Than apSuas a saropd not that trailS
OFF into revue orthodoxy and per-
veys nothing newer than some So
called Indian dance effects. a me-
lodius echo of "A Pretty Girl Is Like
a Melodee." a vaudeville number by
Eddie Nelson and Dell Chain. the
usual fashion parade act and some
other stuff of the same variety.
But the first act is highly funny.
despite certain technical crudities.
A Camernman's Song.
This first act Cdiscloses a satiric IL
not altogether subtle burlesdue of
film making and that great Ain
factor, Temperament" 1t opens
with a cameraman's song-one of
the best lyrics of the season. i have
already filed an application to re-
produce It here next Sunday.
In fairly rapid sequence and with
out appreciable let-up in the hilar-
ity, the show introduces a scenarist
who scenarios impromptu. a group
of budding and arriving movie
queens and a director with a Voice
The efforts of the troupe to get on
location and their eventual success
in filming a melodrama constitute
the high-tide of the evening fun
and proves, conclusively enough,
that Marco and Fanchon have not
spent their time apeing the more
successful stunts of their competi-
tors but have opened a new comedy
vein.
The Satires" have been forty
weeks progressing from California
to Broadway and the journey comes
to an end next week. There is a
great deal in the production that
should reyivify a jaded metropolis.
but there is more that smacks of
Stockton. The chorus numbers are
woefully antiquated--by ten years.
anyhow. -Fanchon seems up to the
big-town grade as soubrette,
while Marco can undoubtedly dance.
The vaudeville team of Nelson AMI
Chain have some comedy that
actually penetrates, but the minor
performers are not Atlantic coast
standard nor are the singers.
As far as Washington is con-
cerned 1t can be said that the "Sa-
tires. at their worst, are merely
uninspired. while their best are as
good as we've seen this season, il
not a little bit better.