New-York tribune., 1921-05-04
Newest Musical
Show at Cohan
Full Of Twins
1.-TWO Little Girls in Blue
Gives Fairbanks Sisters
Chance to Shine i'm
a Well Drilled Show
BY Haywood Broun

An unusually we'll drilled dancing
show was seen at the George NJ. Cohan
Theater last night when 1.-TWO Little
Girls in Blue' was produced. There
are also several catchy songs and the
rudiments Of plot. Humor is not
abundant.
The story hinges about the usual
complications inherent in twins, and
this time the twins are authentic and
convincing, since the Misses Fairbanks,
we'll known as minor assistants in Zieg-
field Frolics and Follies, havs been en-
listed. With larger opportunities the
Fairbanks twins show much more talent
than might have been expected. Their
dancing Is delightful and the visual
appeal constant, although confus-
ing. In order to make it easier for
the spectators one wears pink and the
other blue, but failing to make the
identification at the time this scheme
was originally announced 1t Is quite
beyond our powers to offer individual
criticism of Madeline and Marion. Nor
can we profit by the fact that one
speaks through the right nostril and
the other through the left. as we can't
remember which does which. Perhaps
it would be best to say that they are
equally good. The Fairbanks Sisters
do not sng>-no, not scale--but they
act little and both are cute. The
combined cuteness Of twins in three
act entertainment is rather appallingly
prodigious, but, by the eternal, as Mr..
Harding has 1t, they are disarmingly
attractive to look at.
Oscar Shaw tries hard, single-handed,
to outdo them in charm. He has heard
that the voice with smile wins, and
he would haye no difficulty in un-
;derstudying the Gwymplane of John
Barrymore without the aid Of make
up. However, he does sing pleas
antly. Fred Santley is rather more
useful in the comedy nom ents,Sas he
has a certain easy .hurnor which gets
him along pretty ,well without much
material, and Emma 8anvier and Qlin
Rowland also do d great deal on their
own resources. But the show is nevcr
allowed to drag, for just at the moment
when you have made up your mind
that here is another average musical
comedy along comes some vivid dancer
|ror, other to, inject excitement into the
HIUCSCutuEc' AA SSP1XfC dilO SuSCO lcW
entertainments Of the year have
equaled 1.-TWO Little Girls in Blue"
The Fairbanks Twins. as has been
recorded, dance with charming grace,
and Evelyn Law is engrossingly aero
batic. Then there are Jack and Tom
my Tomson, also twins, who might, we
suppose, be pressed into service as
understudies by slightly changing the
plot. Their numbers, with Miss Wanda
Hoff, were we'll received, and she was
later seen. in an interesting and. to
some extent sensational, nautch dance.
At any rate, it was the farthest
nautch Of the season.
The book is by Fred Jackson and
though it is. not brilliant it does con-
tain the line Of the middle-aged opera
singer who pleads her right to frivol
with the comment, Given nowadays
you're only young twice" Paul Ian
min and Vincent Youmans have done
the music and there is SO much
! tinkle in it that we feel sure we shall
!; hear most Of it again. The lyrics by
Arthur Francis are not noticeable, but
the touch Of Ned Wayburn, who staged
the piece, is evident and admirable
1.-TWO Little Girls in Blue" is musical
entertainm we'll above the average
and it was enthusiastically received
last night.