The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1921-09-23


ness the brilliant opening of the Music
Box last night had its first surprise on
approaching the building. The now thea
tire actually has front--it even de-
serves to be called a facade-with pillars
and other dignifled architectural dccora-
tons. Now tl1eatregoers who have been
led to believe by other recent structures
that the front of playhouse consists OF
a billboard and an electric sign were
properly impressed by this phenomenon.
The interior of the costly theatre cor
responded in an unusually close degree
to the descriptions OF its splendors and
comfort which have been made public.
Tho show inside was the Music Box
Revue which will probably be reneni-
bered in history from the fact that it
contained more celebrities than any
other show OF the kind. Irving Berlin,
who Is one OF the lessees of the theatre,
sole writer OF the words and music OF
the revue. also had one of the less inn
portant roles SO 1t was, in spite of the
celebrity of the other performers. his
night rather more than any of the 9TH
crs. He was made to feel this honor by
the enthusiasm which greeted him late
in the evening. Yet how many other
| stars there were to share his honors.
| Sam Bernard, William Collier. neat and
| dry In manner but nevertheless richly
comic; Niles Florence Montgomery,
feminine low comedian with sixty
horsepower Wis cornica: Joseph Santiey
and Miss Ivy Sawyer TO dance. Miss
Vida Bennett with her tender, brunette
prcttiress to sing. and such O. mixed lot
OF singers. dancers and funny men as
Miss Emma Haig. Paul F'rawley. Hugh
Cameron, Richard Keene. Marguerite
al vi rfy en- xueIl known
1t took two long acts Astounding In
scenes--beautiful scenes. most OF them
with Powered curtains to mark the
divisions and heavily embroidered net
draperies to serve as the backgrounds
instead of the old fashioned painted
canvas. There were frequent mechanical
contrivances to surprise the spectators
1t was evident In the first scene that this
| was the dominant note in the scheme
Of the entertainment. When the curtain
arose-half an hour after the appointed
time--a stork dropped a bundle on the
roof OF the Music Box Theatre. Slowly
the roof began to ascend and in a min
uto the facade OF the building was Wis
ible. There wero more OF these tricks
that added novelty to the evening.
When the Fun Began.
The fun really began with Under tho
Bed" with Miss Moore rapturously
shaking cocktail mixture for her cx-
pected friends. Three OF them in turn
arrived only to be informed by the
telephone that her husband was APP
preaching. The fourth was interrupted
by the threatened approach OF his wife,
which sent Miss Moore under the bed
TO Join the three who had successfully
posed as the husbands. Miss Haig and
Richard Keene danced away an Inter-
iude as the seasons when Miss Bennett.
piuuant in q Spanish costume posed
against O gigantic black spangled fan.
The pale green fassels were represented
by Marguerite and Gill, who danced with
their usual abandonment to the spirit
of the music. The climax TO this episode
came when Miss Bennett and the girls.
who had marched down from tho sticks
OF the fam were individually lifted into
the air until each could pose as part
of its scheme OF decoration.
These episodes all followed one an
other TO the accompaniment or Mr..
Berlin'ss tuncfui music That also
served to illustrate Dining Out" in
which Mr.. Santley and Miss Sawyer
danced, and in a picture painted the
greater delights Of dining at home. not
TO mention fits accompanying economy.
Mr. Berlin, who had composed tuneful
music LOT InlS UutlDtts hfSO obpbisIN eh1
verses. which, Hike all he wrote for The
Music Box" were uncommonly naive
He LAYS no heavy burcen on his muse.
He In quite satisfied with whatever she
hands out Else he could never have
written a lyric with such refrain IA
"a nitche nctte apartment for two" But
no did Il quite fcariessly and evcntu-
ally grew literary with a ditty about
the delights OF "sfr. Kipiing and Poe"
Childish was frequently q more appro-
pirate word than naive for tho text
which Mr.. Berlin supplied. But they
we're probably forgotten In tho melody
OF his verses.
Best OF the Tunes.
One OF the best OF his tunes was "Teli
II with Music" I'm which no wove
various popular love songs into his
score. Miss Bennett and Paul Frawiey
sang the NUMBER quite daintily and
Hassard Short, who had devised most
OF the tasteful scenes In the revue.
framed the scene In an uncommonly ef-
fectivc blend OF red and black
Mr.. Collier and Mr.. Bernard appeared
in Nothing but Cuts" which in less
elaborate form has been seen at some
OF the actors shows The two comedians
were irresistibly funny. with Hugh
Cameron TO give them effective assist
ance. and Miss Margaret Irving 70 sup
ply the beauty. Tho conclusion was q