Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-11-07
"BUNCH AND JUDY" IS
MORE THAN HALF A HIT
New Dillingham; Musical Com.
edy Has Hummer Of First
Act, but Droops a Bit

Garrick--The first act (and first
half Of "'The Bunch and judy was
SO strikingly fine that it seems shame
to have to even mention the second
net al all. And. by the way. it would
seem that there is n great future for
the chap who can go into the busines ~
of writing second or final acts. or,
hettcr still. why don't these libretto
makers, lyric writer's and melody IN
ventors get the habit of writing two
opening acts, and then putting therh
together in one show
ANYHOW, Charles Dillingham; has q
piece of property in The Bunch ana
Judy" which would sell for n million
dollars after the first net, but could
he knocked down by several hundred
at the finale. In the first act the
principals--and they were tine ones
had splendid material to work with
lines and music that were every pii
as good as they were. In the INA,
net, Joe Cawthorn. pelNno Dell: Fred
and Adele Astaire and Ray l''o.ry
we're throwing themselves INT" 'ne
breach continually in til" END '"avor &c
stem the tide. II they succeeded, they
should get the praisc--not the show,
That there is something new under
the musical comedy curtain was IroN'I
Nv the opening portion of 'Thc Eunrh
and judy" There Is an operctta IN
SIDE of the musical comedy, during
which prompter (in his box con :
tinually encourages joseph 'awtnoriis,
and after which the leading lady NAde';
Astaire) makes a typical speech o'
thanks, with Joc's assistance,
All this stuff was good; the nur'
lesouing of the old romantic "Iert'sa'
the siaps Of hnshful rrina "ohl'us.
called to the curtain, the ruah'i's VA
flowers 70 the stars ana Joe ~
thorn's painful efforts to rclnehner m''
lines or catch them from the Tro"5,,.,r;
and Judy" fell into more accustomed
wnys when the prima donna Went u
scotland 10 wed IN earl and the com
pany followed her there 70 save h'Ei ~ -
final scene in Paul Poiret's was botS
out of keeping and unsatisfactory
Aside from the fact that they were
given too many songs to s!hs' re,
and Adele Astaire were just as mucf
life. w rather show savers. here as the!
have been before. Their dancing wa
superb and their personalities are Un
sroiird. Joe cawthorn.. q little b.
chastencd and moro dignihed. mas he'e
been fuNnlcr or petler. ms .i''N'
stand against the hanal!ty OF the c,osin'
scene was refreshing. Delano Dell
eccentric dancing delighted his man:
friends here, and Ray Dooley was, n,
able assistant for Joe in his foo!ins
May Corey Kitchen did some unusual!!
fine toe dancing.
The first act, showing the stage o
the operetta, was thing OF stunnin
beauty. and the Scottish castle settin
was also effective. In fact, this one
with the entrance of the clans, can b
auickened ard solidifed into BIZ
effect. At present it just misses.
jerome Kern's music was excellent
It may not have contained any kaluhn
but its melodies were something abov
the rut. Anne Caldwell. who wrot
the lyrics and assisted Hugh Ford o.
the book, was one Of those who got tiret
after the first act curtain.
De Wolf Hopper used TO ask enthu
s!ast!c audiences whether they wantc
TO see the second act or have the frs
one repeated. ii last nights house ha,
been gifted with foresight they woulo
have chosen The latter.