Evening star., 1926-04-05
RELASCO-"The Gorilla

THE Gorilla" the Spine-shiverinS
mystery farce by Ralph Spence, which
made its initial bow in Washington
over year ago, returned for its third
visit last night at the Belasco Theater,
where it was received with hilarious
applause by a large audience.
Those who have been doing Lenten
penance will find a sure outlet for
pent up emotions of almost every
variety in THE Gorilla" which shows
ATessrs. Mulligan and Garrity,
estimable detectives, in the throes Of
unravelng Il deep, dark mystery
The company is headed by Frank
Mccormack and Clifford Dempsey,
whose team work in the roles of the
detectives is excellent. Others Of the
company are good, and last night they
seemed to be having Just about as
much fun among themselves as they
were affording those out front.
kEITHS-NatiOnal Vaudeville Week
With the house and lobby tastefully
decorated with flags and bunting and
All the employees in quaint costumes,
National Vaudeville Association week
got under way Yesterday at Keith S,
he theater being literally packed at
both afternoon ami evening perform
ances.
President Albee annually sets aside
a week wherein the association can
make drive for funds for it's manyA
deserving charities, and always quite
a tidy sum is realized.
Herbert Warren, who is on the bill
his week In Il comedy sketch, ad-
dressed the audience on the aims OF
tho association, the great good being
accomplished Also the need for ample
funds The hat was passed and sill
yer and bills poured in. There is quite
4 contest on over the circuit as TO
which theater will turn In the largest
returns, and Manager Robbins is con-
fident that Washington viii be at the
top or thereaboutS.
The bill is a good one. and the large
audience applauded all the turns en-
Enthusiastically. Eddie Dowling, the
actor playwright, is the headllner, and
for half an hour this clever comedian
and singer entertainS with songs that
are new and original jokes. Eddie has
Il pleasing personality, works with the
confidence of a veteran and has little
trouble scoring a big hit.
Tom Brown and his Minstrel Band
had the distinction of stopping the
show. Browns comedy work. along
with the excellent precision of his
band of 10 musicians, put over their
musical numbers in a manner that
pleased everybody. Edith Clifford,
comedienne, sang songs in her own
original way, and her act was too
short. She has wonderful voice for
her style of work. She had a hard
time getting away after a dozen re-
calls. Coogan and Casey, newcomers.
present a sketch entitled THE Shrink
ing Violet" that carries a laugh with
every sentence.
THE Mahatma," a tabloid play. in
which Herbert Warren and company
appear was well received. It is along
original lines and is interSpersed with
many quick and bright quips that
never fail to produce laugh. IrTna-
nette. a clever violinist and dancer,
also was one of the outstanding hits
Of the evening, her rendition of the
Charleston being, of course, just what
The audience wanted.
The Oxford Trio. playing basket ball
on bicycles, open the show, and Paul
Remos and his wonderful midgets
close with a fun acrobatic act.
The second lesson of how to dance
The Charleston, shown on the screen,
was watched with unusual interest.
The Aesop Fables, Pathe and other
house attractions. with Raymond
Baird, saXophonist, an added attrac-
ton from the vaudeville association,
who also leads the orchestra, complete
d big bill.