New Britain herald., 1928-02-28
Iheater Reviews of
 Current Offerings
CHARLES DILLINGHAM;
 Presents
 RAY DOOLEY

Dorothy Brewster. settlement worker.
 ........... .................... Linda Mrs. Brewster. social climber ..
 ..................... Winifred Harris Hon. Percival Short ..... Carl Francis Perkins. the Brewster butler ......
 ........... Henry Bowling Sergeant Daley Fiske O'Hara Mrs. OBrien ....... Elizabeth Murray Mickey O'Brien .......... Dick keene Mugsy ............... Henry Bowling Gertie. an orphan .......... Ray Dooley Parker. superintendent of orphanage..
 .................... Cecil Owen The governor ... Harry Short Buckley. manager of garage ......
 ..................... Charles Mast huDy ss...ssssssss...... NODy heeler Iiauys .'''..''..''.'.. Giadys Ahern Carrie ................ Virginia Clark Organ Grinder ....... Edward Maurelli
 East Side gangsters-Whitey. Charles Gale: lazy. Alex Calm; Monk Walter Carson; Fingers. Dennis Ahern; Goofy. Will Ahern
 Settlement workers-Aliss Brown. vir- ginia Clark: Miss Smith. Dolly Gilbert.
 Children of orphanage-Mamie. Ruby Keeler; Gladys. Gladys Ahern: Willie. William Ahern.
 Proprtetors of Coney Island buses Abe Cohen James B, Carson; Moe Zim- merman. Charles Dale.
 Old timers-Jim Thornton. Josephine Sabel. Barney Pagan.
 (Ey Herald Reviewer)
 A mere atom of a girl packed with lightning flashed almost with out interruption across the stage of Parsons theater last night as tht star in '"rhe Sidewalks of New York" She was and is. Ray Doo- ley, a name to be conjured within the world of entertainment today.
 sidewalks" is rapid fire show. It's pace is fast, thrown into high gear at the beginning and kept there. AS entertainment it is good, although 1t is a melange of non- sense and clowning with here and there a moment of pathos. all whirl- ing madly. and sometimes without any particular direction, around Miss Dooley in the role of Gertie, an or phan.
 Nor does it seem entirely free from propaganda. A gentleman wearing a tall hat and nervously twirling q cigar bears a striking re- semblance to a certain governor of a certain large eastern state who is being mentioned for the presiden- tial nomination. (Name on request). Here's . hint as to his identity-on his entrance "The Sidewalks of New York" was played by the orchestra.
 The plot: Gertie and Mickey O'Brien are inmates of an orphan asylum. A wealthy philanthropist announces he will give $25, 900 for the best plans submitted for the elimination of the slums and the erection of model tenement houses. Mickey wins the 25 grand and is adopted by the philanthropist. Ger tie. wearing her heart out for Mickey, goes over the fence of the asylum. Two years pass and she is found working in a laundry. When Mickey's shirts come in, she holds them. knowing that eventually he will call for them and perhaps they will be brought together again. He does and they are.
 ''Sidewalks" lean more heavily on its comedy and dancing than on it's music. James B. Carson and Charles Dale. two members of the original Avon Comedy Four, are in the cast Although many of their pranks are ancient. they create waves of laugh ter. Elizabeth Murray is also much fin evidence during the lighter mo ments of the show.
 As a novelty. several old timers are introduced. James Thornton, composer of When You Were Sweet Sixteen" gives brief speech after Fiske O'Hara sings his ballad. Bar ney Pagan, who composed My Gals & High Born Lady," sings it and dances as he used to dance when the country went mad over his stepping. Josephine sables, who made "There'll Be q Hot Time in the Old Town Tonight" famous gener- ation ago. puts as much gusto into it as she used to do. And when Eliza beth Murray sings "Headin' for Harlem" in the best "coon" fashion. she's a riot. The girls and boys in the ensemble are on their toes, figur- atively and actually.
 Linda-that's the way her name appears on the program-is one of the most graceful and pleasing dan cers seen on the stage this season. William Ahern does things with his feet that makes the eyes pop. Ruby keeler is also sure fire as . dancer. The Charles Davis Harlem Red Hots set stepping pace that bewilders.
 But over and above all of them is little Ray Dooley. Small but oh 70.
 sidewalks" will be played again tonight and tomorrow night with a matinee tomorrow.
 Evening curtain rises at S:20 o'clock.