Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-06-30
ON THE BROADWAY STAGE
Review of Theatrical Affairs Along the White Way
By Percy Hammond

Mr.. Brown is disappointing, however.
in his contempt for "Coquette," more
muscular display than Caprice" and a
better exhibition of the Showman'S
knack. "Aweary," says Mr.. Brown, "of
Americas guns and graft, hootch and
hooters" he turned to "Coquette, ex-
pecting to find in 1t verification of
Mr., Mencken's pucklike Americana"
To Mr.. Browns conservative mind Co
quette" was but a Los Angeles melo-
drama, clumsily written, awkwardly
performed and altogether a provincial
faux pas. He was unable to sympathize
with the soft little Southern magnolia
girl, q victim of sex coquetterie, and
the avenging instinct of an Alabaman
father whose daughter had seduced an
innocent boy friend Miss Helen Ford
prominent Broadway musical come
dienne, impersonated Coquette in Lon
don. Perhaps the role would have been
more appealing If Miss Helen Hayes,
the creator Of the part, had played it.
ONE Of my favorable underdogs Is
Will Morrissey. shaggy comedian
not quite theater broken, but at heart
a sometimes amusing ape. Every now
and then he comes out of his kennel to
bark and to bite, thereby arousing the
interest OF those who have no other
interests. Mr.. Morrissey is known as
child of misfortune, baptized in calam-
ity and reared amid the sour distresses
OF the show business. Trials have beset
him at every step of the uphill way and
he has fallen frequently, only to get up
again and resume his plodding through
the dust and heat. Often he has been
Of hn fN0S Hc Of
an empty wallet, and 1t Is said that Tie
Actors Equity regards him with admit
ration and a doubt as to his ability to
pay his players. Most actor-managerS
would deSpond under similar disasters
and defeats, but Mr. Morrissey grins at
tribulations, ever hoping that one of his
turkey shows" will please the public
and thus reward him for woes.
After period Of uncertainties and
Monday at the seiwyn. It was a rowdy
vaudeville, composed of the usual items,
considerably fouler than most of It's
kind, and containing at least one pun
That Tor sheer depravity gives the dirt
revue impresarioS target to shoot at.
Monday nights first nighterS greeted it
with silence. The other misbehaviors
in the show were the customary Broad
way ohenses. emphasized now and then
by too enthusiastic performers.
Mr.. Morrissey started the play with
prologue in which he was dunned bv
his creditors-from Miller, the shoe
man, to the Edison Co. He confessed
that Keep 1t Clean" was a turkey
show and that It's permanence was d
matter of conjecture. Jauntily he adj
mttted that II 1t lasted a night or two
he and Miss Midgie Miller would be
able to resume acting. Miss Miller, by
the way, was a ray in the darkness,
giving an intelligent imitation of Miss
Beatrice Lille and joining her husband
in some Of his candid pranks. Good
looking and competent, she was an ell
tertatning contrast to most of the other
stuff
Besides Mrs. Morrissey's endeavors
there was a cleverly libelous impersona-
ton OF Noel Coward by Ted Marcel and
some excellent drill dancing by ballet
OF housekeeping pupils Of Russell z.
Markert. Also q proficient band, led
by Jimmy Carr, and popular hoofing
by Frank Farnum. To me the most
comic actor at the Selwyn was Gene
Oliver, who played an assistant to the
district attorneys office, assigned to the
purldcation of Mr.. Morrissey's revue,
Douglas StanSbury, q handsome BARI
tone, did some effective shadow boxing
as he fervidly rendered the ballads of
the show, and Mr.. MorriSsey himself
was gr1mly humorous. In his familiar
antics In the aiSleS he paused to shake
hands with dramatic critic, not know
ing that he was dead-head. did YOU
pay Tor your seat?" he inquired. "No,
thank goodnesSl" was the answer, max
ing the press one up on the drama.