The Washington times., 1932-03-21
Willie Howard's
Comedy Hits
BuIIseye

SGOIBG WlllGC GOu1lAlS pACASA-
ence this season is for arenas
with capacities which permit
So top scale, and, accordingly,
Scandals" opened at the Wash
ington Auditorium last night, at
tracting an audience which would
have overflowed the regulation
theater but which was handled
comfortably in Mr.. FosSe's vast
floor and balcony acreage.
Scandals" was a topnotch revue
when 1 saw it in December in
Mr.. Whites home sector, the
Apollo Theater, and last night it
spread it's magic charm once
more, since it is still perfectly
blended and balanced entertain
ment, presented by a highly
capable group of revue enter
tainerS.
They Like Rudy
Distinctly the preference of the
opening night audience was for
Mr.. Rudy Vallee, who was making
his first professional appearance
on a washington stage. Rudy re-
ceived what was tantamount to
an ovation when he stepped from
the wings to add his mite to Will
lie Howard's satire of his Thurs
day night broadcast. Thereafter,
in This Is the Missus" and my
Song" radios favorite crooner
clinched a solid hit which was
topped by his clever imitation of
Maurice Chevalier's singing "All
1 Want Is Just One Girl" with
straw hat, protruding lip and ap-
propriate gestures.
The Funny HOwards
Willie Howard and brother, Eu-
gene, contracted to supply the
laughs for Scandals" strive in
dustriously and from the stand
point of comedy this revue is well
served. 1t is possible that the
two police women present as cen
sors last night may insist on
slight amendments but, aside
from occasional topical vulgari-
ties, Scandals" fills the bill as a
laugh show. Those Howard boys
in "The Interview" "It Happened
in Venice" PAY the Two Dol
lars" "The Duel" and "The Daily
Reflector" are heroes of black
out skits which burlesque the
tabloids, gigolos, the radio, and
lawyers who appeal. Willie winds
up the nights festivities by MIN
icing the nanny minstrel, Al
Jolson, in his wonder Bar" friV-
olitieS.
Marshall Acclaimed
Vocally the honors of "Scan-
dals" belong to Everett Marshall,
the baritone recruited from the
Metropolitan for the purpose of
singing That's Why Darkies
Were Born" a glorified spirituelle
which reveals his magnificent
voice in a well-Staged number.
Song Of the Foreign Legion"
another robust song, brought fur
ther acclaim.
Ray Bulger, a long-legged and
loose-jointed dancer, demon
strated his right to challenge for
the niche left vacant by the
lamented Jack Donahue with an
exhibit of comedy stepping that |
registered for many encoreS. The |
Gale Quadruplets, the Loomis |
Twins and Joan Abbott were |
other principals who had their |
moments of prominence.
Ethel Barrymore Colt, Of the |
famous acting family, has found |
assurance and poise since her
debut as a revue Starlet, and as
a feeder" in the first Howard |
frolic serves very acceptably in |
an acting and optical way.
Mr.. White, as usual, has beau
ties-twoScore or more-who help |
out tremendously in decorating |
the scene and assist nobly in
plugging Life Is Just Bowl of |
and the other hit tunes
Of the Brown-Henderson score.
The Auditorium has been
doubly equipped with amplifica-
ton apparatus so that acous-
tically the performance was avail
able to the last reaches of the |
b a ony. Scandals" moved |
smoothly in its new surroundings |
and Paul Schwartz'S augmented
orchestra gave a perfect reading |
of tuneful score.
ANDREW r. KELLEY.