William Rock Installs His Revue of 1920 at the Wilbur

"Jazzed" to the highest notch and liberally sprinkled with "pep", William Rock's "Revue of 1920" started off "on high" at the Wilbur Theatre last Monday night and sped through two kaleidoscopic acts without once slackening its pace. This swiftly-moving vehicle depends principally upon the humorous efforts of Billy Van, an exceptionally good chorus, and the versatile Mr. Rock himself, to keep the audience so busy laughing or applauding that it has no time to notice minor defects or shop-worn conventionalities; and it succeeds admirably in this aim.

A unique sort of prologue serves to introduce the characters, and then follows a bewildering melange of scenes and episodes that make no pretense of concealing a plot and have nothing whatsoever to do with one another, but which serve as a sort of continuous vaudeville that keeps the spectators highly amused. Besides the Messrs. Rock and Van, a large share of the entertainment must be credited to the huge, amiable figure of James J. Corbett; also Marie Walsh, Irving Edwards, Helen Eby, and Jay M. Regan. Two most captivating sisters, Irene and Bernice Hart, scored a decided hit with their "harmonizing," although their song program might be slightly shortened and varied to greater effect; West Avey and Dennis O'Neil were exceedingly funny in a clever "Study in Black Art"; and Ernestine Meyers contributed an exotic dance by way of variety. Mention should also be made of Jue Quon Tai, a young Chinese songsiress, who lent a novel Americanized Oriental touch to the performance with her vivacious singing and dancing.

The most obvious defect in the show is the utter lack of substantial music. Tunes there are in plenty, but none carries a rhythm that lends itself to memory; several start out promisingly enough, but after the first few bars, falter and lapse into inconsequential airs. Notwithstanding this handicap, however, which is quite offset by a wealth of Billy Van comedy, the piece provides a non-brain taxing, enjoyable evening. And as for the French joke on the red card,--something not new but done in a different way,--it must be heard to be appreciated.