"Baby Blue" At The Wilbur

Judson.........................Colin Campbell

Yvonne Cassidy...........Mildred Wayne

Algernon Totten...........Ray Raymond

Angus Ferguson...........James E. Sullivan

Aunt Kate.....................Alice Hegeman

Kittie............................Wynne Gibson

Millie Davis...................Irene Dunne

McClutchy.....................Walter Lawrence

Mr. Davis......................Thomas Gunn

Egypt's Own.................Helen Wehrle

 The new musical comedy "Baby Blue," which was presented for the first time in Boston at the Wilbur Theatre last evening is rightly termed a dancing, prancing show, for a very busy group of nimble girls is seemingly ever present, with our without reason, to inject zest and pleading terpsichorean gyrations into the entertainment provided by Messrs Mulligan and Trebitsch, the producers of the piece.

 About a dozen musical numbers have been provided by Mr. Christy, most of them in the up-to-date style, with "Baby Blue," "Lovable You," I'm In Love" more in the form of romance and tender appeal than others. There is no attempt at anything more than just pleasing melodies of a catchy type and lively dance music with a good lilt befitting a comedy of this kind.

 The two scenes, a handsome reception hall and a decorated garden, are attractive sets, the costumes of the girls are of pretty, light, Summery materials as a rule, the several combinations not being designed to interfere with free movement while dancing. 

 The plot hinges upon the attempt of Totten's man to have a week-end party in his master's absence, a dozen girls accepting invitations and appearing just previous to the return of Mr. Totten. This complicates matters, of course. But Totten agrees to play the role of host and discharges Judson.

 Then is revealed the fact that the master is in trouble over the matter of speeding his car, but a novelist named Brett being induced to take Totten's name, the culprit for a while avoids arrest.

 With the entrance of an aunt with a fad for eugenics, a lively niece, a girl victim of "matrimony by correspondance," and irate father and a detective, and the mix-up by reason of mistaken identities, the story runs its amusing course until a more or less happy final is reached.

 Mr. Hillebrand who played the part of the impecunious novelist, Brett, is an elongated, supple man with a most eccentric method of physical contortions, a capital voice for song recitations and, at times, a very good singer. This comedian caught the house as soon as he appeared. He was rediciously funny all through the evening and won salvoes of laughter and applause.

 Every movement was funny and his dancing, while mot of the spectacular kind, was ludicrous in the extreme and made one of the hits of the evening.

 Miss Gibson, his partner in several dances, proved clever, their work in "Words And Music" being particularly comic.

 Miss Dunne as the runaway girl seeking marriage, and Miss Hegeman as the serio-comic country aunt helped the fun in various ways. Miss Wayne was a shapely and picturesque figure as a show girl.

 Excellent straight work was done by Mr. Raymond, who also was commendable in songs and dances, and by Mr. Sullivan as an attorney.

 The dancing feature was contributed by Miss Wehrle, whose specialty consisted of a sensational interlude of sinous gyrations, twists, contortions, whirls and posturings which fairly astonished the spectators, who were tumultously enthusiastic.

 The chorus group had been well trained and this part of the show was deservedly appreciated. Several of the young girls performed solo work worthy of high praise.

 "Baby Blue" is a pleasing entertainment, with dancing as one of the features.

(Boston Daily Globe, April 28, 1925)

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