The general impression has gotten about that Ed Wynn is quite a card. "Simple Simon," now at the Shubert, was evidently written for the sole purpose of allowing him to maintain that reputation, for the perfect fool is on the stage most of the time enlivening a rather preposterous musical comedy with bits of gay bandinage and sly drollery.

Any review of a show in which Ed Wynn appears soon resolves itself into a biography of the man, which is fortunate in this case. The supporting cast with one exception is so incompetent that criticism of them would be a most unpleasant task. Without further ado, therefore, let us turn back to Mr. Wynn. He goes through the usual musical comedy hokum in his usual Wynning way. The remarkable fact about him is that, while he is never silent, he is never boring. When the lines fail to arouse the audience to excesses of amusement he invents new ones, which perk up even the rather sodden chorus. There are two moments of high glee in the show. In one Mr. Wynn, acting as a soda clerk, exhibits several of his newest inventions which rival the ingenuity of Dr. Suess. In the other he proves that he can do more than crack wise upon occasion and accompanies a lovely woman with a lovely voice upon a piano lashed to a velocopede.

The scenery and costuming is done with a taste and lavishness that is seldom found in productions of this kind. The chorus, unfortunately, does not equal its environment. As a rule the dancing is cumbrous and at time faulty in execution which seems inexcusable, and a great many of the girls appear to have good friends in the front row which detracts from the effect of the thing.

"Ten Cents a Dance," is the only first rate song. After the lovely woman with the lovely voice sang it the reviewer began to think that there was something in these dime banks after all.

If you like Ed Wynn, and you're a cad if you don't, you had better see "Simple Simon." He is, together with Joc Cook, one of those rare souls whom age can not wither.