Variety (December 1950)

60 LEGITIMATE WedncBclayt December 6, X950 ^ L . ' ■*•1 T« a London, Dec. 5. .Tack cle I,eon pi'QcTuctidn'' of farcical coinedY in two act.s by Ro^Or MacDouff.all. Directed b” I’eter Ashmore. At Savoy the- atre, I, n '.on. Toni Ki-’i - Richard Atretibonmch 'hy ni,{i^ , Sheila S!n, Mvrilc Yoland'.' Donlan T-Ui l)river . Rhilip llolles T)r. Cameron Alaslan' Hunter Kurso .......;... .Gwenda Wdson Seciind Driver • Peter L.ut of 1 'mil roll ass London, Nov. 15. Itlolly !May T.td! (In a.s.sociation With Rix Theatrical Productions) production of cojnedy in three acts by Peter Coke and iVIabcl 1.. Tyrrell. Dlreeted/by Martin Case. At Embassy: theatre, Londoh. Fanny Blake Marjorie Fielding NVilliam Blake Decring AVell.s .jane West Brigid Lenhan Mes.senjjer .......... Eugene Deckers Charles Dor.setV ..Nicholas Parsons Col. Tom BIggei*., .... Edward Lex,v Staines .. Betty Sinclair Here i.s a rare occurenc'c, an amu.^int? .situation that raises con- tinual lau'^h.s and sustains interest de.Kpiie a slender tllerne Moven around belated arrival pf an in- fant. SlTOW' was polished following a provincial tour, and its expert tiinin.tt and smoothness contribute.i greativ to its merit. With an An- glo-American flavor, this farce mi«ht nv'ke the grade on Broad- wa.v and could be transferred adroitly to .the screen, Mo.sl of the humor arise.^ from the tav.t that one! of the three main characters, the expectant moiher; i.s IK. ver \d.«ible, except throu;>h a veiled \ ..11, and thciv showing only one arm. Her agitated husbafid spends his time trying to comnosci music for a: documentar.y film, dashing in and out for her room in att mdanco on her. A bombshell arrives in the per- son 61' hubby's former wife from America, claiming their divorce V as irregi'ilar and they are still married. It develops that if. he possesses a son within a stipulated time, he will inherit a $1,000,000, if not. it goes to his first wife. The gay interloper is exultant and - aboul to depart to collect' her in- j heritance Mdieh it is pointed out 1 to; her the time differential be- tween the two countries. Imme- diately prior to the blessed event the father is notified by his lawyer that because of the lack of one day's residential qualification his first marriage vvas invalid so his current wife blithely gives to a daughter. Before the blonde can again depart in tiiumph, the doctor. produces a second child, a son, whose arrival coincides with the deadline hour. The first “wife” quite blandly dis- closes she, too, has married again and lias a family. Yolande Donlan’s performance a.s the feather-brained American wife is a real joy. Much credit for the play’s success must go to her. Richard Attenborough has the brunt of the acting on his shoul- ders being continually on stage and coping alternately with crisis' and nerve strain, plus jubilation i and paternal pride. Sheila Sim makes a wonderfully impressive character of the unseen mother, getting all that is possible from her meagre opportunities. Peter Ashmore directs the show with great discretion. Clem, latcd, are likely to surprise pres- ent-day ears. This is affine produc-* lion. In some cases players get on stage from the auditorium via the sido^ Full staRc is never used, and | there nearly always is some space left behind the last drop. The cciStumcs are beautiful while tlie whole color scheme is exceL lent. ■ Lighting has been well han- cllcd. . Julicn Berthacu’s direction has given all the scenes full value. In a difficiiU role. Jeaii Davy manages tt> .^wllcli easily from the lover to the tyro, Jean Debucourt, as the perfect courtier and cbunsellor, is topflight. Annie Ducaux is moving as tlTc wrongly accused woman v.hiio Li.se . Delamare is fine as A fantastic comedy which, de- spite its novel theme, remains mild entertainment. Subject matter could have been r.rtist'cally treated Paulina Who dare.s speak her mind, as a. very brief short story, 'but it Joanne Moreau, a.s the fouhtlling, . lias all the required sex appeal in, the fine.st ingenue style, well supported by Andre Falcon. The palls throughout three acts and re- flects little, credit on the actor- novclist authors from a stage angle. Locale is a country house where an elcierly couple bemoan the in- ! clemency of an English summer., An impatient visitor, clad in white j toga/festooned at head and heel: With wings, who announces he is Mercury, claims admittance. He tells them his masters are angered at their constant abuse of the weather. :As a punishment the ' ’ mortals are then endowed Witlr the ^ power to order their own climatic I conditions. . I Story is manfully held together through the' charm and always . gracious acting of Marjorie Field- ing as the lady of the manor and ; Eugene Deckers . ais the malicious Mercury. Others in the cast cope commchdably with their allotted roles. Clevi. to -in- balanco of the principals with cast support.s the gusto. Maxi. Iloiiirii lo Tvasisi London’*, Nov. 30. Slior^k Players production of a drama in three act.s. Written and directed by Benn W;/Levy, At Diike of York’s Thea- fe,'London. . , Susan Hubbard,. ,... ...... . ;. Tilsa Pige ) Granting of a lOe per hour wage raise by the theatrical costume companies has apparently averted the threatehed strike by the The- Gilbert Cotton ......... Alexander Kno.x ' J^^lCai _^COSlume WOIKCIS Ullion, ...... Helen Haye j Local 124, ILGWU. Latter Outfit • Constance Cummings ; had been demanding that all cos- Hilda Bruce-Potter i tunies, including ordinary street clothes, overall. and incidental gar- ments, be bought from costiimc firms and made by its. rhenibers, instead of being purchased at de- Mrs, Grenfeli . .... Martha Cotton. . Christopher Green Ein$ .. Francis Hubbard:;. . John Justin ‘Return to Tyassi.” Benil contributes his first new years. ' was inactive in the In roiito iriiivor (Winter TaleV With W. Levy play for five in which he theatre, he was a member Parliament, and.it would seem he had become infected with the Parliamentary tradition that words mean more- than action. For two acts almost nothing happens. It isn’t until final act that the play SHUBERT DEAL TO BUY INTO SOHC CHILLED Proposed deal for Lee Shubert to buy^an interest in Show-of-the- Month Club has reportedly chilled. Terms offered by Shubert are un- derstood unacceptable to Sylvia Siegler, SOMG president, and ne- gotiations are at a standstill. Besides insisting on acquiring of the stock of the ticket sub- scription organization, Shubert is said to be stipulating that SOMC limit its selections or deals for previews to shows playing Shubert. theatres. P^Yond asserting ^Rf^hO ’ MaiuLas secretary-treasurer. Quin- agreement had beem reached, Miss i tero> besides being prexy, will also Siegler yesterday (Tucs.) declined ; serve as director and company man- ager. Edward Mann and Emily Stevens will bead the technical de- partment, while Aileen Cramer will handle subscriptions and Seymor Kravvitz the drum-beating, A permanent company of 20 pei’- formers, staffers and technicians, will be employed. Negotiations are currently on for the li-asing of the j location’s restaurant, to be oper- ! ated in conjuiiction with the the- I atre, in addition to drafnatic offer- 1 ings, dance x-ecitals, lectures and concerts will also be given at the theatre. House wtll be a 275-seater. Production in the round of “Dark of the Moon” at the Sheri- dan Square Arena theatre, N. Y., starting Dec, 24, will mark the in- auguration of a legit policy at what was formerly the Greenwich Vil- lage Inn. Spot was leased recently by Sheridan Square Arena Tim- ati’e and Restaurant, Inc, for a 10- year period. Outfit is beaded by Jose\ Quintero, with Theodoi'e to discuss the matter. Gostume Wage Tilt of 10c Seen Averting Strike I stores as at present, of [ Although a final agreement re- portedly hasn’t been reaGhed, the union is reported ready to call off the TOO^b costume setup in re- turn for the wage tilt. Paris. Nov. 28. ...... Gomodie FianMisc f i shows any sign of life. Hencc, it speiu-e’s play. Directedtn Hpvp cmnll birth- Paulina dumb Mopsa thcau. Adapted in. French by Claude Andre Puiet. Music by Darius Milhaud. Sets bv Bene Moulaert. Costumes /by Francine G. Risler. At Comedie Fran- caise. Paris. Ilcrmione ., Dticaux • ^' Emilia Peridta ....... Dorcas ; ... Old Shepherd.. Camillo Youn.'J Peasant T'Torizel Loonies ...... Time . . .... Cleomc.nes .,.. ArchidamiLS .. Poli-vencs . .., A Courtier ... Jail Keeper .. Antigohus Autblycus Servant .. Sailor .... Dion .... • • ^ • • » » • • • . AiThle , Lise Delamare .., . Denise Noel Suzanne. Nivette .leanne Moreau Francolse Engel Denis dTnes . Jean Debucourt.' ...Jacques Charon 1 Andre Falcon , Jean Davy I .PauLEmile Deiber i .... Pierre Gallon! ... Georges Vitray , Louis Eymond I .Paul EcolTai^d . . .Marco Debar ! . Henri Rollan ■ Robert Hirsch ; Teddy Bills ■ Michel Galabru . . . M. Drancourt i Gladys George and John Dali This exemplary production at the Comedy Francaise of the Shakespeare play is the best an- swer that the current management could give to those who claim that the subsidy, about $300,000 yearly, is a waste of money. It shows con- siderable enterprise on the part of M. A, Touchard, who was aired in the reorganization of the Comedy seems to have small chance. As an example of fine writing, “Tyassi” is well above, current standards: hence, the theme might be adapted with outstanding suc- cess as a novel. Biit as conven- tional theatre, it is lacking in forthrightness and story values, relying entirely on the characteri- zations of a firstfate cast. With the flimsiest of plots, the author develops a symbolic con- trast between trivial and worthy existence. The focal character is a wife who divorces her first hus- band because he put his job as an archaelogist in mystical Tyassi first and settled down, to a coii- vential routine with a ponderous, but prosperous, civil servant. The legend was created that husband No. 1- was a rotter, but when his N.Y. Drama Crix Continued from page 56 the critics, which has been discon- tinued as of this season. Morehouse’s Observatibhs Beferring to Variety’s decision to discontinue its annual boxscore of the New York drama critics. Ward Morehouse wrote in part yesterday (Tues.) in the N, Y. World-Telegram & Sun, “To mem- ggej. Rebuild Florida From Nitery to Fix House Miami Beach, Dec. 5. Sandy Scott and Irving Barrett, producers of the current legit series at the Copa City nitery, are planning to bring their w'eekly le- git presentations into Brandt’s Roosevelt theatre here, after their run at the nitery is completed Dec. 17. Tw'o associates of Scott are now discussing a deal in New York with the Brandt interests, working on a guarantee against percentage. The Brandt (N. Y.) subway circuit, it’s understood, w'dn’t be involved in the venture. Scott-BaiTett ex- pect to stage their own shows, wdth Guy Thbmajon directing. bers of the aisle-seat fraternity it w’as' something of a nuisance, but i I always felt, along w'ith "Mr. C. i (Chapman), that it had its influ-I ence over the years in reducing the number of yes-and-no reviews,; “It’s my notion, as I’ve set forth upon occasion, that it’s a critic’s death is annouriced. and liis brother j job to report upon the proceedings (also from Tyassi) appears on the j beneath the proscenium arch—to are starred ini the Coast produc-; by his new Secretaire Generale tion of Mel DinellFs “The Man,” i Marc Bauer. The production is which premiered last night (5) at both fine entertainmeht, as evi- Las Palmas theatre in Hollywood denced by. the advance sale, and with Harold J. Kennedy directing good public relations job, since . . . Paura Mjrgan, under contract [ showing that France’s finest play- to the Actors* Co, on the Coast. • ers do not consider themselves so ,was spotted in the group’s touring j narrowly bound that they must do production of “Summer and ■ only Fiench rep. Smoke” and inked for a film role ! The C. A, Pujet adaptation aptly in “David ana Bathsheba” at 20th ' renders the classic lines even if Fox. I some of the words, literally trans- TP*- f ^he■ tb P ^ trA ■\d. rt Road Shows, Ifc. Two Theatres — Ihvestigate for booking fimo gvaiiable. Saloon with stage, 250 seating capacity, for Melodt*amas. Large fheatre, 1,000 sedfing capacify, siiifablo for logitimate dramos or musicals* Write or wire Cudig City, P. O. Box Phoenix, ^Arizona. 1944, scene, she confesses with amazing candor her own weaknesses. The ch<\racter of the wdfe is ex- ceptionally well depicted and a picture is drawn of a frustrated woman who realizes 'she surren- dered happiness for comfort and security. When the brother comes into her life she firmly believes she has been given a second chance. But after spending a night with her, he turns her down and leaves her to her husband, whose religious emo- tions have turned to hatred. As a study of a small segment I of society, this play is quite effec- tive. The principal roles are per- formed with a rare sensitivity and the author’s direction brings out the best from an excellent team. Constance Cummings gives a deep- ly moving interpretation of the unhappy wife, capturing the Vary- ■ ing moods of a woman whose fortunes change hour by hour. Alexander Knox contributes au outstanding performance as the husband, which scores stronglj' by its restrained dignity. Helen Haye as the'mother turns in a flawless . Study of a* w^ell-meaning but de- ■ termined selfish woman w'ho is' ^ laTgely responsible for hej* daugh- ter’^ unhappiness. Tilsa Page, playing Miss Com- mings* daughter by^ her first mar- riage, and John Justin, as the first husband’s brother, maintain the high .tliesping standard. There also is a perfect, cameo from Geoffrey t)unn as an effeminate interior decorator. Hilda BrUce- ■ Potter as the maid has little more than a w'alk-on. The entire, production is staged in the dining room of a Regent’s Park house, w'ith. Anthony Hol- land’s decor /most impTessive. Myro. examine, to analyze, and to tell his readers if he likes a play or if he : doesn’t—and to say why. An in-1 decisive review' is seldom of any : help to a play, to a playgoer, or I to the critic himself: | “I’ve always believed that most of the boys were secretly elated j w'hen they found themselves at the ' top of the Variety rating, and that 1 also goes for the distinguished John Mason Brown, who demand- ed, and fairly shrilly, that tlie trade weekly computations be discon- tinued. During his days as a daily review’d* Mr. Brown was Variety’s top man Several times.” Legiter-Longhair Circuit Miami Beach, Dec. 5. Lcgil, ballet, opera and concert bookings for. more. iiian a dozen Florida cities are being sought by a local outfit,‘Auditorium Attrac- i tions, Inc, Intention is to rebuild i the territory to something like its ; former thriving condition for tour- i ing show's. Modern auditoriums, :■ with adequate stage facilities, dressing rooms and air-condition- ers, are available in Jacksonville, Daytona Beach, Orlando, Miami Beach, Miami. Gainesville, Tampa, Ft. Lauderdale, West, Palm Beach, Ocala. Sarasota and other towns. ^ Bernard E. Selevan is managing director of Auditorium Attractions and .Ben Segal, manager of the ' i Hellinger theatre, N. Y., is the Broadw'ay representative. Touring 'Roberts’ Continued from pug:e 57 lines, the Equity council’s letter to the “Roberts” cast noted that the union has worked closely with the racial equality organization oil the Segregation issue, with the latter specifically approving its strategy in the Wa.shington situation.. “It sbquld be iinclerstood that we de- sire to work hand in hand with the NAACP,’’ the message said. “We do not regard their picket lines as being picket lines in the Ordinary union sense of the word, but ratiier as exc(3llent informa- tional propaganda directed, not against Equity members, but rather against the indifference, thought- lesvsness and ignorance of local audiences, who have the. uitimate _p0wei^ of determination within rtheir own hands as to Whethef or not they desire the elimination of discriminatioh in their own com- munities.” ^Consur 17G, Balto Baltmore, Dec. 5. Gian-Carlo Menotti’s “The Con- sul” pulled dow'n a disappointing $17,000 at Ford’s here la.st w^eek. The musical tragedy got rave re- views. but failed to draw much trade until the w'eekend. Chandler Cowles-Efrem Zinv balist, Jr., production is in New Haven this w'eek. GUILD’S CRITIC’S PLAY The Theatre Guild has optioned “The International Set/- by Louis Kronenberger, drama critic of Time mag. Production is schedul- ed for this season, if a, suitable femme star can, be obtained. Until recently, the play was under option to Kermit Bloom- garden. ‘Please’ $7,300 in 6, S.F. San Francisco, Dec. 5. “If You PIea.se,” starring Frank Fay, opened Tuesday (28) to unani- mously bad reviews and wound up its first week at the 1,775-seat Cur- ran, at a $4.20 scale, with a meagre $7,300 for six perfOrmamces. Show had been set for a four-week run, but closed down Saturday (2). “Come Back, Little Sheba,” with 1 ger Shirley Bootlr land Sidney Harry Zelzer in New York from _ to make arrangements for the ■ Metropolitan Opera's Chicago i visit . . . Eddie Dowliiig nipy take i over the Chevy Chase summer i theatre. Wheeling, HI., with former ' producer, Marsh.dl Migaiz, looking for another North Side spot to put on his third season of name stock Hugo Schaff, company mana- of “Angel in the Pawnshop,” ’•ACT RIGHT’* BUY A HOME LOCATED AT ROCKVILLE CENTER (vie.) — 80 X lOt), $22,30(1. Beautiful modernistic rosldence, outstaiidino heighberhood. Gorgeous grounds, secluded garden. Center foyer, large living room, two'-' p let lire windows, Ida^burnlng flrf' plnee. opening, on to spacious rear awninoed terrace, over^.lookiiig gardens. Ultra modern dining room and kitcllen. Monel, metal sink unit, Tappan Range. Refrigerator, pfiwder room, . large master bedroom with private bath and shower, 2 other bedrooms and tiled bath, Largo closets. Laundry, and shower in basement. . Steam boat, oil. . Many extras, Out.standing bargain. . J. ^.D.. O’CONNELL. 2.35 . Morrick. Rd„ corner- Vincent Aye.. Lynhrook, Long Inland, N. Y. , . . , . . - Black-[was run down by an auto in Chi- I night (4) at the | Cag() la.st weeic/biit CcWe back to I i,opu-scdi Giiuy. 1 work with just some bad bruiacs. SAMUEL FRENCN SINCE 183(i Play, Brokors and Authors' Representatives 25 West 45th Street, New York 7623 Sunset Btvd.. Hollywood 46. Cal