Variety (November 1954)

LEGITIMATE Wednesday, November 10, 1954 on something of pt- D ,?“& HJS^ VUVITa VI. mr.STtn^e^ton 'it theS and powerful, toutedI only by Fanny ond hal£ *1 “ s ! ,0W n U "T ton P chifm Tnd a even U of David Merrick ^Jo^ua Logan produc. ter than the fi^t. On the other impassioned Brown, but he fulfills nJ?S? SSSSS i,K *wo g act\^th hand, tod much of the vvtalaq on I^.£322“® * PP6al ana 11 * the demand for fire on the single book by s. N. Behrroan.and Logan,phased m voIves the .lesser interesting quite artecung. orrasion it is needed 1 ^Ces^rv* ^ by Pfi Marc^i a Pagnoh ^wnb y mu^ic characters -Of the J>oy .and girl i«|- ,, Otherwise. ^Quadrille^]s pretty. oc In , the smlll part of a northern and lyrics by Harold Koine, stars Ezio stead of the Imddleagedhusband inconsequential. Aherne and M ss . iridustrialist, Albert M. Often- Show Ont of Town On With the Show New Haven, Nov. 4. Pinza, Walter Slezak: features .-riorent^ and jus friend ana wetl-ioveu en- Best are SKUiiui anu duuuivc, x chows wizened strenffth Diana Drake, Dona Driver, vera Kryimer,. Henderson, William Tabbert, Nejla. Ates, hov’c tavernkeeoer within the limits of the essential SDOWS wizened SU ngx ^ Winston Ross, Grace Olsen. Joseph KaW Alan Carney, Gerald Prices Edna Preston, ;emy, the DOy S tavernKeepei WlCnmcneiimuboi inecbsemuu Loins Guss is busy as a judge who ii n i, Joseph Leberman. Book by Frank Don McHenry, staged by Logam scenery father. if unrewarding TOles, Ot tne errant, doubts Lincoln will make much of O'Neill; music byFredericoValerio. lyrics and * 1 lighting, Jo Mielzloer; costumes, ^rnover Pinza as the top box- fatuOUS marquis artd the querulous,. p- j riaripp Tavitor blavs by Elizabeth Miele.; Directed 4 >y Charles Alvin Colt: dances staged by Helen MOl-eOVer, rinZR*. as cillv wife of the' American capital*- 1 President,- UlRriCe layior Plays w> chrlsteiiberry Jr., and Byrle Cass; Tamlris; musical direction and vocal arj office name,, plays the latter pal t, Silly 01 • 'cMii Douglass loyal wife, Maxwell Gian- dances and musical numbers staged by rangements, Lehman Engel; . orchestralv -the -secondary lead, While Slezak as 1st. There Rre also , enective sup- -jji J- attentive, as an ex-slave Gem*Beyliss; scenery and lighting. Leo arrangements, Philip J. . Lang; musical A , K.-iia h ctar nlavc the kev porting performances by Brenda finui: frtr tvcorlnm and Kerz; costumes. Michi; orchestrations, continuity. Trude Rittman. At Majestic, second-billed Star plays t ne K rv pnrlvoo ac a oriccirv-hatinv Depress ready, to fight for freedom, ana jj on walker: musical director and. vocal second-billed star plays the: key. wrung perxorm-^ w ready to fight for freedom,; and Don Walker; musical director and. vocal N;Y., Nov. 4.’54; $150 top ($ 9.20 opening), Character of the doting husband £oroqs _as a gossip-tiappy », Howard-- WierUm, as a prominent arranger. Arthur Norns. At Shubert, .New. «A? U ‘ Se “"' -: “^muV'SS and father by . marriage; The ^"T^S nn.nihv SanHa af aS New York newspaperman, swings Nov. 4, -sn: w to,. Fanny ;;:;'.;;.'.;-''Plor«Boe Hondorson agones between the stars are a ~ *?} into the fight for abolition with j|"* •.*>M.Mivi,r Mar....... Customers,,.: ^ to Mth riends Lace Vendor .. Betty can; ^ r pnnvirfinn Also Pinza and Beaton s scenery ana costumes are Customers,.,: y^^ l ,^^* i SSb L smi , un''' , |jIeiT.^il^ic , ltaggii^«ea^?. ?a a ” 4 lavishly handsome in properly 19th ...,. ,Tani Seit^ Dran Seitz. Miss Henderson is ai ?^ “Quadrille” is .scintillating thea- . . ..... ... Wally Strauss, pealing as the girl, although her . “ Tf the authorshiD is unirt- rien Ronuid Ce?nf. ®ha5 e de M^rco talent , and personalty spired; the^perfoi5nan.ee is electri- iiends of Fanny /• Horwa Dpgsgtt. dwarfed against the. stars. and_the fy^g It^hould have a successful mSS-S run and, despite its brutal percent- Panisse Waiter siezak bert, with a black hair-dye job, age setup, and may make, a mode$t Sailor .. 1 ,Herb Ranke i& likable as the restless, ir T profit Kobe. Admiral Jerald iPrice r e S p 0 risible youth, but the part re-: F ^ 2 d Mate” • •- ,qh ^ r Hlri?v*MiSS! mains secondary; Other, persu- into the fight for abolition with^ crusty efficiency. Geor. . weary wiiiie Charley ' Gypsy King . Gypsy Queen Ludovlcl .. . Zelmyra Alonzo ...... Strephon . Ballet Review Panisse Sailor 2 i®Matl n • "'^ r SlrirV a Michei mains secondary. Other, persu- Fisherman ... • Steve, w.iiand asiye supporting performances are Saiimaker • Jl*** given by Edna Preston as Honorirte, postal. tlie girl’s raffish mother, Alan Gar- cesar Ezio Pinza ney as- a relaxed- ferryboat-skipper,.-.- and Nejla Ates as a sinuous belly- Customs' inspector- Don McHenry dancer. ftun' > -TR? nc *^^- ;; Ruth scifuinacher- ..Xogan has directed the- produc- Cesario ... Lloyd Reese tioh with galvanizing vigor and pace, Butler , — —. Mike, M^son j 0 Mielziner has provided tons Garage Owner ■*.*.*V,*.*;* ;■* Tom*Gleason of! vividly Colorful SCRriety and : Priest ..... . .... Ray Dorian costumes and the whPle snow is Acolytes. . Gary Wright. Daniel Lsbeiiie. do ne with open-pursed taste. But US:-' somehow,., although there are no; “Restless Heirt.” “Why ns Afraid to; bad: moments, there are no great Dance 1 ?*’ .. .‘-Shika. Shlka,*’ "Welcome nr .lihlifHntr nni»s pifhnr Tn sum.- Off-B’way Shows Ballet. Tlieatre Clayton Harrison • Paul Valentine (McCarter, princetqn) Roffi wSSt Princeton, Oct. 26. . . Aggie July . . ; . Grace Olsen After 14 years of ups arid downs, waitor ‘' r • ’ ’ ’ *' ’ * * * “ ” ^rack^Purceu Ballet Theatre entered a new sea- Miiii *;Michele Re&r son at the McCarter Theatre ap- • ■■ parently on the uptrend again. N t/era Bi-^ne? New works, the return of ballerina Dancers, Nora Kaye after a sojourn with the t--- N.Y. City Ballet and Broadway mu- "On With the Show” seems an Jerr'yi . Dohh Driver Joan ;.. . ., V Diana - Drake Weary Willie Joseph Leberman. Charley ' ... James Schlader- Gypsy King .,.............. Rene Mlville Gypsy Queen .....,. Irene Carroll Ludovlcl .... -Joseph -Kallinl Zelmyra ........ ....... Peggy Ktnard Alonzo Irra Petin Strephon: ......... .... . Paul Valentine Sheriff’s . Aides. .Paul- Gannon. Alton RUff Lucy Vernay . ,;... . Irra Petina Clayton Harrison • Paul Valentine Maestro Joseph Kallinl Murph . . .. .. , . Robert Wright Aggie July Grace Olsen Miller .. ..; Winston Rosa Waiter . Jack. Purcell Mrs, Mills ; . .......... Michelle Reiner Mrs. Rayner ...... Dolores Mlcheline Mi’s. Nolan Nartcy Hackenherg Eugenie Viera Bryntier »-*• AteS * S,nU0U5 ^ UJ -- “On With the Show’’ eeems an Huth'sSSlS^ft ..Xogmi has difected the produc- m.* opeher t vdS e(,de f ( % Jw.indigidually : ? ; with galvanizing vigor and pace, Guild’s 14th season, "Slightly De- £ u g ur a successful season for this talented people, .but likely to come 7.7. . M1 pat Tihch J 9 Mmlziner has provided tons linquent,” is a satirical farce about major. American company. a cropper because of lack of skill •'Gold Cream Jar Sonc/* "Octopus Srtng/* sonieiiow,, aitnougn mere are no coated, Wllliaitris blay which Valei*ie Bettis ner struggle to onng tills opus tp. Danced- ”!hika ‘Thika "* “wlSome “di uriwelcome publicity originally, created, for the Slavens- footlights, producer Elizabeth Miele Home/ “i Like You;’’ “i Have; i tp.--^eH-- hnf S W for ' their do-nothingriess, ft social ka-Frariklih Ballet Company, and has come Up with an assortment of S, fpr aihlescents agrees to i restaged and revised version of tuneful music, appropriate lyrics. •Dancee/' ^Trthdly. “To M^-Wife,^ S' ‘ ' Hobe let a newspaper crusader follow a “Mam’zelle Angot,” the Leonide . fin e solo and ensemble: singing, “The .Thought, of .You/’ "Lave ,1a b Very moie than tnat. nope. case history from arrest to cure. Massine ballet which has been re- srade-A dancirtiz (both individual Heai’^s/^^B^ itinii^to^Your^Parenti? ' ei \ A . The gimmick is that while his over- .created;for:Ballet Theatre by Mas- I nd group), a personable east; a ^— Quadrille fond parents are vacationing, the sine himself, . . fresh and- attractive decor arid a After one of the biggest aid- . John c. Wilson & h. m. Tennent Ltd. 16-year old son of a prominent . On the opening night Valeria generally commendable list of sep- vance buildups in Broadway his * f s i° v lri ctl s°cenes) bv^Noei Coward 6 staS juvenile epurt judge masquerades Bettis for the first time danced the arate components. But the blend tory, it was. practically inevitable Alfred Luht, Lynn Fontanhe,* Brian as ,lhe delinquent. lead role of Blanche in the Wil- just simply doesn’t jell—at least, that "Fannv” would be just a bit Aherne, Edna Best; features Brenda While the author s craftsmanship jiams work, for this occasion only. nd t let. Mussels.’’ “Panisse and Son. Wedding everyone may D.-incee.’’ ^Birthday Song/*.“To My Wife, ’ than that “The Thought, of .You/’ “Lave la a Very moie Ulan tnat. Light Thing/* ‘Mother Hands. Other Hearts/’ “Be Kind to Your Parents/’ Quadrille that "Fanny' of a letdown fair share of the fault lies with bound tp have a sizable public. Frenchman . ... Moreover, with an approximate B “ ffet Manaeere $900,000 advance sale, it has an Rev, Edgar stevi enormous starting impetus, plus -'MSendSvn ‘' ‘ ■' the boxoffice draw of costars Ezio waiter ... 777. Pinza and Walter Slezak,. arid the Courier century opera troupe being strand- i ail «cv, frugal aicvi uviuuie aui>,v ■ • \ , . . . „ , , ,, hanlTPr Plus » is wife ............. Phyllis Connard cloistered existence has found its ca tches the poetic and violent un- Ezio Waite? 0 ! 3 !? . 7.7.'.".7,’ Bruce* w^b^er ? n £ ^ ut } e K} n th e /ending of his dertoriftS. that run- through- the'Wil- ca ^* the courier . ....... ichard Longman fathers.lurid case histories, Gerald jjams play and It is particularly Vf4V * . ■ ft! .■ n 1 » 1 . ' ■ /I. 1 11 1 — ~ «1 .. J AM __ r V . . • .A A « n r<« 1 no( prima Score by Frederico Valerio rates wLter stock fllin-reportei- but he wraps ^h^v/^sUndoitperformance ^ ?/ on the basis of the management’s Axel i l )iehsen • —........ Alfred Lunt it up into a tight package, Lee an d Christine Mayer was im- Jyrics Rre not standout, but ai claim tbat/it can ririt $14,000 a S^ch^K^ gtaniey is Pfessive. i # the role of Stella. ^ than .adequate, week that may not be prohibitive. 2d Frenchman . — .. Michael Lewis dead end prototype, and Beulah “streetcar may well prove, to be- Vocally, the music ranges front "Fannv” is based on three t ~r~ t f Vognn is prim as, the indomitable the “ham and eggs’ ? work in the pop to opera, with satisfying re* 1S i ® as ® a The Lunts are back and for the head of Youth Service. Ann Pnt- Ballet repertoire suits. Some of the numbers that A^least •i2? p > e ? t all ’ s wel1 0I ^ »ro?-dway.- chard and Gerald Campbell are the 'The oldstandby, "Les Sylphides” lend themselves to jukebox accept- twn n7ih/^rns w^‘ nroduced as S. he stars seen }. more captivating fatuous patents, Jerome Richards showed the cor ps de ballet to good ance are “Mr. Right,” “No! No! t\\o of^^the >?rnswere prod need a? than ever—as they always do. is an earnest social worker, and advanta g e with anew-found pre- No!,” .“Remember the Night,” fl med 1 ^in^SwkhSS To us 9 the bromide that has be- Vanita May displays a trim, figure c fsion and lyricism, and the danc- “Just a Wonderful Time” and Pierre Fre/^ • J-traditwnal in -the, asfiis co-worker and girl friend. ing of John K riza and Lupe Ser- "Dynamic.” SS S-fSinW ^ ^L a k n i5 rario was entirely acceptable. In Sprightly terping helps the pro- B»»rv ; TTmnk MnrPan Maiirpen fl ; TA ° j -iT >» /. i 1 “ - rr »- /»»»«-. f'**'-;* fine exniDition or pravura dancing, uonn Driver and Diana uraxe con- sm The same Pagnol oHgmal.was .yie familiar theory hy.deliberately ing may seem like chores, but he's g the Ballet Theatre’ fans: mixes terns Tith vocals effectively fiS; ekin 80 ° d whenh e-skidding. Georg. B^ins- “Interplay,’’ aHanfafiAn hv flip lifia Rirtn'PV TTniv* Tn ffiA Annfrarr ! rAti/an/l *c Iaa on. m . ■ ' _* 'mar ’mr aIl .! ^.. ^ a ^ ' i.^ • I somewhat; sedate adds itiv Mr. and Mrs. North reminiscent" of' other' Robbins ■"xSfdl^rSgM- (SHOWCASE THEATRE; N.Y.V works and does not wear well , Irra peUha heads the cas f in Kibbee portrayed Panisse, Frances is that the talented Britisivauthor- ^ ® ef w!th E o°n Rroidwa^'Artore' 1 " rertor JoseohLevine showed pm>r fine .'’Oicebut works to® hard to Torchiana enacted Fanny, with actbr-direMor-composer has little e^L,^’i h T h. a '^ Owen fnnl in the L “SvlDhid« '’ P but convlnce . the »udMm« that an Alexander Kirkland as Marius and h»t erai'KrnaGtshin left Tf “Dnad- Showcase Theatre is giving Owen tone in l ae oyipmaes, dui 0 n era star can also be regular. Alton^^ Skinworth^ la a S s Honorint Davis' mystery-comedy “Mr. and strengthened throughout the eve- ^ ight lenda ai Uy f0 the b f nkcP reminiscent of other Robbins engaging bit of softshoe. works and does not wear. wqll. . T rra Petina heads the cast in The orchestra under musical di- £j ne VO i C e r but works too hard to rector Joseph Levine showed poor CQnv j ni ,e the audience that an Alison Skipworth as Honorine, rille” is evidence, Coward no M?; 1S ,, y 'Tup i nin w Fanny’s mother. a The show played longer has anything urgent to say. ntefird Tm^kridSp R ng * 16 performances.^ , As the play’s heroine phrases it in F» c es -fhi? iSJiVal Story, localed on the Marseilles speaking of her own life, the emo- a i or /uf‘ fJ'^n^Knrn ' waterfront, is about a boy and girl tional fires are banked. it,,™ 6 thi? C ii who love and separate,*he to go to “Quadrille” has flashes of the M S m * saems A1Ke * sea and she to have his son. but playwright’s old, sardonic wit and ne y® luf-T toioh ns the wife nf n rirh fat middle- nf cm.rtn hie .nc a nwv thontr^nl the WStaff role, Sylvia Leigh Grif. Equity Review The Heiress (LENOX HILL, N. Y.) role, without being stuffed shirt, and he handles vocal assignment well. Valentine, as romantic men- ace, draws on a terp background, Vera Brynner is standout vocally, and other featured roles are han- dled efficiently by Grace Olsen as a casino soUbrette, Joseph Kallini as an opera maestro, Winston Ros “Carousel” , without the unfor- same ideas, attitude and'limitatioris 4 A ^ e „® r Q '7on Equity Library Theatre’s produce as a saloon prop and Joseph Leber- gettable Richard Rodgers . music; of the Coward of post-World War^^ 7?- e hi« tion of ‘‘The. Heiress,” by Ruth mart as a sourdough. But although it has touching and I. The author is apparently more S^f^s shenanieans ^ and J Augustus Goetz, has some Out of practicaily nothing at all, occasionally amusing ^ moments, sentimental noW; and perhaps more - R & bert Fitzfiinmons playing a S?od. Performances and first-rate Leo Kerz ha5 cr eated outstanding Fanny never, seems to. acquire tolerant of his leading characters, cr isn D d e te ctlve^ arid^^Joseph clm- ^ir®^ 110 .?’ In proportion as it di- budget-conscious settings. With a momentum and it rarely gets far but those are matters of degree. nSnella a^ an 'IndSri Rubber Fril- vorces lts f lf 1947 Broad- series 0 f traveling slats and a few ofL he ground ; . ; .With-, the: meomparftble, .Lupt .& fbi-B?ush^ man^^rise^^^ ? With^^^Miss^ ! W, cAunterpa^ pieces, he achieves There will .obviously be. diverse Fontanne and the expert assistance Lbigh a litttl”aboi^ the crowd nyat-gains in warmth and impact, striking results. Costumes by Michi reaction to this rather sombre of Brian Aherne and Edna Best as Walter Markey directed Geor Bernard , Hughes’ tersely domi- hit a colorful hbte7hiehlighting the reaction to t;his rather sombre of Brian Aherne and Edna Best as musical. Some-will find it tender, supporting: costars, “Quadrille” is warm and moving, while to others superbly theatrical and therefore Jl ..,11 1 ^ ^. 1 - • ' _ _ _ ’ ’ ’ ■■ _ • J . . t . -1_ , _ j _ . • __ 1 % » | 4 . . A . Bernard Hughes tersely aomi- bit a colorful note, highlighting th« neering father, who fears that his varied apparel of the era, fortune will fall Into, unworthy T t«i»cn hands, is distinguished for its clar- iflcatioh of the man’s tragically VV vvuvio. gui'V* WJJ vuvDV&lwai ouu v . m- mm m « nyi itMiiw Vi*i* . ***** va TTnlAPt* MnHi/tnl AtrAT>nll ImnnAHD* it will seem;slo\Yi.' -heavy■"-and" 'stubr. undeniably, absorbing and enteiv In Splendlfl Errol* hands, is distinguished for its <5lar-'' bornly lacking in gaiety or in taining. The play’s content, a jour- (GREENWICH MEWS, N. Y.) ificatiori of the man’s tragically animation. It’s very sentimental neyman fiction of the 1870s about "In Splendid Error” is a sober re- confused motives. Miriam Stovall’s and visually stunning, but it seems an American railroad tycoon and counting of episodes in the life Of performance of the title part is a n« +ho-hiii« ntu* hrtfWlinic' it imposing rather than entertainirig. a wise, gracious British niarchion- editor and ex-slave, Frederick-composite of small touches vyhich !7S 0 «- n S n -?Bifi#«a?5nrt a 'F'^onr !*' trv The Rome songs seem musical ess who meet and fall in love when Douglass, and his influence on the accumulate into a moving portrait, ciassuicaiion as a goqu i j. biit riot . recognizably melodic or their respective mates have career of John Brown. In mountr John Mackay seems less happily o tme. hummable. There are a few ex- eloped, is like a routine exercise ing William Branch’s history lesson cast as the gallant who loves the • ■ a cellent songs, notably “Welcome by a long-practiced performer* It’s with painstaking care, Greenwich girl less for her face than her for- . H’wood Circle Skeas 2 Home” and “Love IS r Very Light a little sad. Mews. Theatre has beferi thorough tune, his jauntiness being more , Thing,” sung impressively by When the Lunts are onstage, to a fault, playboy than adventurer. In lesser Hollywood, Nov. ». Pinza; "To My Wife,” sung by however, particularly in their Branch writes intelligently and roles, Josephine Nichols is pleas- Pair of small-cast plays will b« RlP7!llr onH IKd onrtnoirtrt. ^Tla cnonaci lAtfAfVtAu i o nlbonlv rhacfoi* Af Tiic CithioAl hnf inn ns fLn nA'AK.fl/v^iiral 1 p o slbfnV ...j. Bone. H’wood Circle Skedt 2 Hollywood, Nov. 9. Pair of small-cast plays will b« Pinza; "To My Wife,” sung by however, particularly in their Branch writes intelligently and roles, Josephine Nichols is pleas- pair of small-cast plays will ba Slezak, and the amusing "Be Kind scenes together,“Quadrille” comes is clearly master of his subject, but ing as the ne’er-do-well’s sister, tried out here during December to Your Parents,” duetted by fea- alive and momentarily becomes de- he has .submerged his vital theme Hope Sansberry is garrulous as the hy the Circle Theatre central-stag- tured femme lead Florence Hen- lightful and occasionally touching, in a welter of biographical detail, heiress’ romantic aunt and Kay j n « « r0U p headed'* by George derson arid, youngster Lloyd Reese For although the Lunts are play- When Brown and Douglass are in Kendall is a pertly efficient maid, phroff \ / as her son. ing themselves as they always do, conflict over the sagacity of attack- Bill Butler has erred in pacing Th ’ « V aii t” t\v in:* auu. ins inemseives as vney always ao, over me sagaaiy oi auatA- join .miner nas erred in pacing Thpv “Vah anwl T ” t\v The dance numbers, are fairly rather than creating characteriza- ing the Federal arsenal at Harper’s the second act at a snail’s gait, but Darhaia spectacular, in some cases round- tions, they are such interesting, Ferry, the action flares brightly, in other respects his inventive di- pae ™_.W •uJlILwnh trig out, if riot developing the captivating stage personalities that only to Subside during lengthy pas- rection shows finesse. The excel- ana. - 2 > ne woman ^ story; and in other instances, such the effect is irresistibly engaging, sages of political discussion. lently designed Victorian parlor Hair, a three-character piJ. as the visiting circus, being merely Through the years that they have Although Salem Ludwig’s direc- deserves but doesn't get program .with. Mane W inds(>r as femni distractions. Fortunatelj', tiie sec- delighted audiences, Lunt & Fon- tion tends to accent the tedium of credit, Geor. lead;