Variety (August 1963)

54 LEGITIMATE “Chips With Everything London, Aug. 16, " Eyiglish “Stage: ‘Co. & Bob Swash | re: vival of a comedy-drama ‘Im two acts by Arnold Wesker. Staged by John Dexter, assisted by Braham Murray: decor, ‘Jocelyn. . Herbert; ‘Brittain, M.B-E. Features Alan’ Dobie, Gary Bond: ‘Ronald Lacey, Corin Red‘grave. Opened Aug¢..15, "63, at the Royal ‘Court, London; S2. 30 top. Corp. Hill weeessess» Alan: Dobie. Cannibal (Archie) ........George Innes. Wingate (Chas). conrenetss Derek Fowlds } Thompson (Pip) .......... -. Gary Bond Seaford (Wilfe) ........ Terence Taplin McClure (Andrew) . Jveeenty. Frank Wie {4 Richardson (Whitey) caeee ;,.-John Noakes |. .. 0 John ‘Levitt | . Michael. Standing |. -Cohen (Onterr) ._ .. Smith Mickey) eke. Washington (Smiler) bs... Ronald Lacey Wing. Commander Howard Marton Crawford Squadron Leader Pilot. Officer Recrui .2.2.. bee ere nes Patrick . Ellis} ‘Night Guard. : wece teed ecees . James Luck. Carporals aeecane orop-++sGeorge Layton,. o Christopher Timothy | Airmen .Evans,: . Barry Edward | ‘Burrell, Gerald McNally, Norman Allen," Jol John Lane. — Arnold ‘Wesker’s “Chips” With Everything,” voted the. best play of the 1961-62. season inVARIETY’s annual -poll of London drama | critics, is back at-the Royal Court for a shakedown run. before. it moves to the Plymouth Theatre, Broadway to. open Oct. 1; under { Morton Gottlieb's ‘management. A repeat viewing confirms that. this comedy-drama of:service life merted its accolade’ as one. of the highlights of the: ‘London’ theatre. The show deserves. ‘success in New York, though there is roqm: for improvement in ‘the present production, particularly in-the area of articulation. American audiences may experience | difficulty in keep-. ing pace with the varied accents, and exception. ma he taken. ‘toi, some. af the new dialog. ; Assuming that these minor: ‘matters. will be corrected. before the. Broadway bow, this :new. production . again demonstrates the. remarkable and. affective teamwork. between author and. director. John Dexter's | staging is. craftsmanship, keeping the -action -fluid and putting the spotlight: on the. right character: at the right | moment. A. scene. in. -which half: a dozen. recruits silently raid.a coke bunker remains. one of the directo| : _Yial. highlights. . In “Chips,” ‘Wesker more ‘than ‘confirmed thepromise . “of. his | -eatlier work. It ‘is a mature, ‘ob| servant and class-conscious. ‘study’ ‘of life in the peacetime Air Force, presumably inspired by the author's own experiences. A ‘typical assortment of characters called for basic training, are shrewdly de-. ployed by the author. to illustrate the divergence between ‘officers: and rankers. One cf the new ‘men is, the : $0n: of a former general, and is immediately. regarded as potential officer material, though he elects to _remain:a ranker. The way in which. -he is eventually prevailed‘ upon to don officer's unfform -is. conveyed | with believable skill. In. his vivid picture. of service | training, Wesker provides many scenes of dramatic strength, and. they are given added conviction by the ‘professional drill instruction -by a former Reginiental Sergeant. Major. Hardly an _ex-serviceman anywhere will fail ta be impressed |. -by their’ authenticity, and they are’} always an integral part “of the story. and are not added solely. for effect.’ play occasionally walks a Fahtrope in some of the scenes in which the potential young officer’ -is, trying to lead the other. men’ against authority, but. these are adroitly held in perspective by a combination. of” good acting: and perceptive direction... Only. three of the original cast. is in the current production, and three minor roles have been added. Alan. Dobie, the. corporal in charge | of the. new recruits, contributes a} bellowing |. his cliche-ridden instructions with | forceful performance, | terrifying. power. Gary. Bond. is believable as: the general's ‘son, playing the difficult part with note able polish. Ronald Lacey, original role as the recruit with a perpetual smile, offers one. of the’ acting highlights, and Corin. Red|} ‘grave (also from. the” original cast) again plays. the snobbish pilot officer with ‘térsuasive authority. George Innes, the third member of the original team, effectively “Show Abroad ‘drill instruction . ex-RSM R. | Robert. Hewitt. . -Corin Redgrave | P.T. Instructor Fit. “Sat. -. “Tony | Caunter. ‘masterly. ‘theatrical |. ‘“Ellingto '. Opened. July repeating’ his ‘o ‘portrays one of the ‘recruits, and| | other valuable-performances came | from Derek Fowids, Frank Wylie, ; John Noakes and: Howard Marion Crawford: One small set, readily converted. |: from. -barrack ‘room: to cahteen to: | barrack square, . admirably ‘serves. the production ae Myro. _ _ Repertory Reviews “-. “The Mikado. | Stratford, Ont.,: Aug. 7. Stratford . Shakespearean Festival pres-. entation: . of -two-act’ operetta by W..S. Gilbert: and ‘Arthur Sullivan: Staged by Norman Campbell; decor, Brian Jackson; dance staging; Alan Lund; musical direc Louis Applebaum and. Marie Ber-:}: tion, ton PE ‘at the: Avon |: nardi. Opened July 5, °63, Theatre, Stratford, Ont.; $4 top.. Cast: Eric -House, ‘Andrew Anne Linden; chorus: ‘excellent. ‘staging ° job ‘on’. Mikado,” Shakespeare Festival musical pre‘sentation at: the Avon : Theatre-Despite’ their age, ‘the Gilbert and Sullivan works are still ‘fun, with: ‘an occasional sting. Erie House is. adeft, hilarious Ko-Ko, clowning 2 good deal but never overdoing.. Among his amusing | bits of ‘ business. is: a -“‘tightTope” walk along the ‘footlights, holding’ a bright: parasol, . during a. moment: of. suspense. ; At another point he and Andrew. Downie (the mandering‘ minstrel, | C Nanki-Poo) skip: rope. while doing | a song. Downie is delightful and ‘in finé voice... — “Howell. Glynne is | 2 properly |. . ponderous, corrupt Pooh-Bah, ‘and | Irene: Byatt, though lacking. the traditional ‘boom, is a funny Katisha. Heather. Thomson, a. charin‘ing: ‘coloratura, ‘is: Yum-Yum, and déep voiced ‘Maurice Brown-theMikado — extremely good except for a tendency to swallow his lyrics.. Brian. Jackson's original sets and costumes are’ fitst rate, -and ‘cabaret dancer Alon (& Blanche) Lund: has: staged the musical. numbers: ‘smartly. Louis: -Applebaumi’s: musieal direction is. standout. Gard. “Timon of ‘Athens | __:.. Stratford,. Ont., Aug. 2--. “Stratford Shakespearean Festival pred. ‘entation of drama.in two acts, by William ‘ Shakespeare. Staged by . el Langham; decor, Brian Jackson; music, Duke . staging, Alan. ed aes’ ‘at the Festival Thea-tre}. atford; op. Cast: John Colicos,. ‘Dotigian Raia,. Wile “liam -Hutt. © ‘Ciceri, Mervyn Blake, Hugh. Webster,’ Tony Van -Bridge, Max | Helpmann, Claude. Bede, Nicholas Sy1 / mons, Joseph ~ Shaw, Len "AL -Kozlik, Joseph. Rutten, : Adrian | Peckhold, Ted Hodgeman.. Lewis. Gordon. Len | Henry, uli, David Britton, Jake Deng] Louis Negin, John, Watts, Edwin Stephenson, dancers. musicians. — a “The: Stratford (Ont) Shakespea. rean: Festival’s*. late . starter “this year is: “Timon ‘of: Athens,” a sel|: “dom ‘produced. drama -about:. an. overgenerous: man’ who becomes embittéred and, when rich again, ‘hermit. It’s a fair addition to the repertory, ivhich: already included: “Troilus and Cressida,” “A Comedy of Errors” and™ “Cyrano. de Ber-: gerac.”’ is John Colicos as..the wealthy. TimonHe’s smooth, showy and. superficial in the early scenes, sug gesting little of the reckless gene-. rosity of the. character: He's bet-: ter in the Jater® scenes, giving aj performance: -of frequent power .and | beauty, but lack the required. vocal | ‘richness ..for™ the: long, “difficult, ‘final. speech. | With. certain exceptions, Michael . Langham’s staging is strong. and ‘well-paced. His: ‘production scheme, | ~ ‘with modern. garb'‘is_ strikingly |. theatrical. ‘Douglas Rain. plays. the Arthur newspaperman. ’ ‘Music for a ballroom ballet. is costumes | are. admirable. . Gard. H include Dine Fanjo, . Downle, ih ‘Howell Glynne, Heather. Thomson, -Irene |. Byatt, Maurice ‘Brown, Arthur | ‘Solater. Norman’ Campbell has. done: e‘an| “The os . this: year’ 5 Stratford. creme Festival -presentation of. two. 1 act opera by Joseph Haydn, with added. {| remains.a misanthrope, and dies a This production’ S: chief weakness cynic, Apamantus, as a Hecht-Mac_ The. phory banquet,: “where: Ti-J: mon gathers his false friends and} serves them. rocks, turns into a|” colorful. melee. Duke * -Ellington’s | : eatchy and‘otherwise unobtrusi-. r-vely appropriate: Brian. Jackson’ 5. a Elias: Golden. is the. general man-|. ager, Leonard Patrick production | — ‘Stage manager and Berhkard Pol-|-lack stage manager of “The Advo-| : cate,” and the. cast for the play will]: Eunny oir, Wintes. Garden Ce 1 Girt Green.” | London Brokers ChipIn— a Again for ‘One for Pot’ £ ‘London, Aug. 27. . A new. $100, 000 guarantee. from. ‘the .-ticket “brokers,..which . -will:|.* ‘keep the Whitehall Theatre farce, | “One: for the Pot;’” running for at ‘least another year,: was closed last.’ week, and adds a new. chapter ‘to-|: the success story:: of ‘the. Brian’ Rix | management... . In the 12 years the Rix manage: | ment has had. the Whitehall; only | ; ‘four ‘shows have been: staged, in _ (hiding the current “Pot.” Of the |* | three — | Heroés” ‘performances, followed by. “Dry | Rot’-. . : ‘Spymen” ‘with 1 404, + =. 4 The new: deal: by . the brokers.| “| brings. their. total. investment ‘in. predecessors, “Reluctant | was the champ with -1,610 | ‘with 1,575 . and “Simple '}. the show. ‘to: over -$300, 000 since. ‘its opening: ‘more. than .two years |. ago. Last week “Pot” passed. its | 860th performance: o ~~ Opera Review "| | Das. Bremnende Haus” (Fhe Burning House) — Bregenz, . Austria, Aug... 2: aria, presumably by Ignaz Joseph Pleyel; -original libretto. presumably: by Philipp |. | Hafner: or Franz Friberth; from frag: { ments of manuscripts found after a fire. tin 1799 in the. ‘Count: Esterhazy Theatre |. in Burgenland: adapted: by David Mac-.| donald ‘and Peter Paul Bergmann, under. ‘the. supervision. of HH. C. Robin. Landon...’ Staged by Adolph Rott: scenery, Otto|" werber Meyer; costumes, -Grete: Volters; |. . choreography... Symphony ‘orchestra and. State Opera . -chorus directed by..Robert. Heger. Stars |. Oskar Czerwenka, Rosl Schwaiger. Opened | July 17... 63, at ‘the Kornmarkt Theatre, | Gustav . Blank;’ rgenz. . Punch ©, .....4 508. Oskar Czerwenka Columbine .J....¢...... Rosl Schwaiger |. Leander «......ccccesceaene Heinz. Hoppe’ Steckel. ....c.ccecsscecs os, Kurt’ Equiluz . Odoardo : -o.. ed eee cee Claudio Nicolai Ghost“st e ret ry oe ° st re — : oe ** a Karl. Terkal. As -an’ operatic. museum piece,:| (“The |. ‘Burning: House”) is a. novelty of “Das Brennende. Haus” *. chief interest to musical: antiquar|. ians. The -score..was discovered. in’| -1935 -by musicologist H.-C. Robin |.. a Paris antique. shop. |. The: music was Published in: Eng-. . ‘land. ‘last year... Lo Its. presumed. that. Joseph: Haydn. i (1732-1809) ‘tabricated. the opera,: including. not. only his own com| Landon: .ip positions. but: others by his scholars; among whom ‘was Ignaz . Joseph -{ Pleyel (1757-1831), ° Ruppersthal, : a native of latter: was not only a composer. and pianist,. but fodnded a piano com pany. (which is still in business in | Paris) and invented. the piano pedal | system: still ‘in-use. Admirers ‘of. Haydn -believe that. .the’ better | ‘tmusic in. this opera. -buffa were his, . and the inferior ones were by his. students, but: there’ Ss ‘Do. certainty. | of. that. The “Brennendé” story;. adapted | : by David: ‘Macdonald: ‘and. Peter |. ‘Paul. Bergmann, is .about.a chim|. . | meysweep. and..an. heiress, arid: the |: ‘plot™ includes intrigue. and. trans-.|. 7 formation. ‘scenes: with ‘supernat-Jural. elements. -Many of. the .arias. ‘are: very short, in. some’ ‘eases. less . than. a minute in: length. Osear.:: Czerwenka ~ and -“Rost Schwaiger costar in the’ ‘roles of: \ the ‘poor . ‘hero: and the rich -girl; and give impressive performances, | the former notably with the arias,.| “Chimneysweep,”. ‘Cat and Stone” -and: “Cheat the. Girls,” and ‘the |: latter “in. a.big. number in. the sec| ond = act. : ‘The. ‘supporting «cast is.| good,: including: Erika Zlocha ‘and | ‘Ludwig. Musil as ballet leads. ; The-. audience. reacted. at the'| a ‘show: caught’ as. though at a.Punch: ‘and Judy show, and the outbursts | of applause after even the briefest. arias,” became: tiresome. Maas. . ‘Scheduled Bway. Preems | ‘Oh: Dad, Poor Dad. Morosco (8-27-63). | irregular Verb, . Rehearsal, Royale .@Luther, St. James (9 Bicycle to Nevada, Hudeow (0-26-69). .§$poon River, Booth (529-63): Student Gypsy, S4th St. (9-30-62). ‘Chips With, Piymouth Gots. ‘Libet,, Longacre (10-23-63). | Here’s Love; Shubert (10-3-63)..: > ‘Plaf,Hellinger. (10-3-63). , Semi-Detached, Music Box 0-763). . Private Ear, Morosco 10-9-63), Advocate, ANTA (10-13-63): ’ Jennie, Majestic (10-17-63). Marie Bell Ce., Atkinson: (10-21-63); ‘Rainv Day, Belascé (10-23-63).. Barefoot in. Park; Biltmore: (10-23-63). -. 310 in Shade... Broadhurst. (10-24-63).. Ballad Sad C. ,. Beck: €10-30-63). Owl and: Pussycat, : Booth (10-31-63).: Arturo Ui,:Luni-Fontanne (114-63). : . Man and Soy, Atkinson | G1-12-63). .._Cuckeo’s Nest, Cort (11-21-63). ota All In Good Time, Lyceum 1-23-69), — -Zenda,. Hellinger. (11-26-63). Girl Came ‘to Supper, Bway 41-28-63). Dolly, -St. James (1-16-63). Dylan,.. Plymouth (1-21-64). Habimah, Little Theatre. (2-1-64).. ‘What: Makes: Sammy, S4th St. (2-464), te Remembe ber, Hellinger. <: We ee ‘ . 7 8, . us ‘~ + = RC ee ee aa t 8 ge ee Vienna |. near | Vienna.” The |. Barrymore. 18-63)... | .'!Tambourines, Little Theatre ‘40.15-63), | play, “Man and Boy,” in partnership with H. M. ‘Tennent, Ltd. The ‘Show dis: due. or presentation. Nov. 12 at ‘the Brooks Atkinson \Pheatre, N.Y. ‘Cohen’s other Broadway. -projects for this season include “The Owl and the Pussycat,” “Rugantino” and. “Baker © Street,” and he’ s. dickering to present Richard Burton in a.réevival “of “Hamlet.” His current: operations include. the ‘Broadway and _, touring editions of “Beyond ‘the -Fringe.”. Add the ‘more things. change . the more. they remain the same: © The current. (September) issue of the. Dramatists: Bulletin, edited -by Philip Dunning for. the Dramatists Guild, carries a reprint of. a* Variety -story headed “Legit Financing Bugaboo, ”* detailing the «problems: of: the. inflationary production. and operating costs of . Broadway. It ran in the issue of Sept. 24, 1947, but the situation’ it described has altered. only. to: the. extent that. the. ‘figures, have: doubled in the ensuing’16 years. . Legit. pressagent. Karl Bernstein planned. to ‘San Francisco. last: “week ‘and then :over-the-Pole ‘to’ Copenhagen, Stockholm; Oslo, .. Bergen and London, He's due back in town next Tuesday (8)... .. ‘Nathan Cohen, entertainment editor of theToronto Star, “is . _ vacationing on ‘the: Coast.. Before taking off, che wrote’a. couple. of. excellent columns, one on Hume Cronyn ‘as an outstanding star of the Tyrone Guthrie Repertory: Theatre, Minneapolis, and. the. other: | cE about the late Clifford Odets. Joseph Papp has been ‘wnable to’ raise the required “$50, 000 ‘financing, so he's. had: to cancel: the N.Y. Shakespeare. Festival’s proposed six-week tour of southern schools.and colleges with. his. Central Park’ revival. of .“Antony and: Cleopatra” ... « Legit. costume ‘designer. Helene Pons has ‘written, and: illustrated. a ‘children’s: -book, “The. Story of Vania,” due for publication next Tuesday by Viking Ernest. Lane and Raymond: League have been ‘presenting a -production. of “Purlie. Victorious,” by Ossie Davis, this.summer at the ‘Society. Hill Playhouse, ‘Philadelphia. It closes next Sunday. night (1).. ... London director Peter. Cotes has accepted a cash settlement . _ of $800. from ‘the New York plastic: surgeon-playwright-producer. ‘Maxwell. Maltz on his. claim ‘of unpaid royalties for. staging. last: séason’s flop Broadway production of “Hidden. Stranger,” .. . Edwin Mirvish, the new owner of the Royal Alexandra Theatre, ‘Toronto, is taking a:group of New York legit producers, managers,. . ete,, and numbers of the theatrical. press, to attend. the reopening ~ *. Sept. 9 of the refurbished house. ‘The party. will plane to the Canadian city,. attend .a cocktail party, dinner, a‘.performance of ‘the touring: “Never Too Late,” and an. after-theatre reception, flying _ back to New. York the next: day. ~ * Danny Dayton is playing the role of Lycus, the ‘procurer, in: aN _ Funny. Thing Happetied' on the Way to the Forum,” at the Alvin 7 _ Theatre, N.. Y:;..as. substitute. for John. Carradine, who. is .taking.‘a-. “two-week vacation’ to: ‘star’as Hamlet at the Gateway ‘Playhouse, “Bellport, L. I... . Richard R: Wolf, coauthor and. coproducer of the ‘scheduled off-Broadway production ‘of. “The Plot, to Assassinate™ “the Chase Manhattan Bank, ”” is ; seeking additional sketches: for: the. revue. . "Margaret. Barker, producer of the scheduled off-Broadway play, “Color. of Darkness” reports that the project ‘is: financed at $22, 500... with noprovision for overcall. The figure was incorrectly given as$18,000 in a recent issue: . . . The citizens of Rutherford, N. J., were _ almost saved from depravity last week with the decision, by ‘a 3-2: ‘vote, of the. local. Recreation Commission to ‘deny the use of .the:: Community Center for a little theatre group. production of Andre Gide’s “The Immoralist.” The action. followed protests from a num— ber of. residents, led by Msgr. Charlies. ‘Demjanovich,. af St: Mary's ‘Roman Catholic: Church, Rutherford, on the ground: that the. play -is a “slur on marriage.” Sin. triumphed, however, for the local Uni° tarian Church is allowing. the play to be done in the parish house... Charles K. Robinson, vice-president’ of —Producing..Actors Co., which operates the: Theatre Shack, North. Arlington, N. J., corrects” a statement.in a recent issue that. Bernard J. Frotton is. the oper=" ‘ator. His: group.took.over the spot from Frotton, who had ‘it: under. ‘lease, Robinson says...He:.also .notés that. Producing. ‘Actors does. ‘poth revivals and new plays, and is in the market: for. unproduced scripts. Frotton and | Steve« Russell, a radio exec. of. Newark, are. _ presenting a summer stock: ‘season at the Potter Mountain’ Play-— » “house, . Manorkill; N:Y Bob Darling: and: Liosd Evans, both. formerly. with the ‘Williamstown(Mass.) Surnmer Theatre, -have -been admitted’ to. membership : in the United. Scenic ‘Artists, Local 829, New. York: . can. Educational Theatre -Assn.’ is. ‘holding ‘its ‘annual convention ‘this week in Minneapolis. Following the conclave, former president — ‘Jack Morrison, of the UCLA. Theatre’ Dept. faculty, will, come: to. ° ‘New. York. for several days.. ‘Mrs, H. A. Fenton, of. Jackson: Heights,. ‘Queens, N: Y,, writes: tocomplain about. being refused ticket refunds: at -a: "performance. -last week ‘of _ the. off-Broadway . “Best Foot. Forward, ” although Lisa: ‘Minnelli .was out of the cast and there had. -been no prior ‘announcement. of the fact. She-asserts. that she was: informed. by a -.Managément representative that Miss. Minnelli, daughter of Judy. Garland, had ‘been out for several -nights; and. ‘was not expected. to-return to the show. Mrs. Fenton adds that she’s never: received | such: treatment’ at Broadway. theatres, ‘and. she. wonders if ‘there. are different.standards of ethics for. Broadway. and off-Broadway... .. The American National Theatre & Academy will hold: a' National. . University :Theatre Festival in. Washington’ in May, . 1965, and ~ hopes.to: present outstanding campus productions in a: temporary theatre: on “the site of the: proposed National’ Cultural -.Center. Broadway ‘producer Roger L. Stevens, chairman of ‘the: ‘National: ‘Cultural. Center, has pledged $5,000: to cover initial ‘organizing © expenses for the festival, and .C:. RObert.. Kase, of ‘the’ Univ. of: . Delaware, . ‘will be. festival‘ co-ordinator: ~~ “Jerry. Devine, whose comedy, “Never Live: Over..a Pretzel. Fac: tory,” is. dué ‘for production this winter by Paul: Vroom, Buff Cobb: and. Albert Marre, planed to the Coast: last: weekend. to attend the “wedding. of his son,. ‘Michael Devine;..a: scenic designer in -San Francisco, and then go to Los Angeles to see about casting. ‘the male lead of his. play. He’s due back the middle of next week ; 1. Northwestern Univ. ‘drama graduates are continuing their. national agitation.campaign to. persuade ‘eollege. officials to. rescind: the forced. retirement of. Alvina. Krause, ‘who chashad a: Temarkable . Tecord asa teacher of acting... “Stratford: (Ont.). ‘Shakespearean: Festival ‘officials are. trying. to “raise: $750,000 to. purchase .and’ renovate the Avon Theatre, .in downtown: Stratford. They've already obtained $275,000. of the: _ amount. The 1,123-seat Avon, built. in 4901. to. house touring shows, ‘is leased:-by. the Festival for its annual presentation ‘of Gilbert. &. | Sullivan revivals. The’ regular . Shakespeare Productions. Play. the: 2,258-seat Festival Theatre, ° . “Seidman and Son” will be the. sixth show: of: ‘the. Theatre Guild*. American. Theatre Society subscription: season at the St: Paul .Auditorium. It. wilt play ‘there. the .week* of Feb.:10. The Elick © “Moll: comedy, starring. Sam: Levene, and the. touring. ‘edition -of © “Never Too Late” will be see instead of “Who's Afraid of Virginia... * Woolf?” and “Beyond the Fringe,” which Auditorium manager Ed — “-Furni ‘turned. down.. Gal JN = ious A PEROTC LOY : Wednesday, August 28,3 1963: “Mexander . ‘Cohen pulled a switch last week by going. to London. | via ship ‘instead of plane. He.sailed. Thursday (22) on the France to attend the West End opening Sept. 4 of the new Terence Rattigan , The Amerie | . ag a vos : . vo -, : i ———ntamean ee at ca ot etn 2 nwa ch rs oo a be bmn ak 7 Sarna atna est ~< "et aay aed PA a COR ae aa ee sg ey or! nh 5 — —