Variety (November 1963)

‘Sad Cafe Lewis Alien & Ben. Edwards presentstion ef drama without. in Edward Albee; based on the Carson MeCullers novelet. ‘Staged, by Alan scenery, Ben . Edwards, lighting. — Rosenthzl; music, William ‘tumes, Jane -Greenwood. Stars wolleed. Dewhurst, William Prince: features Lou Antonio, Rosecce Les Browne, Enid MarMichael. Dunn, John. C. Becher, key; « Roberts Blossom, -Deane ‘Jenny Ezan, Sebnier,. Lou? s: Weldon. Opened Oct. .30, |. "63, at the Martin Beck Theatre, Nv a $6.90. ton Wweekuights, $7.50 -Friday-Sa urday nights. | ch L, Narrator oscoe Lee Browne Rainey “Brothers. Leeees Louis. W. Waldon, ‘Stumpy MacPhail aw emee ...John C. Becher Henry Macy ...:-..-..+.. William Pr Amelia Eyans ~+seseeColleen Dewhurst Cousim Lymon ........... Michael D Emma Hale ........-....° Enid . Markey » Mrs. Petérson. veresctestg Jenny Egan ‘Merlie Ryan .....-..-.,. Roberts Blo Horace ‘Wells | eens ‘William Duell Henry. Ferd Crimp: -David Clarke . Rosser Cline. ..........605.. riff Ev Lucy Willins IIT Nelr Harrison ‘Mrs. Hasty Stalone 21712! Bolte Henritze { Marvin Macy .. ..,...... Leu: Antonio Henrietta. Ford Crimv.Jr.. Susan Dunfee Townspeople ... nest . Austin, Alice mmond, Jack Kehoe Musicisns: ‘Raymond Crisara, trumpet: Stanley Drucker, c Harp: Yyulius Baker, flute; Herb Harris, percussion; Seymour Barab, celle... Cenductor: ‘Samuel | Baron. Sometimes ‘words. ‘seem. “inade quate. There just doesn’t appear to| De be any way of. conveying the vacua ous pretentiousness of “The Bal-| ladof. the Sad Cafe,” ast..Wednesday. night’s (30) opening -at ‘the Martin Beck Theatre. The Edward! winaus Albee dramatization of .a much-ad-| mired. Carson. McCullers novella: ruris about two hours, played with drama onstage, nothing of consequence happens. fers little for Broadway or anywhere else,-except perhaps as .an item for dedicated collectors of theatrical curiosa, “As any flop-scarred Broadway first-nighter is all too aware, it’s a bad sign when a play opens with a. self-consciously mannered commen-. tator strolling portentiously ‘out in front of: a drably smalifown setting to. explain th -symbolie significance of the cosmic human drama to. come. Such a device.is apt. to indicate the author’s awareness that some: such gimmick is needed, and. in this. instance the ‘author of: “Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?” is ever 80 right. — But it takes ‘more ‘than a@ commentater’s assurance te create dra‘matic life. The device provides ‘merely padding this time.. and “The Ballad of the Sad Cafe” the sick, sick, sick fable of & for the strange wax. figures: that once inhabited it. Poetic and pos sibly.even artistic the play may he, | vided : but entertaining or alive it ain't. Under -Alan Schneider's humor ‘Tess direction (it. must have been: . humorless: or the end), the: performance ‘tends o be surfacey and stilted. As the. “tafe owner ‘presumably motivated by abnormal father-love and now mysteriously drawn to a: dwarf, Colleen.. Dewhurst. acts as if: ‘she to. disintegrate into her familiar| tricks. Wittiam Prince:. ‘co-starred, is: all too believable in the ‘so-what: ule of an’ ineffectual. -bystander, and |. -Lou Antonio, who can. also be: ‘aj. good actor when he. has a: -dimen, as a spiteful stay hharpy and Michael Dunn gives a. plausible/ portrayal of the malicious dwarf. ‘Incidentally, the idea that dwarfs! as have to. be malignant is vestiginal | folkiore amounting to rather un-] -pleasant stereotyping in this supPosediy | civilized: age.. Co-producer. Edwards has. design-| ed. a ‘Yamshackle-looking setting with a movable scrim side to-rep-{ firstfloor| interior of the locale of of the dole-{ ful proceedings, Jean Rosenthal]. Jane Greenwood. haveprovid2dthe. ‘respective, appropriate! resent the outside and lighting and costumes, and Willian Flanagan ‘has. .supplied: art back-) Pet tan rs af the | m Met ' ers hourines to Glory” “pates as only an |. ic, Outside bet for boxoffice, but for | | the ‘handsome -Little Theatre it’s: a welcome change from those video | panel. shows and. Dick Clark’s in-. be. . Lanely « juvenile.” “afternoon dance. *s telecasts. os -Tambourines, to Slory, { : Schaeider! | Ty eful,, “cos |Ecward Albee’ stage treatment,| “The Ballad. of. the ‘Sad Cafe” is a} | MOFosé,panne. aceneas 7s of ce | tumes,. John Conklin } choral . director, larinet; Laura: Newel; Biel out. intermission. and while there’ s{ bard,. Judd a good deal of :posturing melo-| Gs", ‘The Lewis Allan |and Ben Edwards presentation of-|: hall and. radio ‘and: ‘television . stu: dio; the Tattle Theatre has made a ‘sort of return -to legit ‘with. the opening last. Saturday night (2) of a combination: melodrama, spiritual. . songfest and revival meeting called‘! atmospheric ° -atendency. is just) greund music. tedium. ovel, | -with music by Jobe aged on Staged by I s. and cos|: Nikos | Psacharopoulos; ze ; lighting, Peter Hunt; Clara: Grant, ,Anna -English,. pene eteae meee udy Challenger, Essic helle Johnson. . Rosetta’ Le Noire asec cc weveewce ... Clyde Williams Mattie ‘Morningside. ~++:...Rosalie King | “Laura Wright Reed ......... Hilda Simms .Policemon = =i. dy Challenger Big-Eyed "Buddy Lomax votes Louis Gossett eaceceesnece sens Chara. Ward Glotis Dawn” 3............., -Ann English | : Gioriettas . ” Helen Ferguson, ‘Tina Sattin |-: 1 Bartender ...:.:.. ‘Garwood Perkins ‘Brother Bud 2+) Brother, Jobn ‘Sellers |Brother Clyde ©......... Clyde Williams |. Marietta: Johnson rhewrs ee Micki. Grant @COMNS ..0 Loewe ewe Ge * Clark Mor “Garwood Piskins, Brother. ohn Sellers, Laurence “Watson | ‘Deaconess Lucy ‘Mae. ‘Hobbs | ot Chieken-Crow-for-Day:. sep ee: Joseph Attles | Ministers. of Music ad Others: Rudy. Challenger, ‘Voyla~ Crowley,Dorothy. ake, Helen Claretta Freemon, Carl ‘ Jones, Rosalie | ‘Merrell, ‘Theress Merritt, Cla Morgan: Perkins, Tina Schofield, Laurence Watson. After about 30 years. aS a lecture t ‘pshape for: ‘Broadway, “be. a natural for films, with’ the “Fambourines to Glory.” The show ds fervently . performed by. an. all-. N egro cast: It's ‘not. easy, toevaluate ‘such | a “hybrid, which. is program-billed_ as: ‘a “gospel singing play.” It’s a sim‘ple. show in structure. and appeal, with. occasional moving passages, ‘an’ obviously contrived. plot. -and: ‘toward monotonous |-hyma-shouting. Its appeal is likely | to -be limited, but the production apparently represents. a modest in-. ‘vestment and. comparatively ow ‘operating budget: Langston: Hughes,.. Nikes.. ‘Psacharopoulos; . and: the off-semester director of ‘the Williamstown (Mass.) Summer “Theatre, has staged the guileless “show, John Conklin has designed’ the. scenic production ‘consisting of | two units of tiered seats, a ramp, | several: set. pieces and: drapes, and {the unassuming. costumes, : cand | Peter Hunt: has. Provided the . Fouonly. a \| tine lighting. © The story centers on two women, : | one young, goodlooking and loose ‘moraled: and the, other _near-mid ‘as the © | Sbiration. : : +. “Phe ‘action’. ‘is. punctuated tfre-j} | quentiy: by ardently delivered vocal c-] numbers, climaxed -with a. revival |} ive} meeting that doesa't quite ignite |] | ‘general audience enthusiasm. C Ward, ‘whose gospel. has ‘becom and is saved, Rosetta. Le Noire as lightenment. through: trouble. ‘and -” ‘ehgaging. intensity, Clara Ward, : Features |. ‘ard, Hilda Simms, Robert _Guil-'!: Jaume, Rosetta. Le Noire, Louis Gossett, 1; Mi Joseph ssom |. Attles, Brother | dohn Séllers. Opened Nov. iv "63; at’ the Little. Theatre, : N. Ya $7.50 . funny * ‘scenes, {and sprawling. ‘With plenty of revisions of. the’ first and. third . Sattin, Adele the. Negro ‘poet, . playwright and. novelist, has 7 adapted. “Tambourines: te. Glory” }: ‘from. his own book of the. same title, . and: Jobe ‘Huntley: has: pro| ‘music consisting mostly of | spirituals, but with at. least. one. ballad and a couple of capsule ‘hot numbers. The Playbill doesn't. indi-. cate. which, if ‘any, selections are. original and, in fact, doesn't list -lany numbers. at ali, 1 structor in the. Yale Drama School singing grows e a cabaret act, doubles |} ‘choral . director. and. ia rather { shrill vocalist. who gets inspited at | the drep of.a song cue, and there }} are’ heaftfelt supporting perform | {ances by . Hilda . younger religious leader who ‘sits | ..¢. . ~: 4a the epeomiag: . 58th Anniversary.Number || Rosemary lo gg i and, pathetic. Ophelia, and her mad Simms: the her older partner who finds en|] Robert Guillaume is plausible asi an'.earnest. church member (it’s: “symptomatic of the writing that |i" ~ his: admirable. ‘oharactér. is. indi-. ° ‘Micki Grant. as. “the pretty new-{{.. ‘}} comer he. loves, Louis. Gossett as |: | the epitome of | corruption, | i J| Anna English, . Soseph Attles. and |W. . | Brother John Sellers in ‘secondary poe parts... Despite . its disarming innocence |. “Tam Hobe. Show Oat r Ten Once fer the exe “—_ John Burgin: & Bruno di Cosmi presep tation of comedy in ‘three acts, by Owen-|: OP .G.. Arno. Staged _ by Reginal. Denham: |. scenery and lighting, . Abe Feder; cosi ‘| tumes, ‘Audre. Stars Jan Sterling, : Scott Nomays ‘features: ‘Ralph. Dunn, .. Russell “Nype, Nydia Westman.: Opened. ‘Oct. 31, | 733. at the: Wilbur’ Theatre, Boston; 35. 50 | Michele Robbins. Le nace aces Donna ‘Scott Ashley Robbins -.... anaes seen. Scott McKay |: ‘Madelaine’ Robbins” . ree bbe'es JanSterling } Gretchen’ :.. wedee Janet Fox Mrs. Goolsby. ':..... “Nydia Westman . Alex -Krumbull. sister wees Russell. Nype “Soendl «oo. cece eee ‘’. Bonnie. Jones ° Bradford ......-............. Martin Ross Martin Hollingshead Ralph Dunn Doreen Krumbull™.: ..... Fayne Blackburn Grace Hollingshea bene Leona Powers Eddie ......:..2..,..-... Richard Poston Little Girl. ereaeees--. Jeanne Tanzy. ‘Paliceman eT. “Walter. ‘Flannagan. :| Taxi Driver .....:....... Maurice Brenner | : Stranger’. eben eee bee . Humphrey’ Davis |. . Once: for thie: “Asking” is-a ‘fan ‘tasy. in whicha fairy grants secret ‘yearnings . for. 24-hours. ‘Although: . the. Owen © Ge: P Arno: comedy. . has | Bye. it’s ‘undisciplined .M sic acts, it . Inight: be whipped into bizarre premise of a. real’ fairy, or ne first. ever to settle: on’ Long’ Asland. mo The yarn, which has: most of its: yocks.in the second act, hinges on “a fairy. lady who. disrupts the home -and.life of .a. young | advertising . | copywriter. His. secret wish to..be ‘the’ greatest ‘adcopy writer. in. the -Whole world is’ ‘granted for inered‘ible: ‘complications. Some of the; | ‘shortcomings © ‘might ‘be -by rewriting.” but. the third. act! finale, in. which the fairy turns a goldfish into a’ human, is “The second act; in. which the. copy-writer is able to sell anybody .any‘thing simply by writing a message on a piece of paper, is riddled with | laughs . involving hilarious .. escapades with the boas, office boy, and well stacked: secretary. . Jan.’ ‘Sterling. is fine as “the ‘be-witched . hero’s ‘young ‘wife’ and |. . ; hi the mother of. alittle girl, ‘han. | Dery young men, antedating such Jatter-day rebels as Jimmy Porter |. adores. goldfish: Scott McKay ‘dies’ the .adman = Tole. -with:: slick plausibility, ‘Ralph Dimn_ is’ standout. as an ‘agency — analysis. Nydia Westman plays the fairy asa fluffy old fady with. big’ { pack. of tricks. Riissell Nype. ‘is just. right. as the hero’ ‘s. friend, Donna Scott is cute “as the little girl who ‘wants. to be come:a goldfish and does, although the -part secretary who: gets..caught. up in | the boss’s magic power, and makes. the most of it...Janet Fox has a |-field. day as: -well meaning maid. ‘Leona Powers. has nice cameo 26 an agency. president’s ‘wife. _ ‘Fayne Blackburn.’ gets. lots of laughs _as hip -wife who longs to put her shoes under a film star's O| bed, and Martin Ross. does well al | with the ‘office: boy bit. ‘Reginald at Denham. has done a. ae | in the brisk staging of this. whacky ‘| -weirdy, and Abe Feder's sets and | ‘| lighting. are sock. But there's vital lar~' way ventures Gage | | 18. nture. : Guy. ised a light. sentence at the finale,| “" eae gets. DSW in-. Vet. Advance Agent “NED ALVORD ocala the tecel_gypandtake Jesse James Without _aHorse’ oe we, vival of. drama in two. acts -by William | Derek Jacobi.. Opened Oct. 22, 63, at.the National | ‘Theatre. Old. Vio) ‘London; $3.95 t : “Marcellus.” -++. oeegectes: |: Horati | ‘Ghost’ MOF” Hamlet's Father }:.Fortinbras ...:. eeeeeee | Norwegian Captain: *: re OF 7 | First. ‘Gravedigger sees and could. Theatre, ‘Pilbrow, anda front-ranking. cast {headed by Peter O’Toole, . Michael. weak... : intermissions, ito call concerned: that: the’ evening devised. ‘exec. under: | ticipated. Instead, the director has needs cutting.. Bonnie} Jones has a-good bit as the luscious. occasion—it ‘has. taken .more ‘than. {and powerful figure, though the | ;, Job] poetry. “His. climatic duel scene |: ; | ductions which tnight ‘have. to be {{ content. with just one major: star, {the National Theatre is in -the en| measurably. helps. ‘the: ‘director in 1| Michael Redgrave's portrayal of } Gertrude has a striking presence | ing, tendency to gabble ‘her mies chats and articles” “= HYenius a lovable character... For: and |i. 1 fqrmance “by. Derek ‘Jacobi. ‘| Laertes, . an . impressive: Horatio, . thony Nicholls a. chilling "ghost: va | Visually, the. ‘production. is: given John: Addison; lighting, Richard an’ added dimension” 3 ' swordplay, “William. Hobb ffects;. David Collison. Stars Peter ‘O'Toole, Michael -Redgrave, Diana -Wyn‘yard, : Rosemary. Harris, -Max ‘Adrian: fea- tures Robert Stephens, (Anthony Nicholls, London, Oct. 23.. ‘National Theatre of Great. Britain. re ‘designer describes his. set as “‘a Single piece of _thrusting . stone curving up toa sharp vertical Tock: Pg! | + is. ‘cunningly converted to fit: the “| bernie? ftersegaeers “Richard an Meaden ‘occasion: and leaves: a -stuaning.. ose e008 eesese: : impression. accented: by skillful. ‘lighting. ones Michael. Turner. beeteceeeees..:' Robert Stephens Anthony Nicholls Glaudk dius eartrenes ome Michael Redgrave The. N ational . Theatre, tempo: First. Gentlewoman.. cae eaee le Wynne Clark | rarily. housed in .theOld Vic, may Poloniag ".: -pesasies Rosemary. Harris, have ‘to’-wait ‘four . yéars: or more Osrie 2... Terence ‘Knapp | before it -has its own permanent ‘Claudio. sete eswesenen’ Martin Boddey. home on. the South’ Bank of the { Cornelius peer Green | Thames. os. ‘birth, bitte in tempo~ BCrtes ..65.ceeseeeeex., Derek Jacobi | rary quarters, seems the mos ertag cnccicicias-Reiaomtane | Portant “London theatrical. event Rosencrantz SUIT Peter, Cellier |. in -years, and on the basis: of its First P . aecncvese pete R bert L aa Player King ve denetpaacees “Farry Lomax the. hie Sirk hn the’ aati iheatre er: fen ... John. ‘Rogers thr s ‘Richard “Hampton, Clive oug out ie wor . yro Other Players... Rust, Derek ‘Ware, Christopher hittell, Alan Ridgeway John Stride | Colin Blakely |. -James Mellor, Reginald: Green . Frank Finlay | ‘Second Gravedigger -. .. Michael ‘Rothwell | -. Priest: 2. oe Le ee. Roger Heathcott | piano,.. Gerald:: Benson. Court Ladies, Gourtiers Soldiers, Ser| vants: Sunny Amey;. ‘Rod Beacham, Eliza‘beth . Burger, “Byron ‘Chandler,.. Lewis Fiander, «Mike Gambon, Jeanne. Hepple, William ‘Hobbs, Jeanetfe Landis, ‘Enid: Lorimer, James Mellor, Bruce Purchase, ‘Louise’ Purnell, L ‘Kosseff at the. Prinee Charlies . Sailors . a ‘London, Oct. 16." dons | $3.50" top. Anactor known. through his | David. Kossoff offers a. modest, ami-= Ann] able, but unexciting | ‘personality. usicians: Don’ ‘Bateman, "Tony Burke, : steer fen reas * Robin suiting the intimate ‘surroundings. Poteet Robin Stapleton, Robin ‘whit {of the tiny Prince Charles Theatre, _bread,. Peter White ‘Leading créative talent. in Britain’ combined to give. the National. Theatre a glittering send-off, with |. a ~ magnificent, uncut edition of “Hamlet.” Led by Laurence ‘Olivier, director of the National. ‘who. staged fhe mam-| moth production, the big names assembled. for. the launching: presentation include designer Sean. Kenny, lighting expert. ‘Richard audience. -It-should ‘bring:a fair ‘the show begins by. old-time: piano: ‘playing by. Gerald ‘Benson, whose left hand maintains. rhythm -with _and whose right hand is somewhat. -unpredictable.. Kossoff, with a. main prop, fills. the -first part with ‘anecdotes. about a Jewish com Redgrave, Diana “Wynyard, Rose| mary Harris ‘and ‘Max. Adrian. The: full-length. production | of | Shakespeare's play. runs for four amd three quarter hours, : ‘with ‘two and it is a. tribute soff in a neatly confidential vein that . :-wins sympathy more than yocks. The. effect is: genial but character and atmosphere to ‘give the tales significance. The second -half is an’ ill-assorted. assemblage : of. party. pieces, opening well with a sketchof a does not: become an endurance test. Qn the. contrary, it is an ex-| citing, vibrant and absorbing: pro-duction,. richly acted cand. skillfully . In a program note Olivier inter-. prets Hamlet. as the first.of the | udéed,: if. garrulous, soup, called’ the minestronium.. Otherwise... himself as. a warbler and has a disk to prove: it, recreates old music-hall ‘ditties, . withaut the (the. central character in -“Look’ Back ‘in Anger”).: On ‘the -basis -of } that. reading, a new and daring. presentation might» have been an played it: safe. with an. -orthedex,. classical | production, taking: ‘just al” few. liberties in rearranging the | text, to. ‘come up with a. show’ which should: delight the purists. | Apart. from. the. great sense. of the originals. ‘thythm.. The lighting, uncredited, -changes. with the ‘mood. ‘Kossoff a century to launch. Britain’s. Nastiffen: the material | and give it a tional Theatre—-the main interest | S°"se. of direction. "Ott. ‘centres around: the. casting: of | . Peter O’Toole.: He makes’ th® | Portrait ef. Murder: ‘London, Oct. 25.-. Bob. Swash, in. association with Ben. Prince of Denmark a: commanding |-. direction 1 fever allows: him ‘com: ‘Karaater (by. tati; £. ‘pletely to dominate: the . scene. tee er) Presentation O’Toole: has an assured stage pres ence, and. a delivery that does ample. justice... to . Shakespeare’s by: Shdanafts ‘decor, Malcolm Pride: . ignting ng, Curran; music George Cates. Stars phylis "Calvert,, George Baker, Renee. Asherson; :features Jack Gwillim, Te nniel ith Laertes, bein ‘h . Barbara sick oe indent ait *@3,. at. wi e es, r ging e great} the avoy eatre, On; 36 top. . drama to its tragicclose, gives him’ ‘Agnes 4 ebsier cle. Barbara vane oneof his finest. opportunities te | Fliot Barlow... 2.0... °02: Geerge Baker | display. his towering skill. and .auDente Brow, seit Renee Asheraon thority. : James’ Guthrie (2/0000 ++. Jack, Gwillim Unlike most’. ‘commercial | volved. in“Portrait of Murder,” a mild -and’ contrived melier. It was. ‘written by Robert Bloomfield, staged by George Shdanoff and is co-presented by: Ben. Kamsler, -a Hollywood producer. Though there is usually a big.enough audience viable position of having the pick ef the top talent, and that im-: maintainin r balance.. gal _ prope 1 the. King. is. persuasively moving. Diana Wynyard, ‘as his: Queen | See™s an. unlikely prospect, par ticularly in. view d from: all the _4 drubbing it recéjve om: and. plays with deep. han ened a.| Londen ‘critics. fame lines.'|:. makes a tender | oS Pe ‘inevitably inhibits the. ‘performers. Phyllis Calvert is the fFonly. one: with anything like an act ing opportunity: because of flash ‘scene is one of. the dramatic highlights. Max Adrian. adroitly makes Po-/ ithe. rest, there is. A: stirring ‘per-' “(Continued on page. 60). -Robert Stephens ~ ‘makes. and. An-° ‘by Kenny's. bbe; | unusual. and. exciting. decor. . ‘The. tower.” On the revolving. stage: it: The visual effect’ is’ Richard Pilbrow’ s ~ ‘David Kossoff. in’ a one-man‘ chow ee "Opened. Oct: 13, °’63, at ‘the Prince. Charles. ‘Theatre, . ‘Lon: films and “The Larkins” tv. skein,’ display, which. has the assets of © -and establishing rapport with the : response.for a. limited engagement: , Its’ besetting fault is * self-conscious. whimsy,. established ‘before’ the aid.-of. an audible’ metronome . | wooden, highbacked chair. as. his. -munity in’Poland: The gags are ™ | sweet-toothed, but told by Kos| -Kossoff fails to establish sufficient - |-down-at-heel street vendor. and . ‘has ‘another -highspot.| ina well." _monoleg *, about a-guy ‘who invented a musi-:cal organ that ‘could operate on Kossoff,. who fancies. Spirit or the certain sentiment of The show ° -needs shape and. appears to have the right appeal .. for this kind of thing’ if he can —. arrangement. with Hugh a melodrama . in. two acts (five "scenes by Robert ge George Evans,:. “Several ‘American’ names ‘are’ in to sustain plays of this ‘kind,. it. The basic. weakness. of: the play is its ‘pedestrian. style of writing, back. devices. that virtually enable’ . ‘ “ 4 eta, Vo a aera tee 9 eter anes teense shatattnst o marmay*."n sree Sar sire sar we Pee a se i