Variety (Dec 1931)

.48 VARIETY I. EG I T I M AT E Tuesday, D«oeinber lSv;.19ai Springtime for Henry Farce In three acts proacnted at tho BUou ly Kenneth Mncsowan «nd Jaeeph .Verner <eed In aemclatlon v/ffii Arthpr SIrcom; >*c. 9; written by Benii W. /Levy; .laalle tanks Btarred; staged by S(^oqi. - Ir. Qcwllp .Leslie .Banl:^ (r. Jelllwell Nigel Bruce tfra. Jelllwell Frieda Incscort lltsg smith .....Helen Chandler . One of the;|unnte3t plays of Uie leason. First'aiid .third acta are this laugh getters. Second act 16 rather quiet otherwise 'Springtime. (or Benry' would be a real slap at the depression' blues. Should do . very velV regtyrdlesS, ; J , i !>4iicgowan/'&: Heed on t6elr\tl)lrd tily^jiiipieaB'to 'be.-emerging on. th* Wlnittng Bide. -What the^ .-cpUldf.nbt e^t 'ikrltlt ■tlie.'.irlc'k Settings in' the'. changteoEtble v'£ieaa UarvesV^.iior \^ltli t^ i^mlbuB ><1$0^. lifudy Wltl^ a lit^v-'lB' M.eh«d.\iip by a. onetset, fD^-pe|rson>^cast ^'show.- - ■ The ...new tai*^ isr.piM«Etetited' in association wlt^'^Artfflir, glr^om, who staged it soitai«wha'tViii. th61- manner ot fCharj- •or' th^; fVin.-;v Thtelr-.talk of how they jplnibpd'each 'jother when at. school stansi the il^ughteit and thU duo oiC BiigUbh farMurs handle tlie lines only trlth tne-aid of dialects. It Is all-father Intimate, but hardly over- sUipB tlj'e nriprietles.of these daysi There Is; hpwevef, a "■surprise finale ls_ s^ggeistlve, ;;Aldlngj' tfi^ .male leads are. Helen Chandles'tind; the handsome ,Frleda ttesborti. MlBS Chaddler counts v6ry niuflh In^ the contedy in the tliird act when her •ilni *1 sl^ot him' brings a Bltnktlon laugh that that sent0nce> H'evelP. provoked before.^ It was no.t merely a first, night giggle aa proven on the second" night when the laugh was clocked .at 76 seconds. I Benn W. 1|^vy was In a gay mood !c7hen he wr6te' <gprlngti'me for Hen- ■ ■ first called The Soul of Henry iDewllp,' ^th' niitt)' titles. Stoi^y is bllghtt but .that la the way of farces, isttv V Df^miii^r 'is a youngish', man IwhQde fi^fher bequeathed .hlin a ino ' tor'car worjis. His best friend,;Mr, . J^lUwell, lias taken over a ^car- bAretor\plfint and seeks to have his Iddvleea \.thstalled'.. In the Dewlip kn^tots. ■ . •- ■ , i '.r IDewllp won't have it, but when iMrs,: JeUlwell calls, it tls dltterent; ' Ibecause- Dewlip, proposes an i^Oalr . bhd'she tts&6nta. 'That maHes'hicir Hiishahd's: cHances' better. .Husband ^be^n'f'itttitid'inudh whut his'iiretty ^'Witfe.' does, . In 'tact' the only^ time ^l|l«ji^ls•^angrTlAboUt thie .assoqlatlOn ',mi^,°.-I>e'vUP. is when , the v latter. tOSaea- h.'?r..'oy*ri-, That .))rlnga the '' Jeluwells Itifo' too close contact and ' ^tbe^r get in each other's hair. Miss Smitli,<'the'1few'«eci'^tary .for Dew' 'lip,-, brings rabout'imany chances for' Si ttme^he- glvea., up gambling and drlnkt;^... ...At .,the .close,, however, Ke^lp is aimed for the playboy ' . tvayb that are his. 'Springtime' shduld draw class audiences. Doesn't look'costly .to dp^t-ate'Ahd .getting by at moderate ^obey'ltiBh^uld make a showing In a;' l9eaBdn' where''there" are few eAlck^s>' Ibee; 1931— bnim(t> In -throe acts; presented' aX the Mnnsfleldv Dec,'10 by Qr«up Theatre-Co,j written by, Clalro and Paul Sltton: staged by X/e» Stresberg; auspices o( the The- atre Gulldi ■ - . 'breman ..............J....J.. E. Bromb^rg Adam Francliot Tone Policeman Uorrls Carnovsky Lobbygow Clifford Odets Boss Foreman..!......Clement 'Wllenchlck Lobbygow ...Harry Bellavor Old Woman .Virginia Farmer The Qlrl ....Phoebe Brand Lean Man .^....^....Qrover Burgess Dnink ;...Sanford Melsner Agent Philip RobJnson Landlady .....Mary Morris Little Olrl,.... ;.aertrude Maynard If Yoil Want to Know The Worth of a Dollar tomorrow One How ..^mergeAotes^-suddeh Illness— ctash In stocks — closing of bonks, etc., throw vivid-lights on the'^ue of cash. l£et''.UB show you how to savi .how'.io provide an income that wili'take care of any emergency. fio business with' A fl'rm with ,over-2.0 years'. «xperl6nce. Tor ruMber' iDfornatlon 9ee JOHN J. ^551 Fifth Avfe., N. Y. C. Phenesi Murray Hilt 2-7838—7j39. A graphic picture o^ .uhemploy- m^ntr-'Among the city's laboring dlass,r strikingly scened but a de- ■presslrig"'play. IjOOKs strictly for the, bjtltc^y it it all, and .ptobably Wop'V bfsi around after a feV weeks. The Groiu> Theatre, somewhat un- delii fhiS' guidance of the Theatre Clulldl butted out okay at the Beck wltn yChe'-lKOuse of .Connolly/ .which vrak ^o't a llltv. but which got the pn>clu(^Ioh mo'njey back and won the plaudits' of the! critics.' Doubtless the Vrt>up lie,d' this play by thsfi SIf- tons in'its'system a;nd careful.prep-" aratlon is not'edi '. '1941— ' was first announced as Son of God,'..hut that flUe didn't fit at all.^ The drama is, bitter propa* gahda'f but. tdiiches' only' on 4 *w .phases' of unemployment, Suggesting 'no solution' and' Ignoring, the, re-- sponse'^t.'.the public to -.the relief funds. <!Unemployment and the funds to tide'\unfortunates b.ver.'th'e' win- ter have been front page.-fiit nio'hths. Along co.mes a play t^udKlnt; oh the sordid detaila of the probl^m^'pf the torments'from hunger'^itjl continu- ous faljuire to. secure }obs. all about people 'of the lower ftt'rig. It im.- pres^ed.^ as pretty baft-.-theatre for these days'.of stress. ' Adam>-a-trucker in a''^warehouse, wrangles with': the fore'inah and is fired. He Is young and'' strong and figures It will be easy to get another job. ' But the' confidence .'with , which he tells his girl about going back to v4-ork ' Is .gradually" dissipated aa he faila^tlmje after time.. ..^equently in th'e-14 sd6h«8 a Une of'men is'shown sial'paing. outside the .large metal shutters' o'f ,a 'warehouse, two.or three men being taken on and the others' dispersing; discouraged.' \ Adam -wpn't' stajrid In'the bread- Uhej, yH his situation .becomes the mora d6sp6rate., - He attempts to liold -bpr a -silk-hatted man, but even when' hia victim, .t^IIs ,.blm'' what pocket his- money is in, Adam loses his nerve and-Tusfaes away. He finally ahovela .snow on the streets. Famished' and chilled,; he collapses and: la taken to a hospital. Goinea a time when he attimblea opto a job In d'n eatery. He'.meet's the girl there. 'She had'lost her job," too. 'ai^d had, taken to''the streets. Adam' rushes from the place to lead a raid by a rumbling crowd of communists or unemplbyecl, and the. final .flash in- dicates the police have gone Into action with machine guns, mowing down the crowd. A solld\ frame-work Is present throughout, the many scenes, with the warehouse often pictured. Other scenes more or leas Indicated are a public square, -the BoWery, besides Interior scenes such as a bedroom apd. the .eating, place interior. Ex- cellent lighting' cbhtrlb'utes 'In mak Ing some scenes striking. Opening showing men working in the ware- hoi^ae, particularly efCectlve aa were almllar scenes. . Directing by Lee Btraabei'g very good, but it-seemed a wasted effort, Franchot Tone as Adam, 'and Phebe brand as the girl are th^ leads. The- pi'ay la a bitter protest and do.esn't seem to fit oh Broadway. ''.'..•-•";'; Ibee; The Passing Present Comedy'ln three acts-presented by-Arthur jlOpklns at the Barrymore Dec, 7: written by Oretchen Oamrosch; Hope Williams starred; staged by the producer; Jenny Aunt Hallle T.anslng French... James Simpson... BIdgley ■ Frehch>., Kathlo -French,,., Page'' Fre'nch'....'., OrlolC >,.-... Fraylein Doctor Henry Maud- French , .. .Marjorle Dalton ...Helen Strickland Morgan Farley ...i..i...NelI McFee .....''..■...Cyril Scott ....Josephine Brown ......Hope 'Williams (....Jose Alessondro .Maria Ouspenskaya ,...E. J, Ballontlne .Lillian Emerson Laura Tobey-..., ;.Lynn Berangei. Brock "fobey...' Douglas Qllmore Luke Bodey Herbert Duffy Mr. I.eroer: Louis La Bey A Girl Elizabeth Goddard A Man,,..'. Thaddeus Clancy Looked like ^nrk Ave. was well represented at the premiere, which too, ushered In the first bitter blast of thla." young winter. ; The triple combltiiitlon of Arthur Hopkins the " producer, Hope 'Wllllfims (his flfid) - as the Star, and Gretchen Danirosch, author,, daughter of the musician, accounted for the turn- ouL But the'Impression modis by 'The Passing Present'- was that its appeal Is . too limited for over a ah.ort stay. . . That Miss Wllllama of the social register should appear in a play that does hot afford her better chances foV her type of comedy Is bad break.' She isn't. exactly .a gay person, but pervaded 'taost of her other appetirarices with a' cer- talh, clear strain .of Jblltty or light- ness. 'There are bits of rather po- lite clowning by Miss 'Williams, but the whole the. atmosphere of The Passing Present' iaeemed sombre. The surroundings ore familiar enough to the ste^:. .She playa Page ^ench of the prominent French family, whoae collective '. bankroll Is -close to zero. Papa RIdgley Frencih, who appears- to be a fellow who never worked in his life, won't hear of costly' ofCers from realty men, wbo plan razing, the' old hbme- and erecting a qo-operati-ve apart- ment house in- the.Fifth Ave. region'.' But the old order suddenly changes. Lansing French, ' son, adored by hIa mother, Kathle, la ao broke he rattles. For the use of hl» name . he enters Into some vscheme that goes 'wrong and 'faaa to raise 'iO G's. Of couriae -his slater. Page, triea to work , out the problem. - She prbposltlbna Brpck To'bey,- who .is married to her cousin, Laurio. Be- fore that little idea blossoms, papa la' told of the boy's predlcatnent. He la heard crying up In the library. The house Is soon sold. The elder Prenchea are otC for Italy and the family sbatters. Brock has been In love yr\th Page and she finally admits' the same' re-.- actlon. Laura petulantly -agrees .to divorpe, but wlfli the passing ^ot the home,and the.'snolng of the fam^' Uy In all directions. Page is a sad young woman as the lights fade at the curtain. The scene shows the house stripped, packing: boxes- scnti tered about There Is a^-rbceptton upstairs, a sort of ajrmbblic celebra- tion for the family's laat night with- in Its walls. ' Cast of IT and moat of the per- formancea good. Morgan Farley, is the son who got Into the jam that broke up the home. Cyril Scott is the father who seemed the dllle- tahte type run to seed. Jose Alles- aandro does a Russian prince -frho has'.di-opped hIa title.and la work- ing. He marrlea Page'a aub-deb sister at the end. Josephine Brown la the. mother who admits her Sing. DoUglaa' GlUmore did Brock, who marH'ed ' the 'wrong girl and-a 'bit too teirt when hia belpved asked for the loan.' They liked Maria Ous- penakaya, .who la tlie- elderly frau- leln, former governees in the home. Helen Strickland playa iAunt Hal- He," who goes to Califbrnliu fi. J. Ballentln^' la the devoted famHy doctor and didn't look that way at all. Lilllah Emerson la the kid sla- ter and Lynn Beranger doea Laura. The interior aeemed the inalde of a fine, old .home. Ita people seemed to belong. . But there did not seem to, be enough diversion to' ponular Ize this play. Ibee. unco at the Louis iflppman..' Francis X. Ollbooley. OF THEE I SING . Boston, Dec. 12. . MuskMil comedy In tw6 acts and 11 scenes; book by Qeorge S. Kaufman and Morrie KyuclQd; maslc by Oeorso Gerah- .wln; lyrics by Ira-aorahwln; first perform- ' " MaJesUo theatre Bee 8. Sam Hann ..Harold Moffat Maid. ."Vivian Barry Matthew Arnold Fulton. . .-Dudley Clements Senator Robert B.' Lyons..George E. Mack Senator Carver Jones....Edward.H. Soplnff Aleunder Tbrottlebettom......Victor Moore John P. -Wtntenreen.......'William Gaxton Bam Jenkins George Hurphy Diana 13evereau>. -. .Grace Brinkley Mary Tarner.;....'•«.•.•• Lois Moran Miss Benson..........' ...June O'Dea Vladimir'VIdovltch Tom Draak Yusset Tnssevltch ..Sulo Havonpiw Tl(a Chief JtuUce..............Ralph RIgsa Nora Lesllo Bingham The French Ambassador..:..FIoian< Ames Senate CleTk kMartin-Leioy l^ys Out of Towd THE SECOND COMIN* Drama In three-acts .presented by Jerome Wallace; -written by George Bryant; singed by 'William F. Sundermon; at the Province- town Playhouse, Dec, 8. Wilbur i.....-^,.Irving Hopkins NIcodemus A, B. Comathlere Helen < Lillian Butler .Glory Enid Raphaer Elaine Ruth Peterson Dr, Evans Gordon Fallows Manny Alice Ramsey Sam ,, Hayes Pryor Old Joe Lloyd RuBsell Fanny -. Mn«gle Elliott Smile '. Anis Davis Ih rehearsal thla new .Sam H. Harria mualcal looked hopeless' to the -wise ones. But It .snapped Into lite opening night ftnd - every few minutes showed evidences of being a natural and a laugh hit;., Ihtf big aUrp,rlto was the'book, tt^ich' reads like something turned -out. by a couple of - school boys. It plays, funny, -very, tunny,; in rare spots, and has to do with', a -satire or burlesque on national politics, the 'White House, Senate, Freiveh diplo- mats, campaigning and other Amer- ican foibles. "'; ' ■ The minor surprise was Lois Moran and her singing voice. She looks a little hefty in lioundage as compared with-Hollywood standards hut for musical comedy require- ments she turned in a comely, sweet and shy performance that registered aolld with a capacity house. William Gaxton. has the role of president of the United States, and "Victor Moore Is vice-president ' It doesn't sound sunn^, but Moore, in the .-pathetic role of vice-president ivho is-^Iost in "Washington and who filially, gets into the 'White House by joining a party of tourists pre- sents a picture that Is. a riot of laughter. Tha plot couid almost stand alone as a straight comedy travesty, the story dealing with the decision of the iMiiticIans that the only way Qaxto'n can be elected is to run on a platform of love. The politicians comment on the fact that the party is in ill favor'With the public for two bluhdera of the last adminlatra- tton, one being the aale of Rhode laland'to France and tlie other be- ing the sale of the sub-treasury and its contents. Mobre Is' selected to run for vlce-presldeilt by drawing names but of a liat; lie being the unfortunate .loser. He agrees with the proviso that if he. is elected his family will never be. told of the dis- grace. The prealdentlal candidate agrees to iharry whoever is qhosen at air Atlantic City beauty, contest.. He marries Lois Moran,' a -secretary, Insteiad, and cauaea international compllcatlona which are averted by hie. bride announcing ..that she la going to have a baby.- 'The slogan of the party becomes Immediately 'Posterity is just .around the corner.' It la difllcult to picture this mak- ing a good book but it looks as if it will. One scene ia baaed on atereop- tlcon^ltdea of election retuma and It can be developed Into one of the howls of the aeaaon: Another 'scene la a rally in Madison Square Garden where the westerh Senatbr's speech Is so dull that the campaign com- mltfiee puts b'n two Folack wrestlers In thb rlni; with the. speaker, so - that everybody will be satisfied. . Gershwin has turned in - a foilr muBlcai job, the opening nuinber of a campaign! parades helng. a rhap- sody travesty that startb the. show oft with a bang. Ira Gershwin, has been .given, a free hand with the lyrics and' has aatlrlzed Gilbert and Sullivan aa well as-straight opera in the handling of many of the climax ensembles. The company numbers close to 60 with a chorus that is rather 'sloppy. The production as., a .whole lookis .as Wit had been b\idg'eted 'q,nd financed during d. slumi^. Iti. the- de- preaslbn -^tihd there is a ^herai'Im.- prea«lon>'fbitt Sana ■'Barrtei'hbiles to mak«i a little Ipfofit^^tof 'himself father than worklntr - d- ■:tu\\. sea^pn for. the customers and.tth'e-.Crbans. ' The. end of the sho'w teveals what ah aiiiateurlsh .''and yet! funhy hook- lip .oY liodge'-podge ahd ''hbko .thb whole'thing Mally Is... Congress -la shown'in session, and--on9 .S«ihator takes :the - fioor, to.' discui;9'-.a ,brldge hand 'he held' the night'bbfb're. He hiortolly offends' tile ^hdtbr. from LoUi'slaVia when h'b BtipvH that the South is nbt- solid on', that' "bridge hatad. The' Senator th(^ -tnUt out into-'a tambourine finale.-^ -A final curtain shows a-bed cohtalning; Lois Moran and- the twins born, to her throe mlniltds, previously, 'all -'three sitting up In' bed. and,taking'bows.. It's that kind of a sh6w. Apparently tho.. premiere- -wasn't scheduled .for ■'Washington .because of th«i,'. obvious probability- that ■W^ashlhgton couldn't a^ any humor in it. ■ But the rest-of ^he, country will.' When a.half. hon^ has been pruned out of the dialog and the present comedy high .apots- .built: even funnier, it should );o well In New-York and. big on the road.... ."Victor. MOore as .the vioe-preai> dent who haa never'met the preaU dent la an unforgetable character. To really set the spirit of the satire, try and name the last few - vlce< ' presidents this - counti-y nominated and the humor of the Ithing will be- gin to be apparent.' Xibhey. SMILING FACES New Hav^n, Dec 9. Musical comedy In two acts presented at the Shubert, starring. Fred Stone' and fea- turing Paula.Stone. Book by Rarry Clarke, Music by Harry Revel.- 'Lyi'lcs by Mac;c Gordon; - Dances staged by Jack Dbnohue under suijervlalon of AlberUliia Raecta. Settings by Watson Barratt, SUged by Zeke Colvan. Bob BowJtigton,.......^<.,<-..iRoy Royston Perkins,,^.-. Boyd . Davis Arthur - I.aWrence.-. <..'..;. ,BI11y Taylor Monumct Spleen Fred Stone Amy Edwards ,;;%,.-'. ;'c'Rope Emerson First Assistant ..-.Herbert Lyle Second Assistant...,,....':.'WmrElm Lining Peggy Post ......;..\..PauTa Stone Blsa ScheRt. .Lottl Loder Sybllla Rlchter..... Isabel O'Madlgan Cordonia Potts...; vAdora. Asdreiya Edward Rlchter 7 Eddie Garvie Mildred MacCoy ......Doris Patstoo First Wrestler.All Tousaott Second .iWrestler .GOorgo Herman Any commercial aspects to 'Sec- ond Cbmin' ate .nil. It undoubtedly would attract considerable religious enmity. If brought uptown as ia hoped. Additionally tfie play Is not there. An Interesting, albeit ticklish, theme was. chosen; As written and presently atoged there Is a surfeit of hysterla.-aisaoclated with Negi-oes' religious fervor. Chanting, shbut- ing, foot thumping, spiritual singing finally become annoying; .'Comin' tried to record the emo- tional reactIoi\a pt a certain-type of southern Negro community in their aearch for religion. 'Change of atyle, limiting the caat to colored players only, eliminating the. white charac- tera and giving their activities in the play by inference and reference would have been one wny of better ment. Character of Wilbur, the white parson, la written ao that role Is on the minima side of neutrni, with Irving Hopkins' playing no help. ' Wilbur is the zealot son. of a mis- sionary killed In Chinn while trying to spread Christianity. Wilbur, therefore, tackles the same problem In this, southern American locale, as head of a . church In a small town. fftlXIE FRIGANZA Hotef AstiKt. New York 1S30 F:0RM0SA AVE., HOLLYWOOD, CALIF. Repretantativbs: CARGILL & DOBSON One set throughout the ..play, this the church interior,' the same'one used as a cabin in 'Coastwise' siiown here the week prevloua. . All of 'the churchgoers, except Wllbur'a mother, who wants him-to leave the section, are Negroes. Some are faithful to Wilbur; others, led by "the brawny NIcodemus, want some -actual and concrete miracle as proof .which they can underatand of the relation he claims to God as one of His servants. Thus, NIcodemus, for his group, demands a 'Second Comln.' Wilbur la In a quandary, and as hIa only way out finally decldea hla one chance la to deliver the miracle. To do thla, he obviously must de- scend to'; trickery and some of the voodooism he' decrlea In their pres- ent mode of thinkings. Thus, he be cornea Immoral with Glory, a colored churchgoer and a good girl. To do this, he hypnotizes her. The second act haa its virtues, particularly In portrayal of the hys- teria of Glory and her friend. Manny. Third stanza goes to pleceb. A child Is bbrn on Christmas Day and is, as described, nearly white. KIcodemue underatanda the situa- tion and kills the white parson Ending Of the play is hazy and probably the wrong one, since the congregation asks for a word from God to prove the child Is the one they want. This word Is given them In the collapse oC the decrepit church steeple. None, of the white characters, as played, satisfy, but A. B. Coma thlere is good as NIcodemus. Other colored members o( tlie cast play well, also. Play Is' lirescnted aa an 'authentic study of the emotlonal phasea of the Negroes as expressed In their aearch for religion.' More than that, how- ever, it presents a view to religious fantitlcism as It allegedly affects missionaries. . In Ita present stage Fred Stone's new show must be clasaed .at best an In-and-outer. When seen here Wed; <9) -after a three-day opening In Springfield and three more per- formances locally, the show was spbttyj' . 'While . 'Smiling Faces' has fea- tures, that may help pull It through, it la apparent that the Storte pufich Is lacking. This Is probably due to the negligible part that the come- dian takes In It: . Stone. Is on stage a good -deal of the tltpe, but at no part of the., performance, does he bring out that' type of ,entertain- ment that Is typically, Fred' Stone. The audience reaction'. to the show' when viewed here was not particularly favorable. ' Comment' was to the effect that .patrona sat through a slow first act, figuring that Stone 'tvas sa-ving hIa atutC for the second stanza, but In act two the big atufC failed to materialize. Fred Stone has compromised hia opposition to stage. .m^te;:lal that gives opportunity for eyeiirow-rals- Ing among the audience. There are more bare legs, more cboch dancing and more broad-humored.lines than have previously crept Into a Stone offering. Not that the show can bo classed questionable In any way. but certainly the producers have fallen closer Into the modern trend than was done In the oose of 'Klp- nles.' The book of tho play gives ample room for the Introduction oC a mis- cellany of scenes that carry from a Long* Island estate to Havana. Stone, cast as Monumet' SpleQn...dl-: rector of Statuette -Movies, shoots a -film that contains e-veryttilng from- wood nymphs to Russian wrestlers. There's - the v/111 with the trick clause that disowns the hero If he marrlea tho 'movie star' (Paula). Tho usual, complications that arise when the swain marrlea her oft to his 'best fi-Iend tcmporar-^ lly In order to get her Into the social register, and tho flnol awakening to CupId'H call when an old flame ar- rives on tho scene to' snare tho (Continued on page 60)