Variety (Oct 1934)

rt-r ^. A:^f|M»P>ng Clergyman PMMp ■i::. A SlMpiiur OMmrnMUl.... .Frank Kinslon Prv Cooiier.. ..'.•.»..>•#.«... J. Colvl 1 l>unn or/ Coiitif i i.. t r • • • • • <> • ••• (ilM^ Churlos Oinieron, lt>t.(ilenn An<lPni ■.. Mrs. KlH|>i'th Hannah..,,...Helen Wesiley I>r, VVilliain iaar»h(lllK.,.k.l>rn««t ThegiKer Harriet Mar«haU..«r..<>...i..ltut}i a«rdoii Aunt W»1ker.......,..;.,v...-...AMoe John Cousin Minnie..... s ,,.;«•>'• •Octrudo Flynn . \Vilhi>linina L'am«|rO|li.<>t.,'...«, .Ituth Gor.lon John Il.-tnnah..tiV.Tbeodoro Newtun : A 8«nr«anti.W«ltM Lawr«nce ' A Constable. ,. .Ponatd Campbell Chnrlts t'anicron, 2nd Olcnn Anglers ■ ■ Donovan J. Malcom Dunn Sir UouKl'iH Toild Walker... ....A. P. iOoo 7^- r^Ay ToUa W.ilker .. v Cha rl Qtt< W a lker 'V Hoi>e Cnnieron.. ..Ituth Gordon Pnxititute .ij-..8,.V... Slrel.a Trent Lilly K illierlna HiMM*»tl. .f'loronro Hritton . Dr. Furl''v... .Malcolm Soltan i-:^^MelUcal Stiidont Robert HaiK Doctor^. nuniei<, etc.—John Taylor, Pranli. ■:t' . To debttt till season the Guild pre- wnta ^ play that attracted aften- tiOiTTtr London, th<^tt|rh it wasn't a iityteith. Indicationi aiiti it win about fulUft the subacriptlbh .i>erlod of Ave • wft^ks-" In N*w Yortt, JOoubtfa1 of staytnie IhertM^fter. y*t a road vd»* •IbHity |Sc^i£tli« Ound. . " . Ail^isrvilflSMM Bridle, a phy«l«tan (Dk Oslrnim^ H^niy Mavoir). apot^ a Play in hi« native Sootiaiid. it is a dramatla^tloh of h<wredlty, pro- poiindlhijr tha theory that genius may bp Inherited urtto the third ieherntian. That It happens In so- called illositimates is the popular belief, so tlie play's heroes are born out of wedlock. -'A Slooplng Clergyman' may bet- ter be called 'Tlio "Wild Camerons". authors title in no way sugprestinp melodraniatibs. It i.s written in two part.><. r.nrh with a prolopue and each with four scene.s. Tliat re- quires revolving platforms and a fairly larpro ea.st. Prologues are In a men's club in Glasgow, where one doctor tells an- pil>©.r the strani^e story that starts iltt-vNT and ends with the present day. Nearby th«ie frltnd of the cloth quietly sltillriilrii,-|t ■tale for his Csam.. ". Proi' gue fad9s out aiid first aeeiie ti that of Chaih|«Mi Cameron's room. ; lit la a medloil atqdtini racked iHth ^b«fQujc^ls attended by y«nio« Dr. W^rom/ M XAtter iMllevea hia tHitlent vis a fenlus and that be- lief Is jtisiifled only when he Ui past V 90 years old. During this span the ilUigltlmates orlginatlhir with the student are cared for by the doctor. Doctor's sister, Harriet, is In a delicate condition as the result of relatlon.s with Cameron, who dies before he can marry the girl. She exiviios in childbirth, a daughter Wilholmina being born. At 18, Wil- holmina .seduces, then kills Dr. Mar- shall's young student aid, putting in liis drink when he threatens blackmail. Twins are born to Wll- helmtna, who soon afterwards throws iieraelt from a cliff. Charles Cameron. 2nd, is also a wild youth. But nine years later finds him decorated for valor on the field In France. One scene shows him giving the medal to a pro.«tltute with whom he spent th^ night. His barren sister, Hope, shocks her kin hy admitting with spirit the shortooim^gs Of her fore- bears, beinf fittber prowl of it ^ Final scSnfM fiir*4^ C&in- ■''«e<m'^it:'-'--4vaiutU^ institute.' where he is esiperimentlng with a serum to <}onihat a Scoiirse that Is , sweeping the world. It is the most ; . 'draoaailo scene of the play Hiid has • .thf ionly dash <o< roM that of ;the <toctnr ahd his titled young sec- ■'iNftaO'. whom he bullies, but she IdVes it. Serum works miracles. The end has the octogenarian Dr. Walker rolled In on a wheel chair. H& cliat.s with Hope, gray haired secrotai-y to the League of Nations, .sent to urge her brother to hurry the cure. 014 man's confidence that «enius ''''9l«rvt'VM'".|i./«|B<Hl!atSd-'"'at last. -N'Sf^ ■ Ruth OoM<}tt» la a triple part, takes the acting honors. First as Harriet, who is seduced, she reap- pears as ■\Vilhelmlna who Is a se- ductres and murderess and finally Hope. Krnest Theslger was Im- ported to repeat the portrayal of Dr. Marsliall, from a yo;unK man to SiMiil|ty. Clenn Anders Is the Cam- i whrt iif thft first and third genera- tion, being better In the latter part. Other ;smanet ;Mi^niRie|iti art in tlM li^hdfi o< .moM;wlMip; if*'jton^^ •tttit wlff^lM^ #t)t Mt»ing CUtrfirymah.* but ft Is an Hfnituai Alay <tnd Mopd p^ . Karisa.s City Is getting Its ftrst tiste of The Drunkard/: |t*t l«..iht Continental room of tttf lldtiA 1^ ^:'-;jiat,x;;itian...st«uing soo.:-' '■■^-^'./'-'^i-■ ■■^VvV;||f^i^:.;:«ii||:.:;.are; Albitf.>m «#i|iwiiifc 4r.f-^^W Thebus, Bin 4^#Stf OilbWt, Jerrold Johnson, Loui.^ Marcelle, Clarence Rogers, Paul pe Marrionne, LouIsf Tucker. BRIDAL QUILT Comedy-drama In three «ol« (two ■ftis) bjr Tont rowore. prenented by Vvm Mur- ray (Charles U. Madduck. K<?ni>rftl w.«ii- aKer), opuninn Oct. 10 at th* UlUmore, N. v.; li.T.'i top. 8taK4>d by tb« author: -settinK by ,Tohn Iliddle Whllelft*. iSranny Lawhead Fredrica Slomona Minnie Klla Ulveni)..... Bleunor I.ynn VVnahliurn Alexnnder lilnine Conlnpr I^ea aivons..,... .t,arry Johns Hert tle.i.ilf>y .Frod ITerrick CSithb'en liotrhkiaa Jtorton.Claudia Mtir^an Holly ..*..;...,. ;noraoe Sinclair .'^.irah ChoHoIdene., Eleanor I'helps i;;ili)h ('!i4.si'l,l(>ne Jumoa Tctdd Janve>t liarton I.eater , Vnll Haa.;,la>attr.; ib\ - • '^^'^^f Paradox ot/'^ittiiil^i Quilt' is that the very friendlsr. SrSt-nighters liked It. in ft^lhb' t^^^^ over it to the degree that Actor Tom Pow- ers, now turned author (but not ap- pearing Jh: thiM, CMt> came out for a b^nd'^and a 1>ou<iuet to Vera Mur- itiy. debuttknte: entrepreneur; for this marks tbA lfttf Charles Dil- lingham's irtttfiilii ' prP'ft^e ■ ■ iecre-. tary's maiden ^ffOTt' aS a BrOadway legit producer. Paradok lii the general weakness of tht^ j^oft ttrtte^ It iwvelops that because a sdclal- ite Jersftytte ttke a shine to a lioine- apun but heroio Kentueky hUlbilly, he gets tt3rper<'rQnMintto ideas which. Somehow, art ItkieWlse -^eflecited in an otherwise happily mated ybung matron, Just what precipitated this .acute romanticism is never realis- tically established, although much else about the play, curiously enough, rings true. Tliat goes for the .Tuthontic 'hilly .setting and the Kentucky natives; also the socialite Knglewood, N. J. locale of the al- ways-dressing-for-dinner liartons —^^vith a couple of exc^eptions. of course, such as that ImpoHsihle, heart-breaking Englishman, for ex- ample. liut the basic motivation of tbe Kentuckv-to-.Tcrscy trekking back and forth (the Ilartons were motor- ing fools seemingly) is never believ- able, try as the skillful trouping docs to Impress in general. And imj>reps they do. To the degree that Frederica Slemons. Kleanor Lynn. Blaine Cordner, Claudia Mor- gan, Eleanor Phelps, Lester Vail and pr.actically all of the cast turn in a smart series of performances. Dut the play's too thin and not likely to prosper on Broadwnv. its film chances are better, , Abel. C.vmedv drama. In thico a^-ts. prfr^entcd at the Playhouse, Oct. », by tioorcc nuBlinr and John Tuefk.' adaptW from Walter Haoketfa play bJr Bdward CWWa Car- pfiitnr; ntacred by..latt«r, rhopbe Weston...i...«,..VIVlenne Onborne Willie Taylor...,......,'.»... .Robert Toawt Mrs. Potter i Su^anno Jufknon lUnke Henry Norcll selby ,........v......i..,.Josepli R; CMdrry Walter ..........,..... .PletW ITEnnarj' Allee fstanhope....,.V.>...l>*lphlne Dor.iy Gertrude Hatfield..;......iPeSKy Marlowe Arthur CnrliHle .J.Tok Soanos Mrs. .Stokes Olive l!rl«ooe Mr. Stokes Alljert An truss Uobert KMit......i««.....vRobcn Sh.ayne r'ollls ................v......i..Perty Moore Krnilne '. Alney AHm Charlie M.atlhpws <',rPi?ory l>e.>ne Dr. WeUner A. Fothringham Lyaont- Doris Ripley..,.....,..... .Oiadia Oliswold Victor Nell«on...,i,i.;....l!<HHJaia Hopper l^ouiite Hroussiloff. ..■.ti'^'i'.^i, TaMi^irell Dudley Hampton.. .,..»i%.vs.Hermann Lleb K.«xhall RMgway .Tames TSell Tom I'aul J i'•(•111a Rvelyn Crayson. IJernlee lienyon Oaorva SliMMan* *> t« 'f-^-i • > • • Matthew ftmltH nietty ...«v.^««V.*>»t>uUi Mi|« HUbband slugged 'Api/'llia /.bir«IMN!i#t,:*^^ iuis.sing. Uroker'a ueci*ctary Is detected at> the killer and the Jewels recovered from him Rldgeway. That is done off-stage *ad thert art no oopt Whilt the metodrismatlrS tR0, vn fqidinc.. Ph^h* l¥tttofi^ the teic- Phdnt opcriator; : .Is ' eourting the westerner. Of eoUrie.' she . gets her man and. slnct ho came to New York to find a wife, he is even on the trip despite his expi'rienct's and despite his repeated statement that he doesn't prefer blon<li>s. \ivionno Osborne is the fjirl at the switchboard, a goldin-lined transformation toanie<l with her blue eyes. James Bell Is the west- ern party, who is proud of his ranch and bl» Indian forebears, lieil plays the part lightly, probably^ I ecte4 on the thtcwy t'hat the play is ii temedy wlflii la itiurderi not a mystery piece.' AnyhoW, he doesn't tote a lO-galkm hat. Tala Birell Is the Itussinn lass. Producers were vexed when casting th« part, one sek'ctiiin l)eijig rejected by lOquity bcoauso an alien. Miss IJirell is Muito a looker. Other parts, In- cluding_gue8ts. , uneyfrta^n^d con- SpirifCors and hottr«^|llD^^ make a ;slse,ab|e c«st» ■:; nay s " ' iHft ;9ntm^ divtiistt^^ut RECRUIT| Uniittt're of light comedy ahd murw der mystery does not mix so well. Show's chances, are distinctly slim. '■ K:<iW>^Htm< '} into a coniedy is iht I4ea« 8^ in- si.<!t the play is hot melodrama; yet mystery could not be kept out, nor a modicum of suspense. If the ob- jective w.as laughter, 'Order I'lea.se' fell short, leaving as tlie residue a murder play too l)litliely enacted t<) be more than mild diver.slon. Time is between 8:30 p.m. and midnight, scened mostly within the inadequate lobby of a Kew York hotel and a romW upstall!% Too many people in tVthln* i^tiw ilt In af>4 out of th* hotel to milttt the set stem right. Teiephonlst-i^therc Is but one—is spotted prominently In the lobby, perhaps lending the impression tlmt the Hotel Diplomat is quite an intimate" hostelry. But the happcning.s do not con- form. Guy reputed to be a stocjc broker Is bumped off In a suite without anyone hearing the .shot. But the body is discovered by a westerner, j^n unlocked door in his jpoMK leading to the suitti flotel nhiah^ger fails to And' tb# 6«>dy. but Virhen FozhaU Btdgtway; the fellow fpoih the cow country, opens his trunk shortly afterward, the victim tumbles out Of «M» 4llttlltk^^/t^ partment. Counter-plot Is the missing brace- let of Miss Brou.ssIlotT, Hu.ssian gentlewoman, lost when she visited the broker 111 hit* suite under com- pulsion, As the bracelet wAs an hAirloom, a gift from her ttancee, she must recover it to eSicapi scan- dal. ; RI4ffeway flhds iht bauble in tht ditad. tuiii's pocket. Mystier'tou h ■ (YIDDISH) .GoKiMr la tbro« arts a,nd nine scanea by T». Resnick; presented by the Art eft Oroup nt the Arteff, N. Y., Oct. 12; «t iRed by IJemio Schni'lder; seta M. .SoIoturufT. f.ast:—S. Lovin, M. Friedman, L. Freh- Ilch., a.. KrstMlMiiar. A. Cotien, n. Lei- rhttk. O,- SchHWSkr, Oh. Shplner. J. I.K»vpn- sfein, .9. Anisfold, O. Russler. II. Hender. \X. KisenlierB. S. Elaikofr. I\ Piro. I>. Uymer. M. Sclineidermaci. M. Goldstein, l>. llolti, A. H.uwila, M. Kir.sih, .S. Kul- man. N. Gwtrtxtnan. I. Voiichansky. H. Koaon^ J. ja^rogla. A^ Hlmhbaln. A. Sh*p»r», C. JWaiiM^ C. mrity tiiet k ' while A 'Tliiaish' group decides to brave Broadway. Never yet have .they been success- ful and- it's Ukely that this attempf, too, will go down the wrong way. Ifa an honest tflort at better things in theatre and dtawrvM a itentit jwt on the head. WlMlt^ mior^ get is a sock. Arteff Group. Which presents the play as the flrst of a proposed .series, in a semi-professional, semi- communistic outfit. Organized about six years now, but this is the lirst time they've spreading their wings. Former President theatre on 48th street has been transforjned 1t«r the Arteff Theatre for the pti|>post''and a %l top scale been Installtd; Otnly 299 seats in tht littlt liousi And. although cast tt tltira ditapb hard to uAdtrst4B4 bow thtati^ «Mi set enough oom t« CO tht rounds. 'Becrults* Is a play of life in the old days In Russia. Czar Nicholas in 1827 Issues a ukaso impressing .lews into military service. They don't like it and a villainous rabbi promises to help them by outlawing the uk.Tse. He victimizes Nachman, the one rebel soul in the village and the play ends without any real solving of the problem at hand. It's well enough written and played and serves mora than a hythju as an interesting display ot 4^1^ portrayals Of An MRtilent ctata^ " Settings ara tioeptionally In terestlng. -Showliig a modernlafic trend with plenty of imagination, s. Levin and S. Na^BShtntl^ stand out ;Jin,a l?irge cast.;^:V.-''V ■K"«UA ., lory; directed^ ActatSfr Donaldson, at the lYovinoetoWn -najrlKMSl*, K. Y.. Oct. fl. I telen MornlnS................ Hetty Worth /«M M«rnimr .M.Ty cioraij .ia«on Morninr.,., Ri. hard RocRner AnnBhel ,,;.vMary Strachan I'.rie iiormofl. „^,^', ,,;.,. v.^FifanU Hows(m Janet .aforalns,«. .y* i;,. wmtSH'rita Walitar rani z^orae....,.,vi,. .-Ilioiiipg AatMony It see7t»6 that the green stick is a .stick which bends almost AH the way a^pttttd but last doeisn^t break. The play which uses that as It's title-cluo doesn't break, either. Jn fact, nothing breaks, but'.tM Audi- ence's patience. This is one about grim New Eng- land life. The home of a sea cap- tain, who was, oh, so cruel. He's (lead and burled, but ho left a will—- a cruel, cruel, will. His widow talk« abf)ut CSod and acts like a devil. His son is a cripple who prates about poetry. And from this point on it becomes aU 'ttiPr b«4hg ,Aild: tire- some. The author plays otic of the p.arts himself. He acts about as well as he writes plays, and his fellow ac- tors in this production, aren't much SAV DIEGO NEW PLAYS ■ San Diego, Oct 1 :'Play'i^^:0«IM, stock a4-;tii't.''8a' will try out 'Hollyw<>6d Bt !: Thy Name,' new play by liiifyr*>n C. li'agan, early this fall. Other new plays contemplated are •r.ra.xs Wings,' hr-l^i^ihti^ M'^litff and ,''Oa<,DlV' ' ';l#>#r9tA«s«. I» aii i i' i n ' tf.- A.i"a. ,•.. A|>ptlcati6n to the Surrogate of New York by the referee of the eatutt of Joo Ix'blang, to keep the assets intai t as protection t'* all Inter.-si. l parties until a mora favorable realty muiket arises, disclosed that th<» Leblang esiate tihrain|c t<» |2.0tif jll :|l>tiBi|,iiC of the late ticket man's demise. Assets at this time Ai'e |I,223.S36 le^<» than the llablMtles. Bulk of the liabilltios are Contingent on the vluints. against the estate arising from the liquidation [of the AilW:iril^^ Bank, in which Leblang was heavily interettti^ : ' t«blahg'S'>ait'ctuuit' at' '42nd'An4'-~ Broadway, shortly before the market decline, also accounts for the pres- ent condition of the estate. He invested 11,000,000 In cash to aecurA title to this property which adjoins the I'Mtzgerald Building. Instate stilt has title to the two propisrtlta which occupy the entire etstc^rii slde^^^^ '%feit:"Broadway block, betWi8«i'^*#fwi:;aW iiM str^^rts.-': Application sanctions the payment of $30,000 annually out of the blang ticket agency to the widow, Tillle J^eblang Jasie, executrix of tht. estate, also $7,500 yearly from the Sheridan theatre which the esttfit owns for the tnoft part. The Sheridan, on Seventh ikVenut li^; Qreeti* wirh ytlli^ge, is the most profltabie enterprtmi 'of the^^t^^^ holdtn'gH, Referee's report holds that 'forced liquidation of the estate at thl* time would bri ng net pr oceeds Insutllclent to meet creditors' claims and woufantptCt "Tiimm ■ im^mv9>ut^t • v?:: ^^M^r^^'-^-'-i^r-^ Congregations In many Catholic churches in Now- York had 'The Fir-tt~ I.<egK>n'. 46th Street theatre, recommended from the pulpit.s. In addi- tion letters lauding the pUyWe^,fenV °' tbat faith and 'pc»sted bn'-the bunetln.'bbAi^i.''' 'vV--.-^^^^ ■'■.^■■ ''^"'•■•''■,:.;'.' -^ Attendance improved last week, takings considerably bettering tli« lijrst week, not counting the strong flrst night gate. Pace of $4,000. how evtri is About iMdf to break even. ' •LeKloh* was given'nbtlfce\ tdv,in«ift';fci;,^^ on- business this week. ^ . 'i^':'-'^ y 'Legion', pr<.sented by Rcrt I.ytell .and l^hil Green, represents a pi )-': ductlon nut,of $2O,Q0O. 'Dance With Your tSpds' and 'Hrldal Quilf, whi.-h qutjcktyr^lfled,' •«ehArttn»»*'*bo»t;,tl*',,i4l^ Alexander WooUcott is 60 pounds lighter after a summer of reduiin.; under hoiPHal cart. IVlth the change In appoaranee xhis 8ingle*brea;ste4 suits art now (Souble-breasted) has gone an alterattoti of persoiiaitity. His intimates and business assoelates are astonished at his zestfui adver-. tising, self-written, on behalf of his sponsor. Cream of Wheat. He t< ll* his radio audience that he grew up on the porridge, reaching his robust state dt healih on this diet. When Woolldott, still full of the Algon<)Uta .spirit, first went on the air three yeatt affOb lie w%». reported as aomt« . thing of a problem to his sponsors. - T.uclenne Boyer costs Harold B. Franklin and Areh Selwyn.only:v^.9!iMy. a week, although she collects $5,100 in salaries. • ■V '!', . French dlstUSt It payrolled at $2,600. including Jean Delettrt. her planlst-'compostC thd htr own vlolin-conductor. at the 'Continenttil Varieties.' ftgit, at tht iLltttt. N; T. She doul^les into the Itainbdw R»*om, the Rockefeller nlte club In Radio City, at $2,500 a week, of which | Frankwyn Productions (Franklin and Selwyn) collect $1,000, thus »)ring- ing their |2,800 payroll item In the revue down to $1,600. With t|»»Ai!ldiul^ $4,;W tbe aa;^j;y^emao^^ jumped.'■■"''■''■'■'''"■• :■' '■■■ >■'■"'■' - '■';'■;■(•' ]-'-'-y' ' * ""' ''""■■■"'■'' ' ■' ■ 'Follies,' whloh oonipletei a tWAttii another two weeks. wUl probably go tt tbe bbast. Extehstofi oiT t^^ roa4 dates is dependent on the business in other midwestcrn towns. Show Is definitely booked for 10 weeka following the Loop run and a tour. t;>klng the show Into ii statta, Is penellled. Revue's Chloago groasta haVt bttn towsltttntly ,he>ayy, ^^en^ tigures wera underestlnoAttd, ttitioinr attragint ortif l^^flr^ ttpptnc |S7^r At UM i FiihM tbiurlng attraction to play St. Louis' new Municipal AuJitoriutti win bt tbt 'FoUitt', booktd tht Wtek of N^v, 4, Sh^>w,men:, Wbo Ipoked the' house "over 'rtp6rt ii tit tht last trerd lA-*«tlll|«»«Miit;,V\f Capacity is 3.600 which permits ticket (i|fi$b^||[^^^ 4^^^ Auditorium has 29 rows on the lower floor. ■ Helen Hayes* Aft; Attm^ to be mtntloned more often on the air .thait that of any other woman stage or screen player of comparable Last week—Wednesday to be exact—it bobbed up again. One of the statlont which noted |ier birthday, for the benefit of listeners, wJ^s WC V,: ,im',iitt::h*«4i#«iiirl^^ PhjfS Q* AMERICA SINGS on; Oct It. A musical romance In two acts and l.') scenea; score adapted from the KonRS of the lata fiteplfen Fottter by Karl liajos; Irrles >r JVjatsr an* auSiMnUd^r Ar- thur Swanatmtn; book by Kay Kenney; fpettint;s by Wat.son Rarratt; ensembles and dances by Sura Mildred Straii«H; di- rected and supervised by J. J. Shubert. First porr<>mianr« 4M Say StSfS SC Shubcrt, Oct. 9. '■■■',, cast: AUa« Jonaa. iiUrjoHf I341K.,.llo^ ert Kmmett Kisane, Jutaa BisdSoe, Kctn- tyre and Heath. I.ee Sims and Ibmiay llailoy, I'aul ilaak m, I.ynn Kendall, ller- Insrt Corthell. UcorKs rembroke, Clyde Kelly, Georire Scblller, CSineron York, Patsy I>o«d, Muriel Hutchinson, Kliza- lietb Crandall. Kred Sherman, Tlud Wil- Itanisqa. Dean Rotherford nnd William UMjnf. .. Halt; Johnaoa atngara art lea During rehearsals the Shuborts li;id vague hopes that they might be lialching another 'lUo.ssom Time," liut a[i).-r the opening night it be- came apparent tllAI jUtt.'1M<&k ls al- most hopeless. The story is based on the life of .Steiihen Foster and his immortal .songs. In addition to 'Old I'olks at Home.' '.Suwahec River,' 'Old Black Joe,' 'My Old Kentucky Home,' 'Oh, .Su.sanna' and 'Massa's In, de Cold, Cold Urt>und.' it was tound that l;i*aslec had written iS3 otbtl^.AQMt dnd tweivt Instrumehtat "iitittilMFA niotUy't|t^.ffwnt< SHM tfTerlng aii^st 'jiilUfhltttf vtiii^ for ntDdi«rH ari^nt<^metlt8: m^d adaptatiohs fn tht hands tf RmI HAJos and Arthur awanstrbm. The Shuberts shot the works, opening the show with over a hun- dred singers In the cast And a heavy f^fintic and wistttm*^^^ w But ink book stuck to Foster's life wiili ..,tirU •' ' ■ lldelity that it was as drul> an<l uii- ■ ■ interesting as Foster's career icall/ .i - was^ ^i^rch gave the poor lil . > l- k . tlst mt^iy the fact that Ani'r.c I's groat composer of the Civil War days had a wife and clUld'who w^'ve ncgleo|e4 and. deserted whUt- Ut^^^^^^^^^^^ peddled his sohgs for a feW ;#a*lart*i*£ each avttt|i4 flttsburgh and New York tmlvMied A bit with other women.-'>Th^n.^t 4led/■'■ ' ■. The most feblorfui scirhds: of 'America Sings' are .a minstrel en- . • sehible, a garden llnule showing , two side-whceler steamers going up. the Alleghany River in the moon- - light, and an old-titne v.uiety jx r- forinance at Xiblo's Ciardens. Tins ' . last ^ceno could easily l)e ilcvelopfj with more old v.iriety routines into . . a high spot of the entire production with plenty of comedy and spied. As the show now stands, ^s^^•pllt•ll l'V)Ster dies of jierniciotis ati;i(Mni-i, or a broken lit.irt, or sonu thmg, at the llnal curtain, with the audicnca ?\ . looking at his corpse while nfl- ; ' . stage llie colored Chwrtls wings hn'. soul slowly skyward. It lake.-f i\vi» minutes in w}tlcK Foster and th* entire production develbiis vhat the cbron«!r woiild cfliil jsiguir mbrtM With a hew bbbk the pt^uctiou itas posstbiiiiies.^ AUtn 4bnes. Juie* Uledsot. llomay ^^ty,'; JdlarJ<»ri<5 mitt and Paul Kaakbh Art carrying Ihb thoiRf, iind Melntyrt And tlentb ftt' tht royal welcome that tw«» Stte|i grand old troupers deserve. ' Tht balance of the cast morelv <lrig tht book around on their b icks, m l > a heavy load It H. . Optning night the show r an l<-»n>r . ■■.,,,,'„;'iCtatlnutd ''OA .|»(Nit.. -57 y