Variety (Aug 1935)

1935 Summer Theatres (NEW PLAYS) WHITE HELL (RIDGEWAY THEATRE) White Plains, Aug. 13. Drama In three acta and .three scenes by John Lancer. Produced by Frank McCoy, staged by Cheryl Crawford at the Bldge- way theatre. White Plalna. N. T., Aug. 12, -36. Allan Bruce MacFarlane Tommy .....Charles Katon Swede., Frank Tweddell Ace...". orace MtcMahon Sparks John Gallaudet John Roman Bohmen Clark Edward Woods As the season wanes the quality of thh plays presented In the Bum- mer theatres up Westchester way Is Improving. 'White Hell' Is sure- ly headed for Broadway. It has all that could be expected of a play. Its drama appeals to many emo- tions. It Is well conceived and ex- pertly constructed. The dialog is a little blue at times, In fact there Is profanity beaucoup, biif this adds to the authenticity of the piece for, with seven male survivors of a wrecked dirigible on an antarctic plateau huddled together In a hut, talk Is nicely to be rough. That's where the whole action of the play takes place, In a shelter made from the wreck of the balloon. This one set was a tribute to (Mlas) Cheryl Crawford's artistic ability and'she .rates a bow. The first act, largely comedy, ends with a decision. Inspired by John, to leave the shelter on a 600 mile hike to a frontier post. John was an old hand at the polar exploration racket and saw signs of a tough eight months of long-, winter night. As they are •about to start away a girder falls on Toinmy and injuries his leg so badly It has to be amputated by Clark, doctor of the expedition. .Ace and Swede then volunteer to go out for help, but later are found frozen In a crevasse a. mile from camp. In the..second act the lark stage has endei3, the .men are becoming fretful. Bickering arid quarrelling begin, ^he -doctor confesses he Is a hophead and has used the opiate that should have been employed to •C^ase Tommy's pain. Gangrene at- tacks the wounded man and the do.cto" poisons the patient and him-- eeif. During the play Allan has been regaling the boys with stprles of his conquests ot the femmes, dilat- ing frequently upon one certain frill aa the queen of the flock. It turns out that this was the wife of SparkB although the men had -never, met until they Joined tlje polar party. Vhey . decide to . fight it out and to prevent John from Interfering he is chained to an Iron ladder. Both men have guns but agree to lay them down and make it a man-to- man battle. Allan double-crosses Sparks and ahoots him In cold blood.. Mortally wounded. Sparks manages'to plug Allan and l)oth die. The flnal curtain leaves John Chained tp the ladder raving over his faith in an eventual rescue., .The entire cast was most capable. The part of Allan couTd not have been more sultajble If especially, written for MacFarland. While his was the stellar role he did not take all the honors for •commendation Is due every, member of the cast. Craivford. jjlace in an afternoon and evening. However, detail covering a period of 30 years Is supplied in a couple of sollloquya by Cora, mother of the boy. Acted out as a prolog, those disclosures would likely sound bet- ter. . Since the curtain is up little more than an hour as the play is now presented, there is plenty of oppor- tunity for revision and elaboration. It's given in one set, the Col.'s living room. The cast, all white, many unsulted to their parts. Hurat Amyx satisfying as Bert. Miss Sears had the wordiest character to handle. With some major sur- gery 'Mulatto' can be shaped into a worth-while play. Crawford. AT MARIAN'S (CASINO, NEWPORT) Newport, R. I„ Aug. 10. Comedy In three acts by Laurette Taylor. Presented at the Newport Casino theatre, Newport, R. I., by the Actor-Managers, Marian Thomas Laurette -raylor Mrs Webatcr. Lillian Brennard Tijngc Father MortntI Rene Roberll Doctor. Davis Ryder Kcane Profe.'Bor Miller Edward Lester Ben Sutton William Whitehead Elsie Sutton llzabeth Dean Farrar Charles Mason John Meredlth- Rlcardo Sperelll Loula Tanno MULATTO (WASHINGTON THEATRE) Dobbs Ferry, N. Y., Aug. 10. Drama In threo nets and throe scenes b.\ LanK<)ton Hughes. Produced and directed oy Martin Jone.s at the Washington theatre, Dobbs Ferry. N. Y., Aug. 7, '35. Col. Norwood Stuart Bocbe Cora Len'ls Lucille Sears- William Lewis ..Donald Morrison Sally Lewis Patricia Mnlllnson Ilobort Lewis Hurst Amyx Fre.l HIgglns Jack Williams Lovlnlii Margaret Drew Billy Lewis , Stratford Leo Moses , George BaKoure Talbot Raymond Bliss Underiaker Patrick Hftllaran Stoiekeeper Clark Poth Rewriting the play She presented for the first time last year, Laurette Taylor operied the Newport Theatre^ Playhouse season last Tuesday (6) night with a well received comedy. Play had formerly been presented at the Ogunqult and at the time was indifferently received. Since then Miss Taylor has rewritten the plot In a lighter vein. Miss Taylor's opening act still has' a tendency to overload the dia- log. As it unfolds, however, the t)urden becomes lighter and sudden flashes of humor, in the third act, and a trick ending Justify its billing as a comedy. Lines penned by Miss Taylor suit her well. Essentially the plot dif- fers little from the original script. Both deal with ,the curative value of the catharsisi of confession and the method which conquers buga- boos by . staring them out of counte- nance. The role Miss Taylor enacts gives full play to her flne sense of light comedy, though her portrayal missed no opportunity for flne emo- tional acting. Other members of the cast seamed worthy, of the task assigned to'them. Newporters took kindly to the offers Ing and accorded Miss Taylor salvps. THY PEOPLE (RED BARN THEATRE) ' tiocust "Valley, L. I., Aug. 13. Drama In threo acts by Ernesta Beaux. Produced and staged by Louis M. Simon. Settings by John Root. At Red Darn The- atre, Locust Valley, L. I., Aug. 11!, MS. Kate Rowland Edith King Arthur Rowland Mitchell Harris Phyllis Rowland Lillian Emenon Bradley Rowland Allan Hale Isaac Noumrn Eduardo Clannclll Ella Neuman -.Ann Derc Margaret Neuman Rose Lerner Angela Deering Ann Mauclnir Steward Claus FoUelt David Neuman Robert Wallstcn Morris Neuman Harold Jnhnsrud Gertrude Blumbcrg Juliana Taberna Jake Blumberg Philip Van Zandt understand. Louis Simon, who Is both producer and director on .this one has done creditable Job with the direction and John Root's settings are particularly handsome*-. Play is heavy and' solid, but only intermittently exciting and author has hot been particularly adept at handling transitions of mood. Its chances on Broadway are pretty doubtful since mild treatment o^ subject will not arouse much inter- est, „ I ALL BOW DOWN (CAPE PLAYHOUSE) Dennis, Mass., Aug. 9. Play In three acta by l.oonora kagban and Anita Phillips. Produced by Raymond Moore by arrangement with John Golden. Staged by Arthur Slrcom. Settings by Eu- gene Fitch. At the Capo Playhouse, Den- nis, Mass., Aug. 6, lOSS. Janet Faber Mary Philips Mark Faber.....' Roland Toung Ben Forster Richard Stevenson Isabel Cobb'....Cora Withei'spoon Wally Cobb Forrest Orr Martha MoCIure..Haiicey Oastle Larry Evans Donald Foster Leo Krueger Robert Burton QeofTrey Smvthe.'...'. Wheeler Dryden Tommy Kimball William Post, Jr. Burton..... William Postanco A Prince ....Kenneth Treseder Lord Faversham r-...Albert Tnrbell Mr. Montague-Banks ,.acorga Spelvin Along the Maine Coast By 0. li. Samuel 'Mulatto' is a variant from the usual type of play shown In the 'Westchester .summer theatres this season. Most of them trended toward. comedy or alleged comSdy. This one is all tragedy, Xhe story is tliere, and there la a good play -in it; in fact, as now crudely designed it is not without interest, but the lack of proper construction may be explained by the statement that it Is a first piny by Langston IJughes, Negro author, heretofore known chiefly for his poetry. However, there Is no poesy in 'Mulatto.' It Is a grimly told tale in 'lan- guage pungent to the point of sen- sationalism. It is plentifully sup- plied with genuinely picturesque profanity and contains many words still tabooed. Col. Norwood, plantation owner, has for his mistress his Negress servant. Several children are born. All save one, Robert, when they reach suitable age (the time of . the play Is the pi-esent) marry within thelp'race and start share cropping ^'on the Colonel's place. Refusing to 'keep his place,' or else, this anpers the Col,, etc. The whole action of the play takes This is an honest and sincerely written story of racial prejudice and racial differences. Author without attempting to take sides, shows the dlftlculties besetting a Jewish boy and a Gentile girl in love and want Ing to marry. The theme has been handled intelligently, but scenes are ovorlong and much of the writing Is dull. Plot Involves David Neuman, tal cnted musician and son of a rich Jewish broker; He falls In love with Phyllis Rowland, daughter of Phil- adelphia society family and at a parly at her house announces their engagement. Her family is shocked and treat the boy so badly that daughter rushes to his defense and leaves home with him. The boy's family is equally disapproving, but they try to. make the girl feel wcl come when she comes to visit. Sub- tly they point out Just what her life with David will be like and girl finds she cannot face the prospect Their love Is not strong enough to overcome the essential differences of race and creed. Robert Wallsten, until recently in the bast of 'The Old "Maid' gives o sensitive, understanding perform ance as Pavld, Lillian Emerson, society girl who made her Broad- way bow last season in "Say When," la okay ns Phyllis. A rounded and nicel.v sh.T(led characerlzation Is contributed by Eduardo Clannelll as the Jewish banker and Ann Dore Harold Johnsrud and Rose 'Lerner register as the other members of the boy's family. Edith King plays the girl's mother and Mitchell Harris Is seen as her father. Ann Mauclair falls to register in an important role since she Is almost impossible to John Golden seems to have one of the better bets in this one. If cer- tain Important failings can be straightened out before Its Broad- wuv debut. It's a racy comedy cen- tering around the higa-Jinks of noted theatrical producer, whoso tdontlty.Is not hard to guess. Pla.v nioves swiftly and laughs are fre-' qiient though sometimes forced. Authors^ Leonora Kaghan and Anita PhUlips (J«d Harris' ex-wlfe), are newcomers to the theatre and reveal excellent sense! of dialog^ though plcittlng Is frequently weak. Story suffers from repetition' and character of the Wife is written eri-: tirely too much in. one key. to be ef^.; fective. . I . .., Story centers around Mark Fa-i- ber, theatrical producer, self-a,d-i; knitted genius, -temperamciital,'' vei-, cillating, selfish- aftd cruel.- iFieber's wife, Janet, humors hirri because she loves him; but even. she can't put up with hl3 Xantruma forever. On the - boat bQund for England where Faber's 'hit, 'Hurricane,' is. about to Open, fie" se'duce's' t'he Iri-^' gertue, who Is engaged to his wife's brother. Wife learns the story when she lands >ji London, with the rest of the coinp'any, and tells him she is through, faber a^i a, gesture to-prove to Janet that, he •■Ibves) her and will do thing for het, an- nounces that 'Hurricane' is not opening .and that he., is leaving, the. thefetre. Terrific excitement enr sues since opening'night is sold out and the Royal Box. is to be "oc,-: cupied. "Faber Is 'firm up to- the last minute Ini spite -of pleas of his wife and the company,' until a Royal visitor Informs him that the King doesn't like American plays and will welcome the opportunity for a quiet evening at home. Then Fa- ber does an abrupt about-face, de- claring that the King will see this American play and like It. Wife gives up attempt to leave him and stands by. Roland 'young Is miscast as Fa ber. His quiet, gentlemanly ap pearance and his syn^pathetlc han- dling of scenes robs' the character of much of.its force and so throws the play out of balance. Mary Philips gives a clear-cut, humorous performance as the long-suffering wife, and Cora Wltherspoon fur- nishes many of the laughs aS a flighty snob. The two young lovers are nicely handled by Hancey Cas- tle and William Post, Jr., and Don- ald Foster is effective as a news-, paperman In loye with the wife. Arthur Slrcom's direction is inven- tive and fast-paced and Eugene Fitch has designed an attractive series of settings. As it stands play needs clarifica- tion and -tightening. Exposition In the early portions Is badly handled and several of the characters fall to identify themselves until the third act. Nevertheless this one has stuff in the way of characters antl laughs and, although it is by no means sure-fire, it should have an even chance on Broadway. going to realize her fondest dreams, opera stardom, For five years she has been tak- ing vocal lessons from the local teacher. Prof. Carmonl, and when his old friend, Madame Pellerlna, and her retinue arrive In Little Falls on a one-night stand, he arranges an audition for his pupil. She comes through admirably, Pellerlna and lier Impresario, Mr, Arnhelm, arrange for lier further development In New York and her eventual re- placement of the madame In the opera. Tagged the great American star, Mary Alice Smith, by Larry, the press agent, the appellation 'Mr. Smith' hung on her husband; natu- rally crowded Into the background. Magda Miller of the Juillard School, aa Mary Alice, with Inci- dental songs allowing her ample op- portunity to use her glorious voice, and Mary MellisK of the Met. Opera Co., as Madame Pellerlna, were su- perb. So was Alfredo Gandolfl, also of the Met., as Prof. Carmonl, al- though he seemed less, sure of him- self than the other two names. Bobby and Billy Mauch of the NBC artists staff, were outstanding as the twins, Tom and Jerry. A role that easily could have been the hit of the show was that enacted by Walter -Scanlan, ..Arnhelm, the Im- presario. As , It was, however, he was Ineffectual and never made the most of his opportunities, which was probably due to the lack of proper material. Jack Talbot as Alan Pren- tiss (Mr. Smith) played his part for all It was worth and was more than equal to' the demands of the role. Ted Fetter, as the press agent, did well.-with what he had. The'script can stand plenty of re- vi.sion. There are no unuisual sit- uations, no'- sparkling dialog- which one would-- associate with the facile Raymond Knight, In fact, hot much of anything diverging from the .tried and true formula of plays In this category with 'the exception, per- haps, that the question o* divorce, most usual in situations of this kind In the present day, doesn't enter at all. Bartholomew. Ogunqult, Aug.- 13.-- MR. SMITH (BUC>^ HILL FALLS) Stroudsburg, Pa., Aug. 10. Comedy-drama with Incidental music. In Ihreo acts and llvo scenes, by Raymond Knight. Presented by the Buck Hill Play- ers ot Buck Hill Falls, Pa.; directed by Cornelia Stabler lUam, assisted by Estellc Balrd. Alan Jock Talbot Tom , Bobby Mauch .Terry Billy Mauch Mnry Alice Magda Miller Luc'lle Curtis -....Nell O'Day Professor Carmonl Alfredo Oondulil Martnmo Pellerlna Mary Mqlllsh Miss Hllllord Kay Layton Mr. Arnhelm Walter Scanlan Larrv , Ted Fetter VIrcil - James Tracy Victor Harry Ackcrman Mfv". Prentiss ..Sally Thomo.mn Mrs. Smith Cornelia Glllam Harry Rogers George Linton This Is an Innocent, at times amusing delineation of the vicissi- tudes in the lives of the Prentiss family. After 11 years of struggling to keep the family together, it sud- denly appears that Miiry Alice Is BLUE BANDITS (TWIN CITY OPERA ASSN.) MIrmeapolia, Aug. 11.' Authored and compoaed by John T. McDonough, this musical comedy had its premiere at the hands of the Twin'City Civic Opera Association ii\the open-air theatre on the shore of a large lake, a public park. Inside the city limits. It Is the seventh offering of the eight-week season. Casts for these operas are entirely recruited In Twin Cities and usually include, among the principals, sev- eral with professional experience. A 32-piec8 orchestra consists mostly of Minneapolis Symphony members. Theatre, enclosed by canvas on two sides, with the lake on one side and the stage in front, aeata 1,600. A sound system is employed with speakers at advantageous spots. Each show runs six nights, a per- formance being given every evening except Monday. Scale is 60c, 75c and $1, Nut of $2,000 to $3,00.0 weekly goes in large part for pro- duction and to union musicians and stage hands. Choristers work for 'glory' or fun of it, and principals are only compensated modestly. Business considered 'pretty good' up to past two weeks, 'Leila Wala' and 'Blue Bandits' falling down at b.o. Unseasonably cold weather and many rainy nights hurt in early part of season. Harold Falk, local realtor and music lover, bankrolls the venture as a civic enterprise and without hope of profit, the park board donating the property's use without cost. Despite fact he is several grand in the red on opera- tions, Falk is not discouraged and announces there'll be another season nt-xt summer with 'bigger and bet- ter opera.' 'Blue Bandits' is laid on the vil- lage square of a small French town on Bastille Day. Its thin and famil- iar plot concerns a pair of comedy YanU-ee youths who become Involved with some bandits while touring the neighborhood. They are ml.staken for the bandits, but wind up by capturing the bad men, collecting a healthy reward and winplng the hearts of the pretty girl leads. Wheeler and Woolsoy probably would find the comedy lends con- KPnial If the opry Lands In the films, where its local sponsors hope to place it. Alwin Hoffman and Alan tliinirlckhouse, playing the parts here, however, arc not so successful In hitting the lau.'^hter target. Best performance ^by fnr Is turned In by Dorothy' Welch, pint-al7e singing comedienne who has appeared witii the B.alnbrldge company hero on many occasions. She Is a lively and vlvnclou.i vlll.t.iie belle. Other mem- bers of the large cast sing better Cornelia Otis Skinner, played tha Town Hall at Kennebunk to capac'< ity Friday evening. About $l,5o6 In. the house. Not bad for a solo troupe sans music, stagehands, scener/. Booth Tarklngton is the summer squire of Kennebunkport, nearby, and there Is an affinity be- tween the Tarklngton and Skinner families. Tarklngton furnished the stuff that keeps the Illustrious Otis Sltlhner, father of the lustrous Cor- nelia, clipping coupons today. Jimmy Hodges and musical tour- ing the Mainerles and his gals have the visitors and natives using those long sea binoculars for a close-up. Featured Is 'Nina,' a bubble dancer. Jimmy sez she gets more fan mail than the fan dancers. Along the boardwalk leading to the bathing beach at Ogunqult a cleaner has a sign reading; 'Suits Pressed While You Swim.' Ballets Big Ruth St. Denis did nicely at the* small Studio theatre in Ogunqult Saturday. Walter Hartwlg, Who operates the playhotise also, directs. Studio Is a converted barn, splash of red here, drapes there, etc. Hart-' wig has offered ou successive Sat- urdays,- Yale Puppetteers, John Mulholland, Edwin Strawbrldge and Lisa Parnova, and Miss St. Denis. Strawbrldge and Parno-va, look like a money attraction Fetr better' dancers on the Amerlcaii theatric landscape. Kay Bros, circus turning them away all over Maine. Junt a Mreu's smallie, but hitting- at li.v I'lfht time. Circus has Buck Steele In person. Old Orchard Pier at Old Orchard Beach has old-timers' night Tues- days. They ought to bring up Dave Genaro from his stance at 4Gth and Bway to do his Cakewalk. Film houses playing pix same week as N. Y. and Boston. Mgrs. have convinced exchanges they must have films same time or be- fore the big towns as their biz comes mainly from visitors and you c4n't sell 'em the 'oldies' they've al- ready glimpsed. 'Banit Night' Idea used up here Wednesdays same old business getter and perfect for-one house towns. Garrick Players at Kennebunk doing 'The Merry Monarch' this wcelc, but' no one seems to care. The chairs In the orchestra all miss 'em. Personnel of the Manhattan Rep- ertory Co, at the Ogunqult play- house Includes Alexandra Cariislo. Libby Holman, Mltzi Green, Frank Roberts, Molly Pearson. J. Her- bert, Ernlta Lascelles, -Daisy Ather- ton, Howard Phillips, Joseph Cur- tin. J. Malcolm Dunn, 'Violet Bes- son, Lygla Bei-nard, Cecil Wulff, David Orrick, Lydlp, Fuller, Carl Reed and Sam Pearce. Alabama Aces at Island Ledge Casino, Wells Beach and Joe Mar- tin's Ore at Old Orchard. Alexandra Carlisle giving poem and drama readings at the Hartwlg home in Ogunqult. She calls them 'Journeys in Arcady.' Public is In- vited. Fifteen reading.^ for $15. One 'Journey' is $1.50. Quite arty. About 20 sitting In for the seances. Looks like neat coin for Alexandra. Playing through this territory Is .Tackie Merkle, a kldlet of seven, billed as a 'mental marvel.' That's making It tough for the 'sees all, knows air fellows' as old age creeps. Thomas W. Ross to be guest- starred at the Ogunquit Playhouse Aug. 19. 'Violet Homing bows in week Sept. 2 In 'Tomorrow We Live,' new play by Michael Sheri- dan. Week Aug. 26 cornttany does 'Gypsy,' by Maxwell Anderson. Jitney Players featuring Ethel Barrymore Colt, trekking hither and yon in' the old Dion Bouclcalt com- edy, 'Streets of New York.' proving once ai^ain that royal families some- times shy from royalty. than they act, and the large chorus Is well trained. Staging and cos- tuming are colorful and commend- able, but direction could have stood considerable improvement. The piece has several first-rato tunes. Its local performance left much to be desired. Theatre held about 400 customers Tuesday night, with another 100- taking in the show gratis from canoes and other boats in the lake. -Rcea.