Variety (Apr 1936)

Wednesday, April 22, 1936 LEGIfIMAIE 61 on what's to come. First two acts ■ajft.ropea^4-tn--pan£0 f as hion, w i th MACBETH Vbkto Theatre (Federal Theatre) presents ■JSJ by William Shakespeare In new 'SXton by Own Wejlea;.costumes and iSines by Mat Karson; lighting, freder; ta three acts (eight scenes); directed by vnUon Welles: musical arrangement. Virgil -J2J5mimjn« dances r . Clarejijca -Yateju yoodo.o SStTand dance r s. Asadata Dafora Hor- S??»asks, James Cochran; managing pro- -Sicer John. Houseman; at fcafayette, N. ▼ Aorll 1*. '30; 65c: top. 'jw. service Bell. Warden Saunders, jtanrice ElHs. Canada, tee. Jack Carter, Sink David, Thomas Anderson, Archie Slage, George Nixon, Kenneth Jtenwlck, ISSInce Chenault. Al Watts. Philandre S*omas. J* B. Johnson, J. Lewis JohnBon, T Srri LaurJa. Charles Collins. LlsW Orenr 'ffi Gabriel Brown, Halle Howard Wll- .35» Cumberbatch, Albert McCoy. George Somas, Viola Dean, Hilda French, Marie Toung. Edna Thomas, Alma DlckBon. Vir- ginia Girvln, Bertram Holmes, Wanda 'Srcv. Carl Crawford, Eric Burroughs, Wll- hemlna Williams,. Josephine Williams, Zola King, Abdul; 86 others In choruses. ence. • This Is the most ambitious prov 'ductlon of the WPA In New York to date. It Is billed as Shakespeare's •Macbeth'-^which it isn't. It is rather a Negro conception of 'Mac-; . beth.' There are a lot of faults to be found with it, some of them glar- ing, but it is. in spite of everything, a good show. If it were titled dif- ferently, and if some of the lanfeuage bad been brought up to date, there wouldn't have to be any quibbling In reviewing, it; it could, then, be quite simply and properly labeled a hit of first magnitude. As is, it should attract some attention but will be a disappointment in many quarters. : Before speaking of the play, the production end rates a distinct bow to Nat Karson who designed, and 'executed the sets and costumes. They are highly imaginative and a . league ahead.of anything of. the sort 'seen-to date, commercially,or other- wise. Whether or not the play will • get anywhere, Karson seems; to have vjet himself solid with this one. Whether the play In tptp is good or mot depends on the viewpoint. With, that title and billing there will be those who wander to the theatre . expecting to see a Shakespearean ■play. They will be disappointed. 'It Isn't even a good takeoff of the •' original. But, with very little work 'Itcould have been a splendid, cock -eyed Harlem version of it v ■ Orson Welles, young actqr, knows bis Shakespeare arid has done an interesting Version of the grim play bete. Perhaps he and his directors In the Negro Theatre WPA unit got •frightened a bit too early. They have moved the locale of the play • from Scotland to the East Indies, in order to make colored performers in the roles, acceptable. They haye changed some of. the basic notions, too, using. Voodoo jungle scenes In place of the witches' cauldron "biislr ness of the. original. That is, of necessity, an improvement-, because the wltch-and-magic business hasn't been acceptable on. a stage for some years now, if played exactly as writ ten. But here they lost courage. Hav- ing gone so far, they should have switched the language to fit. But didn't. Result is that the Negro players strut about the stage, in grandiloquent. Costumes mouthing < antiquated Elizabethan language which, quite obviously, they don't : even understand, themselves. Had they forgotten the. verse and fancy phraseology they would have really been doing something, with no squawks possible, even from the .dyed-in-the-wool Bardltes who couldn't then help accepting the , piece for what It is. • The acting, as usual in WPA pro- ductions, is spotty. Some of it is good, a lot of it bad, a goodly por- . . tlon of it just so-so. Jack Carter jn the" £ltTe"*role "seerrieS a bit too conscious of his handsome physique and a bit closer to. Emperor Jones than Macbeth, although the first . highters applauded his soliloquies long and ardently. Edna Thomas is somewhat nearer the mark as -."Lady Macbeth, being, as a matter of fact, the only • performer who could manage to get her language distinct enough for rip doubt of'its meaning. There are more than 100 in the cast and most of them are about as good as their speeches. In other words when Shakespeare's language gets too tony for them— and it frequently does—they're bad. When he comes down to earth, they're good. There's a court dance scene which stands out for direction, pace and color. The stagin as a matter of fact, throughout, is good. There's some fair-to-mlddling interpolated music by Virgil Thomson, who did ijuoh better work on the score of Pour Saints.' Fedcr's lighting is excellent. Kaiif. HOME IN GLORY Birmingham. April 17. pyffiphonlr drama .by Clyde Llmlmueh. f.p'.'y AuJIiorium, April 10-1.7, '30. t»Y 1 '. l,y iIay I'lttlejohn. Annie Mnrp.i- Fellv n m ' 110,0,1 Britain. Russnll Voal. „« .. "Mines, (Jcorge Jlalone and unsct-n °" stage chorus. „,.?^ s 13 the first Federal theatre »» l ojert in Alabama and one of the i£ m . the so »tlieast. Cast is mad* £P entirely of negroes, only one of /mrp r-\,.|. jm^ ,n^y thtro cvp""'- Author has written a few poems, Including one play which ran for 12 days in New York. Play itself may have a fair future. Especially would its future be more assured in the. north or east, where the. life of negroes of the south is. taken more seriously than down here. It attempts to portray the lifp of two rural negx-o families in Shelby County, Ala, Show opens with an off stage chorus of 16 voices. Voices sing two negro spirituals and then the curtain rises, showing the interior of a negro .farm home. Time is a spring morning. As the curtain rises a fat negro mammy (Lily May Littlejohn) is seated in the center of the stage by. a table peeling spudg. A few'min- utes- of this while Uie sings and chats, and in walks a well-dressed young girl' (Annie' Margaret Chis- plm) who has just come to the farm home from 'Bummih'ham.'. It de- velops that a doctor has sent her to help out with the farm work since the mammy is the only woman on the.-place. She Is weak-looking and decidedly citified, but with plenty of sex appeal for the two negro sons. To get the story rolling, Emma starts telling about the Vinsons over on the next farm. They are a no good sort and. make moonshine." It's plain to be seen from the: first act that the mammy, Emma, saves the show. She is the only One in the cast who shows the least 5 bit of a future in the professional -world, with the possible exception of Helen Brlttaln as Maggie Vinson. She has a good negro voice, and, while she is not convincing all the . way through, shows possibilities of being able to get somewhero in commercial show business.They say she was a washerwoman before she went to the WPA. Seems like there is something funny about this whole layout. Fed^ eral theatre project was originally started to give unemployed actors, musicians, and stagehands work. Yet here is a show that employs maybe a half dozen stage hartds and Dren- nen Smoot, the only legitimate show business name appearing on the program. All during the^show, cracks and compliments are made about the New Deal. Maybe that has some- thing to do with it. Plot rocks along through two acts and manages to progress very slow- ly. There's not much to the plot, and/ to hold interest, a little sex Wanders in. Conclusion reached, after the show is over, is Gracie . Allen's favorite line: 'Why?' Nothing was accomplished by putting on this show in the way of giving relief to unemployed actors. The WPA is planning to rent one' of the dark theatres here and put in a stock company using unemployed profes- sional talent. They should have done that last week instead, of grab- bing the bull by the horns. In reality, when this negro show: is over a few of the cast may get it-in their heads that they are actors and Will go to Harlem looking for work. Everyone in show business knows how cocky a bunch of amateurs can get with a little encouragement. BoVby. soldiers accoutred in milk white uniforms and going through the motions of hanky-in-the-sleeve cut:- ups. Muskets are adorned with pink ribbon bows and the feminine touch Is everywhere. It's a howl, but overdone. Woods will dp considerable trimming here, too. To heighten the effect, cheap perfume Is squirted into the audi- ence. WPA Continuance Beyond June; May Be Broken Dp Into a Number of State Units When play is resumed after the jury verdict usners pass though the house with pink programs. Miss Clutterbuck has retltled the piece 'Buttercups and Daisies/ Ensemble goes through several routines in the last act, but only for thp laughs. Music is not of the catchy variety but serves the pur- pose. From stark war drama the play winds up as a light and airy musical comedy. Three players, Pat leason, Michael O'Shea and Margo Duse, are standouts. As the tougn dough- boys and the dame who plays with their affections, the trio does the job up browm They should be can- didates for the New York produc- tion. Zena Bear as Miss Clutterbuck gives- k' good account of herself. Others are. adequate. Finale has around 50 on the stage. Laughlin's staging is commendable. 'Censored' is " the second Play, taken out of the Playhouse oy Woods. His 'Night of Jan. 16' died on the vine here until he took it in harid, had it rewritten and gave it some good, casting and. changed the. title from 'Woman On Trial.' Helm. No. 2 'Chalk Dust' Chicago, April; 21. 'Chalk Dust,' by Harold Clarke and Maxwell Nurnberg, will be the third play on the WPA list at the Great Northern. Operts on Tuesday (28), following the current 'Faust.': Play is now running In New York for the Experimental Theatre of the Federal Theatre Project. Old Timers Dusted Off For Coast Fed Theatres Los Angeles, April Mason Opera House, long dark, reopened (20) with a revival of 'The Octoroon,' a Federal theatre project Other oldtlme legits to follow at this house will include, 'Shenandoah,' 'The Black Crook/ 'The Texas Steer,' and 'Our American Cousin,' all projected for May and June Among other FTP plays current In town or slated for early presenta tlon are 'Six Characters In, Search of art Author,' 'The Bat,' 'Chalk Dust,' 'Laugh That Off-,* 'Plantation Days'. and- others. WPA UNIT CANCELS CCNY InsufBci iven BALTO WPA THEATRE BEING CONSIDERED Baltimore, April 21. Possibility looms that Maryland may get a WPA theatre after all. Speaking at the fourth annual roundup of . the Maryland, Confer- ence Of Dramatic Organizations (little theatres) held in Westmln ster, Md., over the weekend, Esther Porter, administrative as sistant of the WPA open forum In the Federal Theatre Project, Bald she thought the absence of a gov ernment theatre in Maryland was unfair, since the state kicks In coin to: support projects elsewhere. That thotlght has- been emphasized by many hereabouts recently, and has given rise to much growling. Miss Porter explained that the current ruling hOlds that for any locality to have a WPA theatre It must have had at least nine per sons on the relief rolls during No-; vember, '35, who had had profes Sional background. Last autumn Hallie Flannagan had the Maryland relief, rolls searched and only orte person was listed who had given show/business as his profession; he was a magician and Miss Flannagan said she couldn't found a Federal theatre project for his . benefit. Miss Porter ; said Miss Flannagan is now trying to have that rule for a minimum, of nine discarded, and if it Is, Maryland will get a WPA theatre. And so will many other states that now have hone. CENSORED Hollywood, April 18. Comedy drama In (our acts by Conrad Seller, staged, by Alvln . J^aughlln, Pre- sented by Federal Theatre Players at Playhouse, Hollywood, April 18. '3G; 76c. top. Red ; ..Pat Gleason Tubbs .Michael O'Shea Lieutenant Millard Houseman B1H ...Robert M«son M. Aubalne Perry Vekroff M. Simon ' Ixwls Delmont Gfulllame Kdwln O'Connor Llzette Marpro Duse Judpe Walter Kverstlne Prosecutor J". Paul Jtfnos rjerenno Attorney Tohn Merkyl Capt. SweetKood. Wirt Bui-nell Rev. Samuel. BIodKelt ltal-h Holland Clementina. Clutterbuck... ^on;r Rear •Btllle Folkstone Dolores Weir The Author .Tnrk Smart Clerk of Cniirt Slu:k P.lshop Jury Foreman..; Harry Madison W^PA's morality play 'Everyman,' which was due to be played before students and "faculty of the City College of N. Y., came a cropper and, after the audience was as- sembled, it was.announced that the performance would not be given. Ellis St. Johns of the relief outfit, numbering 30 players, stated there were not enough dressing rooms connected with the college's Great Hall to accommodate the cast. Although the WPA unit involved has about 50 people supposed to In- spect all spots booked, no report had been made in this case, John R. Turner, Dean, was quoted .as saying the affair was a 'mess,' also that he had received complaints concerning the conduct of some of the players. 'Bamy Unit Starts- HARTFORD DILEMMA Flood Damaged Theatre* So Much WPA Troupe Has No House Hartford, Conn., April 21. The WPA theatrical endeavors have been hard hit in Hartford by the recent flood, which did $20,000 worth of damage to the, State, the- atre, playhouse for the troupe. Present lessees of the theatre, Warner Brothers, are in a contro- versy with Harris Brothers, owners of the building, relative to who will pay for the repairs. While the ar- gument is on, the -WPA .workers have no place to hang their hats. Though, out In the cold and unable to produce a play in this city, they are still in rehearsal. Doubt about the Works Progress Administration's theatre project continuing beyond the June 30 timo limit is expressed in relief show cir- cles In New York. That reflects con- versations with William P. Farns- worth, former legit NBA code ad- ministrator, who is the Washington ■\VPA contact for Hallie Flanagan, national director of the project.. Farnsworth was In New York last week and is credited with saying that the application for additional funds appeared not to be considered favor- ably. If the federal theatre arm of WPA discontinues in the metropolis, the relief shows throughout the country will similarly suspend. It is figured that there is enough of the money alloted to the project to last Into June and. present relief shows may possibly continue with their staffs until the end. of that month. When doubt was cast as to secur- ing nfore funds for. theatre relief the various professional bodies, 'such as Equity and the Stage Hands UniOn, started making appeals to the WPA heads at the capital. . Un- derstood it was set forth that re- lief shows should not be discon- tinued in the . summer because there Is no means for those now so em- ployed to secure other jobs at that time. In other quarters the expectation still continues that the WPA will Continue through next autumn, but that Is apparently dependent whether Congress appropriates added coin to make this possible. The payrolls have been closed in New York for several weeks, mean- ing, that no more people are being employed. Rules ca)led for taking on persons not on home relief last NOv. l,.up to 10% of the total oh the rolls, but there is no further leeway and only those on the wait- ing list are to be used for replace- ments; made available when WP,A people secured outside jobs. An entirely different slant on the situation. is gleaned from Farns- worth's report on the Washington, end: From there It is Indicated that Washington, may continue the thea- tre project, but that the funds would be allocated to the. state of New Ybrlt, and doubtless other state's, for administration. That, too, aroused opposed sentiment, because it would mean that the federal project would be broken up into parts. Whether that would result in lessening the re- lief to professionals is problematic. If, however, the administration Is switched to the states-It will not be new, because until last October the relief shows were so controlled by New York—state and city. Some of the money came from both and some from Washington. It was principally, after the fed- ei'al setup started that the theatre project became subject. to : jnore. criticism and it is because of this that the present plan in Washing- ton Is being considered. Other WPA projects have been under scrutiny Broadway playgoers will get a l.ook at this, i-owdy-pa-im.v hybrid, which is neitner fish nor fowl. A. H. Woods has taken it for New York production, the first Federal Thea- tre play hereabours. to ^ot a nia jor tumble. On its noVcl twist jt must rise or fall. , First act will have to- lie toned, down considerably., oven for Broad- way. Pair of clonal boys' k'i in for chatter that would mak'' a TilH- ingsgater blush. No i>uh<'lies are pulled by comparison tlio laimuagf; pales 'What Price (Uory: Plav opens behind the lines. Willi the bucks 1 rot ting ou t their choice • collection of cussotagy.: A'dton vlien moves to a French winc-liousc, where the lads have, sonic fun with a dame. Voices arc spotted through the house to wail how rotten the nlav is. Follows a pinch .'ind court j trial of the author for writing it. jurv finds the. playwright -guilty, hut makes a recommendation that show be allowed <" coiiiinne. oil; condition that <'lorn-cutinn. UiiUe.J- ; buck. slrjiigbt-kieod sewmg cn-d'" It. T' £ Birmingham, Ala., April 21. Federal Theatre project for Bir- mingham and Alabama got under way here last week with the presen tation of IHome in Glory' for two days (16-17) at the mony auditor! urn.. Additional plans are being made to open the Jefferson, now, dark, and use a WPA stock com pany there duiin the mmer months. Show has six members ( negro) in the cast and an offstage chorus of about 12 voices singing negro spir- ituals. Scheduled to go on a brief tour;'of the state. It is due to play Tusekgee Institute, negro college, and possibly Montgomery an one or two other spots. Szold Stays in N. 0. New Orleans, April 21. I Board of governors of Le, Petit i Theatre du Vicux Carre announced i Thursday (16) that Bernard Szold. direclor of the Little theatre for the season now closing, has been reemployed for Hi'; lft3»;-37 season.^ Board also reelected Mrs. .J. ps--ar I Nixon as president. Bonded Indebtedness of the group has been reduced from {J.'i.'i'ifi to $1,500, It. was. finnouncwl. A drive fo increase the membership will be In-.inched. Jack Devine in Erie Erie, April 21. E. Jack Devine, former actor- manager, has been named director of the local Federal Theatre Project. He had been living In retirement here for about 20 years. Already lined up are his com- panies and house. WoVd and money allotment/from Washington are be- ing awaited. 'Project will supply the needs of six notbern o.ountk-r, of Pennsyl- vania. Two vaudeville companies complete with orchestras' have been for ed In addition to one dramatic troupe. Newly decorated CJaiely theatre here has been offered as a possible roOst for the shows. 3d Chi Troupe Chicago April 21. Third WPA dramatic -grou "is' being organized here by Guy B«a<:h to play parks and then, perhaps, come into » loop, theatre. play 'olng into rehearsal Is *I>igbtn;n" and it is expected to be ready in a coiipV- of weeks. Figuring on (be S1 ndebaker ;is the loop bou«e. Olb'-r WPA houses here are i Ik; ',yc\i N-onhern and Klnck- Ml (lllfc. +n— politically opposed newspapers, but the theatre project, probably having the lowest appropriation, has received the most press attention In the past several months. Last week In New York the ad- missions grossed almost $9,000 and such income Jn a movement that calls for all outlay otherwise Is a source of enthusiasm. In theatre circles the. matter of relief shows being, on Broadway-again lias been questioned,, but despite such idea*, it is claimed that the low rate relief shows cannot affect regular presen- tations which have regulation ticket scales. It Is figured that any one of the several so-called WPA hits would never survive brief engagements at higher prices. Also it is contended that the WPA pr'e-se't'i-tsitlouf are a natural stimulus to theatre-goers. Chi 'Boy' Folds May 2 Chicago. April-2], 'Boy Meets. Oirl' will elo,«e its J-local run at the ;>hvyn thtatre on l May 2, after an excelte-ht run of 'l5 weeks. No word yet Horn Ceorge '■Abbott whether 1 his cunipfiiij will fold or will go on tmir Shubej-ts are ;.;--iy on Theatre Guild-.Unci lean .Society siib.yc! ii.i -i.iii. ?-i,<>\v 'low shortly at lb« i-'ch\yn.