Variety (Jul 1936)

46 VARIETY LEGITIMATE Wednesday, July 8, 1936 Summer Theatres (NEW PLAYS) SPRING DANCE (CAPE PLAYHOUSE) Dennis, Mass., July 6. Everybody takes a bow on 'Spring Dance,' which, opened at the Cape Playhouse tonight under the guid- ance of the team of Philip Barry and Jed Harris. - Something big might naturally- be expected from this combo and, judging from tonight's premiere, Broadway will see 'Dance* for many weeks after it opens at the Empire in August. Originally written. by Eleanor Golden and Eloise Barrangon of Smith College and presented there in 1927,. it is now picked up and re- moulded by Barry.and brightly pre- sented by Harris in a form that looks like solid b.o. The Smith girls chose a subject right up then- alley: college life, and therefore it rings .true. Barry added some tasty spice in the form of brilliant dialog that isn't forced.. Theme is light enough and there's no deadly message underscored. Key girl is Alex Benson, played by Imo- gene Coca, from the revue field, ex- hibiting her dramatic talents for the first time. Girl loves boy, Sam Thatcher (Richard Kendrick), and boy loves girl. . But he is bothered by a mass of. collegiate idealism and wants to go treking around the world for. two years with his room-mate, who is really more of a stimulus than the ideals-. Opening scene introduces all the characters and brings Thatcher in to say goodbye to Alex, who is obviously not going to take the shock as lightly as the college boy imagines. ■ Girl's room-mate and her dormi- tory sisters aren't going to take it at alL [however, and the rest Of the evening is taken up by their plot- ting and the denouncement of. the youngsters running off in elopement. "What makes it a very pleasant evening is the extremely, fine char- acter delineation throughout. Any- one who has gone to college or has known college boys and . girls will understand and .chortle at every line —and .that's why it's going to sell tickets 7 The |uu^mching : loyalty between- room-mates, the flurry and flutter of-the girls before the big oance, the cynical college man who domi* nates his fair-haired pal, the prim house mother—they're all here and more. •' V i Although'the collegians are pass- in? through a familiar but damn- ably serious period in their lives, never', does the playwright let it hog down-in sentimentalisra,. nor does he forget that timely laughs (and there are many), keeps it on the comedy plane. And most important, he sends 'era home with a clean taste. ' Outstanding In an. ace cast are Jose, Ferrer as . the cynical Liooincott, Kendrick as the very plausible juve, Louise Piatt, Ruth Matteson, Peggy Q'Donnell, Morie Bruce and Miss Coca, Fox. WHITE CHRISTMAS (REP BARN) . > -Locus valley, L.T., July 6. Uomriy In .three facta by./Phlllp Merivale, produced by D. A. Doran. staged by Harry Wagstaff Qrlbble; settings, Jotto Root; at Red Rant theatre, Locust Valley, Jj. I.. July 8. *30, , Jack Winterly John Williams Janet Tardy.................Gladys Cooper! Watklna. Boyd Davis Harriet Alnslie Beatrice Terry Walter Alnslie,.......Wallace. .Wlfldecombe Peter Brlgnall Philip 'Merivale Maid..". .....Linda Llndeberg Sir Grimston Tardy....Reynolds Deqnlaton stage, the thinness oi the plot is for- gotten in the pleasure of watching wo such excellent artists perform. Janet Tardy (Gladys Cooper) is unhappily married to Sir Grimston, a rich man much older than herself. She has strayed from, the marital path once with an army man, Jack Winterly, but that affair is ended after a week-end in Cornwall. At a houseparty .on Christmas Eve, Janet finds Jack a guest and also Peter Brignall (Philip Meri- vale), an old beau who. never worked up enough courage to ask her to marry him. Peter'is content to be a good fellow and rather clownish, but his devotion to Janet is unquestioned. When Janet and Peter. are stranded alone in the house, after the others have gone to a costume party, they declare their love for each other. But Peter once more-lacks the courage to do any- thing about it, and spends the night out in the barn alone. Sir Grimston has a detective watching his wife, and this man, who is the butler at the country house, finds what he considers in- disputable evidence that Peter and Janet spent the night together, so phones for her husband. . Sir Grimston arrives on Christ- mas Day radiating none of the holi- day spirit. He immediately taxes his Wife with her infidelity and she ad- mits it. Janet sees her chance at last to find happiness with Peter— since her husband declares that he will divorce her—so she tells him that Peter is the man involved. Peter' is pretty upset about the Whole business, but. stands by Janet. Then Sir Grimston has a change of heart and decides hot to divorce his wife after all—fearing that the scan- dal will ruin his chances in parlia- ment. Janet, feeling that she can't hurt Peter any more, is prepared to go back to her husband. . Peter, at last, takes matters into his own hands, however, and carries her. off with him, for. better or worse. An excellent supporting cast under the deft direction of Harry Wagstaff Gribble gives the play - added strength, and there are fine perform- ances from Beatrice Terry, Wallace Widdecombe, Boyd Davis, John Wil- liams and Reynolds Denniston. Philip Merivale, in a role far removed from the sturdy gentlemen he usual- ly portrays, plays with an infectu- ous gaiety,. and Gladys Cooper, clothed in breathless ballet costume and lovely negligee, has never had a role that displayed her beauty and charm to- better advantage. Back- grounds of an English country house and a beach on the Cornish coast have been, ingeniously designed by John Root, Mack. HAPPY VALLEY, LTD. (DEAL CONSERVATOR) Asbury Park, N. J, July ,6.' Comedy by Ewlng RatCerty In three acts. Produced by Clinton E. Flske' ana Bruce Hammond. Staged fay Regina Kahn. Set tings AUatln Kins. Tommy Bruce Macfarlane BlggB .Robert Harris Sally ..Yvonne Castle. Mrs. WIclcam Hope Landln Hiram Whitney .Richard Qarrows Bogge , . ..Melvin Benstock Reno Lee J. Cobb Hennessey 'John Bennethunv Dotty Dimple Lucille Meredith. Gladys ...Elizabeth SUUwell Mickey Arno Tanny PlnkertOn John Boruff Peggy i. Regina Kahrr Blnne ......Herbert Vleran Otis. VanNess ...F. Francis Kirk Officer Kelly .Lester Eisner Philip Merivale's play is in the nature of a summer romp after a long season on Broadway. It is an actor's play in every sense of the .word, and is more concerned- with parts than With plot, but it is writ- ten with, disarming lightness and gaiety. Dialog is bright and, when Merivale and Miss Cooper are on the way, and a weak third act does lit- tle to relieve the burden. Tommy Whitney, ne'er^do-Weli son of a railroad president, played to the utmost by Macfarlane, swaps- his bronze Minerva roadster for a $6,000 equity in a bankrupt railroad under the influence, and in the company of Dbtty Dimple, blonde hostess of, Reno, town's No. 1 gambler. 1 With $12,000 due within one week on his purchase, Tommy is unable to lay his hands on any cash. Fam-- ily simplifies matters by- clearing out for the country estate, young Whit- ney rents the town house to Reno at $2,000 a night, and the gambler moves in his' tables, bird-cages, champagne and Dotty.. Meanwhile the elder Whitney speeds west in an effort to close a deal on valuable coal properties in West Virginia. Otis Van Ness, his bitter enemy for years and father of the girl in love with Tommy, beats him to the punch. Whitney senior returns home to discover his mansion turned, into a gaming house, but all Tommy's troubles are dis- pelled when his bankrupt railroad turns out to,be the only line which can transport the Van Ness coaL Whitney and Van Ness bury the hatchet, Wall Street goes wild over the coup engineered by Tommy; Tommy explains away Dotty and her pals, and falls into Sally's arms so rapidly that the curtain falls before the house has emptied; Lee J. Cobb as Reno, John Boruff as Pinkerton, Richard Barrows as Hiram Whitney and Macfarlane are cast standouts. " Hill. HOME SWEET HOME (GREENWICH" GUILD THEATRE) Greenwich, Conn., July 1. Play In three acts by Freflerlck Hertn- deen, presented by Richard Herndon; di- rected by Sterling' Oliver. • At the Green- wich Guild Theatre/ Greenwich, Conn., June 30. '30. - Nancy ...........;...... .Eva Condon Mortlihere ................. .Percy Leimon Professor.Henry Tlbbaj^......Herbert Tost Mary 'flbbo ... Gertrude Coghlan Jane Tlbbs Eve March Jed Prout... .Ed Garvle Bob Hatch Hurst Amyx Dr. Thomas Lorett ..Wallace Ersklne Florence. Tlbbs Benson Jean Mann Henry Wadaworth Benson ■''■<• Richard Van Patten Marie Antoinette- Benson.. • -Jean Ashworth Ruth Tlbbs Brown..... Thaddena T. Burns... Doc Mac...' William Brown .Leighton Carey Richard Pnxdee ,...J. P. Wilson Sterling Oliver Bruce Macfarlane, et aL struggle bravely through Ewing Hafferty's watery piece at this exclusive water- ing place, but even their extempo raneous business, over the dead spots fails to uncover b.o. possibilities in the opening production of the Fiske- Hammond players. . Most of the situations are as famil- iar and worn as the kiosks on Broad- Herndon and Ullman are operating the Greenwich Guild Theatre oh alternate week basis. First produc -tion is Herndon's; next week 'East- ward Ho' under the Ullman banner. Theatre'is a former picture house redecorated and seats over 600. First play is by Frederick Hereh- deen, last represented on Broadway by 'All the King's Horses.' This one is a domestic comedy, amusing in spots' but written in a slapstick, musical comedy vein which destroys any reality. Comedy ideas are dragged in and never grow out of legitimate situations in the story. Title is appropriate, since the plot concerns the family of Henry. Tibbs, mild little mathematics prof in the town of Madison, Wis., who turn the old motto into a family slogan. Tibbs and his wife have dreamed for 30 years of the day when he can re- sign, sell the old house and sail for the Isle of Capri to write /that book.' The time .seems to have come when, his youngest daughter, Jane, pre- pares to marry Bob Hatch, a thor- oughly reliable young man. Tibbs' other two daughters are happily married, he thinks, and his respon- sibilities toward his family are ended. But first the oldest daughter," Florence, shows up with her two young children and announces that she has left her husband, a chemist who prefers pottering with his .test tubes to taking her to the movies. Then the other daughter, Ruth, comes home and breaks the news that she, too, has left her husband because she can't give him the chil- dren he wants .so much. And-to finally complicate matters Jane quarrels with Bob and breaks her engagement. Henry's family seems to have come home to roost with a vengeance, and his trip is off. Third act, of course, solves every- thing happily when a doc an- nounces that Ruth is going to have a baby after all. Jane elopes with Bob and Florence gets a wire from her husband stating that they are leaving for Europe, -where he is to be head chemist for Elizabeth Arden.' Henry and bis wife again put the house on the market and look lov- ingly at their steamship tickets as the victrola plays 'The Isle of Capri.' Herbert Yost gets everything out of the role of the meek and dreamy professor, without going overboard on the sentimental side. His wife is competently played by Gertrude Coghlan and Eve March'is okay as the indefinite Jane. Leighton Carey plays Ruth who, according to the author's description, is . 'a lemon- meringue pie of a girl,' and Florence is impersonated by Jean Mann. Ed Garyie does a familiar bit as the real estate agent and Hurst Amy is a worried nuvenile. Sterling Oliver directs and also plays a part Folksy 'comedies lack drawing power on Broadway these days and this one is a doubtful exception. Pictures, too, will find little to ex- cite them here. Mack.. LEFT TURN Political satire In' threa acts by Jean Barton and William- Dubois: produced by Max Hart; directed by WlnBtoft O'KeeCe. At Boulevard Theatre. Jackson Height*. N. T., July 0, '30. Anna Gage...,. .Helen Brooke Marcus-Gage Roy Gordon Letetfe Gage -Ann Mason Crawford., ...WHUam Post. Jr Ftavia.... ........Kathleen Moran. TOmirie , .Virginia. Smtth br. Hehnlko...... .George Carleton Telegraph Boy William Loew Nurse .Virginia Tracy Eustace Barnes.. .'• -,.. .Owen Elliott Mr. Yarrow John -Kearney. Mr. Seldel... Joseph Boeder 'Left Turn* has its ups and downs, and is withal spotty. Which may be due in part to its spliced authorship. One of the collaborating duo, William Dubois, had written 'Pagan Lady' and 'I Loved You Wednesday' heretofore. The other. Jean Burton,, is taking his first whack at drama from, the short story field. Pojsslbly that's why 'Left Turn' is half serious satire and half broad farce. The turn-about comes by acts, so .maybe they alternated their writing that way. Presidential year can be counted a favorable omen for this offering, but otherwise lots of brushing up is. needed to make the grade. Some film coin, is said to be invested in the production (by Consolidated), but the investment is described as very small. Story concerns itself with Marcus Gage, a Harvard man turned, radical, enough to garner both leftist and rightist sympathy, who eventually wangles his way into the presidency without any scruples over friends or family.. For a whUeiduting -the first aet' it looks as though this is going to be a nicely subtle leftist poke at such alleged' fence-sitters as H. G. Wells, Upton Sinclair et al, but the initial tack is junked in. the windup. Here Gage is portrayed as a satyr whose various love interests nearly wreck his victory on the eve of election. His secretary attempts to shoot both him and herself, his wife threatens divorce; and his son-in- law; finally takes the rap to clear the skirt-chasing old man. All in broad farce. Roy Gordon puts up a manful job in the Gage role, which is 'no pipe assignment, considering that he's virtually staging a monolog in the first act. Ann Mason as his wife is co-starred and does fairly well, Ditto William Post, Jr. as the son-in- law and Helen Brooks as the daugh- ter, Kathleen Moran as .the wild secretary continually lapses into prima donna stuff. She's not'alone in this respect, however. As the emphasis shifts more and more to burlesque, the whole cast gets lavish in gestures and fluttery- in manner- ism. . The shift in underlying mo- tive is responsible. ■■' . Winston O'Keefe's .direction isn't bad. At least there's some coherence to the cast's being; good.'all at one time, and unanimously bad for the remainder. . Edga. Oat of Town The Difficulty of Getting Married (COUNTRY PLAYHOUSE) Westport, Conn:, July 7. .Lawrence Langner presents new comedy from French by Louis Verneull, adapted by Grace George. Directed by Jose Ruben. Settings, Joseph DeLuea. . At Westport Country Playhouse, July 6, '36. Gustave Ahleres.... Nicholas Joy Loire. Jose Ruben Linda Leasing Grace Georger Pauline. May Marshall Sucy De Coudray......Winifred Lenlhan Baronosa Von Geldern Kay StrozzI Colonel Pfeffer Prances Plerlot Dr. Robert Do Condray Hex O'Matley Looking very well and playing with her accustomed brightness, Grace George is trying out a new play in a summer theatre for the first time. 'Difficulty' was reported to be another 'First Mrs. Fraser' but scarcely shapes up so at the present time. The plot is so flimsy and the treat- ment so direct that the yarn wears itself out in less than two acts. How- ever, if handled as farce, it might act better. There are plenty of laughs scattered through it. Role of the iriiddle-aged mother, sighing for a husband after three decades as the mistress of three dif- ferent men, is scarcely a dignified one, but Miss George brings great finesse and easy charm to it. When her last lover, about to - become her husband, is swept off his feet by a pretty young noblewoman, his bride- to-be, determined to be a bride, sends her son to the arms of the inflamed baroness. Son's wife is a jealous piece and she checks up oh her husband in scenes^ that seem like old-fashioned blackouts. Miss Winifred Lenihan, returning to the stage after several years of radio production, is noi able to do much for this shrewish character. The part is overwritten and is not in keeping with the spirit of the play. William A. Brady is here super- vising the production, which has been staged by Jose Ruben, and wants to whip it into shape if it has a chance. Play obviously needs quicker timing, just as its attitudes need lighter force. . Nicholas' Joy is the last lover and he fills the bill. It is. hot an exhila- 1 rating performance and a lot more can be done with it, however. Kay Strozzi is impressive as- the baron- ess- and Rex CMalley's good sense of ^Continued on page iti Geo. White Scandals •• Chicago, July 1. . George White?* nrtf Issue of bis re- vue rewritten and portly recast Binco New York run, l-'erttuves Willie and .V)u- gerie Howard, 'Helm Morgan,. Jan.o, Cooper,- Gi'tii'fic Dewey Washington,. Earl Qxtord^the Stanley Twins, Fred Manatt, Lois Eckhart. Richard Lane, claire M,e- Qulllen and Sam. Ted and Ray. At the Grand, Chicago, June 28. 'ify. Whatever No. 12 in, the revue- periodical known since 1919 as r George White's Scandals* may have been in New York, it is a good show now. Indeed, it is, after a week of practice performances in -Atlantic City, White's nearest approach to the old ^Ziegfeld Follies' standard. Helen Morgan's come-back in this show is the principal stimulant for knowing theatre-goers, who find her back in the'form she displayed as a singing-actress in the original run of 'Show Boat.* Her high .spot in the proceedings is Tve Got to Get Hot, wherein she is called on to voice the heart-wringing lament and protest of a night-Joini torcher who feels .that she ought to be singing Puccini and VerdL She has four other numbers, with some of the principals (including Willie and Eu- gene Howard)'assisting in Tm the Fellow Who Loves You.' Also she takes part in some of the skits and interludes, doing her full part and, when opportunity comes, getting down in the sawdust and qualifying as a clown. Willie Howard is above his own previous tops in the show, .although digging back into previous activities for some of his material, such as the kidding in the burlesqued 'Rigoletto' quartet and a blush-bringer now called "Mind Over Matter.'- His Al Jolson mockery is as funny as. it was two decades ago in a New York Winter Garden show, and he has lifted into the new ^Scandals' the Frenchless 'French Lesson'' with which he- made good in a recent broadcast. Brother 'Gene lets him- self go a bit, for a change, and really helps. • George Dewey Washington clicks as hest of the others in the fooling about Father Divine, although Chi- cago is| none too familiar with the Harlem Salvationist and the legends about his claims and ministrations. Sam, Ted and Ray get riotous ap- proval for their dancing, and nobody in the list of principals is bad. The girls are as-pretty arid brisk a lot as any brought here in the past by White—or, for that matter, by Zieg- feld or Carroll. Loop. Another Calif. Spec Hollywood, July 7. California Festival Assn. is staging •Every Man' in the Hollywood bowl the first week in September. Group, which staged 'Midsummer Night's Dream' last summer, brought Johan- nes Poulsen from Copenhagen to di- rect and stage. It's planned to take the outdoor spectacle north, with performances in Frisco and Berkeley. State Cham- ber of Commerce is behind the proj- ect. VARIETY - LONDON American Academy of Dramatic Arts Fountfid 1884 by Frtnklln H. Sirotnt THE first and foremost In- stitution for Dramatic and Expresslonal Training". The in- struction furnishes the essen- tial preparation for Directing and Teaching aa well aa for Acting. Teacher's Summer Course, July 6th to Aug. 14th Catafei of all CMlrut fram Hu 8«*r«tanf Room 847-B, Carnegie Bail, N. V. BUY DOROTHEA ANTEL Invalid Actress. Famous Oreetlng Card* Jl Original and Gscloslve Do-, signs. On* Dollar. Agenta Wanted to Soil Cards. Liberal Commission. Call or writ* DOROTHEA ANTFX ««« ff«*t 7tm» Street. 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