Variety (Aug 1936)

VARIETY LEGITl M AYE Wednesday* Ajuguat 19, igjg Siunnier Theatres (NEW PLAYS) THROUGH MY EYES (FABRAGUT PLAYEBS) Rye Beach, N. H., Aug. 11. Dratna )n three acts, prolos- and Interlude, Written by Doty Hobart, presented at Far- ragut Playhouse. Bye' Beaeh, N. H,. by Ifiarragut ..Plftj-erfl under dlrectloh of Dor- othy M, Crane, Bentrlce Terry starred; Setting by John SoUers. Dr. Johiv Elliott .Lauren Qllberl;' Amelia Perry.....'. Dorptby Crane . Rita'Perry....;......^>.,.','.,BeatrIce Terry- Olln Perry...Paul N^tilon .. . Elinor Lillian Rbeers .Sarnh perry BerlUa Kerr Joe- Perry. IWilUam, Ne'WKord Ben Perry ...,'...>..,.Clyde Hubbard' Gertrude- Amest Lydik. Fuller Mae Rerry..;...';...,.......Audrey BarlO'W Fra'nk. lAmes. .Don Towers . 'Robeit I'ei'ry. Noel 'Warwick Warren Shard.'^...............Carle Delano Commtsqloner Walton .J. .Harris ifella ' Sadnders-. k..... .John Sotlers Carbey^ ......,..'.....,...>..'<•.AJ^' Wilson . Doty |Iob£irt« author of Through Xly i^yeS,'calls it a'iAonodrania.' As a new sta^6 technique, It' is not as inystifylng. as it sounds, but the exs . jperiihent is interesting-and quite en- ■ tertainingi'., . Celled from the Rtissians, mono- drama is presented in the first per- .', son and the audiaice is theoretically . :placei9- alongside the protagonist^ lis- tening in pn his or her thoughts In the play at hand, the flrst .perspn : is Amelia Perry,-'a-paralyzed mother. : who can hear\and: think, but cannot .• express-her thought? itt: anyi-way to the V characters playing, before her; .She/appears (»ly id-tbD prolog,, and ' frbm that point her presence is felt 'only through.a p.a; set TOrdugh -the amplifier she Intro-- duces characters as they first appiear and ' then 'coitfines her audible ■ thoughts to ^arsely sprinkled com- ments. Off-stage vpice thus plays tm important- part in the final act but, otherwis:e. serves mainly to lend an eerie atmo^here to the evening's proceedings. . . tlobarf5 experiment appears to . have inor6- commercial value, than ^ most lioveltieg.. FondameixlaUy, it is" . >tih 6)d-thne Inellef .with a good, dasli , o£ sex. perversion'^^to Wderhizfe'.- it ■ And. there- i& '■- the rUb/ Broadway . might go fo;^ .it -biit the road -would. - ban it quick. Perhaps thiji. could be remedied b!jr.tt piajp doctor, howeven • 'Theft there Is a. OToblein for" "thei .budgetrttinded proaiwei;. Playwright .has,populated ms slage as if it were, . a ."WFA ^project.- .' There, atfr. some- ' "linten. Working.'. h'ut fcboUt five" char-.: ■ aclCiy seem supprfiuotis. . .These arei • childn^ in ttie big' Perty 'familyi '.who wt*6 so numerous on the small Farragut ^tage that they got in ^^ch .other's way*. Plot Is somewhat complex, but sus- taining. Bita Perry, eldest daughter of Amelia Perry,- helpless cripple, is 'striving to keep the large family together.. Sh^ has also, kept secret the illegitimacy of her son Robert, who believes himself to be her brother. She would like to marry Dr. Elliott, but dbres not divUlge fo .him the secret of-her youthful so- ' clal slip-up. Elinor, wife of one of ,the Perry boys, .wants to take Rob- ert Into her home to give him more ' advantages along educational and cultural lines; Joe, another brother, hAs -just returned from a six-spot in Sing Sing, and R;ita is sharhig that secret, with him. Ben Perry Is a , non-working red, who among other . thihg$, regards his mother as dead. Snake-ln-the-grass is . Warren Shard, adopted brother of Amelia, -ihteflsely hated by .her and Rita. Reason for the hate crops .up in. the second - act. He' knows most of the lamily skeletoils'that Rita conceals. . With. this knowledge as a Ivedge ■ Shard attempts to take away Robert, .. under the pretext of financing him . ttttOugh Zale. It,is Shard.'s aVoca-r ilon to snare youths tmder that guise/ Rita stops-" short hfsr'perverted, prog- *ess by shooting him. She is. niever brought'to Justice because quick thinking Ben tosses the rievolver into his' mother'^ lap and shfe takes the ,rap, Villingly; . ' Offrstage 'volc6 has a dramatic se quence: here ih which Amelia suc' ceeds in lifting her hand to convince- the investigating police commis- ' sioner viiaX she -liould. have. shot Shacd. Then she conveniently dies. Commission^ ighores Rita's confes- sion, and the murderess goes xuipun- ished< . That's, another one for- the local censors, When . Doc Elliott learns about R9berjt he takes it like a man and the triO goes to New York for a new start.. .' ' l\lis3 Terty is excellent In a try- ing role and makes her' character .; human and convincing^ With her ace .work as an inspiration, the Farragut .-tompany complements it ablyt William Newgord as ex-con Joe; Noel Warwick as kid Robert; Jjauren "Gilbert as the doctor, and £arle Del- ano as the oily villain, all rate hon- orable mention. Miss Crane's off- stage voice adds mu0h to the effec- •tiveness of Through My Eyes.*^ Sollers' New England living joom iet Is oktgr, • fox. Starlight, Starbright (IiAKEWOOD THEATRE) Skowhegan, Me,, Aug. 18. Play In three acts by Owen Davis, pro- duced by Ijakewood Players; staged by Melville- Burke; .settings. Charles Perkins; at Lakewood Theatre, Skowhegan, Maine, week Augr. 10, 'SB. Jiilie Clllford......... iMury Rogers Alice Hale CllfCord...'...Katherlna Meskll Bula CUftord.... ; ...Day Bllot Martha JesBamlne Newcombe Theodore Hale............A. H. Van Huron Richard Hale Grant Mills Sally Hale...., Rose Hobart Bill Harlow......^ Ben Lacfcland Tony Bancroft .Don Dlllaway ^Mary Hale , Dorothy Bernard Alfred Bancroft ...J. Hammoiid Dalley Dootor North Charles Lalte Nora Kay Kidder -Owen Davis' new play is a plea for the old standards of decency and honor in living, as opposed to the ruthlessness and cynicism of modern^ times. Plot is thin and play is over- written but there is much shrewd comment and native humor 'that foimd - vast favor "with .the Maine -audience. ; ;Story involves the Hale family, comfortable and* pround New Eng- landers. -Old grandparents, Mary and Richard, ^ify the the best that the country offers in character and stability^ -but their 6(m and ' Iiis daughter, SaUy- .have broken away from the old ideals and have made Inoney^and power their gods. Sally comes back to her grapd- fatber*$ . hcjise, where . she ,.was brought lip,, for a birthday party and finds herself 'doubtahg the wisdom of marrying the .^rich ; but worthless yoimg'jxtan to. whom, she, is, engaged] She meets her childhood sweetheart Tony Bancroft and finds that,- after many years, she still loves him. She is prepared to break -with her social fiance until- her lather steps in-and proves Tony to be a dreamer arid an idealist A further strain is added to the .gathering of relatives when Tony's lather,"who was jailed for embezzling from the Hale bank, re- turns, after 14„year5 in jail. Grandmother Hale, dying, sends lor Sally • and - gives her a; letter written, by her grandfather. This proves that it was Sally's father who actually stole the -moriey from the bank- and Sally - confesses . this in front of Tony and his long-^sUffering parent She is thoroughly ■ disgusted now - with- iall' that her' -father has taught: her-'and turns ^ happily to Tony, .who. insists thit .thpy' Will find, a new and better way of life, than their < parents-had,^ .-, - Humor is.supplied by. twin daugh- 'ters of..one -6f .the 'mpfnbers. of the :family," played by Mary Rogeirs arid Day Eliot It is the' best role Miss Rogers has~had and she does it lull justice, A» H. "Van Buren won enthusiastic applause here as the grandfather, whose propensity for reciting poetry giVe the play • its title. Rose Hobart 'is forthright and sympathetic as Sally arid Ben Lack- land and Don Dllaway score as the rival suitors. John Hammond Daileyj Jessamine Newcombe, Katherin Meskil, Grant Mills,' and Dorothy Bernard, all riiembens of the Lake- wood stock company,: handle their roles competentl^r under Melville Burke's skillful direction. This is the type of unsophisticated play that find.favor with audiences, but it may have trouble hurdling the barrier of th^ critics. Mack, ONE MORE GENIUS ' (STOI^ CREEK THEIAtBE) Stony Creek, Conn., Aug. 14. Satire In three acts ffoUr scenes) by Jerry Horwln and Catherine Turney; staged by Brace Ccaning; sets. Francis Y. Joannes; featuring Clark Williams, JuUe Benell and Greta Granstedt. Presented by Stone Creek Theatre, Stony Creek, Conn., we^k Aug. 10,. '80. Dave'- Black ^...Lionet Dante Adolf Swart'z.. Sydney Stavro Iiawi-ence Rogers Clark Williams Doris'SImntons..Greta Granstedt .Sonia' MalakoK., ;Joan Adrian Philip O'Reilly..... Earl McDonald Ellssa Burnslde ....Sara Floyd' Max G.' Baker. >.■..Murray Bennett Celeste Reed ..Julie Benell Floyd Douglas Carrlngton Lewis Class of patron that rolled in the aisle at 'Once In a Lifetime* is go- ing to have a chance to. belly-laugh all over again—only this time, in- stead of laughing at Hollywood, they'll be doing their tittering at the Theatre Guild. Professionals and Broadway sophisticates Will get a lot of chuckles out of. 'Genius,' though its mass appeal will be limited.. Trouble is the garden variety of playgoer just won't get the full bene- fit of situations like a famous critic labelling a new State Society pro- duction a 'typical O'Reilly master- piece,'- ignorant that the play is really the work of an ambitious nobody whose script has been smuggled be- tween the covers of an original O'Reilly. 'Genius' has definite possibilities as a legit attraction. Act one is pretty much hit and miss, but pro- duction swings into a nice tempo with the opening of act two and holds an entertaining pace to the finale. Authors know their subject and don't spare the rod when it- comes to. delivering a few socks aimed at everybody, ranging from shoe- string producers to playwrights, whose worth to the Stage Society has becora questionable. They've' packed a lot of laughs and amusing situations into green room happfen-j ings during rehearsals and premiere of the Stage Society's latest (27 scenes, 60 characters) production, • Philip O'Reilly, established as the Stage Society's number one play- wright, pays a sentimental visit to the Washington Square abode of his embrya days. He is accompanied by Elissa Bumside, of the Society, and. Max Baker, prominent critic who is writing C'ReUy's biog. They en- counter Lawrence Rogers, young spear carrier trying to break through as a playwright'>. Rogers tries to get them to read his play, but iq turned down. O'Reilly being on his way to the boat for an extended trip abroad. - Develops that Adolf Swartz, Rog- ers' landlord. Owns O'Reilly's first (and unproduced) ■ play» which he took in lieu of back' rent Doris Simmons, in love with Rogers and having an actress yen herself, slips the Rogers manuscript under the O'Reilly title page, gwartz, not knowing this, angels a production of it on condition that Rogers be made director arid Doris given a role,, and rehearsals get .going, under the aegis of Stage Society which falls for the gag, thinking' the' play really is O'ReiUy's. . . Rehearsal complications, with everybody battling for top honors, provide this laughs. O'Reilly, baffled, returns-in.tlme-for the opening night, can't recognize .what .is supposed to be his own play, draWs a confession from young Rogers but lets things slide : when- informed that picture agents, are after. the film rights—a situation .O'Reilly had always cher- ished but, until now, never realized, .' There's, hdthizig amateur,about the way they handle trybuts.here.' Spot 'is highly rated ariiong str^iw hats anq hot without justification..' Two sets, carry .the Green-wich 'Village and Green Rooni illusions nicely. Direc- tion holds up ;the rapid pace neces- sary to this type of,, play. Cast is uniformly;good, with three featured players .holding their own against some good work by the supporting group. With proper doctoring, 'Genius' Is worth a gamble. . Bone, . Beyond the Terrace : (BEACH THEA'TBE) • West Falmouth,' Aug. .12. . Mystery-rmelodrama. la -tWo acta (four scenes, three Interludes) by Lawrence Perry. At Beach Theatre,. W^st Falmouth, Mass., Aug. 12, under direction of Luther Greene; settings; Roderick McRat);' IlghtHug; Wil- liam GoebeU Second Man <<.«»,.,.-....-,...Thomas Fannce CraVeh ......' Leslie' King Prof. Roberts RObart..........Albert Betgb Mary Dale Virginia, Curley -Dr. Raphael Sinioc,'John' Hbysradt Dr. Frederick Howard!.,..WllllamrPost, Jr, Lulgl MorteUardo Gary Mohf .Bernlce Ryan.Ruth Hammond Nina Stark...... Jeanne Casselle Nigel Forsyth..',.,. Guldo NadzO John Stark..i.....i.«..S. Thomas Gomez Helnrlch Otterbeln.. .Albert Hayes Norcross Bradford Ratadall James Ryano i ^Stephen Richards Servant '.«•., .<....ArIeiie Scott Along the Maine Coast By O. M: jSAiyillE^ Kennebunkport, Aug. 18. August has been a llfesaver lor New England's straw hats. First part of July grosses were brutal, and. during the last half theatres were stiU dishesrteninaly hi the Jed, but this month, from the very outset, biz has zoomed, aria bids fab? to cdntlnue into September. Lakewood at Skowhegan and Play- house in Aguriquit are toppers, with the theatres at Cohasset and West Falmouth, ISass., runners up. In the third division come the New Hamp- shire houses and the Garrlcfi;, Ken- nebunkport Latter has been, going< places past few weeks, while the Lakewood and Ggunguit Playhouse, have broken all eidsting records. No hope at aU lor those theatres-ln-thft. woods scattered here, there anH everywhere, hard to find, especially on fog*«y nights, and harder to coun. tenance. At base they're niosUv schools and the youngsters who dis' port; in them hardly know their way around a stage. . There are someekV ceptions; like that at Boothbay "ga^ taor and one or two others, but theii. tres-iu-the-woods are hideawwB from which to hide away. servant, Craven, could be syinbolic of Christ • ^ ,i , 1- There is Confusion and tt might be well IQT the author to steer his au- dience into clear-cut mental chan- nels before the curtahi rises. . Tab versions of the short-cut- careers of four characters are presented m small- masked-ln hiSerts, <iuite effec- tively. Another sequence iajeilayea on the main terrace,*set so that the young people 'can be brought ilito the 2S-years-later-piCture.'- -iBje ^g- ing will stand some smoothing, over. Hoysradt jplaying Dr. Simec,. stepped into the role on one day's notice, but his finished perfonnance gave no evidence ol uncertainty* Vir- ginia Curley, first as the fiancee and later as the middle-aged wife of Dr. Howard (Wm. Post Jr;), is convincmg in the'latter .role* Post-is consist- ently good. Gary. Mohr- as^ a proud' pianist registers, as does, also his torch singer mistress, Bernlce Ryan, played by Ruth Hammond. . Thomas Gomez, capable of bigger roles, does his best with & minor one. Leslie King as Craven and Albert Bergh as cynical Prof. Robart rate special mention. . ^ Perry's first act is sustainmg and mystifying enoueh to hold anyone for the second. This one iS:not com- pletely sustaining, though, -and three interludes ■ of Dr. Simtc talking to the young couple only add to the confusion. . Melodramatic sequences give the story a.needed so.c^. hut they are wasted in the thin air.of vague motif,- . Foce. Terrace* is an ambitious piece by a deep-thinking author. Ordinary theatregoers are not so philosophi- cally mihded and cannot catch up with his elusive thoughts and theo- ries in a two-hour sittirig. It is not therefore, good box office. It is a solid. and fertile basis for revision; but even with ordinary play .doc- toring it would probably have lim- ited appeal. Luther. Greqne, reported bent on bringing it to Broadway, is so en- thusiastic about the play that he steps into the directing assignment himself, ' Plot; can he nalledi down simply to This: a mysterious irietaphysicist (Dr. Slmec) makes it possible for humans to short-circuit the next 25 years of their lives. Out of a dinner party group of nine all but a young couple take up his offer and step out 'be- yond the terrace.* All but a night club torcher find later life not as sweet as they anticipated. The youthful duo live their 25 years and, although they do not reach the goal they envisioned, they do. gain happiness and satisfaction through the climb to ultimate mod- erate success. What will create most serious dis- cussion is the. true identity or sym- bolism of Dr. Simec. His powers, obviously, are those of a deity, but the atmosphere of the plav matches somewhat that of Wells' 'Things to Come.' The knowing, kindly man- Summer theatres (NEW PLATS) Week Aiig. n 'First Love,' Boulevard theatre, Jackson Heights, L. I, 'Fourth Down/ Ferndaje Players, Femdale, N. Y. Ifforoni,' Mohawk Drama Festival, Schenectady, N. Y. 'Nor All Your Tears,' Barter the- atre, Abingdon, Va, 'Spring Dance/ Ridgeway theatre: White Plains, N. Y. 'The Anchors Weighed/ Hedgerow theatre, Moylan-Rose Valley, Pa. 'Tomorrow's' Murder/ Cape May Playhouse, Cape May, N, J, Murder by 'Appoihtment (PLlTMOUTH PLATHOirSE) , :. Milford, Corui., Aug.'"^^. Mystery play In tw6 apts (five scenes^ by Burnet v Hers'bey and' Lyon. Mearaon.;. dt? rected-by Richard Ga^e; setUnge, Charles Rogers. ■ Presented by' ConAectlcut .play- ers, ■ Inc., at' Plymouth' Plaj^'Ause; 'MiU ford, Conn., flva days;'bfigldtiln2'''Aug.'-11, •30. . .. ' • . • Dr. Mortop Paley ..tEYanklyn Fox Brio Usher. Fred . Howard Joe Harper.................Charles Kebb^ Amy -Wlllts. .......Virginia Keller Clara Calvert .'.Zolya TalmA Peter....' .'.......Jean' La Barbar^t Howard Peabody... .,..Jack Harllng Victor.,.. '. Julius Epallly Inspector Lewis.............Averell Harris Sergt. Jake Henkle.. -.'.Leo Kennedy Dr. Herman Mendoza.„.Charles O'Connor "While'business, has perked to j. r proportions, talent has hot, nor have the new. plays, most of them amateurishly written and .hopelesa. Some of the managers in the suln. mer smallies do new plays-inosfly for attendant publicity, straw hats grabbing at a straw, so to speak, tittd • a new nlay will draw, soriie receipt! even .when a theatre is floimderiog ^n the depths. Lakewood, Skowhegan, is ofT^Ing . 'Three Men on a Horse' currently, last week OWen. Da-vis' new play. 'Star Light, Stat Bright,' drew splfea* didly. It deals with three genera- tions of a family, changhig social, conditions and seeks to impress'Vritti . the thesis that the oldsters in -their day were "wiser and smarter, R()Sa Hobart was the bright, partlculdr luminary, ■ [... Beth Cary and Miriam Catheitoh drawing a horde of socialites for - their one performance at the Ga^< rick, Kennebunkport. ip character sketches and dances. Miss Catheitoii' is' dOihg;the march from 'Love lolc 'Three Oranges,' by Prokofleff. ' . ' jOAtMg'M Radio Hopkap 'i^ Walter HartvirSg's Ogunquit hook« up ovSr WCSH, Portland, rimnl^ig an hour each ^turday at nooq, iis .studded with satellites who would want - considerable for^ a regular weekly seance On the air from any, ' sponsor, btit it's sum'mer, they are gamboling at the shore, and are get* ting ivai and some experience. First prograiri contained Laurette Taylor, Lillian Foster, Rosemary' Ames and Thomas W, Ross* in an. impromptu . skit, followed .by the balcony ^ene from 'Romeo, and ■ Julief done by, . Morgan Farley and. Anne. Seymour, , Second held Eloirerice Reed and Jarie Grey, also' 'School'tar ScandaV H which ■ Charles Dingle was" - high* , lighted. Saturday's broadcast fea> . ture'd 'Margalo Gilmofe, who is the guest star at. Hartwig's- pgun.quit,. Playhouse this •weejc in ;'Nii^t- o( .• January! 16th/. Gerard - Hayden <4n:., songs,. Billy XiOessez 'and orci aha .a choral group under the, direction: of W. "C. B. Robbihs. Mary SuUlvan . is arjt'ahgipg the pr6grainis, with J6n4 Griggs aimoimcirig. Griggs has been .on the Romberg and' VaUee hours, and evioiences experience. Hardly breathing room at Old Orchard the other night wheri they crowned 'Miss M&hie.' Rather pretty, girl, but the 'Maine' stems were noth- ing to rave over. Pier there had Ortlcer Schwartz. .....Darrel Toakum Photographer ,.... ,Luther Rowland Taxi Driver ..........w^,..,Boris-Sokololt ur. nerman jaenaoza.,,.«jnarieB u'uonnor uz-u-i^Wit-i-^ ^ u,%-^A ,.,a-,r Ai,r^ Officer Daly ....Hal conkiin been^hittmg it up in a band way dur- ing August but wiU hardly equal ifcj July record. Started With Larjy| Funk apd boys, followed by Cab CaUoway, and then successively have come Jack "Brown and ore,- WirigJi Manone, Bob Cauger and CorrieUlans^ Dick McGinley, Luis Russell, and Fe- lix Fernando. Mob grabs the Bos- ton and Maine's 'Flying Yankee' into Portland at 1:25 each morning. About two years ago, Burnet Hershey wrote a book on midgets tagged 'It's a Small World.' Maybe this gave him the ide^i for this week's tryout here.. Anyway, it's all about a murder involving a midget Definitely written with an eye to Hollywood, comment from in- siders who caught'the openirig is to the effect that its chances are hurt by the recent release of 'Devil Doll' also carrying a miniature kiUer angle. This opinion, however, won't holjl .-water because 'Doll' relies on trick photography: for its appeal, w:hile 'Appointment' has a logical theme that can get by on.the strength of its interest-holding qualities alone. And incidentally, on the way to Hol- lywood, it will make vevy good stage entertainment.. Plot tells of Dr. Morton Paley and his • assistant, Eric Usher, who' con- ducted research work in the glandu- lar field and obtained human guinea pigs for their experiments by operat- ing a murder clinic until authorities got hep to them. Prior to play's opening they had. disappeared, then tiurned up later entire'ly changed in stature and appearahce due to glandular operations performed on themselves. Play relates how the pair a«e tracked down by a former .victlffT^d, while being investigated by a private detective working for the medical association, the doctor is murdered. Novelty angle comes with uriraVeling of the crime. Excellent cast contains usual char- acters of reporter-investigator» police officials, dumb detective, iftooges, etc, Franklyn Fox makes an authentic medico and Fred Howard, is good as his assistant; Averell Harris and Leo Kennedy fit as. police bloodhounds' Charles O'Cohnor looks and acts the medical examiner and Zolya Talma makes a matronly role convincing. Charles Kebbe and Virginia Keller carry the lov6 interest well and Kebbe also is acceptable as the young medical investigator who solves the crime. Jules Epailb' makes a small role stand out. ^; Play Is built ih .two acts. Instead .(Continued on page 62X Gulls Will Be Gulls Kennebunkport has two picture houses, Lyric and Strand, latter starting only recently. Both are along the Kennebunk river and sea. gulls seem to favor the roof of the^ Strand, flodfc of them resting th«e at all hours, which doesn't help the acoustics exactly. Nothing to do. about it Gulls will be gulls. Maine's most prosperous town, Sanford, also has its most prosper- ouis picture house, Loew's CapitoU with day and date bookings equal to the keys, in. many instances. San- ford; lest you have forgotten,. W where they manufacture Palm Beach, cloth, also Sanforized stuff in gops« One of the very hot New England- dance bands is the Blue Rgyelers at Somersworth, N. H,, and another is . Sal Cadillb's at Freeport, Me., 3ust. out of Portland, at Sim's Dancelwio. Cadillo modestly calls himself 'Nevi England's Swing Sensation.' Doing 'The Old Peabody Pew" 4t' Waterboro this week, Kate Douglas Wiggin's dramatization of her ovm story, which is reaching back quitQ a bit ' -J Broadway may not be aware of ifc but the 'Winter Garden Revue, boasting 50 people and Stetson s Ra- dio Band, is due shortly at Oltt Orchard, Walter Hampden appears at Ke"*. nebunk Town HaU this week. Tick- ets are scaled at $1.65 top. Hamp- den's first appearance in this section in years. Cornelia Otis Skinner received a $1,000 guarantee for each of her four performances in Maine,. aU unaer patronage committees.