Variety (Sep 1937)

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56 VARIETY LEGITIMATE Wednesday, September 29, 1937 Plays on Broadway George and Margaret Cotnpdy 111 throe ncls, presentpd at the J^lonisio, Si'Dt. 2J. liy John C. Wilson; (N'l fl CowHi-il nntl Wui>npr UroH. nlso uk- soi-i;ilotO; wrillen by Gernlcl Savory; $3.;i0 lo-.i. Gin 'vs Moya Nuh'Pnt :M;ilc.i>lni Morland Gralmm j\lic> Irene Browne l)u(ll?y.; .Vrthur Macrae J'YaiiUic. llbsalyn Boulter (."laude .Richard AVnrner Jto-^er Alnn "Webb lieer.,.^ Gladys Henson They are still laughing at this farcical comedy in London and ac- coi-ding to the giggle count at the premiere here, 'Geotge and Mar- garet' should register at least mod- erately well. JE^n C. Wilson and Noel Coward, whs are managerially associated, gathered the present cast, two of the players having been with the latter in his Tonight at 8:30.* Coward also worked on the show as stager during its pre-Broadway showing in Can- ada. That may account for the speed of the dialog. Coward told the actors they are in America now and should talk fast, the dialog being speeded so much that a num- ber of comedy lines were lost to the first nighters,, 'George and Margaret' is a trick play in that neither of the persons in the title appear. They are ex- pected visitors to an English fam- ily consisting of parents and three grown offspring,; Dudley, Frankie and Claude. There is no plot, the play sitnply designed to divert solely th rtugh dialog. Alice, jthe-mother, is the sparkplug of the . proceedings, flighty and funny, fussing aplenty to be ready ' for thfe expected George arid Mar- garet, whom she likes, The others, including complacent papa Malcolm, th-T)k the couple are bloody bores, F^rnkie, the daughter^ has a tep for hr.ving affairs which seem not to dis- tu -'i the elders nor brothers. Along comes a friend of Dud's, a ni:-! enough fellow called Roger, and thr/i's the finish of Frankie's single ' -issedness. • There is another impending pair- In'^ not so romantic, when Claude, tbs stolid son, falls in love with G\~dys, the maid. When mom hears they are to marry, the inflection of her voice is such that a solid laugh came out. Gladjrs.does a bit of her own reasoning with mother and gets okay of the family. But there haS to be a new maid, and Gladys breaks her in. The comic Beer looks as funny as they say she does. Entering and moving her lips, nothing comes out and then finally Goorge and Margaret are announced by the inarticulate Beer as-the cur- ta'n descends. ■ Irene Browne as the mother car- ries most of the show in a manner remindful of Mary Boland. Arthur Macrae, a juvenile,, over here for the first time, scored as the saner of the sons. Rosalyn Boulter as Frankie, Morland Graham as pop, Moya Nugent as the maid and Gladys Henson as the successor who don't talk, are the chief support. Play has an eight player cast, and there is one set, so with an aver- age break it should get by. Ibee. The Lady Has a Heart Conicily in three acts preucnled at LnnK- *(ie. N. Y., Sept. 25, '37, by RufUB Phll- and WalMon Bnrratt; adapted by Ed- WMi'd Hoberts from Hungarian Original by Ij;idl!i]uuH Bu8-Feketp; Vincent Price and Kllssia Twinill featured; staged by present- ers: .$:t.ao top. Kliirl .Tudlth Alden Jran Vincent Price ri>iiiili>sH Mnrhi.SHy 't '.Hilda S^pong: Cciunl('s.M KatlnkH... ...EltiiHa Land! ('i)unl MarlnSHy Lumsden Hare Count (lyorgy... v Royal Beal Rfidic Announcer ICerck Falrman Ilonlci ICalherlne Standing Fcri^ncsi: Tom Bate ElMtrUliin Richard Bowler They thought well of this comedy In Vienna last winter, when it was called 'Jean,' so much so that 20th- Fox bought the picture rights. Holly- wood may do okay with it, but Broadway will probably give it the once-over lightly. 'Lady' was reputed to- be quite comic and perhaps that was so over there. In the version displayed here there is little diversion. Maybe the fault is in the adaptation, though the story impresses as having small appeal. Idea of servants being glam- orous appears to have been better taken care of in 'Tovarich.' Jean is butler and valet to Count Mariassy, a rather senile codger -who is a prime minister. Young man is personable but his station is well es- tablished, since Jean's father had the same position in the household. Sud- denly it is announced that he has been elected to parliament on a ticket opposed to his excellency's. That makes no difference to Jean, who continues valeting. Old boy even smiles when the man attacks him on the floor of the legislative chamber and, in fact, the socialist party forces the count out of office. Katinka, his daughter, defends the old boy and indicates- a loathing for Jean. Actually she is in love with the man, and he with her. That she has a politically aspiring husband makes no difference. " Lovers" em- brace in her home and, in the last act, she reveals the affair to her mother, who admits having strayed from the marital path, too. Main fault with the play is the absence of effective comedy. Per- formance indicates it is one of those in-b6tweeners that liberally dot the stage seasons. Vincent Price, young man who landed iii 'Victoria Regina' but ducked its road tour, gives a good enough performance as the glorified valet, while Elissa Landi shows spirit as his titled lover. Oth- ers are so-so, • Ibee. . BLOW YE WINDS Comedy-drama In thr^e acts (8 scenes) by Valentine Davlsr,' )>reaen(ed by Arthur Hopkins-at 40th St. Theatre, N. T.,, Sept. 23, '"tl; stars Henry Fonda, features Doris Oalton; staged by- Hopkins; sets Clrker and Bobbins; $3.30 top. Tom King James Doody Hayden Chase Henry Fonda Capt. Terry ........Harry Kermsen George Cosden Albert Hayes Amy Baker I^lnda L.ee Hill Joseph AIll.Hun Blaine Cordner Christine Ijawrence..., Dorla Dalton Benjamin Lesslng..... Blair DavJes Otto Hardt ». Kdgar Barrier Mary Doran ....Helen Murdoch Ruth I^esKlng «.,«,,.Mary Rockwell John McKnl«;ht ISd^ar Stehli An Klevalor Man, James Clalrton It is barely possible that a differ- ent cast and a different director might have made 'Blow Ye Winds' passable entertainment. But, as is, it is just another miss. Subject matter is hackneyed, but treated pleasantly enough. IDoris Dalton is a Ph.D. facing a brilliant future. Henry Fonda is a sour lad who likes nothing more than fishing and sailing boats and who hates the city and who has no ambition what- ever. The two fall in love. Will love win or will Miss Dalton's career win? Davies, the author, thinks it can- be arranged so that both do and, in three pleasantly chatty acts he proves his point. But there is practically no action and the chatter beaomes mighty stuffy on occasion. H t'onda or M'iss Dalton attempted to really act things out maybe it wouldn't be so bad. But they are both inclined to sit around and take things easy. Fonda not only gives the imp,ression of being miscast but practically con- vinces that his heart and hi? mind are elsewhere. He just recites his lines as they come and that's that. Miss Dalton is no better. In fact there is only one piece oi good act- ing in the play, that in a small role by Edgar Stehli and this 1« $o good that, while Stehli is onstage the play begins to acquire significance and meaning. Alas, he isn't onstage very long. Arthur Hopkins, who hasn't had much luck in the past few years^ has directed the play for himself in what has become to be known as the honor system method of direction. Thus, for instance, in at least two instances, Miss Dalton and Fonda are permitted to sit absolutely quipt for 10 full minutes and do nothing more than gab at each other. There are two very interesting sets which suggest that the physical production was most distinctly not a cheap one. And that, too, is a shame, since they won't be in use long. Kai'f. ON LOCATION Comcily-ri-aiiin In three acts preSisntcd at Hltz, N. Y., Sept. 27, 'av. by Kast Coast Studios, Inc.; written by Kent Wiley; staged by same;^ ?2.To. top.. ■ ^Annle < Nolllo Burt Father Kennedy.. Jack Norworth Gene Cahot Leslie l)fnl.Mon Windy OUoiirke .Len Doyle Doc Howe. John F. Kir.; Benny Kaplan .......Mark iilnder Mackenzie Bei» H. Roberf-- Dnd Klnnear Charles Keane AVIll Curran Lamar King Sheriff JtcLeasH Geoige F. Spaulu'lns Stella Wallace.... Mary I'rnyton Tomlln Jo'in A, Uonnett Amy Rand ...... * Kathleen Hart Fay Foster. .Marjorie. Xovton GOOD NEWS FOR TAIL GIRLS! smart «syKU|i/mU/ on th« new You'll view them with enthusiasm because their svelte lines are skillfully designed for the Lowered Heel.. their colors ace matchad to the rich autunin shades you-11 be wearing. Black bucko with wine dnJ grey palchet, 0QjK brown with green anJ copper-rust , , 0 *mad« txprossly (or I. MILLER 49 WEST 34lh ST. 4S0 FIFTH AVI. 562 FIFTH AVI. 1559 I'WAV Billing says 'On Location' is a. com- edy of the golden west, but that was a promse unfilled for there is so little to lure the playgoer. Latter, if any, will probably grow weary of looking at the single interior of a cabin in the Hockies. How-an attractive girl, intent on working a gold mine .that has no. nuggets, could get in that spot is a conceit of the author. That she takes on a relief group from the WPA to work the claim is another. Story starts wandering, and be- comes too involved to hold attention, but on the scene arrives a director from Hollywood and his cameraman. They come to an isolated spot to film an unwritten story which is another thing to be or not to be believed. Seems that director Gene Cabot knew of Amy Rand and her project and so decided to get her own story, and depict real life among gold miners. Father Kennedy, priest of the dis- trict, enters into the scheme to fool the director. Crew is one of cast- offs, including a button-hole maker from the Bronx whose dialect com- edy does not register, and a youth who fled jail after serving time on an assault charge which he claims was untrue. He is in love with a young school teacher who, some- how joins the camp. Also from Hollywood enters a blond vamp, one Fay Foster. Gene had directed her in a picture in which she is shown frequently tak- ing a bath. Fay likes the guy' and wants to either have an affair with Gene or marry him. That breaks in on the impending romance between Amy and- the director. Girl sud- denly declares she won't write the story &nd when it is disclosed that the men are WPA'ers, Cabot calls things off anyhow. Men are about to leave for another relief project when the priest smoothes the ruffled waters. There is no fun in all this, although there is a line here and there which calculated to register. One has the film actress declare to the director that she took him off hamburgers and put him on caviar. Male section of the cast was re- cruited from the Lambs club, most of whom have not appeared lately. Samuel Ruskin Golding sponsors the show under a corporate title and it is reported he is also the author, billed as Kent Wiley. Ibee. Plays OutofTown French Witihout Tears Princeton, Sept, 27. Comedy in three aots by-Terence }lalll- kan. presfnted by Gilbert Miller jn a.«sii- elation with Howard Wynham and Hronwon Albery, Directed by Harold J^'rench; sel- ling, Raymond Sovey; at McCarler theatre, 'PiUnceton, N. J,, one day, Sept. '^t, fOpened on Broftdwa/ last night (28) st the Henry Miller theatre,] , Kennelh Lake Philip Friend Brian Curtis , Guy Mlddlelon Hon. Alan Howard......... IFrankliUWIoii Marianne fjimonc PellUf-iin Monsieur Malngot ...Miirccl Valli'e l-t.-Coniniander Roger.M Cyril Uavniond Diana Lake I'enelope Dudley AViird Kit NellHn Hubert GreKK .Ja(;qupllri»^ MainKol .LK-nucllire Porcl Ijord llpybrook Edward Ryan If the first act of 'French Without Tears' were as funny and mature as the second, Gilbert Miller would un- doubtedly have another 'Tovarich' on his hands. But whether the play can overcome the weaknesses of the first act and the first half of the second act remains to be seen. During several uncomfortable mo- ments in the first half of this im- ported comedy, it is difficult to un- derstand how England took it to its bosom with such acclaim, but once Terence Rattigan, the author, gets into his stride (somewhere approxi- mating 9:45 p. m.) the result becomes a gay, sparkling affair which makes for uproarious comedy and Grade A entertainment. As it now stands, the second half of this fluffy play packs more laughs than the average full- lengtH comedy, and builds up to a (Continued on page 59) Inside Stutf-LegH Savings banks in New York have been advertising in the dailies, listing many thousands of names of persons whose accounts have been inactive for long periods, Lists show that such persons have money to their credit, and indications are that many have forgotten the deposits. Amounts are not announced and may be small, since the banks are required to include all accounts of $10 or more. One savings institution last week listed a number of professionals, in- cluding Maude Nugent Jerome, Fred F. Prdctor, Jr., Wilda Bennett Schable, Anna Taliaferro, John N. Ostrander, Paul Francis Cunahan and Hamilton Mott. In 'George and Margaret,' an English comedy which opened at the Morosco, N. Y., last week, those characters are often mentioned, but do not appear. Same idea was used in a sketch played by the Four Cohans at the old Union Square theatre. Fellow by the name of Mulciahy was talked about, but never entered. Between shows a picture inscribed: 'This is Mulcahy' was placed in the lobby, which brought laughter. It is a first play by George Stivory, son of Kenneth Douglas and Grace Lane, British actors. Dougles appeared over here in 'A Pair of Silk Stockings.' Although Dodd, Mead & Co. anounces the publication of 'Adventures Among the Immortals,' by Lowell Thomas, the book was written in . col- laboration with Percy Burton. Latter Is ciirrently manai;er and agent for the Abbey Players, troupe which opens at the Ambassador, N. Y., Satur- day (2). Work is a volume of reminiscences and is Burton's experiences with notables of the London and. New York stage, with whom he was associated. Burton also was press agent for Thomas. Having closed his apartment and stored the furniture, Gilbert Gabriel has gone to the country to write another book. It is a biography of Wilr liam Walker, a buccaneer who operated in and around Nicaragua. Former drama critic, who was shufflied out when Hearst scrapped the N. Y. Arher^can. is considering several Hollywood offers and will probably go to the Coast during the winter. There are two stage unions which have jurisdiction in vaudeville, pre- sentation and night clubs. American Federation of Actors has the prin- cipals, while Chorus Equity has the say about the chorus. There was some misunderstanding ^of that status, due to the ruling out of burlesque^ but the two organizations are now supposed to operate in both fields throughout the country. Norman Bel Geddes has set back his proposed musical show imtil. the first of the year. It m^y .be a revue, but a book musical was also planned. Designer-manager is casting 'Lower Than Angels,', a six-scened melo- drama by Victor Wolf son. Letter's first play on Broadway was .'Excursion.' Eddie Cook is back with John Golden, handling 'Susan and God' as company manager. He was general manager when Golden and the late Winchell Smith were together. and "when a number of road shows -were' in his care. Plays Abroad Kleines Glueck au( der Wieden ('Bit of Luck on the Wieden') Vienna, Sept. 15. Comedy In four acta (ten scenes) by Vik- tor Skute^.ky, pi-oduced by Wllhelm Chm(>l- nltzky at Deutsche Volkstheatre, Vienna; scenes set by Alfi-ed K,unz; music, Alex- ander SlelnUrecher. FntU Mol/.er Maria West Frau Kchlkula GIsela Werbezirk Agnes , Oily Holzmann Franz ....Hans Olden Round trip through old Vienna, with a well-constructed logical plot. Story" might have happened in the romantic days before the rational- ization of 'love.' Viktor Skutezky's name appears for the flrst time on the author's list of the Deutsche Volkstheatre. Agnes (Oily Holzmann), of ice- skating rink fame at home and abroad, is a servant girl Irom the country. She comes to Vienna, has everything she wanted and dreamt of—except a lover. Frau Schikola (Gisela Werbezirk in one of her funniest roles) invents a lover for her. Writes long love letters to calm the young blood of the country lass. Eventually, of course, the real man shows up, who, by coincidence, re- sembles the love robot—and marries her. Series of side comedies run through the play: the Prater (amusement dis- trict), Grinzing wine halls, working- men at the Steyr automobile factory, etc. Old-time humor and modern times are well intermingled for much laughter. Maass. MADAME SANS GENE Vienna, Sept. 16. MuHii'ul roaied.v in three acts, hy Ifan^ WelKel, from S;ird(>irs jiluy oC same title; niusl'-, Hernlmrd (Jriien; produced by Hell- imiMi Hellmer »t Thculre an der WIen, Vienna; si'cne.s dli-ectod by Fritz Gultman; dani-M. Frit?; KliiiKenbe'.-k; orchestra, An- ion. Paullk, Napoli'on i.,. .T.eo Rcu.xR Brnndhofcr Catherine Christl Mardiiyn '••'Cevre Leopold Bi'hertI l'''"""h^ KiM-t von I.,eH8f-n Count Neipjierg Kmll Sioehr Offenbach's and Lecoque's musical sarcasm are closely followed by Berrihard Gruen. It is an excellent score that the composer, -wh'o was signed by MGM a short time ago, has written. He excels himself in the first act, when the author, Weigel, gives him the chance to underscore the events on the stage. In the sec- ond and third, Gruen contributes more modern music. A tango, 'Wir Bleiben Zusammen' ('We Remain Together'), -a parody on the police affairs of the French revolution, and a song on why the Viennese are best liked in the world look like socks. Premiere is at the same time the farewell for Leo Reuss Brandhofer, also an MGM signee, who will film in Hollywood in Lon Chaney parts. Reuss has only to play in the third act, the big scene with Catherine Huebscher, pretty laundress, who be- came the Duchess of LefelA'e. It is the pnly scene of the comedy which has^ drama. First two acts are too long-drawn out. Sardou's i)lot fails to develop under Weigel dialog, which, though snapi^y at tinpies, is only at its best when Gruen's music sets in. Then Weigel is able to show once niore his ability as a lyric writer. Christl Mardayn is excellent; Leo- pold Biberti as the annoyed Duke is energetic and manly; Fouche, police chief, as acted by Kurt von Lessen, is not funny enough at times; Stoehr as Count Neipperg is reserved. Maasa. THE DAY IS GONE London, Sept. 14. Play In three acts by W. Chelhum- .Strode, produced by John Fernald at t-ha Embassy theatre, Swiss Cottage, J<ondon, .Sept. 13. '37. 'Ernest Wobb .Ellis Irving Mabel Thatcher Hybil Grovn Stanley Thatcher.........Nicholas Hanncn' George Softly Harry llilliard Rosle Splller.,.. An.gela Baddeley Major Warmlnslde Arthur Wontner Miss Tuttle. Helene Purls Florrie RuHi Wytin Owen Excellent play, both froni the standpoint of technique and the pro- viding of entertainment for ordinary theatregoers. Plot is foreshadowed for the student of drama, and comes (Continued on page 62) Mgt.: LOU CLAYTON Columbia Studio, H'wood Attention, Legit Managers Vluy, "Hpulnh nnd the l»«ron," v»m- ])Iet«d for qiilpk reiMliiiK. AiiUior lenvlnfT for Kiiroi»e Nov. )»t. Writ© or wlro K. J. KONLANDE Care Variety, New/ York