Variety (Feb 1938)

We^ncsisifi Fcbriiarjr 23, 1938 ,Jlllloiv''K.." l''eb., 15;. by .UilD.eit illllcrv wrli.U'h ■. ti.v KreUeiitk .Ijohsdftle; ylhti c:luire ■fluiri-esd'; •ptnKtfd. l>>r jiiariuKer; '?3.3l)'top. Krli' IjlnUon.... MQi'loh'.. . r'.:.,.'. J.t^lly .IMy^no'. . , .; i;ui\l: Hiiyno..-.j. i.6i-a Whliclioll.. ,. . . r,:'.<i.r'WhitQjial.l, ...;, Jl/onI riynTic-.-.'.. . finil'y (31c.te|iley; Jvhn AVIlllnitis llarKirt't .Vyntr iVrcbllin'lU' IJiiLl)- . i i. . NVnltiT IJi'crs; ■ i;«. i... >«' a ncy ilya n . ..v.Wilfred'- a(?AB»i»in: .Rosalind:. Ivaiv Duflicss of Hamiisliire.,'. .y..Ina- Oluire. Piiiil •:,..' ,i i.......... .'.AiiStla Trevor <'luirlea..PleyaeU.'.....;. . . .. lilrlc. Towlcy Dulc'e '(it Htiirtpsljlre. ..........HiiBli WllHanvs Pleyacii..; . ; , . .;. vioih:. Kchts l ootnirtir ..'.;. . . . ...-> . .. ..'. .'.Guy. Kintferord •; :Brbadway hpw Has k smart. draw- ing .room' comedy, for after seven yearis. London's Frederipk. X>onsdale has supplied that type of diversion again,, priheipially for . the,, carriage trade; Rightly spotted in, the-Miller ■wh.ere it shbuld play well into spring. ' O.ver here the author seems at . his best ;With English titled characters, usually gatheired : together for tl»e .weekfetid; the kind Qf peopliB cbmp'arT able to vAmericahs ■ of the dilletante> class.' , His earliei: plays 'seemed, fun- : iiier than the -hew .'Once IS Ehoiigh' (ftrst called 'Half a Loaf'), . but the author's iflair for interesting dialog is- ■as'^keen as ever^ Play's.-chsirxces . are upped bijf; the sppeatahce' of ah admirably itssighed. cast.. • Gilbert;. Miller's selection,, of Ina: Giiiire is fortunate, but' the . sup- porting people ijiieaa inuch . .to - the performance. Nearly ill are British- ers .who-know their way aboiit iand who siupiply. authenticity to the atmos phere whether attractive;■ personali- tieis-or^not;- -. ' ' •Once Is Enough' l>as. plenty of sex anglies,-and..where ■laughter isn't pro- v44ed there is wit. Fact tjiat NahcyV. who is:;:a .-Dutchess,, quatrels with: • Johnny, her .consort,;. :ih .-all " their ;scehes - withbtit marring the evening ' is ;i::test of .the .'autho.r's skill, for: 'most jjlays ;havirig:':.wlves and, hus^ bands with .gloves , on are boring... The scrap is aBout another .woman; Liz; wed . to a man miich older than she,.: a. fellow whose pastimes are' riot' . her: idea of iiiversiohi,: If -is Liz virho . litters ,the credo of her set, that mar-, riage: givjeS: one a license fpr,infldeU-: ties; ..Shie is sbniewha'tr scrawny; .but lia§ big, blue eyes; Which 'majr ex- . plain Johnny's infatuation*. ■:~ . : Nancy is well aware of the affair, but kho.ws that.'Johnny, really loves- . her. . When . he ; is about to. go' to Sotith: Africa with' Liz, Nancy .jgoes _JdiiDj.actLQa-nat^aslaiij).utMged^ but like a thoroughbred. At, first she - declares there will be no divorce, then suddenly tells Johnny . he . is : free: to do.as he. wishes. : The reac- tion; is what. Nancy counted on, Johnny coming 4b the. realizatibh thit the affair with Liz was.;all wrbng'arid that .his wife is.:the finer, woman. ^ The play's people are all past the limit .of youth :and veer to middle age, and naturally th^re are squawks . over physical infirmities. : They a^i know about each;other?s tendency to' stray to other bedsides, but manage ti3 maike cbnversation amusing. Per- haps if the. characters were Ameri- can they would be less acceptable. Misis .Claire appears in the best ■ f part - she has had in seasons- and is completely at hbme, with the capa- ble. English visitors,- who include ■ Eric Cowley, , Wailter Piefsl Hugh Williams, Vibla. Keats. Austin; Trevor, ; Rosalind Ivan, Wilfrid Seagrairi, Nancy Ryan,, Archibald Batty, John Williams, .and. Margaret 'Vyner. Ibec. romudy: in threo- acta preaeritea: by Tbc- licGuHd. l-'cb.. 21, '38; at Guild. N; Y.; v\ i-it ten - by S. N. - Behrmnn;, sttigecl by H ci• ' ninn Shiiinllnr I.K!slle, Banks,. Claudia .Moi; jfrin - .nltd':'Alexander. ■ AVo'ollo'oti ' tcaturcd ■*;!.r;0. t-on;. .5 Charles Pow Hanldn....-..... .Herljert Tost .Togd.. . . . . : '.;■.... ;AkIhiUo : Yoahlwaru ; J'.Itilde .Nlcbuhr........Alexander WobUcott A\:iKUi Dicn-an...Claudia MbrRah 1 loiv ■.Clii lstopljsieh., i-;; i.-Thcpilore; Js'ewton I.t>il(Jy. Soars. . J:yd«'i-.:<!;er.ror(l . Iicp -'j'raub;-... i Collins. .-., ;.I^onald.. C66W ..iT^eslle Bank's .. ..Vaul' Stewart . .'.Johii. Maroney. lln was-Invited in to; restage,. Quite, evident .'that He injected' something, that /was -laGkingy''-Sttll'-a^ time and with ail ending not.as.lucid .as could- be, it is: wbrth while .diver- sibn. • V '. -:•■'v'', .■'; ^. l- ' In the Lbni Island giiest cbttage; of .■ young, and wealthy- Laddy .Sears,; a. group Of: interesting, people are on display. The. cottage is-occupied'by, Binkie Neibuhr, ohe of the chosen, who- Was born in Lithuania.. He.,.is: an interesting, dilettante ..who .connives little; plans ^br those. he likes. At. the mbmeiit, he. is most interested in -fur- . theririg a : marriage Wilda. :Ppran, whose .mother -he had - been fond of;.. . Lhddy hasibeen attracit.ed ..to Wilda arid fmahces . a -picture : for .<her,.. but she' is smitten with Ryder Gerrard, another . l-ich chap who has -made, good as .a hewst>aper publisher; m Sarite Fe and, who- is (elected; to the senate^. V'.V w ■ ■ ■ v-; .. ;'. Bmkie's plahs. and the giirl's indi-. cated future are knbcked awry by the arrival of DoSv 'Christophsen,, a confirmed- Communist,. taciturn ;and different.. Perhaps that is why Wilda iis attracted "tb >him, in ..iact, she; thrbws herself at the fellow,; who, like his kind, will grab but refuses all responsibility. : He eventually walks but oh her and with .the chances at'; marriage with., either ;of her wealthy swains evapbrated; she is still on Binkie's hands, iat the finale., That one girl should be, the magnet of-the afffictidh^ of- so^many ihen :at; thie s^me , time , is one; p| the play's >yeakriesses..:-,,': . . '•■y :-^'' ■ Chris at ariy event reihairis the un- cbrivihcable reVbliitiohist ' There are sitter . passages betweeri hini and . those xvhbse demiocratic: vie'ws on life; ar,e jiist as. staunch.' ;.Avithor does hot iatternpt a- .Solutibh. and . ,app^ ' to . take 'the pqsitidh that > world ..social cbriflict'; wiH.'..come. ;:But'aside; frbm he : highbrow, discussibns, there are ■ jrilliaht, iinjoyable ihterllides, V Mis^ Morgiih's Wilda is described as intent oh self de^tri;ctidn, a part- not as .attractive as the- .authbr : has ?uilt; itp the maile element of his play.' Corpulent ■ Woollcott - is never tiresonri^ and 'generally worth listen- rig to. ~ .Banks turns • in a firi.e: pari,.^ bo, and there are other standouts by Paul Stewart as the- picture author. '■ Donald Cook" Laddy, Thebdbrfe Newton as the radical;;.arid Herbci-t Yost 'as hiis disappbinted ;uncle.' . \. ;^ ■ •-" Ibcieii: - ■: Shows in Rehearsal ' "'All''■>he. :-tivinffV'^ :Ghe^^ ;'Crawford and- J^^ Johii .Stillr ■ lriari,:-'Jr;.-, v^' '- ■■.;•'■'■' -::: 1^ ■;«Sei. ^GiilK..(revivsal)—l^heatre:. ■ Giiiid. - ^ ? '^^..■'■■': • -'O' :. ..'Spring.tl»aW'';(re^^^ - ^Gbrdon,■. '-.i-'':"';.'.^;'■ "' ■■ '..'The'.-■■Hill-. ijetwecti'-^Robert: Porterfleld. :' '■ • ■ •Siinply,: ttenry H,offg?-:--Thi6a'i ; tre Guild,and Actors Repertory. V •Schoolhouse on ^ Jhe ^ Lo^^^ ^Phiiip ijuimirig!',^^'.' : ■ '■•Yo.u..Never' H;n6vi''.T-Shuberts.; 'Empress;.;)ijf^.'-Xfestiny'^Fred- ;, ericrk W. :Ayer. • ;.•-:'/. '■\ 'Censored'-rA/'H^ Woods, -y :■, ^^wKo's:- ;'iyil»o'^isa:;:';]^ aiid-Leon?rdlSiliihari7' - ■ ,;''I:;,Ain;My. Yoatli'--;-Alfred. de;;\ ■Liagre;' ■■:.'-.:^-\';:.~- 'V ■ ^Pbtential ibiickers Jihd their \advise^ ;pr^,^ view benefit perfbrmaiice of the Group's .'Casey Joii.es' last y/eek ;at; the Fulton, - after ;th9y, ha to ?W*!hd,v.;.At.;the la ;i?acking w^^ custonraryi rising ,excluding^ ;a Meloj'rrtniii In three ftcts presented" it Fuiidii, N. Y.. Feb. lU. '38, by Group The- atre;, writteii by Uiobert Ardrey;' istdfied by- KUa Kazin; .$o,30 tdv. iTod.'Sh'prrhart... Casey .Jones.... .'..v,. Ma't;;.. < Riffy.. Brakeman ..^..... pidMan . . . .... . : .. , Oasslinah...-...'., • ■ .Tohn .r-oUl.iis...'i... Mi's.. -Jon'os...... . . .Ipncs;.'.'■..... . . ,.v]. .'.. Port'smou.th'.'.rnnes i tiUo, ■ McGiiiness^ .'.' ........-VVan Heflin . -. .Gharlesi BIckford .... .Joseph. Sawyer .;,.... G.urt-; Conway. r.CliarJea Thompson,. ./.Howard Da;Silv«, -.Olahey .Cooper' . .Charles J. Dlnele . /JiYances' WIUlDms .'...Robert. Straus* ; , i. . PecBy' Co.nltlln■ ... VEunlce Stodda|;'d entirely sold on the play, as shown by butsid'e financial piarticipation; , Charles Bickford came back frbin Hdllywbod, to: enact Jdries, but he saw mbre; in'the- part, than did the. fir^t nigihtets, or he merely .wanted a change of pace .after the ;gririd of the studios, Bickford was hampered by a bad thrdat'openihgt night, ^ ^ Peggy Cbhklin, as his .daiaghter, is in an assignment which does : hot measure uo tb her - talents. Van Heflin as the fireman, is the most likeable charaictcr in the ..play. Chairlcs J. Dingle,: Robert Striiuss and Fi:arices Williams are the": best of the bthers.'.-\, :■.';.vV r'::- ibcc. v ■•y:^;^^^ew::;T^ y- ' -Nqw Theatre .t.eagrue'-'prc3.pnts- .t wo. one-aot play.s, at the Metfctiry Thealre;;'reb. 2t», '.3ili top. \ : " rVE ^pt THE TiJNE V Badlo .sonjf'play I'by M^ro. Bllt'ji.stfin, ,r;;SfArc- .Blitsistcln . PeSKy - Coiidray , .;Lilly Wlhlbn:; ,v..-.''. liou-.Polah- ;. ^^ortuhn' liloyd- '. .dUvc Stah.tDn Ben';Kog^ Miistker Beetsi'.,...,....... . V.. Madatne-Arbtitiis. '. ... Captalii BristlDpuhlU. Private Scl.inook.' ,'.■..; .' Suicide.,• Choral'.Director. i " .ehbrU»:,'Sam Eoiihell. I'*crry Grii^kln,. Bert GonWay,Harry. Lcsiln. Will . Lee; Martin Rltt,; Mack Rovnci;, ;Too .-AVar.Held.-Art' Zwerllnp, David lipleV^. ' Vipky Horne,; .Amelia' Ronnia.no,..;.-.: ■... - ^ . ■ • .• .r -... - I'PLANT iNTTHE' SUN bno-act .pU^y. by. Eon 'Bengaj, prefle'rited Jby 'Plant In the Siih ,Co;\ an Aincilrari Theatre Council:- Groupi . StaRed by . A.rt- Sihltli. Production manager..; Carl L4rner;. technical .direbtbr,' Milton■.Immerman Peew'ee. Mike;.. -I:szie;.w ■Tubbo:i.... Sklririy..■.> .';,;'...>...;., Henry... .•>....-.'.. .. • •: .Tbiiy.::;. .t',',; .V.:i:.;.:..... Fannie..'....'....;.. ..'. Horscface';'.;-, .-^...... :.■. Larry... ..■......'...., Dave.'.;..-.';.. ...^ - Mr.. Roberts..;. Jim... :,.'. ....... ....'. • ■. PoUceihan;,...;......., Man In Panama Mat . FlriB.ers... .. ..,.; Aridther .'intellectual play has ar rived this winter-in 'Wine of Choice, perhaps the moist literiate put. Although niildly received by first nighters,- it ■ still fiigu'res: tb serve ,y/ell: enough on the Brdaidway boards.' .. ' S.\ N. Eehrmah; has : been; rather faithful to the: Guild with his- output..; He came; through . with. 'Amphitryon' earlier. Jh .the:sea^bh arid npw -Wine of Choice,;' a: miicH better • play but iiibre:cbriversatibnal.. In brilliance' of . dialog, it measuresup : tb his: .best, writings, < without, .providing; ;the! jnirthcthat some others: were accom- • i)c('p:ied'-'wi'th.-■■-.'■.■■ GiiHd had plenty/of irouble with :*Wirie' arid, brought it bapkfbr . re-- pairs, both ais to; script and cast. It is distirictly stiperidr, to the .first verr Kbri'; • arid ' as fbir: playing "-Strength there is little ;.vcrilicisrii -.merited., Alex Wobllcott .iri the part ori.ginally played: by ; Harry Wagstafl, G;'ibble seems , a nStura;!, despite his rating a vbetter writer . than -ah actor. Claudia Morgan has the sOlo fem- iriiri.e - part that. Miriam Hopkins walked out on. Leslie Banks .remains as one of the original featured pljay- ers; Author. seemis tb hayfe spiread. tellin.s! Scenes . anipng iripst 'of ;. t.he ••briricibalis.'.; '-.• ^''^-•'.■'--:■'^ '■ 'Wine' is cssentiaUy; a chijlog play, •nd in' the makerover Herman.Shumr Jones' script.: has been: arburid fdr .a season "or iwb, but the fact that its author has been :given press attention, although; he hasn't scored ai success;: accounts for its presentation. ; Distinctly, doubtful that this drathi will .:get across..' - . .Workirig on :the railroad is toUgh; particularly for the main .whb hari- dles the thrdttle bf a passenger; Ibco-^ motive :gbirig. ai riiile and a half' per minute between ; Chicagb a^nd'' St Louis. . For Casey. Jones the: job . is the: more haiardous. Peering' alorig the rails from the cab has become a nightriiarc; .because .his eyes are fail irig. That's .mostly: -why -he " all grouch at. 50, aware that he's wash ing Up;, Not sb with jed, the yoiarig firemari who is sweet • on; Jones-' daughter, Portsmouth. :; Outside of the rdmance, the new play possesses ;'little ■pttractivehess : e.xcept for the setting of a steam en- gine arid tender, which ate .oh yiew three tirines during the perfdrmarice During the fun down to St Loo on the new 'number four,' Jones thiriks the. train ' flagged arid- stops, arriving at idestinatioh 11 minutes late. : On -.the seedhd run, he fails to se.e motor car stalled bn the tracks an<* grinds it to bits. .-.; :. Jbnbs passes tiie 'birthday test,' as required ariniially by .the .road, .bu ; bluirtis out tb the superintendent thai: , his eyes, have weakeried. Disdiaining a, .iJcnsibn - or freight trairi assign-^ ment, he goes back tb handling the telegraph . key in a tank: station, Jones, however; flags a • fast .train,, in ari. incredibly-shdft time, determined tb gb back into action irathcr than be tof mentcd; in "the sticks. \\-.'< - Scenes dutside the rdundhouse are well staged and -intoresting, alsb.4hat- of .; the boar-ding house basement where the engineer, his dauEthtei: aric Jed reside. 'Yet there is; little, dra- matic form and the: pi ay resolves it- Wlf into thie story bf-.a . crack 'engi; neer on his. way but No .atterript is made tp.Jndicate the ohariaes /made in , rail' transportation,- which dates .'Casey.', certainly- one of the things the matter with the play. . Stearii .engine effects on. the stage a re riot new arid another gen oration witnessed more effective .stage prop.i Croup Theatre apparently was not . . Sam Bonne) i; .Bert. :Gpn^^■ay. ;..Perry Bruskln .....Harry Lesaln ;.iv.,.;\..Wi!l ;J>oo .......Martin Eitt .YlcUy Korne: .. .;i..;Ii0u Polan . Mdc^.-nbvher . .Joe Warfleld ....V...,,Art: Smith '. ■..'. Norman .Lloyd ;-.George.. Matthews ... ;.,-..Av.t Z.werllhB . 1... .Duvlxi telght reached and Bloomgarten remained adariiant.; ; Resiilt was that ftichafd Aldrich,: who had cdme td advise fr-iends, and Johri J. Wildbergi j^ttotney; who had iriyited Aldrich, were forced to icobl ' their heels in. the lobby of the Fulton during the first act Aldiich's pro- ducing, partner, Richard Myers, v/as-adriiitted, because the! Fulton's ^tafE failed to fecbgriize hirii.,; Jake Wiik.'of. Warners' story depiartiment, was : also barredi Ursula Parrptt was ariother who rie liairold Clufmari, of the Gfoup, appeared ;after the shQw was well under. way. TKe mistake. was rectified with salaams ^hd apologies: all a round. ■ '. Dorothy : Will.ard is one backer pi 'Casey Jone.s.'j jt is her seijprid backirig veriture this season. -, First was /'Many Mansibris;' still funning at the 44th Street, N. Y. Miss 'Willard is. the former wife of onie of the -\yealthy. McCormicks of Chicago.. She appeared " one of the -surnrrier. fufal coriipanies a sieasori. or so .ago, but decided to be a patroness; Of the ^ stage, father than a player,; Understbod she has a 50% iriterest iri 'Jones,' Unusual angle to the suit; ehargirig^^^i^^^^^^ don/against George S. Kaiifmari' and Mdss Hart in connectibh with: '.You Cari!t TakeVlt. With You,'^ isi that defendante cbUecte^^^ the; oourt. Usually, in cases involving; accusations ?against: aitithofs wheret: - the- court , awards compensatory damages to Vririners, this is seldom collected. . .. . '^ ■ < Complaint was: tossed out recently by Federal Judge 'John : C, Knox, Who avirarded $500 and .costs to defendants.E. Reinheinxef, repre- . senting Kaufman and Hart, cbllected the award fof his clients. ''■ Points out thait only '.types of cases ;ini which- judges .can make an award to . suc- cessful defendants are. iri unfouirided piagiafism cas.es, .under section 40 ;6t ■ the .copyright law and iri ■ diybree. actibnS. prdiriariiy, awards-, of this kind ■ are uncollectible, as plaintiffs have no furids. Two bne-acterSV the; ; left ' wing variety, orily one-of which, impresses. Marc Blitzstein's radio song play, I've Got the Tune,' first performed over Cblrimbia Broadcasting's Work- shop last fall, lacked cohesion as a fadio piece.: This is accerit^uated/iri its perforriiance in legit The second t of the program, Ben Bengal's 'Plant; in the Sim,' has eonsiderable merit. ■;'--;': -'-.- : '■ Excitingly directed and ably acted, 'Sun', is an effective piece of writing which: has to' do with the develbp- riient bf -ai sit-down strike-by shipping clerks in a candy ^factory;. " Fbr, scenery, packing boxes are piled up to provide a very realistip back- ground- : Piece has some good thea- tre, but- the ending needs better tirii- ing. Actors are a well-knit group, Which results in rourided character- izations iarid performance. . Blitzstein's opus has k ; coriiposer (Musilcer) hiririg a secretary (Beetsi) and; going on a wide:i tour in search of -lyrics for his tune.. It takes therii first to a swank- too-tod ;divirie Park Avenue salon, where Madame Ar- butus is. the patroness; ' then to a meeting bf the Fascist Purpleshii-ties; ori another day to save-, a would-be suicide from ending it' all. arid finally to .a May .Day parade. To: the';^.par raders, the tune is finally donated, hayirig .found at last what;.the coriif poser cdrisi'defs its proper niche. : :Performej..with,.'.:i51..itz5te the piano, , with . sound' effects produced visibly : 'in; a radio play,, this is p'Utting it on -too thick.. : Cast simu .:lates stepping to the mike as iri radib at each appearance. Peggy Coudray turns . out: a gdod Beetsi^ Norman Lloyd is highly effective' as Private Schnobk and Olive Stanton, as the suicide, has an iridjyidiial vbcatqiial ity; which is tremendously appealing. Blitzstein,: as the " composer, plays that role well;; but the present thin coristfrictidn .b£ the piece defeats its Tri-*'Rnfibri;sr^" ;:-:--:-~r.—-- .;-.7. '- ;.' This; .pijece. is : Satisfactory. - enough for the hysterical loft audiences,' who are.: not over critical, of what- is dished up to them. 'Princli)al'fault is . that; it has several, component paftB, each of which is never quite .iritei»rated. . Turthierm.bre,;. the tune which'.sei-ves. as the. basis rtf :tlic story, has such -an - evasive. quality ■ that if fails to-stick with ' the aud,ioiice.'and -tends to . further obscure the ihiri knit■ story/■ , ;- ' '■.' .■ Produced here in the marin'ir .'of Blitzstein's 'Cradle Will Rock' sans ■ George Afliss has resigned as a n)en»hef bf the Actdrs' Equity. Assn. cburicilii fbrvyarding; his with^^ Ht>llywood. He had served on that body sirice 1913 aind .when in New York attended its ;sessions. regu- iafly. • CbUrieii asked him to reconsider, hut,he-felt that he could ho longer temairi a oorint metropolis was nbt nieritiohed, -English when it. sought; a contract with the managers. ; ; ' Afliss is not art Ariiericari citizeri, .Equity .later: resolved: that citizenship be a qualification,for couricillors, but the measure Was; not ;retroactive. • . ■ - ?Zaisa'.^ii5 'riieritibn^^^ fof; revival, iri - London .and if .presented may- have Mary. Ellis iri the title part. Ownership of the fights has hot been estab- lished, hbwevef.; Play was originally produced, by David Belascoi who worked on its adaptation from the Frerich ofigirial. Charles Ffohm^ri; was interested and the scfeen rights were secured by PaTamourit, which ab- sorbed the FrbhmarT stage fights :Whether the riights to 'Zaza' are still active' or have reverted to ;the original authofship; by feason of oopyright tefriiiriation is to. be determined. Flock of Broiadwayites:Wefe lured to the lower east side, N. Y-, last week to view a tryout,; 'He~iyas'l:ike^-7ebntinerit;;'--Play^as a mu ddled-affiair^ arid the house was riot heated. > Onie excursionist remairked, 'This shbw has everything in but coal. I'm cold and goirig hioriie.'.-'. ^ Showing was givenlatop the' Yiddish theatre at 2d ave. and Houston si. Roof; theatre was formely called the Natiorial Winter. Garden, where ; the Minskys started their stock burlesqiw. - Spbt'i^ the Roosevelt. -'.;'" '•''- . .V,: .' y -':■ '.'. ■ With the closing of 'Roosty', at the Lyceum, N; ;Y., last Saturday (19), /ilbeft Lewis, the pfbducef, ; is du tb Califo^nia^ although: his Hbliywbod plans are indeflnite,^^^^ *^ way in 1.0 years. Althdugh it fldpped, Lewis plans at least one pfdductioa fbf next sieason. . ' . ■ -yc- 'i-'y. -: ^' Understood that Myrdn Selznick had a piece of 'Roosty,' along With other:, film backing, but picture company coin was riot riepresen ted. ■ ;.:^Regardless:oif: ih^;fact that Re^o is fated one of the liveliest cities.iri the. coiintry, traveling; shdws rarely play the stand. ^Tobacco Road- played the spot, for brie riight early this mbnth and f4red very well, but there are rip further bookings in sight. ;; - '\''-v, Reno is ari in-between spot for- prPductidns on the Way to or from the; Coast and local showmen rarely seek'bookings. Uq programs .^are distributed for 'Our Town,' now at the. Moroscp, N. Y., until the secbrid intermission^ rior were . any available when the show dpened in Boston. ;-..!.'; ,'• ...•.;>'.' -. y '^■.''; ■ Mariagement'f idea appears^ to be that since there is no; scenery; prp- grairis are not ri;ecessafy except fpr identification of. the players. ; • Helen Jerorne states that 'Jane Eyre,' whether produced on Broadway by thb Theatre Guild;or another mariagennerit, 'Will be presented exactly as wfitten by hef.^and ,as .dorie.iri:^ Play reverted to her. •/ scenery'i it's not up to the cdmpbser's other work, - though ,.its technical faults could be -remedied. Presently the-lack of integration is arindying as. the spectator has to make too many transitions mentally which .the : au- thor, should have; pblnted up in the- script ■■ -;-; ■..'- . .J.Tarl.ntr.ton'. ilohzie Itae Murder; in the Cafheclral ;.;Drama'-;!h; vCrsc; •-.'two 'nets (tliTce: -BCcnPsV,- .hy. 'Tj fi ..l';ilot..; -Kblitures Robert: ■SjiealKlit; DlrcHed - by K,' Martin IJrbwne. Preae'nt.ieil ■ItyvCVUhOrt Millet' and'Asliifiy XHikes.'- at" tht n\lr.: '^tY.;: lOeb'. liJ, .?38;-?:;.."?0 top,. ■ riirirus.of....;.-. .'., . Phoebe, ■\\'at.orfle;i;d Wbincn; pr..'....'..,. . ; . Marjorie Anderson ■raotcrbilry ■ ."■ '..N'ina-.Kvnnw..Valcrrp-ITiiU, . .:; P.imola.' Kcily, 'Lb.U SiiUcr, ' iiui-n. -: -; ■ .V-' ;■;■.'-.■.;':■' ■■ ';.,. .'.i.. .Tl.firold Si'olt ;.y^..c. 1... .JiertlH.'Jt'irej-; i. .('iivialbphbr: 6:isson. .;. . . . . SlO'npy- .Wh rnp : .,:..; .;,;. ,;,M'>avid; Gili :. ..:i . ..-^..rtbbcrt PppaiKlit .ITIrKt ,Toriip.ter, ,nnd' KnlKlit;... itiLs'soj' N'nplet i^efoiifl., tompt.fT hn<l -TCnlirlit.:, .Denis Oveon ■'third, Templer.'-'dnd.- ICniglit,. ; " .;., ■■ ■ ;.. :' '■'. ; ;.; • . ',, ■ l■.^'■o.^^lan.Chi(,l>fe^• ■I^ol!r.lh; *^cml).tc^ 'ari(l',KiviB:1vt; - -.■■■■;■ ; ':'"'' ' IC. Marllii Crbwh.f :,frii;'st PrlMt,;.. S,o£''andj;.l>.rieSt^;; Tlvird 'PrioMir;.... Ifniirth'-- Priest.:., Mesjjcnc^'i^.'t. : 'riio.nina ■■J.?i->('kc(. ; : Play was done :on. Bv.padwaV twp seasons ;'a.'?o by: the; Federal Theutre Project, the first .s.ucce.s.'^ful ;prodiic- tion. by that .organizatiojii.,' It h^is previously been presented experi- mentally at Yale, When offered by: the FTP, 'Murder' .was.a hit; but.wws taken oil, after a, short fun so as not to 'exhaust ■its.audi,, ' .' Since then it :ha& had •mbre;thari';600 . pcffornv- ahces in .' Erigland,';' with; Robert Speaight i ri- the .leading rple,;; Present : company. is virtually the same as • played it thei-Pt ■ ■ Although . 'Murder'^ was; ia-;click for, the FTP, it appeats- tb have only limited .prospects as a"; commercial pf eseritatibri. \ Pbetic drarnas such a$; this, particularly those with a dccplj^ religious themcy Wduld seem .to have a sppcial appeal and be better suited for .Federal Theatre-iiresentatibii; . . ■ Show is staged: sorriewhat differ- erity than ' When, the' F'iTP offered ,it. .Settings are handsome and dra-. maticaliy bffective.: Lighting riiakcs ;ffeqUent vise, of :sriiaU overhead iiSpots i though the.stdge i.ij dirtily lit:through riiuch pt the pcrfoi'marice. : P.acc is slow.. ■ ■ y-'X-■ : Performances. particUln.rly thftt of Speaight; ; as Tliomas a'Bccke.t, ate ,'^eriyinely ;absorbirig. In - his first American ehgagement, SpcaipnV :tUrns in art '.inspiring job.; Shbws .»!-■ sight,; feeling-- and; prdbef ..shading. Enunciation- is cxtrnordinarlly clear. Other; parts are also well played.; notablv the four knights in. their cx- planation scene. ; ..Staging, scemf (Continued bn' page -60)