Variety (May 1938)

•VARIKrVS' lOXOON OFFICB S.St. Mwrtln'» yiftcg, Traral(-air (jqaar* WTEkKATIOWAL SHOW NEWS Cnhia Ail(1r«iiat VARIRTT LONDON Telephone Xemple Ihtr M41-(M)W S9 Plays Abroad PQWER AND GLORY London, April 23. ranm In three nct» by Karl Capek; Enir- ilKli veiiion by Paul Selver and Rnlph N«al. ISiurti Uiicar llDniolkn. Produced by Claud GUrnty. At the bayoy; lAindon. I.epef.. .i R.. Hliniett Pi-of«»8oc SiKellue..,,>........Felix Aylriicr Dr.- C'alen, ...Oecur llomcilka FIrat AsslatKnt..' : ,,Edrle Grey Father ., .Jullefi Mitchell Mother......i,> Beatrice Vnrlcy DnuKhler: Dolores baleitrno Poh. ;.. LowlH Sliaw Marf^inl. , .Oncnr Homolka 'Paul Kruir .Anthony Hawtrcy Biiron Krug. .c. V. France. Anetta. Lesley Brook The premiere of this play was un- fortunate, in that the wife of Oscar Hpmolka, the star, died the day on which; it was- scheduled to open. After a postponement of' two days-, he went on. Piece is in 14- episodic sceneiS!, and it's good theatre and in- dicates a success. An aged,' tired doctor has discov- ered a.cure for leprosy. Locale is an imaginary country. He treats the Eeople of the sliims without charge, ut refiises stubbornly: to impart his secret to the world until all countries get' together and agree on peace. Dictators provide the most vulner able subiects for. the stage carica- tures. The greatest weakness of the piece is that Homolka plays Ijoth the old doctor and the dictator. Almost any seasoned theatregoer could con- jure up strong scenes between these two completely divergent roles, but the playing of both by one actor iriAkes this, impossible. The author, has a'good eye ^or characters, .and there has been a competent selectiipn of players . re^ cruited for their interpretations. De- spite totally dissimilar mannerisms, there's insufficient ditTerence.of voiSe' between the two roles enacted by Homolka. B(th are competent por- trayals, but this form of stage per- formance is a fiift few possess. Piece is excellent anti-war propa- ganda,, but its chances have prob- ably been. partially minimized here by. the prior presentation of 'Idiot's Delipht.* The Sherwood play is'do- ing so splendidly, however, that thiere ought to be room for another. The Tots of Coi liOndOri, April 23. Comedy .drarha. In three' acta by .Walter Hacked: produi'td by Hackett. A't the ■.VaM«lcvtlIe,.' Ix)ndon. fiandy. McTavlvh. '.'Kell Crawford' Arthur Sllnitaby ; i ,Leonard Uptoa Chance Burton Edwin Style* aialrnian.r. ;.Alfred Mlllen Colonel GoMnr....; R. Meadowi-Wtalte Dollle Gnr.itip...............Marlon Lorn* f.eonard De Gamo....^ ...John Hunt*r Tony Goring.: ...^Robert Andrew* Blacknhaw: .Xjawrenee Phllllpi I.,e.itrode..; .R; Van Boolen Crace...; ^... Antoinette Fontn^k T.ady Mavia WlllaiTen, .'Cbrlattne. Barry it. Roque ...i,.,.'.i.John Hunter Caalelaiie...........Paul Sberldtn Eighteen years jigb.'Walter Hackett came over on ■ a 'honeymoon- with Marion Lorne .and wrote a successful play in which she appeared' as. • reckless, quavering female. Every year since,- hubby provides her with a play in which she, enacts more or le.ss the same role, ahd .is nearly al- ways greeted with applause and re- garded.affectionately. Present vehicle, as' usual. Is a mix- ture of farcical comedy and thriller. Action, particularly in the first act, needs tightening. 'With this done, the piece should occupy a satisfactory niche in the list of Lorne vehicles. Pliay' is augmented by a series of thrilling complications that include • murder, an international spy, and se- cret service stuff. .But always inter- spersed is the' scatterbrained person- ality with which Miss Lome has long been associated. A large supporting company is ef- fective. Jolo. . wife, sitting at home neglected while her lover disports himself nightly with, her athletic son,, at a neighbor- ing gymnasiuin, ■ She engineers a meeting with the' wife, arid divorces are arranged for all—even for her- self, as it turns out her husband is still alive in China. Through all this complicated maze the stars wander, supported by an able company. Show had a splendid opening night reception, that sav- ored more of loyal afTec'tion for Wakefield and Miss de Gasalis than appreciation, of the farce. Clem. FLOOD TIDE Lohdon, April 24. Drama In three acta, adapted, by William' Boehnel. from A. D. Herbert'! novel, "The House by the River.' l^resented hv .Syd- ney W. Ciiri-oll: prndured by Arnol'd Rid- ley. At the .Phoenli, London. Janet l\-irrgnt v.... Maritaretta Scott John Egerlon.. Colin Kelth.-Tohnston Mnrsery B.vrne... ...^ Ann Todd Stephen Byrne ..Boall Svdney Lord Mllroy. f;meat Theelxer Andrew* Whmaker;..,....MIrtiRel Shepley Mm. Viola Fayne . .N.idlne March Pol.lce IhBpector Snowden,.Henry Longhurat ■ Whatever chance 'Flood Tide* may; have had here was blocked by the players talking so softly that they :puldn't be heard at the opening. After the first act, Sydney W. Carroll, who presented the piece, informed the company what was happening. Sec-, pnd act'improved for awhile but then the players seemed . to . again lap.se. However, there seems to be enough to indicate rewriting might make it a splendid thriller for,even American audiences. It s tts too slowly and niuch of the opening sequences could be deleted. ■ A fine mural artist, whosie mtstresa threatens to: tell his wife ot their relations, iri an endeavor to stop her. chokes her.to death. An artist friend: helps him dump the-body into the river. The wife learns the secret and persuades her husband to let all the siupicion rest upon the accessory. Lord' Milroy,, a w^ialthy retired English judge, is an art .connoisseur and makes, the observation that ijainters reflect their chai'acters in their work. In his opinion, the.friend of the great artist.shbwS by his work with the. brush that he Is a kindly, individual and incapable, of commit- ting a crime. Per contra, the mural painter Is Strongly aggressive - and capable of such a deed- The last act,, as. at present constituted, Is anti-. climax but there is more than enough good criminological istuft, along hew and modern lines to sustain interest. Jolo. AS HUSBANDS GO London, April 24. ':irfe in Ihrcp nrlH liy Ry<ln'ey Jilow nnil Gi'i:iIon WliHi'hejMi; lu-oiVucod by 'I'oni Kfynulds hi the OHrrlyk,' Jxindon. I'ike Hnl)|n Hiiliip}.. , I-loncl. \ L'niililfv.:... Atnnnila. .Mnc> ■. Siiink-y •UnnloKs. Mwr.v. \ .... D.ilihne Jtalnf-s,.. jHck L'pierluji ...Morris H.nrvev .lIuKh WakelUld ....l.liiieft t\irri''y inne de C'unnlls. 1301'ek' Ji(in-I .....luck RtijKht . ..r.Ht Hollcniler .... ■ a .Lei'.nox ruoe ^jeion too long and wordy, but a subject well worth considering, lor adapta- tion, particularly for the screen. Setting is the 1848 revolution in Munich, when general discontent is climaxed by the romantic, elderly king's passion for Lola Mohtez, Spanish-Irish dancer. Her crazy, ex- travagances and the king's blind in- fatuation at a nioment when' the peoples of Europe. are clamoring against oppression bring matters to a head and ultimately leads io the king's abdication. Plot drifts off into-fiction when Lola is driven by a storni' into, the house of Hans 'Vogt, simple botirgeois and passive dreamer who falls in love with the beautiful stranger. This passion frees him from the fetters of his private life and the; petty tyranny of his pedantic father-inrlaw. He then drifts into the revolutionary move- ment and leads it to victory. Only then does he discover that the woman he loves is' Lola, against whom the movement has beien di- rected.. They part, but with the pros- pect of starting a: new. life together in America. Anna Tokes is an eye-opener in the Spanish dancer's picturesque costumes, although, the part is not entirely suited to her temperament. Outstanding performance is that ot .Gozon as Mathias, the oppressive iather-in-law, Jacobi. ' DINASZTIA ('Dynasty') Budapest, April 24. Muilcal comedy In three act«; book, .Paul Vorl; 'ihualc, l»lv»n Bekefn, Iinre Hnr- math and NIcluilaa Brodeky. At the Mngyar,, Budape'st. .Sylvine ■; TTannnh Honlhy King .Ufaniiel............ Laozio Foldenyl Queen Clirlallne .i C^arulu .Zalnl 'l-he Secretary ,... .DerM Kerlcs/. Klnu Ivan .Kugene Tor/a OlRii W«.Mowaka .Verd Senhyey Pilnoe Joachim ............. .Genn Homaa Prime. Auguslua ; Ivadar jJilliau Duley Many& KIsB Not a very auspicious stage. re- turn for Jeanne de Casalis and Hugh Wakefleld. 'Both get the utmost out of their roles, but the framework just isn't Boqd enough.. It's been done many limes before oh , "the screen, where it serves better. Sketchy. flr.st two' acts plajf havoc, aiid despite .some amusing lines one feels the stars' talents might have been belter.employed. An attractive widow is coyly in-' vei,5ling a jjrass . widower into divorce and rernarriage with her.. He. claims bi.s wife won't divorce him an when she; su^igests taking pos- .scssion of hia hou.se and moving in. he .i!ets panicky and fearful of his Ireedom. Meantime, his wife has tei-retled out his hideout and wants i to retiii n to- him. ' Naliirally, the sly wido\y gels.liei' way, turns (he home topsy-turvy and becomes more wifely thaii the This, is an attempt to revive op- erettas, and probably a successful one. The librettist has seemingly borrowed the romance of King Carol of Rumania for the foundation on which.his plot is based. H% also delves into the arsenal of penniless royalty in exile, anarchist scares: obsolete etiquette, and queen-secre- tary, prince-American heiress ror mances. Prince Ivan, heir to a throne, de- serts his wife, Sylvine, for his mis- tress. Sylvine falls in love with her secretary, although she thinks he's an anarchist. Ivan succeeds to the throne, parts with mistress and re- turns to claim Sylvine and make her his queen. Secretary nobly renounces her ;md then saves Ivan's life from murderous attempt by his deserted niisliess. ; To this libretto, concocted without much spice, after old recipes, Nicho- las Brodsky has composed a rather pretentious ..score, exleridihg musical k'.cenes to the verge of' boredom. A few effective and melodious numbers, however, nolabl.y a wallz, rnake tip for this: Well .staged and acted with verve.. 'Dynasty'' has excellent film possibiliti DAS WESPENMEST asps' Nest!) Berlin, April 27. Comedy In-three acts by Wolfgang Han- Jdi. Produced by Fritz Holl. .Scttlnga, ilelnz Daniel. JJi-csentcd at Tlioater am Kurfilretendimmi, .Uerlin. Mra. Aapegreen,.., Ida ^^Uat Astrld.'hcr dau'r;hter..'. ,:.IIse Petri Riismua Amleraen....,. udolt Kleln-Rogge Rev. AntonModerscN ....,Otto Stocckei Frieda, hia wife...:. line FUralenberg Major eticf Alilers... ..:...... Ilnnn-Adalbert v. S<'hlettow Korolihe, hi* wife........ .. .Berlhti Gaat Knud. lhclr son... ..Victor v. Ztlzewlt* Tyra Andcisen;. Else Boy .lena Halvoraeh .Werner Stock Mlaa Paulsen......, ..Inge Ll*t . Unable though' not exactly novel comedy idea, about the.- so-called black sheep of a hypocritical family, piece igoes limp in many spots be- cause of wrong exploitation'. Instead of holding it up, farce dialog and situ-' :atibns are put through the placid paces of a drawins-room comedy. This freezes tip most of the laughs script holds. , ,' But production speculates On the popularity of the comedienne, Ida Wiiest, a German Mary Boland, who has a staunch following on stage and screen., 'Vehicle has been' trjmmed to suit her garrulous and mannered comedy tricks, which the audience expects, recognizes and promptly laps up. And the blonde; plunipish. Ida's presence most of the evening gives the auditors little chance to be conscious of ,an.ything else but her broad grin and- pleasant bullying. As. the cast-out black sheep, Tilly Andersen' nevertheless Is. a success. She return.s with Astrid, her illegit^, imaite daughter; the original bone of contention, after 20 years, when she is called by the family solicitor to be present at the revealing of her fath- ei-'s last will. With the exiieption of a legacy to his youngest daughter, old Andersen, wanting to make good,- has left everything to Tilly. Neither his Other two grasping daughters nor. their parasitic, husbands get ■ red cent.; But the opening of the will, prompted by their eagerness to get hdld of father's money, is premature.. Father appears, hale and well, and the reconciliation with;his favorite; daughter, Tilly, brings about the happy end. Direction by Fritz Holl could be improved but on the whole the pro- duction is adequatie. One set and li ited cast-give play a good chance. Trasfc. Angels 'Clouds' to Give Daughter Stage Break London, April 26. Biggest backer of 'April Clouds,' which Victor Kortona just produced at the .Royalty theatre,,.is Arthur Clayering, showman. One of - the' primary reasons for Clavering's ven- ture is the desire that his datighter, Mavis Claviirihe,. play , the . femme lead. Gal was tried tjut, bu.t Peggy Ryan, another newcomer, took' her place'. Clavering'threatened to ithdraw, with the management, compromising that if the show lasts over ;a month Miss Clavering will play the part at matinees. SEPTEMBRE Pari.s, April 23. Comrdy-'dijni.'r In ffriir'arlH liy Oonst.-i-nce Cotine: 'prtscnled Hint- Hl:iKr.-d liy Ueno ltoi.1tfV. At ' Ihe Vltru.x-Coloiiihicr, I'lirlM; -■:! t'.n. Harang es Kalapacs ('Bell and Hammer') Budaliest, April 23.. Hl^torlral di'dm.i In three acts by. Erno Ahdal. fii tliK .S'iiiliiiial. Oudapi<!^t: ICUiK I.uilwl^." I ,i,f liHMii-la.. .:.G'!'/,a .\honyl r*rlnic .Minl.-I*'r.,......:..,;. *nt;il .Fi)rKacB' (■bunclllDr' Ueiti.*..: KnroJy Kovaci r.ola Mnntei!.... i.Anrta 'rok(>»' M.irQoIxe ' :.\nl)a Fuzes Ferdhiiind M.-illiritit. .Iillliis Goznn .Mrs. .MHy'lilin.: I.lly netkV Hans VoKt. .;.■,: ':; ,\ . ^..... .P.iul Javor ^•!illlly ; lllldn Cohhl Hetiiri'-h Imrc .\tiathy i:oi'rn;iln, 't'lierc-."". ;.. .-.. ,\f:irlon.: .. .. . . .Mjiuilit .M:i(l:iiiie A mil' Julie ..... i-rnard Rtler . . . .4*l,i-iHI i::liu Oflvnl l.-ii-rjiirs f';i).n*l»il J;i(-r|iii,IJnn J**ircl ..I.lii" ,Viirn .,.).':Mi-I.M.iU Allilirrt . . riit:il(if l.:(n'':i.v' ..... V.VI-I.IC .vn'licyiir A cijcklnil rtf hi.stoi'ical fact.and •fiction with moire thuii a da.'-h of naive romance and. sentiment. Far Althpuch Con.'lancc Coline cannot claim oriKinalily foV: the niot, .sho has turned in a workmanlike script. It's; afriu.sing. the tliaro« is excellent aiid play holds iocclhcr well. Rene Rocher ha.s done his usually compe- tent stagifig. The unsuccc.s.=/ViI attempt of a woman in the ' ptcrrjicr' of life, trying to rccain, youth by assoeiati.ijj with younjfcr oeople. is deftly hanv died by Line N.oro. As Gi.scle. mar- ried and about 15 years older than her .<.'istcr, Marion Uacqucline Pbrel). .she meets sc.vcral of the, lat- ler's friends and find.s their com- pany cxhilnrafina. One ot thcni, Jean Barnabe' (Jacoiics' Ca.stclot). who is .sUidyinc medicine with her .sister,, takes pailicul.'ir interest in her. She beiron^es hi.s mi.slrcs.s and is happy in her ntw ihtord.sts Whch Ihcy arc .-ilono. ihe rcl-axcs and is her real self. In Ih' company of olhcrs. howcve.. she unconscioiisj.v .a'.'ain 'bceomc.' Ibc very proncr wifn ;'n'(l nrjolher. frimci-nr.int? to the mold ■n which .she h; s b'ccr ;ill hcf life. Hp ,(■.•(nnot .•■wiillnw this, arid the; iContihucd on page 61) Aussie Theatre Deal Set; Means Boost for Legit Melbourne, May 3. . Interests backing the Tallis-Allcn sharing deal with the Willlamson- Tait circuit, have been around, here in the past week, cleaning up details of . the transaction, ken Asprey, attorney who has been active; on the deal, piloted the New Zealand group over from Sydney for huddles: Un derstood that everything is set eX' cept the-actual'signing. Latest reptjrt is that the managing directors /will be Stanley Crick, formerly 20lh-Fox chief; Frank Tait, of W-T circuitj and George Dean, of Snider-Deaii theatre chain. i.ast- nanried probably, will be active boss. Tallis-Alieh dispose' of some' itock, but remain on the board. Under- stood' that Charles Munro, priisi^nt Hoyts chief, was offered job of man-- aging-director, but tuirned it down because of pressing ;business with Hoyts chain. , Additional, board members besides Williamson and John Tait will be Sir; Hugh. Deiiispn, of Associated News- papers, and R. E. Denispn. This gives the Company men associated with' pictiiries, legit,, radio and com- mercial interests. If there are no additional hitches, a theatre will be built in, Sydney whiere there is a shortage of houses.- New theatre circuit dq'ubtlessly will see a big revival of- stage shows, many of which will be boolced from New ■york. RICHMAN SOCK; METAXA Oi. London, ay S.. Harry Richnian opened: at Cird's last night (Monday) for four weeks on a large guaraiilee and percentage hooking. Singer is packing the place, necessitating pilacihg of extra tables on the entire dance floor , and requiring him to work oh a four* fodt-sqiiare platform. He held the audience for one hour, scoring sensatipnaUy opening night; GeoriJes . etaxa opened ; at the Cafe de Paris the same night for four weeks and despite terrific op- position was wariiily received by a friendly audience. Gracie. Fields' return to vaudeville at; the Palladiuin also on the Same night scored nicely with audiences, but this is the' first time she failed to draw, a capacity house. She re«' mains a fortnight and ill be atic- ceeded by Evelyn Laye^ who makes her vaudeville debut supported: by Metaxa. ' Program ; included li American acts, all doing well. 'BANANA/ CUCK; mr TEPQ, LONDON London, May 3. "Three Blind Mice' opened at the York theatre last Tuesday (26); Rather ah amusing; comedy and well received by first-nighters. Recently tried out at the Embassy theatre. 'Banana Ridge,' farce by Ben Travers, opened at the Strand the- atre 'Wednesday (27). Piece is a knockout and well worth New York presentation. Alfred Drayton and Robertson head' the cast. 'Lady 'With Designs'- preemcd at the Ambas.sadors last "thursday (28). Crook comedy-drama is extremely unlikely. Frank Barnard Jobs Unit Prods., Plans Show London. Aprjl 20. Frank Barnard, for 12 years gcnr eral inanager for . Jack Hylton; is now in similar capacity for Unit Production.s, proilucing company owned by Forsylhc, Scamon & Par- rel I.; New show 0 impany is li ing up in 'Radio Rodeo,' starring Harold Ramsay, formerly chief organist and musical adviser to Union Cinernas. Also Teddy. Joyce's Giil Friends; band, Billy Scott Comber, Scott and Whalcy, Harold Barans, and James Kccly, Charles Forsylhc's former partner. Sonny illcr is in charge 'of the matcri,-il and production department-. ENGUSH ROAD BIZ BOOMING . Legit road, business in England la flourishing, according to ^rry O'Brien, one. of the leading provin- cial British sho-wmen. O'Brieh Is now in' New. Ybrk for; a cbmbin<Kl business and pleasure visit, his first'' trip to the U. S.-In/iiine. years. He currently has eight' road companies touring Englahd-^about one-third'of'' tota^ out , : Among, his road eompanles are 'Yes, My Darling Daughter,' which flbppe'd. in London last December, but which. O'Brien says has been do- ing well on the road. Sybil Thorn- dike and .Marie Burke are In tha cast. Show has played 18 cities but- side of London. O'Brien has tw.p companies of The Housemaster* (known in the U. S. as 'Bachelor Born'), also: doing good biz. His ' other road shows include.'Pride and Prejudice,' and The , Wind and the Bain.' He has had three .companies of the latter show piit simultaneous- ly. O'Brien aliso controls two the- atres outside Lohdon, the Shanklin and the Palace, at Westcliff. O'Brien, together with ' Michael Hillman, another; British legit -man- ager, controls rights to 'Do You Re- member?' by Sabine Clare, which they will try to dispose of here. Producer returns to. England May; 18. FISCHER'S NEW LONDON CASINO REVUE A HIT London, May 3. Cli ord C. Fi.scher's new London Gnsino ahow opened Thursday (28) after a slight postponement. Presentation has almost entirely difTcrciit entertainments for dinner and supper performances. Show cohsi.sts mainly of artistic spectacle augmented by bizarre acts, with every indication of being a .symmetrical and pulch'ritudihous triumph. Current London Shows < iili ales When Opetied) 'Kr.iM-h Wiiliuui Teur:*,* Cilierlon—Nov, n, 'W. . ' '^'^^^^t^: and M:rrK.-irel,' IVyndhamu—Feb. •Ilijily<-inn.vr«'r.'. Al<l\vy<'h—.Tune 21). '37, •'KiiiiH ilHi k;' <;iil«-ly -,S<-iiL la. '.17. 'i(..i,.ii'i< wifo.' (ii(,iii>-.vov. "/i. ■:(7; *l Kill/*! ('■..iinl.l l>ii'-h('i(i:rDPr. 10., '37. . '.\IV. itri'l ..VJy ijiii,' Victoria I'al.ite—I^to, I'i. •:i7. , -.villi: S-Ii:ilp.' T.IIIlr-.T:in. Jli, "1.9. "I'hi; l-U uil.' (ViiiH'My-K. Ii. III. ':)H.' 'Iii'iilli •iji.Ui'' 'I'm li'.' M,<i 'm.' 'I'lnri fill 11 JIiijW..':/ Kl, .Murllii'fl—.Marc I'l. "JK. •0|ii-r.it<-.' ll>.« Majfklv'fi -Mar-h 10. '.IS; *'t'o:.H .^1, ;i ^;i/,'ii,'. \ au''li:^ ille - .M.Lliih 17,' Arthur Loew Returns Arthur Loew. .•-president and foroian chief' ^Mctro, has., shoved o/T r-om Au.straliji and' is now en . route 'Stm Franci.sco; where he v,ill arrive about May IG. Will have been ^one nctirly five months.