Variety (Apr 1939)

58 ' VARmrr LEGITIMATE Wednesday, April 19, 1939 Hays on Broadway No Time lor Comedy • Comedy In thr«« act» by 8. N. Behritian. Vraaenttd by Katharine Cornell In auo- elation wllti the Playwrights Co.; fraturea Mies Cornoll, Laurence Olivier, MarKalo Ollmore: ataeti by Quthrle McCllntle; net- tings, Jo Hlelzlner; costumes. Valentino; a.t the Ethel' Barrymbre, N, x., April IT, *Sn: $3.30 top. .• _ - , ■ Clementine^...., On Gee James Linda Eesterbrook '.Katharltae Cornell Vhllo'Smith John Williams Gaylord Rosterbrook Laurence Olivier Amanda Smith... Mantalo Glllmore Roliert.: Peter Robinson Makepeace Lovell Robert f lemyng Tliere- was some doub': . whether -this new play was up.to standard, but when the sock third act ended the impression was that it would do very well. By then the earlier, and perhaps average going was dissipated. With the arrival of 'No Time lor Comedy/ Broadway can be said to be doing very well for the World's Fair visitors. It brings bacU the ever-alluring Katharine Cornoll, so that three top-ranking actresses are now on the boards, with Katharine Hepburn in The Philadelphia Story' and Tallulah Bankhead in "The Lit- tle Foxes,' 'Comedy' is the fourth and final contribution this season of the Playwrights Co. As Linda Paige, actress-wife' of Gaylord Easterbrook, a successful playwright, Miss Cornell triumphs in her first lighter part She loves Gay, although he's a lush, but she understands. him. Of course, there's another woman, in contem- plation, at least Amanda Smith is the coldish second wife of a banker. Tlie two women talk it over finally; Linda describes Gay as being illu- sive as'a lover'and as a husband, - practically non-exisent. Play starts amusingly enough when Clementine, the colored maid, telephones a fiock o* bars in an at- tempt to locate the wandering au- ' thor. Instead of Gay making the rounds, he's actually in Amanda's, apartment making himself believe he loves- her. MAln trouble with him'is that ideas for a new play have escaped him, and instead of comedy, with which' he is most suc- cessful, Amanda urges hhn to write drama. Linda isn't clairvoyant, a? he thinks, when she visits Amanda's place with an old suitor, having been . .tipped off about the affair by Amanda's disillusioned husband, Phflo. There's a scene between the two wives, Gay goes into a tantnmi and declares he will marry Amanda. Another reason for Gay s wish to divorce Linda is because behtg so at- tached'to her 'he can't bs untn'e. Although he stays out all nlxht, he .sends the Incompleted script to •Linda, then comes nome for the an- ticipated veriQcatlon that the play don't do, 'When they finish talking It over she suggests that he 'write a play . abt>ut herself and Amanda, the tear- er-downer and the builder-upper. When he decides that to be a worth- while suggestion, it's a cinch they will remain together. Behrman has been prone .to Inject too much' of' the political in his plays. Some aopears In the new work, but so brilliantly has he 'writ- ten Hie third act during which there's, reference to woild conditions, that -such' speeches' don't mar the story. It's hi the third act that Guth- rie McClintlc's excellent staging stands out In bringing back Miss Cornell,. ' Comedy' also recaptures Laurence Olivier 'from Hollywood and Lon- don. His Gay, too, is an excellent performance, coming on top of scor ing in the filmed 'Wuthering Heights.' One of the best scenes in their dis- cus don of the subject matter in a rejected script, she arguing that death, about which we know noth- ing, except its inevitability, is not as attractive a subject for playwrighting as life. rOlivier is probably portray- ing Charles MacArthur.] . The short, but fine, cast has Mar- galo Glllmore, a good choice as the othsr woman, also featured. John "V'illiams is the banker, whose out- burst-in the last act brinjs rewards. Robert Flemyng, from London, has his innings in a smaller part, while Gee Gee Smith, as the ■ Id, seems something of, a gift She-has done radio worki.suni; with colored bainds and now .h:p-'l-;s virtually all the lau-^h lines. Ibee. THE HAPPIEST DAYS • Drnma In two acts (eight scenes), by Ch;u'lottc Armstrong; staged by Maro Con- nelly; sellings, F. Doild Ackerman; pre- ■onted by. Courtney Burr, nt Vnnderbllt, 'M. Y., April 11, '30; ^.80 top (fl.40 open- ing'. Kormnn...' Jimmy T.ydon Alfred Cli.'ipin 'William Hnrrlgon DnruUiy Chapln...,^ KaUiryn GIvnry Jpff «.John Cmven . EdIlh Uta Hngen Rllen Donovan Ethel Wilson Brinn Donovan RuMell Collins Kaity Dorothea Eller Tragic little, drama of young love rates' as an 'honorable failure.'^ Un- likely to struggle out of the red, for Its sombre story Ucks popular ap- peol and its Imperfect writing stubi- bomly falls to Ignite the emotions. Flit it has a compassionate theme. Sincerity of feeUng and is poignantly .plitved. . ' , '^ 'Sased on an'actual case In-Jack-^ son Heights, New 'Vork, Idst year, the play deals .with the love alTalr of two high school .students with an acute sense of beauty and a determi- nation not to let their ecstasy sub- side into humdrum, as .their elders have done. Unable to tell their 'un- comprehending parents that the girl is pregnant they a<»ree to end their lives together. But at the end the girl i>ersuades the boy to live, so he may remain to tell others of the con- cept of beauty they, have discovered. Authoress Charlotte Armstrong has taken only a few essentlar liberties with the actual facts in the case, but has {Minted the theme to some extent She shows genuine sympathy for the plight of the youngsters and their parents, whose remote point of view inevitably prevents their understand- ing the youngsters. But her crafts- manship is not equal to the difficult task of creating suspense in a story that is still too fresh in the spec- tator's mind. Also, she is unable to clarify the mystical theme entirely. However, with her tolerance, honesty of emotion and reticent writing, Ml^ Armstrong may yet contribute a fine play to the stage. Marc Connelly, who replaced Rob- ert Steiner as director, has staged the drama with affectionate skllL Al- thouoh he has been imable to bring it to life, he . has given it flowhig movement and has imbued at least a few of its scenes with radiance.- As the girl, Uta Hagen gives an ir- resistibly eloquent performance. It is tender, intense, varied anri vibrant —much finer than her much-nralsed oerformance last season in "The Sea Gull.' . In ' uch the most difficult part In the nlay. John Craven also tops his last season's click in 'Our Town.' As the bewildered, sensitive boy. he is quietlv sincere and enormously per- suasive. William Harrigan and Kathryn Gl'vney bring sympathetic conviction to the boy's parents, while Ethel Wilson is plausibly gentle as the girl's pitiable mother.' Russell Collins is disconcertingly constricted and muscular as the girl's inarticulate father, but Jimmy I^rdon is satisfactory as the boy's kid brother, and Dorothea EUer, a new- comer to Broadway, reveals a deft comedy touch in a snap bit tiart P. Dodd Ackerman's sets admirably convev the proper atmosohere of modest suburban respectability. Be- cause of its censorahle angles, and the fact that It mirrors an actual case.' the play is a doubtful nirture prospect. Hobe. (Withdrftton Saturdav , (15) after seven nerformances; printed for the record.) My Heart's in Highlands Fantosy In one act by William .Sarovan; 6resented by the.Group Theatre; staged by lobert Lenis; setting and costumes. Her- bert Andrews; muslo. Paul Bowles: at the Guild, N, T.. April 18, '38, Xor Ore per- formances; tS,20 top. Boy....: '. Jackie Ayers Ben Alexander Pblllp Loeb Johnny.; Sidney Lnmet Jasper UacGiegor Art Smith Mr. Kossk... William Hansen' Johnny's Grandmother..Hester Sondereaord Rufe Apley ..James O'Rear Philip Carmlcliael ; Lnren Gage H«nry-; Phil Brown .^J}'" .-.Harry. Rratsburg Rial_RstBte Agent NMcholn^ Conte The Husband John O'Malley And wife .Cathcrj'n L.tughlln EMber Koeak Mae Grlmea Two Guords. \- ,'•'»•'• i**,*" _ . „ . . I Charles de Shelm Good Friends and Neighbors..Kda Rols. F.llcen Detchon. Undine Forrest, Charles Henderson, Mary Llles, The Group Theatre offers what Is billed as an experimental presenta- tion, slated for five performances, which should have sufficed despite sharp diversity of opinion. Commer- cially, it does not seem to have a chance, but will continue longer than intended, 'My Heart's hi the Hi-;h1ands' is something of a curio. Some fl^st- nighters seemed to know what it was all about but the majority was in a ha7:e over the author's intent It's merely a short play, acted with- out intermission for one hour and 20 minutes. 'Ori.<;inally it was intended for a 45-mlnute playlet and was pub- lished as such. In present, form 'Highland' is repetitious. William Saroyan, the author, has written many short stories that are unusual enough to have' attracted the attention of the literati. He is of Armenian extraction, which accounts for a wonian character iii tiie play who speaks that language, mostly to -herself. ' The Group Theatre has corraled Philip Loeb for the show and also Sidney Lumet a kid actor of prom- ise. The locale Is Fresno. California, just a stopover for the shiftless char- acters. The fertile land of the Coast means nothing to Ben Alexander and his young son, Johnny. Ben is a poet but not so good, but the author brings home a point that great poets win fame after they have died, Ben would rather owe the grocer than tlU the soil, Onto the scene comes one, Jasper MacGrecfor, runaway from an old man's home. He tells the kid that his heart Is really in the highlands of Scotla^id. For the first quarter hour the-dialog Is amusiiig, aided by a few common oaths. But when Jasper sounds off on his trunmet which has an offstage musical effect with the aid of an automatic organ, with other musical effects from the same source, the proceedings as- sumed more of the unreal. The Scotsman's music attracts the neighbors and they then bring fruit and other edibles. The trumpeter is summoned back to the asylum and agahi affairs in the poet's domicile become desperate, especially when his verses are returned by the At- lantic Monthly. M^cGregor then re- turns tired and spent He dies sit- ting in a chair, about the time when a real estate agent accompanies new tenants to the poet's hovel Loeb's conception of an eccentric is perhaps unusual but whether it can register with the average play- goer is questionable. Different, too. Is Loeb's affection for the old man. Young Lumet was in The Eternal Road. His part was reported to .be the lead, but Loeb actually takes care of that assignment. Art Smith is the trumpeter. Most of the other parts are small, with some Groupers hav- ing no lines. Lighting' and direction attractive. Ibee. Plays Abroad Heaven and Charing Cross London, April 8. • Drama In Itiree arts by Aubrey Danvers- Walker; prcnented by Jack Waller: staged by Richard Bird. At St Martin's London, Lily Norman Jean Shepeard Alfred Norman George. Carney Mrs. Burgess Barbara Bablncton Mrs. Norman.. Mnry Clare Miss Knaggs Gwendoline Hill Charlie Norman..... Frederick Pelslcy Bella Wilson. -. Fna Moon Beatrice Peck Helen Goes victor Peck Alban Blakeloek Bddle Norman Cyril Smith Fanny Norman ....Megs Jenkins Detective-Inspector Regan...Hugh MelcnlCe Detective-Constable Peipber Guy Vemey A good play of Its kind and well acted. But it's questionable if either the play, by an unknown author, or the t>layers, who have always been identified with supporting roles, have sufficient draw, except possibly tlirough cut rates. Single scene is located in the living room back of the Normans' periodi- cal shop in North London. Family consists of husband, wife, several married children, a slightly crippled daughter, who looks after the shop, and a son who's unemployed. At- mosphere has all the earmarks of being genuine, and the 'Characters are well drawn. Aforementioned youth, highly strung, loves- the daughter of a neighboring shopkeeper. 'When he learns she has gone to the Io£al pic- ture house with another man, he waylays and throttles her, throwing her body Into the river. His mother; and crippled sister learn of the mur- der and seek to protect him. Mean- time, another man is held, and sub- sequent events see the son killed by a motorbus in attempting to flee and the freedom of the innocent man. All very sordid and drab, but ex- ceptlonalfy atmospheric. Main fault Is in the amount of tim- consumed in getting down to essentials'. Three performances stand out- two through the strength of -the roles and one for the artistry of the Slayer. The first two are Mary lare and Frederick Pelsley, as mother and son; the third is George CarnCT, as the father, who has noth- ing of apparent consequence to do or say, but assumes Importance from the. manner in which he does them. Jolo. THE FAMILY REUNION London, April 8. Drama In two acl^ by T. <?. Eliot: pre- S?"'*.' J"'', t^iflon Mas't Theatre companv. directed by E. Martlu Browne; at th^ Westminster. •• .....Helen Haye ^B*'" Cntberlne Ij>ccy • Hcnzio Rne>)um Xhi'fi'.- Mf" Marjorle Gabain £5JJ M^'iwr K. Martin Browne Gerald Piper Colln Kolth-Johnston ^oiKt RJIT'^ Redgrave S;™" Pamela Kelly nownlng. Robert Harrl. 'JS,'"'v •„• •• — .Georre Wondbrldgo •2S.""5."' W nchell Charles Victor The Bumrnldcs. Andrpy Alan. Helen La- tham, Diana NIcholl. . This Is the kind of play an author woiild be justified In boasting of having written, and one in which its backer would regret having invested. Dialog possesses literary qualities, but doesn't make for theatre. '.IjP/d Harry Monchensey. after eight years' absence, returns to the family estate In the north of Eng- land after his wife drowns at sea. His return Is to celebrate the 70th birthday of his widowed mother, who wishes to turn over to him the man- agement of the property. Harry then Informs the family he had pushed his wife overboard. One of his mother's sisters then explains to Harry that she had been his fa- thers mistress when Harry was within three months of coming into the world, during which period his father had several times nttemoted to murder his mother. This, then, was an evil legacy, a family curse. Harry then goes forth into the world, to rid the family of the curse. .The lines are splendidly spoken by several of the principals, notably Michael Redgrave, albeit he's a trifle hade Stuif-Legit First four In the series of historical playlets for royalty-free performance in schools are being released this week by the Dramatists' Play Service. They Include 'Seeing the Elephant,' by Dan Tothetoh; 'We'd Never Be Happy Otherwise,' by E, P. Conkle; 'Ship Forever Sailing,' by Stanley Young, and 'Haven of the Spirit' by Merrill Denison, Copies sell for 30o to cover publication costs, A.dditlonal playlets by Paul Green, Rldgely Torrence, Carl Carmer, Lynn Riggs, Melvin Levy, Elizabeth McFadden, John Farrar and Du Bose Heyward will be published later. All the playlets deal with significant Incidents in American history. Project is sponsored jointly by the Roosevelt Memorial Assn. and the Dramatists Play Service. Authors are paid a flat $300 tee for each script Alfred Limt and.Lynn Fontanne will complete their high-grossing tour April 29 In Pittsburgh and then retreat to their farm at Genesee Depot, Wis. Star duo's plans to return to Broadway In repertory this spring were cancelled on account of Lunt's indisposition, dfagnosed as a kidney disorder. He expects to be in form by fall, when they are due to repeat' in New York with 'Amphitryon,' 'Idiot's Delight' and 'The Sea Gull,' the appearances to be well within the World's Fair period. In addition the Lunts have two new plays under consideration, and at least one of these is slated for showing along wiUi the revivals. ■The Flashing Stream,' which closed Saturday (IS) at the BUtmbre, N. Y., ' after a single week's engagement will be taken back to England for a tour of the provinces. Run here was to have been limited, with the British tour to follow. Godfrey Tearle, who played the male lead, sailed for London yesterday (Tuesday), while the rest of the cast are following in a few days. Because the show flopped over here several observers ventured the opinion that Tearle's remarkable resemblance to President Roosevelt was a factor. They reasoned that, spectators could not forget the likeness and were unable to accept the play's illusion. Author of the play is Charles Morgan, critic of the London Times and author of a weekly drama letter to the N. Y. Times. William Saroyan, whose short play, 'My Heart's In the Highlands,' was presented at the GuDd last Thursday (13) by the Group Theatrej has au- thored a flock of short stories. - The. one which drew him most attention is The Man oh the Flying Trapeze.' Saroyan appears to have a followbig among the radically-minded literati. Something of that nature was de- tected in 'Highlands' by those who are familiar with his works. Philip Loeb and 12-year-old Sidney Lumet are the play's leads. Kid actor scored in 'The Eternal Road' and his parents visloned Hollywood for their prodigy, but sought too much coin. Lad, however, diould make a career on the stage. He was in Harold Orlob's indie-made film, 'One- Third of a Nation,' Paramount release. 'Mexicana,' which was brought from Mexico, with the opening postponed from Wednesday (20), at the 40th Street, N. Y., has been in preparation for eight months. 'While not announced as a relief show, it was done under the patronage' of Mexico's Ministry of Education, under the supervision of the Department of Fine Arts. L ength of time consumed in getting the revue ready is comparable to 'WPA's 'Sing for Yotir Supper,' stated to have spanned 13 months of revisions, rehearsing and recastuig. 'Supper' is'now slated to open next week' at the Adelpht ^ 'Chautauqua Caravan' (D. Appleton-Century; $3), by Marian Scott re> views the history of this now-extinct American form of show business, which, starting under ecclesiastic Redpath auspices, brought canvas-topped entertainment to 12,000 local communities In the U. S. and Canada, em- bracing an audience of 5,000,000. Chautauqua' circuits in Canada, and even one in Australia, flourished during the heyday of this branch of amusements; Of the team of Marian and Earl Scott, the authoress is a veteran of Chautauqua (named after the upstate New York lake) and knows her subject intimately. Her memoirs are human and meaty. When Jimmy Durante reported at.-the studio of the N.Y. News for ■ coloV photo with Ethel Merman, which was printed in the tab's Sunday edition recently, he had the cutaway duds required, but was wearing brown shoes. -It was necessary to doctor the plate, lyhich showed the comic with patent leathers. Couple are co-starred In 'Stars In Your Eyes.' Durante borrowed the outfit from the Brooks Costume Go. After the picture was taken, he entertained publisher Joseph M. Patter- son with a number of ditties, there being a convenient piano. Fourth annual ball of the Ziegfeld Club will be held Saturday (22) at the Starlight Roof, Waldorf Astoria, N.Y. Event is a benefit in aid of the club's fund used to succor former 'Follies' firls who are in need. Officers of the club are Gladys Feldman Braham, president; Neva Lynne Baldwin, Barbara Hamilton Samoff and Mildred Ivory, vice-presidents; Beryl Halley Falkenhainer, secretary; Helen Gates, recording secretary; Katberine Dix, treasurer; Anita Rice Yorks, cashier. Deplorbig that the 'theatre is botUed up in New York instead of being evenly distributed throughout the nation,' Paul Green, U, of North Caro- lina professor and playwright urged young dramatists to 'do your bit in your own little niche.' He addressed a session of the ISth annual N. C. drama festival and tournament, which was in progress at the state uni- versity last week. Showmen have watched with some puzzlement the audience reaction at performances of The Little Foxes,' National, N.Y. Play, is a real hit yet usually there is a paucity of applause. Explanation appears to be that onlookers are shocked over- the cold- blooded machmatlons of the heroine, enacted by Tallulah Bankhead. too healthy looking for a man af- flicted with a conscience.. Catherine Lacy is also excellent Jolo. Az Angol Bank Nem Fizet CBank ef England Does Net Pay') Budapest April 6. Comedy In three acts (U scenes), with prologue, by letvan Bekeftl and Adorjan Stella; staged by Tlbor Hgedua; music, Tamaa Brody: at PeatI STslnhaz, BudapesU Richard, the Uonheartedi Chief Judge..; J...ayula Rovary Jpnn .'.. Imre' Raday J.'"'? Ida Turay nuth ..Julia Komar 5'"'* Denes Gyorgy "arley Lagos Gardonyl Mancger Kopecxl-Boocz This starts out as a very clever and charming satire, but peters out in boredom. The idea on which it is based is rich, and if cleverly handled, might make a first-rate pic- ture somewhat a la 'Mr. Deeds Cfoes to Town.' Prolog takes, us back to the days of the. Crusades, into the tent of Khig. -Richard the Lion- Hearted, who is Indulging in a game of chess with one of his faithful lieges between two battles. He loses his stake of one ppiind sterling, but instead of paying cash,, gives his lieutenant an I.07U. Seven and a half centuries later- the lieutenant's descendant a poor young mechanic, who lives and loves in a sleepy Eng- lish village, tries to collect Richard's debt from the Bank of England, with compound interest, which runs into untold billions. He sues the Bank for the amount How gold-diggers, male and female, run after him, how the world lies at his feet when it looks as if he might win his case and become the richest man in the world, and how they all turn against him when the case goes badly. Is the gist of the play. It has many witty turns, such as the Boy's secret machinations to lose his case because he learns that love-ln-a-cottage with the girl he cares for can alone make him really happy. In the end he wins the law- suit but not the money, which had been swallowed up In the course of centuries by rates, taxes and ex- penses. Neither the authors nor the per- formances do justice to the story, excepting Imre Raday, who plays the lead excellently. Jacobi