Variety (Aug 1939)

42 VARIETY LEGITIMATE Wednesday, August 30, 19,19 Met Opera Priming Itself for 3 Months Hence; Engaging Stars Although it is three montlis before the Metropolitan Opera Co. of N. Y. will resume operations, numerous engagements of singers and revivals are already being mentioned. Among them are Puccini's 'Turan- dot,' not given here since 1927, to be heard with Mafaldo Favero, Maria Caniglia and Giacomo Lauri-Volpi, who, it is reported, will return after an absence ot seven years. 'Butterfly.' not heard last year, will become a Grace Moore vehicle, as will 'Tosca,' this marking the sing- ers first attempt at this role. Donizetti's 'Don Pasquale' will be revived with Favero, and the return t6 the house of Tito Schipa and Guiseppe De Luca. Verdi's 'Macbeth' and Lodovicco Hocca's '11 Dibuk' are also men- tioned as possibilities. 'Boris God- ounov' will be taken away from Ezio Pinza, and tiawrence Tibbett will assume the title role, with Gladys Swarthout as Marina. Miss Swarthout will also be heard in 'Carmen,' as will the last year's rookie. Rose Stevens. 'Faust' will return to the repertoire, and Gehe- vev« Li|)in, Alessandro Ziliani, Ey- vinb Laholm, Lina Pagliugi and Sal- vatore Baccolini will join the com- pany. No War Fears Despite war fears in general show biz, the Met is not worrying. Of- ficials of the company point out that th9 vast majority of the company are Americans, either by birth or naturalization. Not more than a bara haU dozen so-called stars are likely to be lost, and replacenhents are ready for them. The important English artists of the house are Arthur Carron, tenor, ,Bnd John Brownlee, Australian bari- tone. Since the first named sang but once last year, and jince the baritone wing of the house is the strongest,' neither is not irreplace- able. Rene Maison, tenor, Belgian, could be substituted also. It is the Italian part of the com- pany which would be the hardest hit. Alessio de Paolis, secondary tenor, Giovanni Martinelli, Nino Martini, Carlo Taligabue, Galliano Massini, Ezio Pinza and several of Important sopranos are members of the company. The first named, De Paolis, could be replaced. Martinelli will prob- ably be exempt from military service and may be allowed to sing here. Martini, in America at the moment. Is reported to have taken out her first paper toward American citizen- ship. The last named three are hard to replace. By giving more roles to Richard BonelU and other American baritones such as Donald Dickson, Leonard Warren and Robert Weede, Taliagbue's performances could be offset. But replacements for Massini, who / lunted on for more performr ance in last year, and for Pinza, the iing bass of the company, could not so easily be secured. Nor could Maria Caniglia, leading dra- matic soprano, or Mafaldo Favero, leading lyric soprano, be replaced easily if Italy kept them at home, The German wing is composed of Americans, Swedes, Norwegians and naturalized Americans ot German descent, not likely to return to the country of their birth. Swarthoat's Contract Gladys Swarthout has signed a Metropolitan Opera contract, this being the lltK consecutive year the contralto has sung at the house. She will study her new season's repertoire for the next mojith In N. Y., and then launch the biggest concert tour of her career in the U. S., including performances of 'Mig- non' and 'Carmen' at the Chicago Opera. Her husband, Frank Chap man, will be booked along with her, and is also due to sing in Chicago and in Boston. In the latter city they will sing in 'Carmen' together for the first time in.their careers. The Shubert, Newark, To Open With 'Susan' A.. A. Adams' Shubcrt theatre, Newark, opens its new legit road- show stock policy Labor Day with 'Susan and God,' which John Golden produced on Broadway last season with Gertrude Lawrence. Cast will consist of Jessie Royce Landis. who succeeded Miss Lawrence when lat- ter quit the show's tour last season; Louis Calhcrn, Natalie Schaefer, Eleanor Audley, Nancy Colman, Derek Fairman and Bob Burton. ' -Miss Schaefer, Audley and Colman are of the original cast. Burton was stage manager of the Golden produc- tion. OK BIZ ETENDS STRAWHAT SEASON Strong grosses over the latter part of the summer have led several strawhat theatres to extend their seasons. This is in contrast to the new season on Broadway, which is unusually tardy. However, there's not believed to be any Connection between the two. Bucks County theatre, New Hope, Pa., was , to have closed this week with Thornton Wilder in 'Our Town,' but will. remain lighted through Sept. 30. Paper Mill playhouse, Millburn, N. J., is also staying open. Current bill is 'Pursiait of Happi- ness.' Next week's offering is 'Pri- vate Lives,' with Eva Le Gallienne and Rex O'Malley, and the week of Sept. 11 brings a tryout of Pearl Buck's 'Flight Into China,' with Zita Johann, Wesley Addy, Tonio Selwart, Uta Hagen and Jose Fer- rer. Starlight theatre, Pawling, N. Y., stars Helen Twelvetrees next week in 'You Can't Take It With You,' while the Lake Whalom theatre, Fitchburg, Mass., next week offers 'Michael Whalen in 'It's a- Wise Child.' With the prospect of a stagehands' strike shutting down Broadway and all union houses, several other strawhats were tentatively consider- ing extending their seasons through September, but as the union situa- tion remained uncertain, such plans have been dropped. Most strawhats have non-union stage crews. Mpls. Sets LTC PJays Minneapolis, Aug. 29. Legitimate Theatre Corp.'s four roadshows, JWhat a Life,' 'On Bor- rowed Time,' 'Golden Boy' and Eva LeGallienne in repertory of 'Hedda Gabler* and 'Master Builder,' will go into W. A. Steffes' Alvin theatre here. Instead of the regular legit roadshow house, the Lyceum. Alvin is Smaller and more intimate than Lyceum. H'WOOD NAMES TO HEAD N'W'KEE 4-WK. SEASON Engagements Sally Eilcrs, Edwin Gordon, Frank Wilson, OUie Burfioyne, John Alex- ander, Joaquin Souther, Miirial Wil- liams, Don Terry, Henry Norcll, Wister Clark, Vivian Vance, 'Kiss the Boys Goodbye,' Cape Playhouse, Dennis, Mass. Ali.son Skipwortb. Barbara Brown. Frank Lyon, Rbbcrl Perry, Louise Kirtland, Nancy Duncan, Torchbear- crs,' Lake Whalom theatre, Fitch- burg, Mans. Play on Broadway SIDNEY C. HOWARD'S 2 POSTHUMOUS PRODS. Milwaukee, Aug. 29. Hollywood players headed by Douglass Montgomery, Glenda Far- rell and Edward Everett Horton will be featured during the four-week season ot the Milwaukee Theatre So- ciety, opening at the Pabst Sept 4. Montgomery will open with 'Night Must Fall"; Miss Farrell will play 'Brief Moment' during the week of Sept. 11, and Horton opens 'Spring- time for Henry' Sept. 18. During the fourth week a new play, 'To the End of Time,' by Myron C. Fagan, resi- dent director, will be played, with James Kirkwood in the lead. If the four weeks prove successful, 'Thieves Paradise' by Dr. William Sirovich, will be tried out Oct 2. The Lunts will do 'Taming of the Shrew' around Oct. 15. Katharine Hepburn's 'Philadelphia Story' is scheduled for later. L'ville Operettas Quit With Deficit of $14,486 Louisville, Aug. 29. Seond annual summer season of operettas at Iroquois Amphitheatre finished its six-week schedule for the Schuberts with a deficit of $14,486. Deficit will be liqulJatcd by a guarantee fund of $26,799. Despite the death of Sidney Coe Howard last week, the Play\yrights' Co., of which he was a member, will as far as possible carry through his various plans. His new play, 'Madame, Will You Walkr will, go into rehearsal witliin a couple of •weeks for a Boston tryout beginning Oct 9. It will be the firm's first presentation of the new season. A second play, on which he v.-as working just before he was killed, may be completed by the other Play- wrights' members and produced un- der Howard's name. It is an adapta- tion of Carl Van. Doren's biography, 'Benjamin Franklin.' It is not yet known how far the dramatist had preceded with the work, but if he had it fairly near completion, his colleagues will finish the job. De- cision will probably be reached late this week, when Mrs. Howard comes to New York for conferences with the other members of the firm. Another assignment, the dramatist had promised to do was an adapta- tion of the Graham Greene novel, 'Brighton Rock,' ^ut he hadn't be- gun v/nsk on It and, since it was for an outside management the other Playwrights' members will probably not take over the commitment. Howard recently completed the screenplay for Selznick's 'Gone With the Wind,' but contrary to Broadway report, he had no other Hollywood contractual commitments. His share in the Playwrights' Co. will go to his widow, btit it is doubted that she will take an active part in the affairs ot the group. $1,500 Memorial Prize Howard's interest in encouraging and developing young dramatists will be perpetuated by his Play- wrights' .colleagues, Robert E. Sher- wood, Elmer Rice, S. N. Behrman and Maxwell Anderson. Surviving quartet have established a cash prize of $1,500, to be known as the Sidney Howard Memorial Award, for the best first play by an American author to be' produced on Broadway each season. Doiiors hope the award will come to rank in importance with the Pulitzer and Drama Critics Circle prizes. It is the first award of its kind for first plays. Howard's death was a shock to show business. Besides his member- ship in the Playwrights' Co., he was a Pulitzer Prize winner and former president at the Diamatists Guild. He was an exceptionally active au- thor and, at the age of 48, was ex- pected to continue his notable con- tributions to the theatre and films for many more years. Particularly in view of the growing threats to the democratic form of government his liberal viewpoint and virile writing (Continued on page 47) ORLOFF (BRAUN) MOVES TO REORG FTP ACTORS A meeting held Monday (28) at the Longacre, N. Y., for the purpose of reorganizing the Federal Theatre Project, but not under Government auspices, was presided over by one Prince Alexis Orloff, also known as Walter Braun, who figured in a mix- up with Equity last season. Braun served table at the actors' kitchen in the Union Church, West 48th street then ventured upon an abor- tive productiori scheme. The 'prince' mentioned the forma- tion of 'a national theatre" that would be self-supporting. A speaker was Yasha Frank, who produced 'Pinoc- chio' for FTP. He said he was pres- ent to report on the plan to Hallie Flanagan, who, he was careful to explain, has no connection with the move. BRIGHTON HAS 'SUSAN' Brooklyn, Aug. 29. Brighton theatre at the 'seashore was dark last week but Is function- ing again with Esther Ralston in 'Susan and God' this se.sh. ■ Next week's attraction i.i Gypsy Rose Lee in 'Burlesque!' SCANDALS ni>\ lid IM (w.>-ni'(!f. prnUlii'i'il nn.1 Aliii;«>tl Uy l.:oii|-KO Whlli*. Miitili; b> Jil.-k .Vi'lli'ii -mil .S:iiniliy l'\iiii; lulttlllniKiI lyrlrd, 1lor!> .MiikUInoh: iIkiIhk, .Mull , Kl'tinKH, I'M.llo niu-ls iitiil Willie; illiiliiu .Ihi'ilr-.l liy WH- riiiin K. Wt'II..*; il:iiii-i>s, Wliilo: riisliiiiii'M, l'li:t|-li>.'4 J.eMaIrp; Hcltiitif.H. Alhoi-l Jiiliii- MiM. Oiionod Auk. I'.t. Ill Alvin. ,N. .Y., «l St.70 liiji; n'Kliloi- snili\ $1,111, K'usl: U'llllt* Riirt KiiKeni) Ilow.'inl. 3 SlurtKi'N. Jlon lUin*. Kllii l.tiKim. Ann Mll- liM-. Kiiyiuinlil .MliMIptttn. Hilly lt:iyi>..i. I'l'nllC M;il1iiii\<, UiiK..* Wyiii'. .Ir,.' .Jniio ,\l:iiin. Kiiu 1,11(1 .<isUM-M. (II, KnlElu Sislri-.s r-'). H.ti'Oirt Wlinlon. .Inck Willhiiiiii, l.uls .\nili-i>\\V L'olliHlo l.yoii.«*. Itolly Allon. l-'rcil .Mnnn'nII. >lnrry Stni-kwoll. Mni-lliii llnv- ni'll. Chrlsllne KcHaylhc. \ kloi- .^rjl•n and I'lill Wall Ht plonoii. The vogue of co.<!tly revues pn.<;.<;ed out some seasons ago, and it was not expected that George White, in re- turning from the Coast to Broadway, would present a production on a par witli previous tScandols.' Show ROCS in for talent is well dre.s.sed, has some standout tunes, distinctly rough comedy, but withal should do well. ■ • Out-of-town reports were that the show could do with better material, particularly on the comedy side', and that seemed true at the premiere, yet there was plenty of laughter reg- istered by a cordial first night crowd that was anything but hand-picked. Showgirls sang that the show is a 'wholesome, refined revue,' but didn't spell the last adjective. The big moment of the perform- ance musically is at the first act finale, titled 'Tin Pan Alley.' Ella Logan espouses the classical, while Raymond Middleton, possessed of a fine baritone, Willie Howard, Mar- tha Burnett and Craig Mathues give forth with popular tunes that have become part of the land's favored melodies. Number concludes with what may be rated a tribute to the late George Gershwin. Miss Logan's 'Are You Having Any Fun' and 'In Waikiki' are among the best of th<»"scbije,.she counting witfr her warbling throughout. 'Good ■Night My Beautiful' is another ditty that should land, sung by Harry Stockwell and Miss Burnett. 'The Mexiconga,' touted as a stand' out and something:..new in stepping, sUged by Whit^. se'tVed more to show off Ann Miller, the finest girl tap dancer seen on the Broadway boards in many seasons. Coast bru- net beauty, displaying her supple legs, is easily the show's individual hit, house going for her in a big way. Miss Miller's exhibition of muiiinu tapping ia the second part was a furtlier bid for popularily. other hoofers who clicked—and (he show IS strong in the dance dcpartmont— are the Knight Sisters with a duo adagio routine, and Ro.ss Wyse Jr with June Mann, also from vaudel Comedy assignments arc liandled mostly by Willie and EuKcno How- ard and the Three Stooges (Moe Howard, Curly Howard and Larry Fuie). Trio has the next to clo.sine spot .with the kind of lowbrow stuff that recalls their appearance with the late Ted Healy. Yet they seem to gel away with it and also in Some of the olf^color skits. The 'Curb Your Doc' travesty, with Willie Howard, was a bit too rough for Boston, particu- larly the salute to Hitler when a dachshund was led across the stage In a skit called 'Madame Du BariA' • the Stooges get a fair amount of gig'- gles, the interlude being suggestive. It is one of a number of appearances for blonde Collette Lyons, who is given plenty to do. Willie Howard and Miss Lyons are in 'Columnist at Home.' characters being Walter Winchell and wife Comic, with gray wig, did not ac- tually, attempt an impersonation, at vifhich he is so adept, but emphasized the declamatory style of the writer- radio commentator. The Howards are funny in 'There Must Be a Union,' Eugene doing John L. Lewis Brothers have but mild stuff, willj 'Get It tor Your Wholesale' and Tol-U-Vision.' Stooges are in the messy skit. 'The , Stand-In:' with one s map being decorated by four pies. Ben Blue is on twice, being best in 'Yokel Boy' with Miss Lyons as a hostess in a dime dance joint. Harold Whalen (Jans and Whalen) has two bits and a jitterbug number with Blue and Miss Lyons, which don't get much. . Billy Hayes, who has appeared abro^ad mostly, is a classy m.c, monologist and a neat juggler, his appearances helping the perform- ance.. The Kim Loo Sisters, two sets ot Chinese twins, born in Amer- ica, are on frequently with an- nouncements, something of a novel- ty, but display little in a talent way. Showgirl line has some looker.^ and the ensemble too. Girls look most alluring in the 'Beautiful' number, having flowing draperies which permit plenty ot flesh, visible behind a scrim. Ibee. Plays Out of Town Victoria and Her Hussai* St. Louis, Aug. 23. OperPlla In thi-pe ofin "by Alfred Criin- WiiUl and Dr. I'rilz 1 .itlinei--Beda, from tlio IHungnrlun or KiiierU-li I''oldCH; KiiffllAh hank nnd lyrlcji. Hnrry (irnliHin; ulnKed by Zeke Colvan; nuiflic, Pnul. Abrnhnni; chni-ooprft- pliy. 'I'lieodnro .\dnl|ililli< Knd Al While, Jr.; Millings. Norrh Kniifrhton; ro.Hluines. nilll Tih'infTAtnn; pre.^nt0d hy ItU-hnrd BerBor; Kt IhA Miiulclpal tlienire. St. i.oul9. openinK Aug. 21, •3M. Sleran Kollny LaniilnB HalHoM ■Innzri mny r.iylnr c'oMack S«nli-y .....Arlhur Ke«ic Victoria Helen Olpaaon .'nimnew Serrelniy. Uobert Bella Aniericnn AtnbnHiiudor lloberl C'lilsholin victoria's MabI Doria I'ntalon Count Ferry Hegedu.H......I'horles Koinner (> I.la San ilnpe Mannlnit ^''''baler a1 Downing alnyor ot Doruaziiia Frederic I'ei-H»on An entertaining story and some catchy tunes helped to American- preem successfully 'Victoria and Her Hussars,' Continental operetta, here last night (Monday). There are no plans to take it to Broadway. Adapted from the Hungarian, Victoria is a drama of frustrated love and the war barriers that keep apart Helen Gleason, in the name role, and Lansing Hatfield, Hungar- ian cavalry officer. Action spaiis tour countries. Other lead roles are handled by Robert Chisholm and Hope Manning, with comedy roles being cared for adequately by Charles Kemper, Billy Taylor and pons Patston. Good support, too, is lent by Robert Betts, Al Downing, Frederic Persson and Arthur Kent. Operetta is enlivened by the initial appearance locally of Nimura, Jap- anese dancer. Singinp and dancing chorus also click. Outstanding songs are 'Following the Drum,' 'Pardon Madame,' 'One Girl in the World for Me,' 'Land ot Song,' .'Do Do Mousie,' 'A Modest Maid and 'Star ot My Night.' Sahu. Thank Your Lucky Stars Los Angeles, Aug. 25. Comedy In three acta by Aude r^imb; lireaenied by Ralph I'aonesae; slnited by I.anili; atni-j virKlnIa I'Ine: nt Uelasco. ^9? A""':'''''- A"e- -j. 'SO; $1.50 top. ( asl: Edille .Gribbon, Klla Owln, Ina I.ehr, halelia Welsond. Lew r.niiria, .Tuck c.airtnpr, l)nn Oilnnilo. Mnm I,lnrten, Husti Me.Vrthur, Jim Couhlln. Galvin Elllaon, Another puerile effort at harpoon- ing the picture biz, Weak script nullifies any acting accomplishmenls and abounds with childish innuendo in satirizing characters and cu.stoms of the film industry, also being bogged down with pointless and bro- midic dialog. Heaviest penalty fi^lIs on Virginia Pine, who essays a dual role and struggles hard to make a go of it She has charm, looks and talent, but the material is too wishy-washy to capitalize on those theatric assets. She could go places with crisp, punchy lines compatible with her affected naivete. Eddie Gribbon, knockabout comic ot the Keystone Kops era. is stage material in the rough, but sulTers from lack of direction. He's all over the stage and turns the noisy comedy into roughhouse. He uses all his old dodges, but they're too dated for the hoped-for belly laughs. Another sta''e vet who's wasted on the silly proceedings is Rita Owin. who plays a gabby secretary, but is hampered by stilted lines. As usual, the re- porter, played by Jack Gardner, is grossly exaggerated. Lew Lauria has been vastly misinformed as to how a Hollywood agent acts. The others would do well to hold their own In the little theatre circuit Play is premised on Hollywood's imported stars — imported from Pennsylvania—and attendant prac- tices before the glamor gal is un- cellophaned. Hoke and hossplay run rampant, anything for a laugh, but it staggers and careens from one sappy situation to another without getting anywhere. Ralph Paonessa, who dabbles In theatricals as ah aside to his lawyer- ing, understood to have had the owner of a drive-in market put up the coin. Which proves again that angeling canned goods is more profitable than bargaining with Thespis. Helm. Play Abroad SITTING PRETTY London, Aug. 19. Muslral In (wo acts (16 arenoa) by Doiip- laa rurUer; atnra Jack Donnbtie, Aiiluir Rlacna, Sydney Howard. Vera I'ean-e: ataged by Herbert nrynn; muali'. M.innliiK •Shorwln; dunces, .Tacli Donohue: presented by I'Trlh .Shephard. at rrlnecaa. Ixindon, Auk. 17, 'SO. Mury PuRh Patricia Biirke HuEh PuKh... ...t!ny Fane Jimmy Oay.'. Jark Donoliu« Cleiuitntlna Tuitle. Vera Pc.iive Jereinliih Tnttlc Arlliur Klaeoe Wllberforce Tuttic Svdney HowaiJ Team work is the main ribtt^ struck in this musical. Theme is slender, giving scope for swift tran- sition from clime to clime and a sc- ries of characterizations by the two comedians. The obtaining and re- tention tor one month of a job by (Continued on page 43)