Variety (Dec 1939)

50 VARIETY LEGITIMATE WcJncsduy, Dccciiibcr 13, 19,19 Plays On Broadway .Continued Irom paje 48_ FOREIGNERS talks aboul nearly everythins under the sun, it nes-er seems to get any- thing said. In an assortment ,oI carbon-copy caricatures there isn't a single be- lievable part, so the cast is hog-tied from the start. Richard Ainley, s in ot the London'actor, Henry Ainley, makes his American debut in the leading part of the Jew, but he doesn't do anything to grab even its meagre opportunities. Apparently trying to express the humor in the character, he smirks through the part and thereby manages to dull the edge of some of the play's few sharp lines. ' ■ Martha Scott, who drew attention as the inRcnue in 'Our Town' two seasons ago, is featured as the girl stowaway. She's pretty and plays with unaffected sincerity, but is sty- mied by the part. George Macre.-'.dy Is as believable as the role of the German allows, and J. Malcolm Dunn Is an acceptable captain, but the others are ineffective in transparent - parts. Watson Barratt!s_settings are fairly realistic, but .look as if he'd been cramped by the budget. Regi- nald Bach's direction has the aroma of rural stock. Hobe. (.Withdrawn Saturday (9) after tevcn performances; printed for the record.) some of her numbers are in a familiar mold, she at least gives them more bile than they've had in other hands. A single outright fault in her work may lie that her program is too long, running nearly three bOurs, which is too much for a solo presentation. On last Sunday's bill, several of the numbers might have been com- nre.ssed. or.one'Or two might profit- ably been omitted.; On the other hand, her in-character curtain calls are virtually a show in ■ themselves. Madeleine Marshall played the ofT- stage piano accompaniments. Miss Enters will offer a din"eren,t program at the same house next Sunday night (17) and matinee performances Dec. 2C and 28. She'll then leave on her usual nationwide tour. Hooe. Tix Code Lashed .Continued from pas* Shows in Rehearsal 'Two On An Island*—Play- wrights. 'The Male Animal'—Herman Shumlin, 'The Unconqurred' — George Abbott. 'Christmas .Eve'. — Guthno McClintic. 'Billy Draws » Horse'—Lee Sliubcrt, W. A. Brady. •The Man Who Killed Lin- coln'—Jos.. W..CaitC3. 'Kindred'-Edward Choale. The White Plume*—Shubcrls. The Man Who tame to. I>ln- ner' tChicago Co.>—Sam H. Har- ris. , *Once Upon a Time*—^^Hal A. Salzman. •Easy Virtue* (levivaO-Al.- drich Si Myer.s. 'Caribbean Cruise* — Donald Hay ward.- Dance Review ANGNA ENTERS Angna Enters, the mime who once wanted to be a schoolmarm, opened her season Sunday night (10) with a recital at the Alvin theatre, New York. She drew about a three-- quarters house at a $2.75 top. which Is pretty tasty biz for a solo per- former using only a piano accompa- nist and a single stagehand. But she's been on the upbeat as a draw ever since she first presented her. unique dance-mime performance 10 years ago. Previously, she was a legit actr^s for a short time and before that attended a normal school in ■Wisconsin. For her last Sunday' bill, Miss Enters offered three -preeins among her 13 ■ numbers. They included 'Wiener Blut—Vienna, 1939.* a pathetic sketch about a Viennese student caught in the Nazi grab; 'End ot a World' (one of >whose four parts was a repeat), dealing with women end the last war, and 'Crackpot Americana,' pointing a finger at certain unsavory conditions of U. S. rural life. Among the repeats were 'American Ballet—1914-1916,' satirizing ball- roomology of that period; the threes part 'Vienna Provincial—1910.' a tragicomic portrait of a timid girl; 'Balletomane-Connoisseur.' accurate- ly sub-billed 'Riviera, Stay Away from My Door'; 'Oh, the Pain of It,' which lambasts the Martha Graham tradition; 'Mme. Pompadour—Soli- taire, 1900.' kind of a strip-tease-in- reverse; 'Grand Inquisitor,' setting oft the sadism of religious persecu- tion: 'Boy Cardinal,' a bitter com- mentary on 16th cenjury Spain; 'Aphrodisiac* a merciless etching of a Paris prostitute; 'Odalisaue,' a voluptuous view of harem life, and 'Artist's Life,' a ludicrous burlesque of amateur painters. Miss Enters has an extraordinary talent for limning her subjects in vividl.v graphic terms, frequently blending the comic and pathetic moods. She rarely falls Into the error of overemi)hasis. but usually Jabs across, her point by the subletest ot expressions or movements. If and, instead ot framing the regula- tions by reason, force has been sub- stituted. Consequences may be tragic,- he- wrote,, feeling- that, the brokers will be 'bludgeoned' into compliance. > Code is also referred to as a weap- on, as indicated by the rules for ad- ministration or enforcement. Ger- bcr demands a resumption of discus- sions in which the ticket men would participate. He asked why, if the intent was not to equitably agree on the regulations, his clients were called into conference. • ^ All brokers appear to believe that the code Is 'impossible* to follow, what with triplicates of orders and other transactions. They object to many of the rules -and. In particular, to that which permits managers or Equity people to -inspect, their.jec=. Olds, when even the federal authori- ties cannot do so without due legal process. Question Shuberts' Influence In show circles it was speculated upon whether the Shuberts will not dominate the ticket situation, because they have more theatres on Broad- way than any other management, and therefore pay more dues to the League. Doubt was expressed that such a result would eventuate, it being pointed out that in nearly all instances where their theatres have attractions- of other producers, the latter have control of the ticket al- lotments. Pointed out, however, that a Shu- bert lawyer, Milton R. Weinberger, is also counsel ot the League, and could hardly be expected to be im- partial in cases which might Involve the Shuberts in code matters. There is a supposed check on any one man- agement dominating the League or code, ■ because only one vote Is per- mitted each. In the case of the Shu- berts. the vote is for the Select The- atres Corp.. which they operate; and its solo vote may be cast for that composite enterprise, whether by Lee or J. J. In the opinion of some showmen and ticket brokers, there may be other angles for the Shuberts so far as the ticket situation goes. For many ' years the firm has had agency con- tacts,'which probably applies cur- rently. Pre,<!cnce of Equity In the en- forcement setup may be another check, however, against any domina- tion ot the ticket matter. ZIEGFELD GIRLS WILL REPRISE BENEFIT BALL The Ziegfcld Club, an organiza- tion of girls who formerly appeared in. the 'Follies' and other Ziegfeld musicals, and which rai;;es coin for aid of needy members, will again hold a bcneru ball. It had been reported that a performajice of 'The Women' would supplant that fixture. Ball is dated for April. 6 at the Stap- light RObf, , Waldorf Astoria, New York. The Zieggy beauts will have a dif- ferent type of floor .show this season, instead of the costume and specialty event which was formerly featured. Most of the girls proudly point out th.at they have retained_tlicir_figjiies, but when the club met at the apart- ment of Gladys Feldman Braham, president, they decided that the customers should get a change of pace. 2 Quick Flops Another brace of fast flops went off Broadway's list last ' week. 'Swingin' the Dream.* with colored performers principally, slopped" at the Center Saturday (9) after one week and our days, one ot the sea- son*s most costly failures so far. Takings, around $12,000, were puny in large house and evidently w^as the reaction to a weak press. NORMAN HARRIS and SYLVIA SHORE NOW ROXY. NEW YORK p. S.—Harris and Shore are now under tha personal man-' agement ot JACK CURTIS LEO MORRISON OFFICE New York and Hollywood Call Equity .Continued from page 4T_ 'SWINGIN' THE DREAM Opened Nov. 29, '39. Most flrst-strlngers opined this musi- cal version of 'Midsummer NIehl's Dream' was an excellent Idea, but poorly executed. Lockridee (Sun) said, 'lacks imagination which would have turned it from a conglomeration Into a fantasy.* Atkinson (Times) pointed out It was a 'good Idea indlflerentlr exploited.' Variety (Abel) declared It an 'interesl- Inf experiment.' 'Foreigners' stopped ■ same night at the Belasco after playing seven performances. It, too, failed to get the nod of the critics and, after the premiere, little coin showed at the boxoffice. number ot players at $40. Equity has a check on that because dupli- cates of contracts are filed there, but the percentage of the lowest paid people in proportion to the total en- gaged has not been computed lately. Stated by the average actor, how- ever, that most engagements are con- tracted for more than $50 and that the move will benefit the less gifted, or new performer. Producers' Angles Contended, too. that most of the $40 people are bit players, therefore not usually important In perform- ance. It is expected that producers, when considering plays calling jfor five or six bit parts, will delete two or three from the script, or suggest that to the author when revisions arc made.. General argument among propo- nents of the increase is that actors should get as much, if not more than stagehands. That contention is viewed as somewhat fallacious, It be- ing pointed out that men in the crew have a fixed wage scale, while there is no limit to salaries which may be earned by actors. Ha may receive $40 this season, but it is possible that he may earn $500, or more, a season or so hence. When the lifted minimum resolu- FOREIGNERS Opened Dec. 5, "39. Critics all stamped Frederick Lonsdale's satirical comedy as an obvious error. Watts (Tribune) said It was 'mere earnest than effective.' Whipple (World-Telegram) de- clared, *I have grave doubts about Its success.' tion became known, there were some Equityiles who figured that a small group had engineered the move, but the preponderance in favor dispelled that reckoning. Some still believe that Equity's council system is out- moded. A quorum consists of seven, despite the size ot the body. When the 'Actors Forum' was active a cou- ple of seasons ago, the militant mem- bers would watch for sessions when few councillors were present and were then able to jam through reso- lutions which may not have usually been adopted, since a mere majority vote is required. Since the basic pact with the managers will be changed for 1940- 41, it will be necessary for Equity to serve notice of cancellation by March 1 next, since 90 days notice of discontinuance is required by either side. That would automatically take Equity out ot the ticket code setup, but In the interim there may t>e developments to satisfy both sides. Inside Stuff-Legit Gordon Whyle, formerly of the stage and one-time trade paper reporter has been made a life member of Equity without financial obligation, under an arrangement which dates back to the eclipse of the White Rats. When the latter turned back lts international charter in 1919 tp the American Federation ot Labor, the franchise went to Equity, which at the time virtul ally 'constituted . bU there was to the Associated Actors and Artistes of America. An agreement was made whereby any life member of the White Rats or the Federation ot American Artists, which followed it and which wai abandoned in 1929, would be given the same membership rating in Equity iipon request. Aboul 30 were listed on a verified list as being entitled to join, about half becoming Equityites. Fact that Whyte did not make ap- plication until after a long lapse did not disqualify him and council granted him the desired membership. Whyte sought the Equity afTiliation as an aid in joining the American Federation of Radio Artists. Life members of Equity, like others, may join th<N radio union by pnyment of half the initiation fee and .50% ot the dues. Whyte has been writing radio material and figures membership in AFRA to be advantageous. Betty Grablc made her Broadway debut in 'Du Barry Was a Lady,' 46lh Street, N. Y., but it is not her first appearance in legit. First stage assign- ment of the. kind was in 'Tattle Tales,' the Frank Fay-Barbara Stanwyck revue, which was presented in 1933. She did not come east with the show, however, leaving it in San Francisco, where she was seen by Ted Fio Rito, who engaged her. to appear with his band. 'Tales' was played at the Broad- huist when it came to the metropolis, going into the red for more than $100,000. — - - - Demand for 'Du Barry' is indicated by a continuous line at the box office and the readine.ss with which tickets have been disposed ot. Third performance was a benefit aftair for the Irvington House, which turned back $1,500 worth of tickets, with a top ot $12.50 (regular scale is $4.40 top).' Box office had no trouble in disposing ot the entire amount which the organization turned back. 'Du Barry' involves a production outlay of more than $100,000. Most ot the coin, if not all, was invested by B. G. (Buddy) De Sylva, it being his first eflprt as a producer.' Dismal start of "The Woman Brown,' at the Biltmore. N. Y., last Friday (B) inspired an unusual crop ot sarcastic cracks by the first-nighters. ' Glancing at the program before the curtain rose, playgoers saw listed a bit player with the same name as Jack Gould, nicmber of the New York Times dramatic stafT, who was present. That kept Gould busy with ex- planations. Adricnne Ames, who bowed out of the cast a week before it opened, got a'better all-around break than anyone connected with the show. Her picture was used In the previous Sunday papers and when she went to the Biltmore, N. Y., to attend tlie preem she received a bouquet and a batch of opening-night wires from friends. Then Richard Watts, jr.. Herald Tribune, wrote next morning that because she had withdrawn from the cast Miss Ames was the only one to be congratulated on the play. And in the early editions of the Sun her picture was used with Richard Lockr ridge's review. Nick Holde is now company manager of 'Yokel Boy,' succeeding Leon Spachner, who resigned to rejoin the Sam H. Harris outfit and who will handle, the Chicago company of 'The Man Who Canie to Dinner,* which opens in BulTalo next week. Spachner toured back with 'You Can't Take It With You' for the same management. Hplde has been adviser to Lew Brown, who produced 'Yokel.' since be- fore the show was produced and he passed on the booking contract when the Majestic was chosen for the show. He did not accept the company managership because ot handling Norman Bel Gcddes' 'Crystal Lassies' at the World's Fair, Spachner was given a portable radio by the 'Yokel' company. . Katharine Hepburn sufTcred what her physician diagnosed as an ap- pendicitis attack last week. She didn't miss any performances of 'Tlie Philadelphia Story,' at the Shubert, N. Y.. but her understudy was in the wings during the Tuesday night (5) performance, ready to go on at a moment's notice. Actress felt fully recovered next day, however, and has been all right since. 'Story' will lay off after Saturday night (16), resuming Dec. 28. Most members of the cast will use the vacation for trips out of iown and Misi Hepburn ■will go to her home in Hartford, Conn. William T. Blair, manager of the Playgoers, a local subscription group in Cleveland which patronizes legit attractions, was in New York last week to bolster bookings to the stand. The situation concerning relief measures appears to be distorted in most of the press accounts dale-lined from Ihere. Understood that the real difficulty consists of dilTcrenccs of opinion between the mayor and the state administration. Blair stated that employment in Cleveland is steadily increasing with an upturn in business,'and that the amount of new building is also steadily going up. Shuherts-Gilbert .Continued from page 49_ rights ot plays produced on Broad- way, since in recent seasons this has been revealed as a juicy source of income. At present the managerial end shares In the stock rights for only three years, after which the au- thor gets it all. Dramatists, on the other hand, are expected to seek. ti.qhter restrictions on the importation of foreign plays (with the added pos- sibility that by the time the pact is up for negotiation the Guild will have cemented ties with the French and English playwrights). Another possible Guild objective would be a change requiring all authorship roy- alties to be paid to the Guild and an extension of the Guild's right to re- quire managers to post bonds. Gilbert's Suit N. Y. supreme court Justice Isidor'! Wasservogel has denied an applica- | tion by Edwin Gill>ert, playrlght,' for arbitration of his dispute with I the Select Operating Corp. (Shu-1 bcrts). Gilbert was employed in No- ' vember of 193B to July, 1939, by' Select at $50 weekly to write liter- , ary material. During the period of , his employment he wrote' a play ' tilled 'Soothe the Savage Beast' It is claimed by Gilbert that the play was written outside the time ; he was employed by Select. The Shuberts assert that under the em- ployment contract the play li theirs. The author sought arbitra- tion through the 'Dramaiisls Guild of tlie Authors League of America, which appointed one arbitrator, the manager another, both agreeing on a third. Justice Wasservogel decided that the Guild's rules were not ap- plicable In this case. wr i ivTrr''C¥A IS dramiillc actor* WANTED: „„d ..■tr«.s«r.. »» typsii; llvliiv In t'lilraito or vklnlt>: muKt have Hlaie and raillo fncft only thoM of nnfMrlttr nblllt.v n«fd apply. Give full niinllfli'"*'''"' In Irtter, aire, hrlflit, weight; aluo earloiie pliolo; everylhlnir ••oiiflil*"- tial. B«K H«, Variety. 51 VTcHt Knn- dolph St., rlileaKo, III.