Variety (Jul 1940)

42 SXRAWffAt REVUBWS Weilnesilajr, July 24^ 1940 if ■I THE HARD Skowhegan, Me., July 22i ■ Fdirre In tiii ee acts by . Alloh ■ Boretz. •tHKed by Melvinft IJurkc. I'reHented ' by scinnel and recapture the lad ftom under Gale's thumb. After some jpira and con battling, that's the way. it works but and- just when Gale is making a final pilunge for Rockwell, Ji^iwui hurice at Lnkewboa pinyJioiwe, i Davis ' hurries Rogers .bacl^ . from S'iSr;-**!:-^ time/ to vstymie Gale's June Mll(» ... . .'.. AVIirie Blhlno. M>>ry HU).. ]^ii)i)t)l Tepp^i...,., Juri.'y Kllippef ; * . I.ily Hhiine... ■ •■• L'iK.'le IJehrj-, .-. 1 )r., VceblKlv. i Dr. Noble.;...-..:... >lr.; Sknlnlt-.. . :.. A iiii'H CxaV.Uh..'.,:. V; .SiHHiiinil KvUifii.'.-.; Ml.is.'/olnlUs... .s... Jifr. Shevinnu.,.. Mi'* Hiju; Uhv; T)r. <Jr;ihani.. Kitbiis'iari..;... > .... i r ..... . iifc .1J ....... . , .... .v/.. . < .L.ourtfo gnmixbeiv.; ultentions. . , . ...Alberi HiuUptt Hammond's st;a"girig of ,the play is .-.v...V.v^ftyrp A1rHn^ I exccptioniilly good in view of .the ^."'l^.iv^Itv ' u strawhit - limitations. -•• Action ." ■^iiHaniet' Mhcrtibb(>n ! is speedy and . punch lines arie put .i.PinnkjyiicoxjQyer y,xth i waMop. Dialog cbntains ,. . . • ' ^^:C!v>^|n ^i5:w«s.: g numbei- of b6Uy laughs and points V.V.'.'.v .dwen i)nvis, ;.Tr.! to seVcral moriei, as yet riot fully v/, . ; ..;.. . Arthur I'YnHi!! ' developed; • Same applies to situa' '•■^•■•K^ir«ln^^'I^«?^ni^^ Autheriticity , of ;...atmosphere ."!."v-... .Tom ■ ivtnii6.«i , obviously: stems from Shecter s own , K . :. ,K(m;V»iui. .iviuv' connection w ...:.;;...^.porAorf. Diiff j^aj / used; his critical '•^^""-^^""■"■^- i knowledge of ,p ...Heni-.v Ulchnii; 'The Hard .Way' is a fast fsifce by the Go'-author, Allen Boretz, of 'Room Serviced It has a pbtentially^ surefire, - v<,«^ -. ^. . theme and ^an excellent second act, , Davis,. KeVin O.'Shea is convincing 1 ^ j> ■■ .J i^*. .'t>A«%b-if rail - fi'nr) . thA ' corna.-. crnac Tf»r advantage. An yd executive office ■set ^is-.strik'ing... ■ •. ' . A well-balanced cast has William Dorbin carrying the. play- as W; W Plenty of. good sitaationis and gag comedy; aind a strawhat produetiph here, that is- a Shade bet'ter.;than;pas.s:- as- 'Rockwell. aiid; the. sanie goes for Sally ! .Bi-QwnbaGki - . the. ■,- lass who e:yentuaUy:-Qaptures him,.. Riith ,Ber- Rings Oh H6r rs : Marble Dale, Cohri,, July 20. roipcUv in t liree «cf-"j ■ by Clay' FranlcHii-.; Stukeil l»v' Hudson Fau.'uiiBfl; ,aeltlng .by ■.In . Presenlcd by Xxiuis Pale, Marble ns .■.;.■■;■..■. Cynthia .Ponieniy, Joan Pininu-. Lii'i'i:. -Stevens..... Hope ICfleh.-; 1 Albert' Ste.vAn.^t.-.-. Anrire.w l>ll1inir,' .Mici)fft*l. Hentfih;. Repbrt.^r.......'. ■.. l-'lio!pKT4i>ber... .;i Conatance. 'Wlnterisi ; . Riith Nls»y. ... . Frances Brandt ,Bla.n<:he ■GladEtorte Dbhald'. Hicirmari .■. .Teraldlne. DvbraK Kdpiond'. I..e: (Jotnte ,. ....^ Arthur Finn .naoul Henry , iiiutlsoh F.iiiBaett . .(Marcia Webber able. What it needs in. addition/to tirand and.'Leppold Badia, both good"; new -. first . and second- startias ; is ;tirdCipers; in previous productions, do. satiricalljr moi-e serious apiiroach to. I okay: by themselves,- .although ■■ they. the;, radio theme and a long, period of '; are not 'completely;. at home ' in the rehearsal. ;-'. . ! authors' version: ; of Gale and firm Boretz;saw,: as who iwsn% a ^rich meniber Pumphi^y.-Ray .Bari^tt. mine of cohWdy in scripting of kilov: fits .as an ; adverhsmg, .prospect fp cycle soap operas, but- evidently -' the company, and Martin^ Chiapetta didn't : bother; to. probe - lode vety ! re.cjisters ' a bit as . the _agency deeijlyi What starts 'promisingly , as; a ; . ; : ■ a deline^itibn bf ;Harried Home. liv:es of two hardbitten ■ cbllabbriators. ,oii saccharine daily strlii becomes corn- fed traveisty on; legal profession in general, .with accent bh- ambulance chasing. Onis. is faiivihg wife trouble j,^^ , and the other attempts tb,come to the j i^io^,;^ Haiioik, .... riescue with a; scheihe^ whereby . first j Townserifi, at Theutre^inrthe?: may raise sufficient money to buy j- V.a'f• -l'""". , July it. . . off unwanted; spou.'ie and marry the ^ {^(^'.^ ^-v • - • • • • - • ingenue.' Plsiri involves, phony auto . abcidenf, , hick. stooges, as witnesses» bogus bbnesetier, hpke; lisgalist.- outr lay of' bribes larger;. ;than; a subse- quent settlemehti unlimited .thabs in bbth their, lives, and more ehtrahces: and exits • than a pbwder. rpbmi Money ■ finally; materializes, but thrbugh: the radio channel. :, Vice-;. ■: prexy in charge of scriptetS bais been fraudulently; .withhblding half their salaries and is. made to pay off as last . curtiain'; falls;-'-■■■ Hiime Cjfohyn, as a guilty, swish radio ex.eb, turns in a standbut perr formance, and is only onei-having.real; satiric meat.; Albert Mackett and Grant Mills,; the zany wiriterS, tead parts tbb shrilly for; audience. com-. - ;£ort andivgbod projectiori, while Joyce Arling and Lbuise Campbell playing ; opposite," .are miscast. Don ; Terry acts shystering. lawyer in.-aideqiiate. fashion.'■;■...,...:;■'; •.;:..'■;' ;..'V^'' Melville Surke's;directing job. con- sidering the summer, stock circum-; .stances, showed hard work, but ,nb George Abbott flnish. . The third act ended with . attendance still, in .. the^dark as to th&resolution of some.ojf the main plot elements-, whicb means that.important lines weten't prbperly. emphasized. ■ - . ■''y:::\ --.; -Dori:. ; SHE ATE HER CAKE stony Creek, Cpnni, July 16. ' ronieily in -three acts, . flve.'*ce'rios, l»y Iii>ul.>) K. Sh-ecter 'and Norman. Clark; 1)1- ri^nted; by BonaW- T.- Hammona; . setllnfe. Francis- T. Joatines. Presented by The Stony (-'reek. Play.effl at Stony Creek Playr liou.sp. Stony ^Creek, Conn., July .15, '40. ... W. W. Pa vis..i. WilHam PoTbIn Sanvaon Bookwell.Kevin- O'Shea Wfslcy' Adanis...,-..Matt .Matson Pii.iihe.-..... y. .. ,.i.;..... .Martini. Chlapett'n Mlss) .Jlled,..'. V . ......... .'•i - . Jiirie- .Youn? I.iiny. .-,....■.., ...... .Grace Gpuld r?;ilR Roeers..;"...;.. .Ruth Bertrand St-inle.s' Pexter Pumphfey<. .Leooold Badia Sully WlnterB..........;.. .Sally Brownback Pop ■.;.-....'..-;.,. .Robert; FlelBchman Anioa Van Sloan;........';.-.;., .Ray Barrett Here is one that is definitely wbrth JdgBltng around till the right answer is found. Louis' Shecter and! ..Nor.- man Clark, Baltimore advertising exec a:nd .draiiia critic respectively, whose 'Window. Shopping* hit Broad^ way briiefly. last seasbh, have struck something this time that has a lot bf pronkise. . Written :as ;a comedy,; it . likewise nas considerable dramatic ; interest. and alsb shows ihe inner workings ;. of, a: large • advertising agiincy to nice : .advantagei Play strikes; an authentic chord: charac- ters and theme aris- plausible; dialog is baWdy enough for sturdy laughs, and the Romance angle is adequately substantial; ;' ; • . . !piece stands a better than, average chance. fpi: stage and offers ^ood bp- pbrtunities , for . writing in iadded characteriziitions and sceiies in a film, version," . A gbbd . titliB takes its 'rneaning from a. iemme character who wants to eat h^r cake'and. hav^ it, too, by enjoying: marital security as. the wife ;6f; a, senior big-tirrie: ad exec;; meanwhile casting rOniance in the .direbtion bf a younger- meinbei: of the staff. : . Gale Rbgers; the "wife, operates on the theory ' thfat :'there's; > nothing Wrong fh making; two men. happy- at: the sarri^ timei,; sp, while;Rogers is in: Bbrjnuda, ;she. takes ujJVwith youthful ' :Samson Rockwiell, who . wants to keep the Tbmanbe :9lean ^by niarrying 'ber. . Gale .refuses to divorce Rogers on the ground that . $he;;makes hiiti a .feood wife despite a. little sideline Ibve'^affairing..- W. W. Da.vis, itiature member; of the firm, sees how . the wind is blowing .and . wllat it; Ayill do to: young Rpckw.ell, -Whojn lie .worships like-a son. so he. ari'anges. for a loriirter flame of :Rpckf well's . to jpiri the cpmpahy's; peir-. La.s't'' wbek,. at GhicagP, they ribmi-' nated - .carididate.::for - the White OHouse. .'Last , week,; at .Marble Dale, they noniinated a. . candidate r for the stprehouse. Play is a : cpmedy 'bu,Ilt; arpund the comijlicatip.ns that crpp up when: a twicerdiyprced: tna- trpn finds as her weekend; guests her; twb ex-mates, a pr<)spect for a third :ailtar jour'n.ey, her two, cbildren by hei- ,varioiis husbands arid a film glatinbr girl on the huht fbr sbme puhli'city in cprinectiphrwith a forth- coming' stage try. The faniiiy is. pictured as a nutty group ' and - the play is baillyhoped. as a steal froih :'Hay Fever.' but? it's just another case bf petty larcbhy;.as far as. this script is "cbncerned, :; Plbt- has been: dpne tbo often to have much yaliie eiven for; pix.; Cyn- thia Pbmerby,_ mother; bfJpa iiig and ; Larry Stevens,; by: ex-)ius- bahds 'Andrew Dilling and Albert Stevens, respectively, is; running, up a irbmaritic(alley after Midjael. Ben- ton,- 20 years her junior- Unwitting-: ly, they all get together for a week- end that's a headache' for '(everybody till Behton finally-gpes for Joan in- stead of her mother; Dilling steps back intij the picture, with a; recon- ciliation With Cynthia; Larry .takes off with the film star after she,sells; Dilling ^the idea of angeUhg heir rie>y play, and Stevens ;ends up with a youn.g redhead. ;^^ . ;'Rings': is; typiciil bf -the flock of tryouts that hit the , pitchfork-and- scythe; circuit each .seasbh in that it ;prbvides fairly; :amusing momients. for ai simimer attraction, but -vvhen you've said that, yoU've said jour- ney's, end; as far as its chances are concerned. ; lt'sf', a fir st' attem pt for Clay Ti'anRlih, and, despife~Tfs lack of briginality,. it does show: promise from the writihg angle in tegard to play cpnstructioh and well-written (if not overly .witty) dialog. Staging is much better than ahtici^ pated in a matchbox-sized hideaway spot location of this type.- Cast is cpmpetent : and.:' belies its bucplic surrpundings.; /Frances Brandt, the divorcee, dofes efficient carbon-copy; duty in the BiUie Burke-Mary Bo- land manner and gets: okay; backing from Blanche Gladstone and Donald HarhFian, Tiei: offspring; Edmond Le- Cpmte and Arthur Firm, her ex- mates:. Jeraldine Dvbrak, the glambr isirl; and BabOil Henry, the marital .prospect. ::. . Bonie.:.; could be called a success, because it reveals that the writers are dellnitely oh the ri^'ht track. They have fol- lowed -thfr plotting and approximated the gags and. situatibhs which have madie the Dunne-Grant team fambus, althPUgft there is quite ia bit pf flX- ing to tfe done. Some of the lines and bUfness are all set^ f or. fllming, bthers Jack sparkle; and the role in- tended-.for Miss. Dunne, as .It; .now stands; will have; to be' strengthened.. . Sharon Lynne; acting the Duuhe part , here,. found, herself too: busy feeding: tor : Lauren ; Gilbert^. cb- Starrfed, to conceritrate nriuch on elCr' vating her own character to aiiy great heights. In brief; Gilbei-t stble the show with^ his lihes and acting; Ahnabelie, /teiiriperamental ; and ratheif flighty, has rushed inta a. mari. riage. with William. follpAying a Reno divorce from Luke* .as the:: play opens: A femme nightgown -in Luke's elosfet has precipit^tted.'the acr tion by Annabelle. Plot pf the piece moves these three; principals through ;some; frahctic actibri Avliich incltides a triangular wrestling spree on the floor, brick-bat pitching, dbor-slam- ;TOing, shouting; and hbbtihgv while Luke heckles the heiwlyy/eds aiid sty'mies: their hpneymobn; : When: Anriabelle^ and: Wiltiiaini rieturn - f roiti City Hall'' to her apartment tgi pack fbf. the .honeymoon, Lukie follows; to tease and tbrment them: with; hisih- jiriks .>;and pbirited. hints that neither Of .the two . has acquired muci^^ of a bargain. ■ ;. Conveniently a. ? la\yyer friend of the. family drops in, and at Luke's suggestion disclbse.':: a;:iegaV technically. - that may make Aiina- beie's divorce illegaL This holds the couple in the apartrnent and in sepr ariate bedropms untii::the law is in- vestigated. By: the. tiihe - Annabelle has learned that .She will -have :to annul, her new . marriage, . she. has been tauiiited': into some raucbtis tan- trums, by Luke, for Wiiliaim's benefit, iand. Liike has -won his carnpaign.. AP'- peairance' ;of F'enelbpe,. the siren in the; case,; late. ' in; the :prpceedingis, seerhs. npt to deter Annabelle's swing; back to her prigihal mate. : ; Miss Lynhe playS:; Annabelle as a woman 'distraught by .tuke's frisky antics and .baffled; by her predica- ment; but does hot fully (ievelbp the subtle change bf heart duting; the proceedings,: Gilbert plays his :play- boy part tb:the limiit with very cpm- meridable :results, except for a ten'd- ency . to Oyer-mugg in thie clpsiiig sequerices. Walter ,Cpy is pften tbb boistrpus for; this sm.airhb.u.se. as the rugged man of direct ; action, bje-, fuddled by the suave sabbtage pf:his sharpshpoting - adviersary. Jean Guild, after oyer coming hervbusnessj ^maikes her : aunt's role entertaining . and sbirietimes cpiivincirig as .she breaks up the quarrels and. reasbns with the di2zy^■trio. Anne Btirr is an attractive and ^tisfactbry; femiiie menace; Merritt iStone and-Art Smith carry off cbm- mendably their - bit .roles of: waiter and ; piano tuner, respectively- Ed ward HaBvey gives the -lawyer iriend' part a lift when he has an oppbr tunity.. - The charaicter of the blub- bering Swedish .maid ;..(Edith : HoPt kins) adds ribthing to, the play, which stands still as she; snivels her lines. A wise,:'humorous, ;colored .inaid wbiild improve: matters, herei. ' ; With a gppd prodtictioh budget;, a tepflight; cpmedy. directbr and , a hand-picked supporting.'cast, 'Bed- time .Story,' under any title, /should, develop into a.bbxpfficeVftlm. Harold Winston,..originally slated to, stage the tryput, had to beg' pff at the eleventh hotir because of a rush call from Hollywbod. John Spllers;rates' a hPd:ior his excellent sitting roorh set.-. ; Fox. UNDER THIS ROOF Westboro,. Mass., July 23, Comedy' Tn iv/o ' acts (seven; .fffenes)';. by Herbert B.. EhrmannP' Pi'odnqtlon designed by Robert PagTBett,. presented, by Jjoul.se Galloway at Red lliirn Ibcutro. Westboro, JMass.. July 22, '40. - Cafit: Helen Walker, Michael St. -Angrel Warien Reld, Arthur Ritdile. Mauri tie Gray, .John Oliver, : Barbara- JC«»llf>gK. AN bert Hall, R. yv, Mundo. Wehrteir ('.•»reV. Alice Wlleyv iPeter Cooksbn, lianOe Claike. John Taylor, Conway Wanliburn. uatipns are often good .and thte char^ acters are quite well deflhed and plausible^ Neithei: the direction'liOr acting gave the preem , the best breaks; but with a stellar cast, in- spired direction and a gobd play doctor, 'Robf might offer: spmi promise for Broadway.: : In a season like the one coming up, it would requiire 'the hypo of ,many more' laugh.s : and that would mean a big rewrite job. ' :;. . Alice .Wiley miikes Cornelia real- ist ic.rhbst. bf the time; Wendell Corey registers frequently ; as thef proud biankef;;' John Taylop arid Conway Washburn are standbuts as a conniv- ing; senator, and an .oily' promoter, respectively, - Lbuise : GallpWay, i" charactei- jTple pf -crusty Granny, is. gbbd' but: inaudible at times, and Maui'irte Gray; has her liipments as a dizzy dame in the: mpdei-ri sceitieSv Warren Reid handles: charj|i;t£r_of a r-ustic .capably. .- ■■ r'.:. ' ■-. ',. /■-;:■■■::'^.;': "':T* Sciehery and cQstuines rate special prais^.'- .-■;/.:•:■ ■' .. '-■-. :: ■. ■■'Fox: - SALUTE TOMORROW Suffern, N. Y,, July 23, Coineii.v . In . .,tlu:eif;-nc(s- ..<flvK ..scetno^)' by SlMi'Jorl.e i'.ennard nhd' Ctlndya/Unijei:, .witli- liil.lltii'xinl- dInlOK - b.v Roy T.pr'k'wbod. SMr tln< :UosrKn^J b.v -Sidney He'dlsh': decor by < !iiy--. ...Mpn'ypenny ' and ; Jucqiiellne P.alRe;-. MshtlnR. by.. Srinforii -KTipel; 'directed., by Hoy; T.oekw'ijod.:. . VPresentod' by ' "Walter. AriMllnKe.'ftti the 'County 'thcali't. 'Suftern, Y., ju\y ri. '4(t: V. • : ■ .^: ■ ; ".• Ahvi.v ■.•,■..,'.;./.;.. ^lll^^•.il(; .i,'!\nfr;.. IScivei-ly. ; Lane... Tbi'n-.ConrOY. . . . ..Sully Walliif. . ; Jiic AVrt.Urt.i-e..;.;, l'>orothy 'IJorhVi Pick Bni'tbn..... Micli.iol -t,aiie.. T.nola ;TriiLvorsl-, Martha ..-.■.;.>.. Chris:...,.:.:;;-:. tichnelder.-.,:.-...; Oa'rnPr;!.. .•.; .Hen Coiieh.'..... ;.,', ... .TIwo Forde > ...KIta .Tohaim .■.l»Rtrloln., Presnell ,; . Winram, Howell : IvKtlierlne Wnrron ';■. .-.Richard Tabut^ ..'; .Sydney .Shield's . .Huirh Mitrlowe .'..-. .McKay..' Morris ....Cynthia -Cnrltn . ... .Martha-AVrlKht: ■\ Fred .'Hunter ,:;.'.',R'nbprt B^mhrd' ;;;retcr.Van 'Buren ,:. .-^'Kbiiert Bernard Presentation of 'Salutie Tomorrbwr,' dpes nb;servite tb the membry bt the late Gladys Unger, 'prbgrimmed: as; ebr-authdr. Play is another variation on the old sti-aying. hiisbahd: theme, witha. Hpllyyi'Pbd: hackgirburid. which is familiar to the; point of banality. : Mike and- Marcia Lane :: (McKay Morris arid:Zita Johahn) are ex^New Yorkers who ihave: spent the last seven years of. their 20-year. married life- in the film cblony, Mike; as a writer and then as;a .top-flight, direc- tor, / Having come to . be recpgnized as one bf those ■ fare: model film Cbiiples, the ;Lanes: run into; trouble —Mike: falling; for ■ a ■ Brooklyri-born glamor gal whb passeis herself; off as a fpreign :imppjrtatip.ri. :. ; .: Albng ; its .' generally . lugubripus way, 'Salute: Tpmorrpw' turns Up'a coupl^: of entertainirig incidental scenes/ ; Episode,: for ; example, in which Sally Wallace* a .friCnti of Marcia'Sj pretiends that her own hus- band has-walked piit and that.she wants; revenge—whple thing being a hpax designed;, to snap Marcia but pf -the.-lethargy- which : has ^-settled- down on. her since Mike's departure; Dick. Barton's marriage ;;propbsal; to Marcia is: amusingly treated,: too. Mi.ss. Johann does; a nice job as Marcia^ Though she ireyeals certain mannerisms, such as » habit of fuhr ning .her hand acfpss her fprehead, her'Character izatipn is fresh and ap. pealing. Morris suggests Mike Lane's inflated "ego arid inakes. his lapse,,-; understandable.: ^ As Dick; Bai'tph,.' who has: iPved . Marcia: fbr years,; Hugh Marlowe cbntributes bne of his typically ,pleasant perform-r andes. Katharine .; Warreh 'and Richard' Taber are flrte 'as the Wial- laces, the Lanies' dbwn-tb-earth friiends. ; . Patricia :/ Presnell; and William Howell handle ; the. young love interest acceptably; Cynthia Carlin; is :bkay as the blonde inter- loper, anid minbr fbles, are. well man- aged by Hugo Fbrde and Sydney Shields. Sunny patib set designed by Sidr ney Redish gives 'Salute Tpmbirow' a good send-off. -. Roy Lbckwooti's direction is adequate. ; Patil. i. B?DTIME 3Td ': .Farce ■ |n .:lhi'ee ' flcls..; Svllh;', prolog, ; by Horace ' .laclcMon and Orahf .'Gari'Ctt; pre-' rantoil by- Fttrratflit;.-Players;: .directed . by Dornlliy -Af. Ci'ai'i.p, setts by John-iSoliprij;; at I'\iri'4KUt. I'ii'i.vhou^^ July ,11!; .;fl.i53. top. PvCpiirters-,;..... ,'., ;Annhlipile; ...',;,'. a . . .wniiiini/...-..;.:,,'.,., i)Uk>'.. . .;;-. . Ji . .] Il7,?c>i,i^r..... : . . .;■. . -...: PlUnii'.-tpner.'. .-, ; .'.■■». '. . Tru'd.s-.,',.. . :-.!, . ; Auiii -.\u,!;u,Mtii' llurvay. .'ifar'iiv Kt'd'es......'.',..' J ;e.nvi?tiiiti>, . Penelope.,,.','.., .,..';..' :Rye'.Beach,. N.; H. rPljllip Harmon . . I Anthony';,Peyton . U'^ouls de MUhaii ... . ...ijhHron l^ynne ; . .:;.'. .Waller, t;oy -..'.. T>a.u.r?n .; Gilbert . ;Geor(je'. Anderson ......... Art Smith /.:.:.Kdlth Hopkins' .,.':;"'.-.Jcaii Guild . ...Ed.ward ,'Hiiryey, . . . . .Merrill-..Stone .............Anbs BUrr Bettef". for-:.the summer trade thah the more demandihgi', Brpadway crowd,:'Bedtime Story' is best of all a good f ramewbrk' fpr, a .dizzy,- cbm- edy for li-ehe Dunne and Gary Grant on the screen, ' Since thiis yarn, has already been purchased, Ijy Cpluiiibia lor that purpose, the., tryput- here With a barn full bf friends of the; author, a ; Bbstbn : attorney, 'Under This Roof made its debut here to- night .tb ^ nibst receptive. audiertce. In the early scenes, every actor was rbundly applauded at his exit and a- range bf titters .to: hbptis ;greeted. the: lines of every pretext. But even with this ■ ideal gathering, the effects ;of the. gin; fizi; or anticipation wore' ipS as the evening waned and midnight beared. 'Rbbf is an; bVer-lbng episode his- tbfical drama dealing with the hu- man .embtibns pf three generations of a family who. lived, loved and hated" undei: the rbof bf an Pld lJew Eng- land hbrnestead, . ; The 19.40 gene ra- tibn finds the: old house and ponders over the tide pf - real; drariia; which must have; ebbed iand flpwed through its rpbms. BetWeeri the.opening and clp;sing .sceries", thie .author, offers samples; pf wh^t: transpired here 4rpm. 1864 tp; 1917^ suggests politica! arid spciplpgical dpirigs bf the several, eras and draws sbnie patallels be-, tween ' one; and anbther. : Central character. :is Cbrnelia :r'Thayer ;who marries a : stuflfy, ' proud Boston financier, Ezra Warren, after .she de- clines: tbe' invitation to a marriage and a frohtiier life with his liberal brbther; .Gibson. • Cortiedy relief , is almost iacklng. The'^WiHtihg only infrequently .spurts: a brilliant passage; tempo lag.s; ail. A MAN'S HOUSE : : Great Neck, L. I.; July 21. . nibllcal dr'aniti. In three'SK'ta by 'late John PrlnkwHter. . Plrected by Pennia Hoey, In nssoc-latlon with Pr. Franz J. Horcu; ---Set- .lin.i? by Willis Knighton. 'Pre.sented by:thei r'layers'. .Theatre of' New York the Chapel tlieatre. Gient Ne^k, T.,. 1., one wiH'U . (inly. eturlinpr- July . 21,:,'-10. . : ; ';...'.;.. . :.;pphnl3.'-.Hoey. ......;..;.Klli8: Raker ... >.;..... . Judith Magee . . . . . Wmt.'im Thornton ......... vH*nry Yourt.ir .... ......I'li'oniaS'.' 'Ticck »'. .:.;.. i:; .-.Paul ' Parks . . . . . ; .WlIlain: Nichols . . ;winiaiiri Mowi-y . :. ;;,.;.Maurice Burke ' . f Wftlter- ..liboiner *VM. Edward Manscll ;.;. .Maurice Wells . Dennis Klhg, jr. Salalhlel:; lilsihcr.. . .Rachel-.-',.......-. XHlban. ,:.'.:.;; i;,e\'i.i..... .M;iUilii.«..., .i ls;tH<.',';;......:.. |..lac(il)-. . .,..'.:; I T)iiv 1(1 .....■;'.:..,.'. ! liOiiirtrt OiTU'Ci'. I ito.ni'ah. (Juards. !,r?arnnt); . .,., . '. ^(■ierk....;,.. ..; .;, This is a Story of; Jesus of Naza- reth—'Of tlie. fpur- days plrccedirig the crucifixion and the three days-fol- lowing it-r-as..reflected :iri the lives pf a .w^ell-tbrdo Jewish faniiiy in the city of; Jerusalem. It is in every .respccjt a ;sincere and mbving drama, Ideally cast and. sensitivbly directed. . Salathiel is a siiccessful and kindly mercharit, but he has little patifence with the new-farigled .dbctrine 6i brotherly . Ipve being.; preached- by a .Naz^rene whp is -planriirig tp visit Jcriisalem with His fpllpwers. He in upfsiet considerably when he learns that his own birother, Nathan, a poet ■wh:bm ;he has sheltered for years, is sympathetic toward the new teach- ings.. His younger daughter, Rachel, al.sb cau.ses him a great deal of con- cern, because; of her! love for David, ■who is becoming , rapidly one of th» ; Nazarene's most ardent disciples; When David decides to join Jesus ^ at nearby Bethany, Rachel lieaves home.; with him, following a turbu^' : lent scene with her father, and:' brother-, -Mathiak. Esther, hei:. blind ; sister, Kas : little Syn[ipathy lor . the ' reason of her gbi.ng, but is .riot as bitterly opposed to it as the others. Jacob, a hbiisfehbld servant, assertji: that the time haii come for him,-top, to. join .the: Master iarid this so en- rages Mathias and Salathiel that they order him flogged. , Esther; in- tervenes, however, arid he is allowedi ^ to leave pea:ceably.: LateiVher .kind- ■ nbss is : repaid when the ;Nazaren» iitbps ; outside th-e Salathiel - house after His entry iinto ..Jerusalem:;and: ■ restbres'her';sight/■:.:'.-^ '. ;. .: .■ : The: crucifixion of Jesus brings; to . a cliniax the feelings, of those re-.:: maining in-the Salathiel home .arid Es.thei;. - declares- her ; Ibve for a- Tffoiriiari ;Pffi6er, who is said tp. have perfprmed a great act.pf kindness at Calvary. Later, it transpires that it . \yas he who pierced Jesus', Side with:: ^ a larice as an act of mercy, to end His suffering on the crbss. ,, . At , the end. only: Mathias and Salathiel remain,- : .The former i.s ajs. : unconvinced as: ever that ariy super-- ■: natural,Occurrences have taken place; but the latter is not so sure; for, as Salathiel watches Rachel, David, Nathan, Jacob, Esther and the soldier ■ walk, up a distant 'hill toward Beth- lehem, he declares that he sees a seventh member iri thieir par.t.v— Jesus. ; :,..-: .. ' .■ Top actirig honors: go to Dennis Hoey:for his sympathetic arid wholly restrained performance as the: father. Miss . Baker is iricliried:: to overplay her part in the third act, but her . characterization of the. blind girl in the-long.'first act; is .excellent, : William . iThorntori lends a ; benev: volent tPuch : to - t he character of . Nathan aiilcr'Wtlliatii^: Nichols as ef-- fectiye a.s the servant .bpy. Maurice' Burke's fine.vbiCe adds; to the force- . fulness, bf his part as :the Roriiari soidieir.'.;'■ ■';. ■ ; The setting:, by Willis; Kiiightori elicited a salvo Of applause ; Wheri the curtain rose pri the first act.; It's a, living rbbm. virith, balcpny, ;whirh : is set bri the;stage,at an angle.. -It's highly artistic. The lighting; tbo; -is; ' extiremeb' .weir-dbrie.' «; . ■ Authored by the late'John .Drink^ water, best, known for his 'Abfahaiiv Lincoln' this play .\vas directed ; by him: for .its; wbrld; premiere at Mnl- verne.; Englarid, on , June; 23,: 1934.: Coincidentally,; Dennis; Hbeiy, then playing in; j^pndbri, was antiong the: who witnessed the first pqrfbrirriarice. ' . Errol.Flynn played a bit part as the secbnd :sbldier.;in the: Malverne .ver;^ . 'sion. ':,. . :', .: ■ ;:*A; Man's / House' cpuld;; stand ,; little judiciPUs editingV especially bri the half-dozen lines which lapse, into^^' : near-slang and lower the whole tone bf the piece. In addition to causing': titters \among the audierice.: .which, ■ otherwise, was h6ld in, rapt; sileiice ■ .thrbughPut,- iListen, _-you : two'- and;..- .'as. nice as;;ninepiBiicei';"sourid mucli too pat. ,• .'; : As is, there's a .50*50 chanCe for Brpadway. With strong explbitatiori ;and .promotion through church . groups..: there could be a. .happ.v fu- ture .at a modei-ate tbp.. . : Gilb, ■ ■ ■'" ..';-.';■.■ Boston, July ,19. ,: ' Conrtudy-dr'amn iri-'livree'acts, live sccmm, ' hy,,Martlm- PUtenKei-,- preacuiPd by .I'licatr of the Flfteeti. directr»(l l»y Halo McKeen, with set;H .by .FJdward , Sheff'eld:' at' Oslei'- villo Playh(lu3e,;03ter\'llle; Mrt9,i;, July i», • .NO; :5i.n.-.. tup.. - . ' . - . ■ . I.oulsji .C'ha'nnlhp;..,.; ..'.-.Mary Greene; C Kll7,a Channlnp.,..... ;... ..Ullsabelli ('oi>o ; Paul Shennni Uictmrd C. Squillvmi Melba, rtiaid . i......... . Bnrbar.t f"ook - Krnle Cralp, . piano.., .......; l.ariy Solhern ,Rc.s3 Rr<i\v,ii. vocillsit .,..lijirliara Paimley , The BO.SS. leader'oC Mnd. ■ Fr.-«nk nollfnRcr Tod I>ltt,lp,: dfum.i..... . . ........Tanii?!? C;ro»r .Tack For(l, iruHnr. . .; Willurrt Tliomivsoit Polly Wellington, specialties.; .l.oulse L(»ri ' 'A Man. from the Band' is ;all set for Brpadway and Hplly wood, has all. the _elemerits. Ot:. a hit; fpr eithef '■ ' medium, " arid its productipn here definitely establishes the producers. Theatre pf the Fifteen, as art pr- gariizatipn which riierits close Watch- ing by the trade. The authPr, Mfartha Pitteriger, : " a member; pf this cp- pperative grbup, Which also boasts; a ' cbirimendable trpUpe pf actprsi iSc*.: ably cast are thiey this; week, thai ;; one. Would suspect Miss Pittengor :Wrote the . play for the players. This i.s ;-riot ; the; case; hbwever, for she turned it but before she joined The. Fifteen^' -;-, -. ;:r . In this play; about ;a-'sWirig-bancl ; arranger crashing ; society : and ; marrying a; wealthy. giri;. .Mi.ss Pit- tenger catches not only the perspec- tive of; the;;dance.hiusician.but also . peppers the dialog with .the .McCoy ; in hep lingb. But. in no. sense is this a jitterbug ppUs; It is a thbrbughly , believable, examinatipn : pf ; :what : might happen were a society girl tor CTpiss- the: tracks .arid mai-ry a: man; ■ already wedded to-his: music. . .Never lagging for a mpment and always in cpntrpl, *Man :frbm the ; Band' moves' swiftly :'; the ■ pace bf its people.; and; tosses up b.ne slick :sitiiatipri after anPther. ; : . ;Entire cast: merit praise and a flock ; pf curtain Calais bear put this pbihion: ■; .Mpst rieWsworthy is Larry Spthern» ; former •bah.dleader .krid; singer, wbb shows gppd: prpmise: iri his new field. Hi ;has. -a rple: that is: difficult in .\. sppts, but he makes ' his part very real arid wbrthwhiie. SPthern gave up his singing whbn h^; lest his' vbice , cbmpletely thrpugh a throat (Continued pn page 43) ii-^ii-r -7-.">-.v.T;;-"»:r...