Variety (Aug 1940)

M UBGITIMAXE Wednesday, August 28, 1940 Paigo, PagOj July 25, •TiiViOiitldw pf Antler Clty.'.R melodranirt tti lii actt) •Hnd .27 ecehes. iWHtten and ill- r«i>tftU by Sfulava. A, Vta, &nd prpUucied by tin Native. Teachcrt. oV ,AmerlC(in Shiuou.. ■j'tirt,- uuUior. und director: aliso pliiyeU ;tti«j iKftdinir'-jiiiirt^:. ' --v-" v-'-. ^y. OuUatw, Piit Walah...... ......,...... •Tabh . b-itiny.. Walsii, 10 years old......... -Pepper, • 20 j-oars. old.. Mf.irti.i; Jk'.xk Prti))>b»-,..25. years. old..;, .; ;S.uiava Jack Miirton, ownto of 4-M Ranch. ..au.sl.oro : J<!:in .MUi'loii, 10 years Old.', i........ .iAmvle 5e»n Million. 2.1 years old..tMabel Part, :Murtoh's fpremah....... ^ -. A>nl> '-•. fV .Ooivfai..............VBeruard Hy Paclden.......;.. i i. . Vi.....;. .SaniHa ■BUckle: ..v> .v...; .V.Vv.... ;>^v. ...Pat<Mt>?l<; Jluv Asiiloy; owner ot Bar A llanoli.. .^aloll Nrtl,l;t A.<*hley, his/wlfe. .. ...... .'P-vrelda .Biii»t» Asliley;: lils daughter... ... ,I'-seesii Kniy^.-V^'cek.s, waitress,. ; • ..i"'i?ij<? M iiBin-ei—Tlopc, ,.v A. • • •.-v i.. I'"-^- • PalDiiae Kid,.: Murlon's Bod.v Guard .,. M'liil B.»Yti»)ider i ....... , .'...■...■.>;. ..••■ • • • I 'll'V'*" ('jVH.naBli; a nancher.......• - ^-pw B:>i> ■Sloll; /h ilamrher'. > • • . ... • • • • < • .• •' vr .•.v",:'. j>j)i>ioV li'ri'toli..;..,,.v,- '^i , .ytinrift tjiiliinnann, i.. i.. .Vv. • • I'libisa ;Hui;h Giant, a ll'ancher.... .... ....... ,Plio:iu ■juuil)(> N'tJBi-o-.............-. ..antatarii .-Hun Dnfeftlt, Past, Drawer of . .T.-i.uella Mji'v-.Pakfv, •tvaltrc.'is............;. • • ..■ ruloiu Frrt'l Aveeks, JviUy's brother.. . ,Kasi Cov.'piincrier.M i .: .Manu and Sianava P*t« Bontier.'4-M CoWpunchC'r..; ■/. .. •Ki'il;!- .Rod Piifr«!r: . -i-.M ifowpiinfher.. ; i.tapse. (sttiivl;- "lie hand, ^tM- .Co\4'punfhvr..,...,hi()na Piul B;ir ' A- Cow'puneher.... .■; V'.. .Paaniallo. 'B^^n iChox. r.ai- A Cowpuncber.. •; . .t^liiuiuia. ally that .he is outgrowing the char- acter, ■ . In thiis piecie Stone doesn't "get in and out of enough scrapeii to satisfy his fans, and there are not .Enough smart lines nor sufficient comedy to lift ■.'Son' off the ifiediiim plaiie; The tempo- remiains the same throughout; there iis little light, and. shadirig...and practically no belly laughs. Climax of .the .plot' Is an. auto accident;-and. this. occui's offstage, out .of-sight and hearing. .v.. . There .seemi? to. be a; good basis for a better family play here; and vil'ith rewriting and some ;recasting~ jt. would , stand. better .chance. J.essie Rbyce.Landis clicks as Stone's gay, chumniy-mother^Jtate.Wa^^ is very okay in the minor f role of his aunt, and .Charita 3aufer is.: ex.*. .cclleht as. the >adolesceiit girl friend who ■ .connives with . , Stbhei to straighten V out the helter-skelter, elders. Dprb thy Raympnd- is often coMviiicihg as' the ''domestic Ineigh^- bor who interests " Stone's father. Neither JudsOn Lair.e.. as the father, nor Rex Williams, the artist friend of the mother; full.y. siatisfies.: • The dliplex apartment', set Is well diesigned and executed. . ; ■The strawhat crowd at-Pago wil-. nesiied. .just around the ■ cornei- from tlid . Sadie "Thompson : Injti, :the; pi;^- niiere.of a drama that-Was a iieW ex^ periehce. Take a group .of Sambaiis, grtodlooking in their own, way, dre.ss til em tip like cowboys and girls, give tlieiii some toiighie lines a la Holly- wood v^i-^esternsi with a South Sea ac- cetit. and i£ 'you.com© out With any- thing you've ever seen before, give me a tall . tomorrow; -At that, the audience seemed to (enjoy 'The Out- law of Antler City.' A svelte Sanioah teacher by the name of Suiava A. Utu: spent enough time around the Niavy filni pavilion to get the id^a.of ,the western, and to pick lip (Bhoiigh slarig' tormike one of his own; The: result was as good and as dull as the average; The touch that-lifted it out of the flop class was. piuely Polynesian. Suiava aiid his band of teachers put on the shqiw thems^lvei. untouched >y . piila£(i hands, with :the singly exception of thti local Navy chaplairti WhOt. as Director of Education Ih American Samoa. Was able to cut. the; original 26 scenes to 27> ther(Bby reducing- the running time from three hours 37 minutes to two and 26, -without any damage. Sutava directed and played the Jead in his own play; He .appealed as Denny Walsh, alias Jack Pepper, out to revenge, his father's death at the hands-, of a blackguard named liiurton.; This he does with interest, finally vkilling Murtdn, and. marrying Murton's daughter into the bargain. The Saimoan teiachers had almost as grand a time as the audience. Be-: ing a gentle people until properly hfted. they had their worst time .with the toughie lines. Add/to this the nbt- . tob-familiar English language,, and you will have the reason for. the numerous prompters arid promptings . that .were necessary. High spot of the e ven ing came when Jack pepper was being told, with.:gruesome de- tails,' of his father's demiise, and'-was being /urged to get revenge. Then !came a long pause when director leading man groped. Alter a' sport-: ing lensth of time the prompter did . hia^ stuff, and. Jack caine down, with the. \M\(ip It -viras: 'Jesiife!' V Tlve many scenes, required to keep .pace with the rapidly rhoviiig story deinanded simplicity of setting. The scenery was mostly suggestive but effective.' A ::broadfruit tree . in a Standard- Oil C6: flve-galloh can made:, a . ranch that could arouse many .a Calif ornian's jealousy. .The bai' in the Slickhoirn. sialoon . was :a miuslinrcbvered frarneWork,. large enough to hoiise twb prompters com- .fortabiy.' This bar, ..located in the tniddle of :th.e stage, would have been .aii ideal contraption lor concealing prompters had they not needed flash- -lights. to follow the script.'. : ' YOUR LOVING SpN • Cambrige,. Mass.,: Aug. 26. :. C(>hi(jd..v-dralTia In three aptH by Abby Mer- .■ .rhanT; pi-c's'»»ntPd' by llie 'Canibrldge-Suninici- .-Tlii<atj-e .and Bernard -Hayinah'.at Brattle .Hul.I. C'anvbriVl^e, • Mass. i -stapled by E^^i-a Sib'Me; actling', .Lester Polaliovv. openhiif. .■.vAuif..-20..M0.-. ' :■...■■■;.. " DiO-oas. Wiii.slbw,.; ..Teswle Royoo 'tandl.i' .<':ti:oll»i«> Win-sIoW...,,.. ,.. .Kate. Warrliier . I.'nlu.-Klnriy ..-. .........-i VMaria-.r^oxe ; Jo^ttua:. Win.slow; -Jr.... J. .Kitra >!trine K*iifh .JCvan.^.;....'.,^Stephen'. <''nurl'lci),*b Pb.saihond- JMyne....ChaHIa Ttaiii'V pni Ilom.i»B:er,....,..'.; i,.: .Hex Wllliani.q Muriel, P.'ij-nf,,. . ,. .-Dorotliy.. Kay'n'innrl .. Ji),sh«a.: 'WlnSl(>:«'.,. . ; .-....,.'. ■. ..Tud-son t-n lri; Mi^ VPaViic.;....;;.;.;. ., .Kalph Morrhouse: .. . . A» ihfe TWig is Bent ; , dcoribmowbc. Wis., Au^. .M-V . ■ Hi-Mtofio'al.' drama: In thr«a. arts, seven, sfne>i; bv . r/iUian Beyon 'Thomas; ■ directed . Uv ivarl Kooii; aettihgs, .tlussel ..l.iotlei*vo». .^"t t'oacb. Jlbupe. Sumn»crNthcalrc, .Ocono- :nil)^vo(^•^^■i^'^:'A«s,-5-iO; ' . .;. 'J.':'., ■ . At)o l.lntoln'.. 10;......... ..Frank PacelU S;uah i.ihoOln .. ;Lorraine Foil^une ■Perinls Wanks..... . . . ..... . v ;. .Byron :Keath Toni ' Lincoln..;.. .V-..v.-.. .Prank jpehrena Water Wlioh;.. ..i.Fred Mcrrltt .Wiliiam Wood;...;.;-.,..Harry Olson Mis. .Sally liincolri.;....;,.... .Judith. Alden Mattldii . Johnston; .'age V.Tanc. Allen John Johnston, ape 11.... .Oiiik Arrhstl ong .Sarah Jolinstoh. age 12,.... ^Helen Roberta Abe Lincoln, - ajee- 14 .to 1». .:WlHia:ni Martel Joplali erawford.-.... v;.•;.. r.. - Loren-/.o, Smith Kate; Kobv..:..., .'Kuth McCOlIey Maiy Wallace...;.......Nll^a Klo>tdcn Sapi JoneW....... :. . ;... •... fPaul n.o\yers Jolm .Tohriston, 'ape 21,..... . .Pred Morifltt WJlli'ani f>rl(!rsl).vv . ..v... ■ . . '• .Kipnnnlh JonM William: WlUtteii:-... , ....vJamcs Pynn. Still another play cm Lihcbln. This one -cbricerhis itself With that part of Lincoln's life spent. in Indiaiia : and, takes young Abe from age 10 to 20, when he moved to Illinois. , . ■ It.is a serious play throughout, and constantly Suggests the futiire great-; ness of Lincoln. It,details the cbn- tiniial . struggle between Lincoln's desire for the 'better things' arid the insistence of his father and his near- est friend .that he stay close, to the earth; ."This is.reiterated to the point of dullness.. . 'Twig'; traces the. young Lincoln through his. first infatuation with a. young girl . Who isn't worthy of his. love and who recoils from him, be- cause, he swears and uses language; that shocks her.. Lincoln is treated with great care arid reverence throughout, but fails to conie to life. The play covers his actions, hopes and fears in great-de- tail, but doesn't proigr^Ss except for the calendar. , Large cast does a good job, with Judith Aldenf outstanding as .Mrs. Sally Lincoln. Frank: Behrens. as Toril Lincoln, and: William Martel,: as the 19^,year-pld Abe Lincoln, , are also particularly good. Pearl Rcos haridled the large: cast and the many . scenes : excellently, with her. nejit directipri overcoming many otherwise, talky portions. As a play it is hardly cbriimercial, especially in , view of the recent trend toward Liricolri plays of late; Gold. .Taking the divbrce problem and yiewing" it. throtigh ;the eye."? of ifeiv . adolescent is one Way of twisting .a' Btahdard;, plot^. but iibt enough to ;imake .'Your Loving; Son' more! than i rriildly;: .satisfying- comedy-drama; Ezra Stone,. starred in the tryout. which, he also: staged, makes a. lot of hii character of the smart adole.s-' cent whp, by. his adult adroitness, makes, his parents' : behavior seeni, adolescent by comparison. But; one . who has seen, him -work in-the high school stuff is ap.f to feel occtisioii- : Many Happy Returns; . Spring Lake, Ni J., Aug. 21; ■ ; .Conieiiy i-n; IhreB aiils inve soetica) by.S. K. Lauren: . etura . Lnclle ■ Wat.soh ;'■ titaKe.d' -by Hex..O'jMalley; settings,. Watsori: Bai-ratt; .prcseiilted, by 'Waison.-Karratt-and Victor Payne-.tennlngs." .at Cnnununlty. playhouse, ISprinij Lake, N, J,,' Aug. i21-21, '40; $1.05: :toi);. : ; :•■ ■ .■ . ■ ■ Alarlha. . .-.. .AKuet: Olldea IT a t tii e -31 u 111 n a..:.......;.:.....; L« i-1 le ■ Wa teon :Prance,<». Muillns;...... .; i.. ;Ph.vHl.<i Pubsoti Percy Mullina..... ,R(>ii<>i-t Cirav^n May Ponieroy'...... .■.,,..'.Shti-ley ■Collier Blaine. Lyman.v..y..., i,;. . ^y Newnhain .Uavia .N'oel • Muilin.<i;..;'.'.:. .. ..... ..., vHiil .,-G(VnltIfn ■M!irf{-;rvet Miilli.ns. . . ; i . Mary McCoi-mack. ..Byron ■Mnllin.s;., ;-;.-.;. Krnesit Woodward ('•rracij;- Mujlins.,;....;; :. .-. Jessie .Olendennlng ■.P)-| Howard- layman...i.'.DonaId Arbury' To.ny Atwiiter. .■.;;.;..,.■, John; Bond .:'R.o(Tors ■ Di'iii: Pi-ftf-man.;. •.... ...... Jt'.hester-SI t-Attoh. Bell ,p!oy — 4;:;\. ... ,.•.>.;... ;..ij:iltM. Riclhe Llllie l-Jiirkin..'..;, .■,.;;'.>...;,. ;... i.lPHii tliiKlb Xlli)boi-t:.n.o.lfe,'■, ;. , . . . ..'... .:, .T'oin.'Ijalc. ■ 'Mariy • Happy Returns'-, is 'the fir.'^t Ipgil try; in several years lor S. Ki Lauren, who jfi the interim has been a: Hollywood ,'scGnarist! .Play .alsb brings >Lucile Watspn back to the sl.age after ia; tii.ssle; • with^ - celluloid thespihg.. An; liiipretentioii.s faniily coiited.v. - 'Return.s' .. contains: soine conipeterit writing, but in its:present state; is tbo slim for .riiore than amir able strawhat; audiences. With -.iudir cio ti.<; re vision and proper prodUctiori it mi.i?ht be :a mbderate Broadway prospect; but it appeai'sltb. lack- in- hei eni. punch eVei- -to become a solid hit;'-: ■ ■;;■■■;•■■ :'-y - QaUs deals with i grandma play.- .wri,§ht who, finally gets a- baitvdy. comedy script produced and thereby .«liakejj her nuirierou.s progeny out of tlie doidritms. of .hiimdrum respecta- bility. It's a mijd twist on the famil- iar vworm-that-turna lormtlla, : ,but suffers from number of funda- iriental weaknesses. CentrJil charac- ter of the grandma lacks sufficient character transitiorii h^r Various.'Offr spring, are uniformly dull, there's little .conflict, no particularly ludic- rous situations and only medium Sus- pense.'-: . < ■ ■•.:■■ \: Severj^I of these flaws; might .be corrected without undue recoristrucr tibn. Others, would dbubtless disap- peai" with .adequate iprbductiqri; arid perforriiarice.: ; . A1thoi:igh; she . is ^a skillful actress with a vibrant stage persbniility J ancl undeniable author- ity, Misg : Watsbiv creates an -unforr tuhate effect in the all-import;iarit part - of: the grandma.. . Iristpad of nlayirig the early scenes With the necessary hesitancy arid sbftness, she is incisive,and definite, thereby leav- irig her" no scope for stibseqluehl de- velopment of the \ charactei". Even so, the Only genuinely animated mo-.^ ments of the play .are the; occasional scerie^ she. takes from the others and, by : sheer drive and personial mag;- netismi brings the; Stage to life. With : several . .riiodcist; "exceptioriS^ the supporting cast is dire. .Jean Gasto: plays: a trollop - film; arid; stage actress witii a rush of gusty.: copvic- tion.^ Phyllis; Db.bson has attractive .freshness and spontaneity as the old gal's favorite grandchild who tells Off her: pompoiis- flarice in favor .of a dubiously-desirabie prbducer. And Tom Bkte neatly pins, dbwn .a .bit in the; third act; : "Tliere's 'rib; pbirit .iri: sirigling; out ;the, others. . , CJonsidering the difficulties thatob- vibusly hampered him.;Rex O'Malley has worked out the direction cbrii- petently,,; although the ragged . per- iEormance shrieks of irisufficierit rcr hearsal. Watson Barratt's settirigs are unusually, deedrati Ve. arid efficientloir ■ a summer theatre prbductibh;: Operi- irig night drew ,a\ near-capacity audi- ence of dressy Sparing Lake resprters, and the customary delegation: of Broadway, ,^managel's.; agei\ts, scribes .and merely curious..;, ; Hobe. ; SUMMER HEAT \ ;; ■ ; Oconbmoiyoc, Wis.; Aiig; 8.; Cbmi'dy- •- ;:tbren :ncid,--T'liir sccn.os, by Everett Olass. - I'ioducOd -by. t^hicaBi* Ra-. dia-'rUeatrif. Inc.. .for. Un*. t'oach irouHe, theatre; . Dlr^cteil.by Arihiir .Pet.ersoh. Jr. "b'cttings: b.v. koliert 'Clrah'atn; At .C-oacll Hoiise: thcalrb; Oijononiowoc, Wis., July2i>- Auk: 3;. '4(t.. Mrs. . \\'hitt Icacy T)oro1 hy~.Graham Pr6Ces.«or W-hiUltJSi'y.... ; w.illard . Wateriiidn. •Bieth ■ Whlltlthey.-........ i Norina Joan l.toss; Prank....,.......;....... .Kddle ATWStronsr John Purkei-.;, ... . . . ..;;.,. .Palul Bo-nrera. Xella Mont'gbnitrf -Uey nolMs. .LIncia- Barriett Davo .Ileynolil.s..,.... i.. -. . .';:-T>nk6 WaUTOn Maid , ....;.,..,. Mary. McEniry Sparkling and sexj^. cpmedy verg-; ing on the bedroom farce, this show has genuine possibilities as a s.a. star vehicle. -"" It is suitable fbi: a .Mae. West, Tallulah Bankhead, .Gladys Gebrge., Gertrude Lawrence cbuld play 'it and make it roar. It is the story of what haippenis .to: the home, arid life of a quiet married professor when ari; actress friend of thie:; family coriies a-yisiting. '. 'The' plot is pretty.; thin and obvibus thrpughoiit. but the dialog has ari air of bPilliahcV and smartness that overcoiiries the , pa pier rmache plot. ; Show needs fixing here and there. The sebbnd act is over;:written by; far and 'some of. the action in the third ; act lacks ^ pr^iper motivation. But .these, are; minor :repairs that should, be' accomplished with little difficulty. The. general; structure- of a; solid comedy: is there and it needs only a name pierforriier and a little revising to. make it a bright possi- .bility: -v . ." Actress .is a likeable; part, even as a home-breaker.. What the actress does is to shake up the household to an awareness of life. This puts the . audience inuch on her side; ilTiere is also sorije ii-.olvemerit between the professor's wife and. th.eir daugh- ter's fiance, but;; tliis is also straight-, ened; out by the actress, who has come lb rest from ..the rigors of her latest divoii-ce. ;; ; Cast is liniforriiiy gOo.d;^nd Peter- son has turned put. .an excellent job Of ', direction .on a play that is; es- sentially talk. „ Linda, Barrett comes up with a solid intbrpretation of the actress,' giving it the flavor;; of a mixture of Gertrude . Lawrence and Lynn Poritanne. Duke Watson does a good job of her ex-husbarid, and Norma Jean Ro.ss is distinctive as ; the .daughter; WiHard- Watermari; though young, ovcrcariie this hiihdi- caplto p)ay the' professor.; Cold. June Walker, -whb understudies Dorothy Stickhey in Xife With I*ather,v has yet to; be callt^d to step ;intQ the role of 'Mother,' which Miss Stickhe^^ plays. Liaitter has been put of the show only twice in its nlne-riibnth en- gagemient at the Empire theatre, both times early in the rUn, before Mis$ Walker becairie understudy. ; Nellie Burt, Who plays one of the niaids, jiimped Into the part on the tWp occasions. Miss Stickney and her hii^- band artd:co-star, Howard Liiidsay, are out of the shoW; for a rest this week arid next, Miss Walker leaves in a lew Weieks to take ia part in the forthcomirig Gilbert Miller-Theatre Guild/revival of; 'Twelfth Night; with HelerivHayes.;-: V .'.■.■-.': ■■■-.;.;■' ■;:'-''■'.;■ ~:-:\-::\. ":'^.:y: > Shuberts, whb; cohtroV United Booking: Oiffice; are attempting tp charg« rental lor letters, used on the marquee tp bUl shp ws current at the thM^^ iieen used occasibhally some years ago, hut is virtually unheard pt nowa- days Some managements .are ref usirig to paiy ;the charge; but ptlieis ax^ understood not-fprcihg a shbwdbwti on the matteri'; . . r ' ; pf a, youthful composer-genius or .chrbhicle the moderri, world's prob- ieniS. vWhether he meant, it to be this way. or hot; author has turned, out k ''Gordch: Boy'~theme";itr Reverse English—this time it'^ a music-writ- irig prodigy -who .wants to be. a bar-. ;terider, ;and eventually vbecbriies oiie. Stbr-y- . GOricems . Steve Gbrgoh,. whbse rnbther realizes that her, tav- ern-owner husbaiid,M*^e,'h^s-wear- ied of her iri favor bf; a flashy tart,. Hattie, - who has; an ieye . on .Mike's bankroll. .Tlie mother leavies Mike and ;takes, 174year-old; ■ Steve, who shows etarly proinise as a composer, with her. . Five yearis later the lad is fambus but has been shielded; from' the' world by :his motheiv ; H« retui-hs hom^: to;: find. his fathei-;';married to Hattie, who; is fed up on the oid;irian after .spendirig all his dough. Hat- tie's'tridk of . two-timihg Mike: even- tually leads; to his suicide and the boy's returning to his mother. and his, hiusic.'. ■- J- ' :; ' V. -.;;; ■;■ •■■;. ■ ■: -■ ■.:v~-:•• .'pialog; is profane, too much so in spots, but also holds 'some . well- .written liries' on - the fconfusion that faces the; poy while groping lor :an emotional foothold. Major job - of dootorihg lies ih clarifying the' hu-, merous tangents author has worked into the often-complicated plot. : :; Productionally, the play is a tough briiB to uncbrk in a strawhat. Ari pr- ganlog background play.s an import tant part ':in the play's progress. It just didn't register; at the;- preem, leaving certain intended highlights hanging in midair. Two realistic setis are used, one a tavern, the other a living room behind the bar. Stagirig is -creditable : m vie'vv'' bl intricate un- folding. :' • Cast was more or less unprepared iait .opening, due to brief rehearsal peribd, ;but gave ihdication ; of cap- able perforriiances. with additional brushing-up. Central ;eharacter ;of Steve, is handled by Roscbe Karns, Jr., whb gives an -iritclligewt-inter- pretation of; the role, ^ele Neffts best moments- as the mother come early in the play. Ann Garrett; reg- isters . Hattie and Kevin O'Shea gets acro.ss .as Gus, the dumb bar- keep who falls lor her. Bone;. Stony Creek. Conn:: Augv.l9. ; Dratna In three .','i<-t!< (Hf>f scciioHV'by.-.Tack T,.: Levin.; sla,ir><l - by ' ii'm.-iiii ')',-; ))afiinio.hd ; !iottln;;.>(. ;Pr;ini'i?! V.:',1ii;mmii"); pr.Pscntod by Stony: f'reck;.1'Jayci-.i at yiony t'l-eek. Conn.-, Aug. VU'JA: 4IK -.;. ' . Moni GorgOti.. :\ .,.;.-..Adele I^Pff .Steve........•;...;.:.itijsco'o ivai'tis, .1r. .VllUe....,;.;. i............::;, W.llliani Porbiii C5.UH,, i...;;..'.Kevin (f.Shea tiattie..'..;........... ..,. :Atiti Giirrett ..Toey...;. V..... .Bob Pli'tsObnihn ..TTanl;:.-.;,.....;;... .(.'art .(.iooditian .Tony.;...... ;•.:.... .•. .-.>.. .Milrlln; Cblapetta McI...,........-.-.-;..;;....... . Albert Veo.M I^ddy,, ^ . : V..... . .:....;. ItonUUI -'J'; Ilaihniona I'xil-. ..;.;...,<....... . Bdlv I3.i.<((<nbrpy Tavcin; Xei4i-o... .•.„.:. ....... .Ijlll William") Johti.;.......... .-1. .;..,,;.v...;. .-.:tii'orge '(Jravea Mol.....'. , .., .-.', ;,>,..;i>ltio :Scarcla nncllo Ajinoiini-f>i i..: .AlCrflfl S*m|th tSoldlci;.; ....;.,;,...,..;,:.;...: /.Alf isegal This - is a llr.st playwrightirig at- tempt b.v Jack; L. Levin arid, like so many other budding authors.' he tries to cover tort' liuich territory. Can't seem to riiake un hi.s mind whether he wants to write a characterization Out-of-Town Play BANGTAILiS Atlantic City. Aug. 26. . Coinfeily In ' rce :ai:t.s ■(:ibree:'w-eiius): J>y lletiry ;MI.>snfciv and :SoJ Rosen-; Mlaged ' by pJdgfar Ma.cCircgor;; aclti.ngM. Wa-tson^ Bar--- rett;. presented by Bo.yar Aainclateji; Oiven- iiiB at t?ardcn Pier tliealre, Atlkutic City, Aug. aC, '40. • ^Iftlvln....;,....;. :'.. .John Call Glad.vH,.......;..Ann .'rhoinaa Jimmy.,.. . .:.;... . . 'i,Tomniy.:- Gavin Timothy;J. Tutlle....Hugh O'Connell Charley. Tuttle.,..... .Jack Lesy^ Prcncliy; ,...; . ..,. .Sammy White Dinty McBrldB.................Pred Ardslth Mike Cotiiiora................. .Lloyd Ootigh .S'tpne, ..Wiltiatn- l'oi-an Poria TuUle,..^,................ .Emily .Ko«S l/oulsa Tuilie.;..;...,,.. iMarJorleLord Tom- rrofllp.v;......Lyle BPUfjer Mr. lOntwhlstle...;..., /Percy ilelton Callahan,....,..,, .Kdwln Walter lOdd-lc...-,. ^. .. .;Jame8 Fullbr Mv, Cro.sley.......;,:,........ iJanies Sreley Mrs. Crosley,.. ..... .■;.. ::. .;...Mary Yoiine Jije Binaldl,...;,.,.Jotioi)h V, DeSiihUs Ohlpk jordaii. .. ..Tank Lambert Maid......... ..'...^V;'. ..... . . . Kli»>ri And.i-ewa' Ooldle...,..,.,,.. i.,,.;..;.../Mnriftu W«eks. Phyllia,..... >..:.., ::.,••. . ; ;..■. .Sylvia P.enton .Serjeant; MiilliKan,....., nObert J, MuUlpan OftU-ef JolinaoiiRobert Bieiun 'Bangtails/ fir;st production of the newly formed Boy a r Assbciateis, is a witty : racetrack comedy arid - drevv much laughter over long stVetches, On opening night first act dragged some, second picked up and last was smooth and fast, except for uncon- vincing description of race at end. Show ran two arid half hours, about 40 minutes too long, Hugh O'Connell is excellent as the meek candy-store man who inherits uncle's race-touting bureau. Hilari- ous complications develop before he is saved from jail when every horse In the fifth at Belriibrit.finishes iri a dead, heat. There . are' also many laughs when daughter's crooner- fiance brings his family to the Tuttle (O'Connell) home, • while racetrack riffraff also gather there. .- Co-author Sol Rosen, himself a well-known haridicapper, did, a good ■ibb in pibturirig traits Of racing bugs.: Scene of Tuttle arid fellow: touts picking winner from dopesheet is rip-roarlously funny. : Sariimy White.- as Frenchy, the" Tout, and Lloyd Gough, as Mike, the Alcoholic,, give outstanding'perform- ances. Mary Young lis acceptable as Mrs.. Grosley .aind James Seeley con- ; Walter Armitage, who ~ w.as ' eirii ■ broiled' with Equity this summer over operatipn of the County theatfei Suffern, N. Y., continues to be;-the center of various . financial. tangles. B^ides le^al claims against'his m^ ageriail cbfporation and himself per- sonally, a number of individuais are seeking payment bri ;bouuceabl«: checks issued by him. Among those whose salary checks were retuined lor lack of funds ar Jeah Muir and Philip; Reed;'actors;' arid 'Joseph , Heidt, press agent who received two of the boiiricirig checks, was also unpaid lor.:aii ad- ditibn.al twb ; -Weeks' . work : and ia perspnally liiible for material arid office equipnrent he wa^ instructed to order and for. which' he signed. Another -ryictirii ." b^ ; fiasco is Asadata Dafora, who was giveft a. worthless salar^r chectc} for himself •arid.', his troupe of.; W native dancers. County Theatre, Inc., Armitage's managerial company, is reported to owe upwards of $20,000; to various firms and individuals in and around Suffern arid others in;, New York for.: coristriictipn V -work, - equipriient, scenery, bostiimbs, fbod, wages, etc. In, adtjition, Bowlder tairms Thea- tre, Iric., corporate setup lor' th» group of residents of . Suffeni and Vicinity; which',; bbUght, the theatre from; its former owner, Robert Cut- ler, and let it to Ani-iitage, is un- derstobd to be in the sink for anr ; other $35,000. Five stpckhblders. all reportedly wealthy.' are expected to pay \ off the Bowlder corporation's debts, although it may -take them. a- little tiriie to; dig up- sLich an; amount in cash. Among the squaWk.s when the strawhat;.folded several weeks ago. were those of subscribers who had purchased season tickets and 'ap- prentices who had "paid iri advance; for. a full-season's dramatic instruc- tion and training. Theatre operated at a loss from the start; and folded after only, five weeks' operation. Iri addition, a night- club and restau- rant both; ran deeply : irito the red. Ambrig the persbnal purchases Armitage made during the season was a new station wagon, reported to be worth. nearly $i2,000 and which he bought on installment. Kenneth Walton, ah organist, at the N. Y. -World's Fair, is under- stood to be; trying to obtain the rights :to a drama-with-music,: •River Gambler,*. for which, he composed. the score. Script was written, by ■Armitage arid was ;tP have concluded; the season as the prestige produc- tion of the schedule. Warner Bros, is said to be interested in. buying it btit Walton has:been advised; that since Armitage's cbritril>utioii to the joint work was of; a'creative .na- ture, he cannot legally bblain sole, rights, .■; •■;. ■;. ■;;-.':;;:-::;-■--.-•■ ;.;..; ■ , 'Johiiny-Belinda' 4ViG. A.C. ■ Atlantic City, Aug. 27. -. Harry Wagstaff Cribble's produc- tion of " tohriy-Belihda' grossed $4,- 500 duririi six-day tryout at Garden Pier theatre ended Saturday ,(24).. Play by Elmer Harris, is skcddcd for two weeks Of rehearsin;g and. cast re- .vision in N. Y. before it goes lo Bos- ton Sept. 9 for further tryout. Pres- ent plans call ; for bpenlrigv.i" !^' r ■ . (Continued on page ; 527 vinces; as her husband.; Marjoile Lord is pert arid pretty, but talks too last; Other players are good enougn.: Settings hy ^Watson Barratl are. ex- cellent. : Cqrm.