Variety (Nov 1940)

50 LEGITIMATE ftinfETr Wednesday* November 6, 1940 Plays on Broadway PANAMA HATTIE B. G. DeSylva musical comedy produc.tlori lii IS. scenes, St&rs Ethel Merman; features Arthur Trencher, Betty Hutton, Jknies Dunn,'-Phyllis-':Brooks. Joan Carroll. Rags -Ragland, i,Pat . Harrington, Frank Hyers. Score by Cole Porter; book. Herbert, Fields and B; G. DeSyivar dances.' Robert A-lton; book staged by Edgar MacGregor; costumes and scenery. Raoul Pene DuBois: c-rc.liestra, Getie 'Snlzer;. orchestration's, Kussoll .noi'i- Itott, Hans-Spialek; Don Walker; vocal ar- rangements. Lynn, Murray; Mfes Mennan'-S accompanist; Ix>u Koslor. Opened ()(>t. ^0.: •40,; at 40th Street ,N. T.^'to S8.80 top;, regular scale. l-MO top. • ... r ■ Cast;.'.besides -star and prlnclnnls:, Cong- enita. TSppy- Pearson.'. Nadlne v .Ga>.' Linda Griffith; Roger GemV Raymond Batne, Ted Danlels. T.lpinan DuckaU Elaine' f hepnrd. Ann Graham. Al Dowrilng. : Frank DeRos?, Jack Donahue. James Keltfo, Janls Ciirtor, Rerioe Russell; Louis «nd: Robert nig)i-\ tower. . Cliff. Ferra «nd r Miriam "Franklin.. Carmen D'Antonio, Ilarry Roguc.-lS girls,;. 8 boys. ■ 'Panama Hattie- is Brbadway's newest musical smash: It has every- thin.ee and takes its place pronto with .'the town's musical leaders; the-'JolsDrt and Wyhri shows, spotting Ethel Merman right up there, on top with the two male stars. Including a plentitude of en- comiums that fall to the divers cred- its of producer DeSylva. composer Cole Porter, dance stager Bob Alton: to Raoul Pene DuBois for his even more than usually imaginative cos- tumes and scenery; to the librettists, principals 'and all that went into it, . •Panama Hattie' evolves most signift- cantlv for establishing Ethel Merman as a "full-fledged sold star. Which is scaling the : heights ih "a decade.' for musical comedy femme stars are few and- far between, and even .. rarer since the departure from Broadway of such satellites as Farirne Brice and. Beatrice Lillie. . Long an outstarider in : her: own right as a song, interpreter. Miss Merman has become, punch.ier. sock- ier,. more mellifluous. The shade of scat-sing stridency that remained as a heritage from her early Al Siegal vocal schooling .is now entirely non- existent, and she emerges the No. 1 musical comedy femme interpreter of lyrics. Given song material of the Cole Porter vintage, where the word- age is primed for. $4.40 audiences first, with a secondary ^thought to its- •mass' appeal. Miss Merman, more than sustains her assignment.. . As an evening's entertainment, •Panama Hattie* satisfies in every de- partment. . The Herbert Fields-De- Sylva book is topical, sturdy and cohesive. The romance is persuasive, especially via the medium of Joan Carroll, clever eight-year-old: the plot, having to do with spies in the Canal: Zone, is timely: and Porter's, songs socko all the way. .• The casting Is topnotcb. Arthur Treacher. James Dunn and. Phyllis Brooks are Hollywood repatriates. Treacher is capital as the deadpan gentleman's gentleman; Dunn ade- quate .as the juvenile interest oppo- site Miss Merman (with young Miss Carroll as Dunn's rivbtherless child): and Miss Brook a decorative light menace. The comedy department is even stronger. Rags Ragland. after a couple of abortive starts in musi- cal coroedv. proves himself as effec- tive at $4.40 as in 40c burlesque, from whence he stems." Pat Harring- ton and . Frahkie Hyers,. madcap zanies from Jack White's Club . 18. round out a very strong, comedy trio, working wi+h Ragland throughout in vnsubtle pobs-onrthe-make brand of comedy. Treacheri of course, more than sustains his end, with Betty Hutton an energetic soubret. ^. Above all. 'Panama Hattie* has 'pace and tempo. It's, as modern as the Greeks ~have-a-word-for-Musso- lini and {is fast-paced as an RAF counter-offensive. Robert Alton's dances, in/'the 1940 manner.. are as fast on the hoof as Tom Harmon, and DuBois eclipse's himself with his gay and colorful decor. .' v The. Panamanian •';' background brings in plenty of that congarhumba rhythm, and it's. in the specialties that a., recruit, from a , Hollywood nitery,. one Carmen D'Antohio. orig- inally, a Philadelphia hio-weaver. shakes . hAr.■■ chassis into big lea cue values, " She's a cinch; for doubling in the. local cafes. A fugitive from Fanchoh & Marco. Is Nadine .'Gae, who. likewise, in- creases her stage values 11-fold in direct ratio to the former 40c pic- . ture houses, where she was long es- tablished;.. In solo, and with. Louis and Robert Hightower, in specialties. .Miss . Gae clicks for unusual audi- ence values. Other ; tern'.- standouts throughout are Jariis Carter and Lipman Duckat: Harry Rpgue 'in two terp; r^nortunities, and Cliff Ferre ; and Miriam Franklin. ; : •" : Other than Miss - Merman's spec- tacular stage values, the blend of tal-. : tnts makes for. a well-rounded com- posite whole, eclipsed only in the comedy department as handled by Treacher and the Ragland-Harring- ton-Hyers combo. Betty. Hutton is, a fomewhat volcanic jitterbug oppo- site Treacher, but does.all right with her DT brand of comedy. Dunn was r cold-handicapped juve at the open- ing, but apart from the Vocalizing he - handles, his lines well* Miss Merman works often and hard from curtain tt curtain. She's the local cafe ' .< Is-*. VS- J i .i..;,: torcher with a heart of gold who. in a treadmill effect near the end. saves the day : by discovering ;anefarious., time-bomb intended to blow up one of the Canal's locks. ; Her songs dominate the show; out- standing being 'Let's Be Buddies' with little joan CaiToll: Tve Still Got My. Health.' 'Make It Another Old-Fash- idiied Please' (a new sort of torch song.t. ; A. sleeper is 'Who Would Have • Dreamed.' a tiptop waltz that will assert itself in time. Miss Mer- man, Treacher and the three comedy gobs do tricks with a topical lyric, 'You Said It'; Betty. Hutton gets a lot out .of 'AU f I've .Got: tb . Get/ Now Is My Man' and Tresh as a -Daisy.' while Eppy Pearson and Nadihe Gae click with a '. specialty towards the end of the first act. As a comedi- enne, Miss Merman's mild mugging; gets : a lot from . that pseudo-sacred conga routine that segues into the first-stanza finale, r . .. 'Panama-Hattie' also , establishes a record in the renaissance of Broad- way with three concurrent Broad- way musical cohiedy hits from the production stable of; Buddy , DeSylva. That hasn't obtained since the hey- day > of Florenz Ziegfeld,. Jr. De- : Sylva's 'Louisiana Purchase'; and ; ?Dur Barry Was a Lady' (title role orig- inally created by Miss Merman until bowing out;for' 'Panama; Hattie'), along, with ■ this entry; may require DeSylva building a special .chute; to the mint. •; '".'. Abel: Suzanna and the Elders OoiinHly in Ouee. acta (foiir acenr.i). .by Lawrence Lanrjner and Arn>lri« MaraliaH. Ktnifea. by Worthinetoit- Miner; aeUTiiff mm costmuea by Stewart Chatieyi.- Prc^hted by Jack Klrkland.' At Morostfo. N. V;, Oct. 29, *40j >3.r.O top. Sister -Mary Ijiinli'......,.;...;..; .. .>•!.•! Hh)1 Sister Abigail Adams.. ,. A .... l>riha. HI!! Sister Fla villa Ford .7..... Rosemary - Carver Ulster Olymple HerrliiK....... ;Mu.ry Itoy.liMV -Slater Hannah Plvinheit>;, : ..'..,Gvuo«i F.o'llcuc- sister Amanda, Perkins.;.. . .., Itettlna Cevf Sister (Marlss* Mar.shali.' .Frnnces Harrison Sister Suzanna- Leeds>,.,.';'. .Hallji Sioaduril Patlphce Kent.:..,.'......;; .June. Scyiimuv r>rotlier.-'Toni. li.ev. Abner" Owen. Clinrles Owen-. ..VV- Jolin: A do in : Kcii'.t. ; lii-Ot'Uifr Mclhl.osli.'.;. l.lrot her Tuppe.r.. v. ni-other Blnlseye. v . Brother I'lunkett: . ; • BroOier Stiiffpi-il ..-. ■ Brother -Lemuel.'... Brother Iionghorne. "Brbtlier Galupha..7 -Mike Lchlhnn., .Lloyd .'Bridges ...i-.ltililp Coolidee ... .-Paul' Huliantync .. Moixls 'Canvoyslty . .Itoynl Beal ;:. liow'ui-il 'Frccm:iu .. . . . I tal oh Word Icy .,.'.... . Hale .Xorrvo.ss .-.(•'harleh. - Furcolo'wb' ; .. . -.lVliihai'd C'larlt . .Theodore Newton ■ . i i jToiii .-■'-■Bw-cil .;;.:,. ltoss). Hertz Return Engagement ' - Comedy In ' three ■ acts . presented' at' John Golden. N. Y., Nov. 1. '40, by \V. Horace Schmldlapp and Jos. M. -Galtea; written.'by Lawrence: Rlley; Bert Lyteil, Mady Chrls- tlana;; . Audrey Christie,. Leona .. Powers,-. Evelyn. Yarden featured; 'fitaucd by. Row^ land : Leigh aiid Frank. ■ Merlin-; .'setting; Johannes Laraen; SJ5.30 top. Mrs. Autumn Hetherlngton. .Evelyn A r arden ;..WllllanV ' Leicester ,."... .P^ter G ft'rey . .■. Augusta ;Dabiiey ., .'Alexander Nlcol .........Ruth Lott. ■.. .Audrey Christie .. .Leona Powers . ..Caryl Smith ... . .Thomas Coley ... .Mady Chrlatlaris-. ......../Bert T.ytcll '. . Lewis L. Russell . . .'.Warren ' .Clarlto ........Helen Reld George. Bob.............;....;. Patsy.. Torhk Ins Eddie, v.;».... ■Elolse Hubbard;.; ... '.. Ruth Coii.way...'.. . ....'. Mrs. Ca'rlotta .l-'auiloicr Genqva' Faulkner......-, Bill Gardiner.......... EJllzabeth Emeison.; , Geortrey A rmstron'g. IV.. Baldji- Bemls.. Albert...,,......;,;.... Geneva's Maid... . .... Straight plays have been notably weak so far this season and 'Return Engagement' , does ' not better the score. Second show from the Cop- ley, Boston, designed as a tryout spot, hasn't much better chances than' 'Boyd's Daughter,' which recently opened at the Boston house, too, and promptly stopped aftei*iis Broadway debut. ^ ' It is a .comedy aneht rural, sum- mer stock theatres but the laugh count is meagre. Written by Law- rence. Riley, who scored with his first attempt,- 'Personal Appearance, • new play might have gone places had the script been: given more atten- tion. First act is gabby and rep- etitious, characters being annoying rather than amusing. While the other acts are somewhat better, 'En- gagement' never seems to get into stride. '' One-setter is: localled. outside a former coach house on a Connecti- cut estate owned by the backer, widowed Mrs. Faulkner, . who has amorous intentions towards Geoffrey Armstrong, middle-aged guest star on hand for a new play, tryout. En- gaged for the same purpose is Eliza- beth Emerson, with whom he trpuped and to whom he was wed. Mrs. Faulkner insists that : her giddy , daughter, Geneva,, appear in the cast, which nearly disrupts the outfit, but the kid is disposed of by the young author, who elopes with her. She also plans to lure Geoffrey ' aboard a yacht due to sail for Cali- fornia, but that plan is stalled by Elizabeth, who admits she stili loves her straying mate^a fellow who .went to Hollywood but is about on the way out as an actor. . ' ' - v '/. A New York manager is supposed to see the play and offers *to pro- duce it with Elizabeth but not Arm- strong.; Elizabeth, displaying her re^ kindled affection for Geoffrey, pro- poses to,; produce the- show? oh the Coast, and there '■„' a sentimental ending with "the pair aiming for a return engagement .in wedlock. ; Bert - Lyteil; and Mady . Christians are very well cast as the leads; along with a good company. Their top comedy scene :r comes when they dis- cuss former : appearances'V,together, and he claims to nave registered best. Mentipn of the Lunts is made, and when he. dryly points out that they are never referred to as the Fontannes, it provides the play's best giggle. .\ -.' ; ; ; • Audrey Christie hasn't much chance but. she took, the part to change her luck and was immedi- ately : engaged for 'Hi-Ya, Gentle- meiji' (musical featuring Max Bier). Evelyn Varderi . is ■ the talkative, whistle-blowing manager of the stock, with,; too , much to say in. act <Jhe. Leona Powers is. the widow, a fair part. Augusta Dabney is likable as the ingenue, while Caryl Smith as the gawky amateur attracts at- tention. There are sex angles in the play but they hardly figure to help much. ;■ Ibee. • . The subject matter of this comedy, a Socialist community, such as dotted the country during the 1870'si is inter- esting, but the play has insufficient dramatic substance :t or boxoffice suc- cess. Aiccording, to advance rumor, the script had been dirtied up since it was first tested at Westport, Cpnri., two summers ago,.: HoweX'er, except for some; 'teenage jokes about sex, it stili seems innocuous. . There's some; talk about Socialist . economic and industrial theories irk the: show,,'but co-authors Xaxvrerice •Langner : and ! Armina . Marshall ap- pear .mainly . concerned: with ^the practice of 'experimental breeding' carried 6n in the • community; It's kind of a twist on the; 'bundling' theme that made their 'Pursuif. of Happiness' a hit, but in this" case it seems old-fashioned and harmless instead of titillating. • In 'Suzanna and. the Elders' the benevolent ' despot whoi ru.lesV the little, group ; has nb faith 1 in romantic love, or marriage, or.the family, all of which he believes tend to inspire possessivehess and greed. . Seeking to improve upon nature, he tries to build a better race of humans by 'experimental breeding'. ambng se-; iected members of• the community. Of course - the human equation up- sets this theoretical Utopia. ,The idealistic. Socialists grow restive un- der ,the cramping moral and ecdr nomic restrictions and; when ah old- fashioned boy and / girl romance brings their dissatisfaction to a head, they decide to resume -the custom of . marriage, property ownership and, other capitalistic practices. Thus, 'Suzanna and. the Elders' turns out to be simply: a mild boy-meets- girl.story in costume. Worthington Miner's staging seems obvious and inert, although the script offers little scope for in- ventiveness. .Within the. limits of the. parts, the performances are. rather good. - Morris Carnovsky is understandable and ; likable as the patriarch, while Haila Stoddard giyes her best performance so far as the headstrong heroine. Lois Hall, Jane Seymour and Tom Ewell also stand out, while Drina Hill, Paul Ballantyhe, Royal Beal, Richard Clark, Theodore Newton and Ross Hertz are effective in supporting parts. Stewart Chaney's. setting and costumes are excellent. Jack Kirk- land, author-producer of 'Tobacco Road,' has in this, case unfortunately expended a superior production on an inferior play. . ;Hobe. Plays Out of Town Glamour Preferred Princeton,. N. J„ Nov.3. Brrtok Pembeiton "'preai(nts x tpmitly in lhr.ee.'iict.t by l-'lorence Hyersoh «nd -Collii. CMoinonts.: Directed . by Antolhetfa Perry; Hoitlnff by John Itoot. Presented for llrst. time at' McCarter. Princeton. Nov. 'i. 'AO. f-'.".'! top. . .'. Amaiida Beckett... ..-. .V.Helen lliirmon Loulii :. f,.7.v.■.■..... . .lil-slo Wiie Gordon AVebster....... .7,...... .< i. .. Henry Vincent Ahgclu Vatighh... ../;/.■«.. . . Jreho Corlett Mrtx MMSlctt,.. v. .7.7;...... .t'harloa Trexlcr Lynn Kldrldgo....... ..... .Flora Campbell SIlvcrFlsb. Externilnatbra 1 Charles Rains ) Thomart: Rubcock JelT Pottpr...'. .' .,.'.'.: Korr'y Kldrldge. v..', Henry, ;...... IteiMH nl. C.; Gblil water. NIcholas- Jorgad...,..' Mrs. lV'iVgllly., .....'.:■.. Lady'Towyri,; . .'. lloiher Cox...7... .,.. St range Girl.. :........'. Jviirl- Rclhbeck.i'; ;■■;;.. ^ Sir. TowyiiV...;. Policeman.:. '.'...'.:, .'.,'. : , ;Lox;Llnd«ay ,'.. '. , .(ilOll l,l\11RMl\ i.;.Albert LowJh ,'...... L«uls Sprln ...Stefan Sjchhiibcl .. .Muldol Turner .';. , .Wyn (Joho'on , ...Jinnes O'Uenr , : .';..151alne. Perry- -Henry Levin .; .Robert Craven . .William Byrns. Kale Hathaway; one of the regu- lar company at the Paper Mill play- house, Millburn, N. J., and in the troupe's first: production,; 'Jeahnie.' iha . Claire remodeling Victoriah- architecture home in San Francisco; Lois Moran, now ; Mrs. Clarence Yoting, wife of a Pan-American Air- ways official, directing the San Fran- cisco Children's Theatre. 7 Male lead .opposite Miriam Hop- kins itii the Guild's forthcoming 'Bat- tle of Angels' is described as a Henry Fonda or Dean Jagger part. John Wexley is at his Bucks county (Pa.) home writing a new V which the Guild will see ^first. Walter Hackett^ author of 'Captain Applejack^ and 'White Sister,' has a hew script. His. wife,; Mary Lorne, is planning to return to the-stage. ' Why Not Dual It? -.- ,■'.■..' V. ■ Los Angeles, - Nov;' 5. Fprtujiib .BpharNOva, .stage pro- ducer, filed $29,000. - damage suit against Dr. Peter -Riccardi and Rogers, lessees of the Mason theatre. Plaintiff - charges he had ; made arrangements to stage. a musical comedy, 'The Master,' at the Mason, starting last Nov. 4, but found the defendants had arranged to open an- other show in the theatre on the same day. •' With revivals definitely in vogue this season, Brock Pemberton might just as well, bill 'Glamour Preferred* as a- revival of all the old Hollywood gags and sagas rblled into one. . The new comedy by Florence Ryerson and ; Colin-. Perry, originally titled 'Morality Clause,' will hardly get by on its originality. Kaufman and Hart did a better and funnier job on it abb,ut .a dbzeh years ago in 'Once in a Lifetime.'; ; ■ ' V,; ; • Despite an abundance of 7 witty lines ahd. surefire malaprppisms, .the faction in -Glamour' is too slbw. The authors take an -entire first act tb lay the background for a rather feeble story., and the second act is too; spot- ty. The play succeeds in building up to a chaotic pitch only to. fall flat by a weak finale.. : : - : -: : The authors haven't missed a trick in taking Hollywood over the coals. You'll find Goldwyn's prototype spouting j umbled and accented epi- grams; a ruthless .gossip columnist who'll commit anything short of mayhem to! get dirt for his column-; a refugee Szech director, in - all his artistic terhperament emoting with a punk dialect and; accompanied by his. two stooges; here, too7 you'll find the big-time author exiled to pretentious offices arid: "obscurity: there's the Purity League head who controls 2,- 000,000 admissions and an assortment of monkeys, lions and; goldfish ex- terminators. They .all enter the portals of the Eldridge Ranch Hpuse of an empty- headed glamour boy who has been pushed to the .top by a faithful wife, an ex-star of the Keystone, Cop eYa, only to fall prey to every designing siren. While on a personal appear- ance tour in the east he - starts a scandal by disappearing from an im- portant dinner in; the company of ari: ex-flame. His wife gets the news from a. gossip column and resumes her thankless task of bringing the errant: husband to his senses. : Through it all bounces the matron- ly Purity League snooping for sex angles, only to succumb to Holly- wood glamour. In a waek and sud- den climax, Hollywood's No. 1 love birds . are reunited as the gossip writer misses out on the story of the year;;.;" '• ■; ■.'..;; The cast is uniformly good, partic- ularly Louis Sorin as Bernard C. Gold Water, the Goldwynesque pro- ducer; Flora Campbell, as the ever- devoted wife; Glen Langah.. in the thankless role of the glamour boy. and Robert Craven, who does a par- ticularly fine bit as Sir Hubert Towyn, husband of the menace. ; Antoinette Perry's direction Is all that could be desired, while John; Root's single setting is excellent. Rosen. irig as a hiagnet it may bring » iat isfactory response. As is, ihe.piav is merely a background for a Brown personal appearance and withou him it would be as ineffectual as a mickey without the finn. Looks bet ter as a road attraction than for th» Broadway menu. : .< . ° An. atteihpt is made* to bring thV show up to date by placing the iiml as 1940 and by inserting several lines; relative to Roosevelt and Will kie^ They're out of place and add nothing to the comedy. Same-goes for a crack about Mrs. F.DH. - . Cast, with one or twoi holdovers from the summer troupe, offers ade quate support that should improve with playing. ..John Call; as Elmer's younger brother, looks ■: enough lilie hint to make it official arid turns in a lively performance to boot. Peggy O'Donne^l, Grace Carney and Muriel Williams fill femme romantic roles capably, and Edwin Gordon fits as Bull Wade, team scout who discov- ers Elrne?:. Alexander Clark over- acts badly as the team ovvner so much so that credits should have read 'scenery created by Herbert Andrews, chewed by Alexander Clark.' Suzanne Jackson pleases as Elmer's mother and Eva Condon is okay as the family servant. ■■■; .. Brown is tops In a role that i? glove-fitting for his particular vein of comedy. He uses considerable business' picked up in his film ver- sion of the play. Some ad libbing worked but so well-.U preerh that it is being kept in/ Same applies to -a" curtain speech that was the show's highlight oh opening, night, There's a possibility that Brown may work this angle up into an advantageous iteiri on the order of the Barryrhore asides in 'My Dear Children.' • -" Staging Jhas first and third frames showing^up best, with a bad sag in the play's midsection. ' Sets, are okay for an obvious limited budget. '-A Jiovelty is introduced in the form of . between-scencs vocalizing by a qiiaM'- tet comprised of Dick Byrer. Allen Stewart, Keith Davis and, Morgan Davies. Bo?tc. HERE TODAY - (RUTH GORDON) Boston, Nov. 1., ■Comedy-farce' revival . in threo ao'W by. George. Oppohhelmer."• : Stars' Ruth Gordon.. Prosentfcd -by." Copley Productions (Schnild- lapp & Galt.es); staRed by William Mites, .with settlnff by Xouls P. Golanln, at Cop- ley, Boston, Oct. ai, '.40; |2.20 t<n»,. Jeffrey Windrow. Gortrude..... ;.. , Philip Gra.yes.^.7 Claire Wln'drew.. -Mrs.' Wlndrew... Stanley Pale,....' Mary Hllllard.... Spencer- Grupt. ....Albert Whlteiy .... .Pauline • Myers.. .7.'. .. .Alan; Howllt ; .Augusta Rorland ..Ethel Wilson .'. -i.... Kins- Calder. .';.. .-.Ruth. Gordonv . . John D. Seymour ■ ELMER THE GREAT . (JOE E. BROWN) New Haven, Nov. 1. . Revival of-Rlnff: Lnrdhbr comedy In three nets- (six 'BCbhes),.' stdrrlnff. Joe E.; Brown. Staged by. Brown; 8e(tlnK«, Herbert An- drews; presented by Aldrlch. & Mycra *at the Shubertj New Haven, Oct. 31, '40; ?2.7o top. • •. ■ ■ '•- .'. Mi'3. -Kdn«;.;.•.■... Sarahv.. .7 .....;. . JylclC:Kane.'.i.7i7, Elmer JC.inev... . . . Amy ;GllIan.. Bon -Beeson.'.. Nellie Poole. liull. Wade..;.;.... .Kit Carney.,. Gabby Sutton..... Johnny .Abbott.;'. Bone Bohhnm.. . , . l'lnkle Uoyle......... Kid Crowley- ; .' Odd-Olda....7....; , Nosey. Nooh'an........7.; Grouch Stevens. .7v:.7 ;; High Hip Heiily........ Wave Wullter.,....... , •Kvclyti Corey';..,. .7,; Mr^ ' StUlinan ..'.. .'..7... .7 Mr.: Grayson;...'i.i..•;>,• Mintha.,; ,■;;...... t'. .. .P*car..'....'. i.■;.'.... Chl.e£ Harrisi.......^.; Yankee Quartette....... Byrer, Stewart, ....Suzanne Jackson ..... . ....Eva Condon -...•>....John Call ..'■..',• Joo 15, ■ Browri .......Grace Ciirney ...... . .Percy. Helton .•'.. i I'CRKy O'Donnel 1 .... ....Edwin Gordon Lawrence Weber. Jr. Dlclc Mldgley ...Francla l)e Sales .7Jii m e s. Ha ye s .......0lck Byrer ..7. ...Allen Stewart , . . .Keith Davis ..... .•.;.-; Ben- Laughllh ;;tl(.iger Blnnken^lp: ,.; .Morgan, Davies ., ...Alexawdcr Clark .....Murlal Williams • Richard Irving .«V«Doiiglaa- Keaton. ...'..;■.>.iBetty .Kellej': .George Spalvln Ed Butiier Davla and Ddvlesr • Having met with fair success in several strawhat stands with this comedy last summer. Joe E. Browri, With the assistance of several spon- S ?R\ is offering it. as. Broadway pos- sibility. .This is the. comedy about the jerktpwn baseball pitcher who is so good, when he joins a big-league team* that he never lets anyohe get to first base. As a candidate for hit honors in these days, this play Would probably meet a similar fate on its own merits, but with Brown's clown- . This: is the third and best 6t the; CopleyvProductioris. this season, arid a revival of a good comedy in which . Ruth Gordon starred, about eight years ago. Play has been revised : here and -there to eliminate lines that might date it; and this revision, as such, is skillful. However, this . type of comedy is not up to present day hit standards. Maybe the day is past when the ribbing of the more sober • citizenry by snappy chatter from the" intense intelligentsia is enough to make a show entertain-" irig. /.■'•' •' ,.':. Briefly, the plot concerns' the'."'sue*'.' cessful campaign of a woman to re- trieve her ex-husbarid from his new love interest. Miss Gordon,\as the gal Who wins, represents a member of that very smart speakeasy society who spoke 'another language' in the bathtub gin days. She plays a hare-.: brained dijly, who talks like Gracie Allen. Apparently her traveling companion, -Stanley Dale: (King Calder) and her ex-husband, Philip Graves (Alan Hewitt) think she's just loo, tooVr-arid they, in their smug way. have! a swell tiriie con- founding the Windrew household, also smug. .■':■ '-. ■ ". . Very soon after Mary Hilliard (Miss Gordon) barges in- with Dale to disturb the peace of the Win- drew's Nassau Wiriter place, it'^ quite, apparent that she'll land Philip and abash his new girl, Claire Windrew, , and Claire's mother,, brother and fi- ance with a barrage of flip banter. From that point, there is only the acting and dialog to sustain interest. Ethel Wilson is thoroughly ;erijby> able as Mrs. Windrew, shocked, and ; baffled by the invasion of the cuffo society set; King Calder is good as . care-free,, blase partrier for .Miss Gordon, and Alan Hewitt makes his character of the middle man in the Jove triangle quite human.. Aug" s ^ Roeland, as the other girl, arid John Seymour, as her conventional' fiance from Phillyi both handle their roles cpmmendably. Albert Whitely, cast as an effete brother of Claire, and Pauline Myers, appearing briefly as a colored maid,. perform with less assurance than the others. William Miles, director, keeps the folks, moving about quite a pit' to partially compensate for a slight shortage of action in the script; Ga- ; , lanis* colorful living room: set is okay considering, that three doors, a stair- way, built-in bar ahd a veranda vista leave practically no wall space. - Fox. ■