Variety (May 1941)

76 LEGITIMATE Wednesday, IMay 7, 1911 Inside Stufi-L^t A telephone message was received by an Equily oflicial last week from a Harlemite, to the effect that a delegation from there would appear before council to demand that Bill Robinson represent colored actors in the body. The uptowners failed to put in an appearance. Idea evidently arose after the name of Ethel Waters was disclosed among the 15 candidates nom- inated for the 10 council berths to be filled at Equity's annual meeting early next month. There was no comment in Equity circles concerning Miss Waters, first colored candidate yet for the council. Not generally known that Chorus Equity has a colored member, Carring- ton Lewis, on its executive committee. He has been in that post for two years. At present the chorus branch has but 22 colored members in good standing. In Equity the actual number of colored members eligible to vote is reported to be 39. In both instances the figures prove a very small minority. Richard Stevenson, understudy for both Fredric March and Alan Reed (Tedtjy Bergman) in Theatre Guild's 'Hope for a Harvest," is 'covering' both roles this week from New York while show is in Baltimore. Made necessary by fact that Stevenson has to rehearse with Ann Corio in sub- way circuit production of 'White Cargo,' which he's also directing. Guild agreed to the remote control coverage when Stevenson pointed out that It was only three and a half hours from New York to Baltimore and that he could make it If necessary on three hours' notice. Actor, who is a brother of Phil Stevenson, p.a. for No. 2 company of 'Life With Father,' did 'Cargo' three summers ago with Sally Rand on strawhat circuit. "Har- vest' winds up spring tour Saturday (10) in Baltimore, resuming on Broad- way in fall. It will have played total 61 five and a half weeks. Legit FoUow-Up HELLZAPOPPIN those of Tech are co-ed and It's a refreshing change, a policy a lot of other schools might do well to adopt. Anyway, the 1941 revue proves Tech has as much musical as it does dra- matic talent, college being the home of one of country's outstanding drama schools. Lot of the players, incidentally, are drama students, although Scotch and Soda carnivals aren"t confined to that department. Sketches are weakest part of 'Here"!? to. You.' They're chiefly blackouts of old gags. Couple of the (Jay C. Fllppen-Happy Felton) When it was proposed to send out a road company of 'Hellzapoppin.' Olsen and Johnson, who concocted thie revue from many and devious shows of theirs in vaudeville, said - , . . it wasn"t such a good idea. But longer skits are iunny in spots but they've since changed their minds.' draggy over the distance. Other- Billy House and Eddie Garr have wise, revue is way above par for been knocking 'em dead in the sticks , campus enterprises. Music particu- and the gicsscs of the road outfit are larly is fine and several of the tunes much higher than takings of the ■ could stand an airing at large In- original |utfit at the Winter Gar-^ steadyof^3Mst^»^^^^ ' 'Man About Town,' both by Jerome 9. and J., having finally left the N. Y. ca-st. have been replaced by Jay C. Flippcn and Happy Felton, latter a reformed comic bandsman. Business at the Garden last week, when everything was on the down- grade was not materially affected by the change. Fact is that 'Hellz' is con- siderably dependent on visitors to Naw York and few of them know of the switch, as if they care. It was the idea of the comedians, who're shortly to do a film version, that the show depended on team work, and that may be so. When Flippen and Felton work together longer, the performance should be Broadway ingenue, friendly with a couple who operate a summer, thea- tre, has been occupying their apartment for several weeks while they have ..r ..^ „„„„*i„ ,uKx„„h n,„r<. be^n away. As the strawhat season approaches, she has been answering beUer ^th^an p^resently,^ aU more and more telephone, inquiries about the theatre, most of them being ftom job-seekers. Actress tells other ingenues that the ingenue assignment at the spot is already filled, but advises those after other parts to call back in a few weeks. In every case she uses a pHony accent, sometimes southern, or French, Cockney, Brooklynese, etc. Says that as long as she's being the Impresarios' for-free secretary, she may as well polish up her various char- acterizations. Sometimes organizations which buy preview performances get a break— that is, if the play clicks. It is probably the reverse more often. Case in point is 'Somewhere in France,' which the Theatre Guild called back after trying it out in Washington last week. It was slated to open in New York tonight (7). There are paid previews at the Guild theatre, N. Y., the first three nights of this week, which will at least somewhat reduce the production nut. Trance' needs script revision and is slated to come in next fall. Guild's other recent tryout, 'Home for a Harvest,' is rated a good thing, but Broadway will not see it until autumn. Samson Raphaelson looked at 'France' Monday night (5) with a view to possible' rewrite. Switch of the Philadelphia company of 'Life with Father" instead of the Chicago outfit for the Detroit date, which starts June 2, caused some talk in show circles. According to the Oscar Serlin office, reason is that Lillian Gish will go to the Coast and it was deemed advisable to spot one of the 'Father* companies intact in Detroit rather than engage a replacement player. Philly.cast is headed by Dorothy Gish and Louis Calhern, while the Chi company has her sister and Percy Waram as the leads. Reports are that there is another reason for the change, but both com- panies arc slated for the road with casts intact next season. Recent club show at the Lambs was dubbed a 'spring concert' instead of Gambol. One reason for dubbing it a concert was the prevalence of war- bling, too much so, according to some of the clubmen who took the air before all the proceedings were terminated. A complainant opined that Fred Waring's glee club had appeared too often in the club shows. Others who prefer male voices claimed the show was all right, different from 'seidel nights,' when concert singers are usually egged on by a hand-clapping clacque minority. Group living at the Rehearsal Club, New York boarding house for girls In the theatre, last week published a booklet containing their pictures and theatrical capabilities. Sent 600 copies to legit producers and agents, film talent scouts and radio agencies, directors and producers. Number of calls resulted, besides which the girls are being booked for an international shortwave broadcast. They will also put on an entertainment and do modeling Monday (12) for a fashion show at a Fifth avenue apparel shop. Federal Theatre Project, defunct since 1939, is being kept alive in memory by a compilation of the manuscripts of plays, research volumes, bulletins and magazine articles produced by the FTP during its existence. Southern California administrator of the Works Progress Administration is about to issue a reference library which may be used by drama groups throughout the nation. was plenty of laughter last Friday (2), show caught, when a fair house attended. 'Hellz' never was much of a girl show and Is less so now than pre- viously. There is only one effective ensemble number, the Scotch rou- tine at the first set finale. It would click in any musical and could be less abrupt than now. There is only one Crane sister (Bettymae) as Bev-- er]y has gotten married. Audience gift bit near the close is somewhat weakened with just a solo, girl pick- ing out the seat numbers. Both Flippen and Felton are sea- soned comics but impression Is that the new team hardly measures up in personality to that of Ole Olsen and Chic JohnsOn. There seems to be less noise currently and it may be that they are cutting down on the blank cartridge bills. Charles Withers, who went into the show last year when the 'New Hellzapoppin' was announced, is per- haps the show's strongest comedy in- terlude. His opry house skit, with Edded business and bits, is amusing. Radio Rogues count at every per- formance. So do Barto and Mann. Walter Nilsson with his cycling spe- cialty, the Charioteers, Theo Har- deen. Dippy Diers. among those originally in the lineup, are all okay. Hal Sherman is apiong the missing. Hcrry Reso, also a hoofer, with some of Sherman's stuff, fills in rather well. 'Hellz' lacks more than four months to complete its third year on Broad- way. Late September will start the fourth year, 'fourth year' being billed now for some curious reason. Maybe it will stick into- another new season, as there are few incoming attractions in sight and the metrop- olis Is due to get a heavy throng from out-of-town this summer. However, the affluent O.&J. are due back in the fall to appear In something called 'Crazy House' and plan moving right back into those Garden dressing rooms. No show of the 'Hellz' type has run so long on Broadway, nor has cleaned up so much. Incidentally, the Shuberts probably never made as much money from a revue, even though the profits are split with O.&J. 7bee. Kurtz, drama school senior who ac companied Libby Holman in straw- hat theatre production of 'Bur- lesque'; Gloria Seigle's 'Walking in the Rain,' a catchy number, and title song by Jack Purcell. Ambitious, but a little too rigidly early Gersh- winiana, is Miss Seigle's 'Fantasy in Low Brown' for a muddled ballet number and Susan Miller's 'Complex Inferior' isn't bad. Probably chief virtue pf revue is its tempo. Packi a lot of zip and numbers have all been staged in a manner reminiScent of those old Schwab-Mandel collegiate frolics. Dances are put on not only with en- gaging abandon but also a lot of originality. Second act opening to Kurtz's 'Country Cousin' is a neat bit of terp production and Miss i Seigle's 'Techlero,* after the bolero 'manner, is likewise in high, with a native dance by Peggy Young and Henry Barnard that's plenty all right Show's top performers are Robert Challener and Garry Davis, latter the son of band-leader Meyer Davis. Challener is a clever half-pint with a Noel Coward touch, with his lec- ture on petunias and later his lampoon of Helen Morgan, both go- ing over big. Davis is a redhead of the Buddy Ebsen type who fits well into any and all departments. Best voices belong to Betty Ellen Morris and Molly Van Ameringen, and on the hoofing end, Roland Kraus and Audrey Botkin, a looker, are at- tractive kids who should have little trouble ■ getting started in a profes- sional- way. Others in the big cast who stand out are Marvin Einhorn. Samuel Liff, Rue Knapp and Ernest Motyl. Clever idea is having cou- ple of gabby dames, played by Jenny Lou Law and Alice Morgan, chew- ing the fat from the opposite second- tier boxes right before first and sec- ond act openings. Dialog is okay and puts the audience in good humor at the outset. Although Scotch and Soda shows run-for three performances at Car- negie Music Hall, only one is really open to public. Others are for alumni and students exclusively, production being feature of Tech's annual Campus Week. If 'Here's to You' is a sample, group should hire a legit theatre like the Nixon for a week and give the public a chance- to see what's going on. . Public would be surprised, and pleasantly so. Cohen. backers and theatre owners, a prostie and a columnist, all talking like sophomores with a Saroyan hangover. Acting Is fairish; Phyllis TiUey as the poet's conception of a way- ward dame, has some thesping pos- slbilitics. Direction by N. Bryllion Fagin is okay, along with general production. Bwm. RUN FOR YOUR LIFE (BROWN UNIVERSITY) Providence, H. I., May 5. .Seventh annual pi-odurtlon of the nrti\n\ Drokoi-H; jiroducoU )>y Bai-bnvu Ihnn; llRlilInK, Lincoln }Inn<«>n; »la(!0 illrrctliAi' Wllllnm Pruyor: dnncCM crcntnl and Ktiicoii by lliirbjira Ham; muHlc direi-lor, (ledr^fo MC'Al]ilni>; iikctrhcn itaiicd by I.uclUft Swirk anil noSR DavlH; niUHlc. OoorRO MoAlpliie, Tom Lomasney. Al Acnrn. naehel llrciil. Henry Lee. liSuKcne Lester; lyrics Jo Slieehan Lucille Stark. Haobel liroiit, Ann- Uyani, - Mary Drlitcoll; akctrbea, Lucille Stark, l{o.ii< Davis. Stanley Jolin- eiin. Jo Shcehan, Mary Urincoll; sceiiei-y, created by .\rl injur, executed bv nill Prayer; co.<)tunie«, Itunny MnrkiiKs nnd Marjorle Henike, Oa-st principals: Iliirbai-a Hain, Arthur Bljur, Dan nrnude. Lucille Stark, Jiiinea Cunningham, VIrKlnIn non-man. Dick Trwin, Lois LIndblom. Lou' Smndlteck. Bernard Lubantky, J^nt McSweeney, Gled* hill Cameron. 'Run for Your Ufe' is commend- able for its well-knit, general ex- cellence of both material and per- formance. Lavishly styled as usual, produc- tion presents a satire on Life mag • and interweaves a series of skits, ensembles, ballet and creative dances to make of the whole a fast- moving lyrical piece of entertain- ment. It lacks punch scenes present in past Brown Brokers' shows, lean- ing more toward the lighter side. Offering is led through various Life features, with skits accenting the subtler side of sex. When not jitterbugging, members of the dancing corps go through their paces in Latin-American and ballet dances which pack plenty of color. Among the best of this group is an interpretative dance on indus- trial revolution which gives Barbara Ham a chance to turn her hand to a branch of dancing in which she ex- cels. Daniel Braude handles the comic assignment nicely. Sets are distinctive and handled beautifully. Malo. Moss Hart has sent in his army draft questionnaire, but it is doubtful If he will be called to camp. Author was 35 years and eighi months old when the law for trainees became operative. He Is now past his 36th birthday. Only recently did Hart receive notifi- cation from the draft board. A letter that, attracted the attention of the management of the Barry- more, N. Y., was received from a woman who said she had to buy three $1.10 tickets for 'Pal Joey' right away, because she expected to have a baby in three weeks. After that she feared she'd miss the show. It was arranged for the expectant mama to see 'Joey' on the cuff. A cooling system is being installed in the Fulton, N. Y., where 'Arsenic and Old Lace' is expected to play into next season. House is one of the few legiters not already equipped with an air conditioning system. Cost of installation, around $20,000, is being split between the house and the show's producers. College Plays Special feature on the Shuberts, emphasizing their supposed control of theatre bookings throughout the country as well as their large interests on Broadway, is being prepared by Click for publication in the June 24 Issue. Indie Move On to Reelect Hewitt to Equity CouncU Independent move to place Alan Hewitt's name on the ballot for re- election to the Equity council at the forthcoming annual meeting was made yesterday (Tuesclay). Peti- tion, signed by more than 125 names, was presented to the council. It was repoi-ted that Byron McGrath, nomi- na.ed on the regular ticket, had re- signed in favor of Hewitt Apparent reason Hewitt was not named by the nominating commit- tee on the regular ballot for re- election was. that he was named by Representative William Lambertson last year as one of the alleged Com- munists active in 'Equity. Many members of Equity, both in and out of the council, came to Hewitt's de- fense, for among those who know him personally, he is regarded as having liberal political views, but 'anything but a Communist.' Mem- bers of the nominating committee are understood to admit Hewitt is not a Communist, but to have left him off the slate 'for the good of Equity.' Hewitt's present term as council ihember ends this year. HERE*S TO YOU (CARNEGIE TECH) Pittsburgh, April 30. Scotch and Soda Club or the Carncglj Institute of Technology iircsents a niualcal revue In two acts and li'J scenes; music nnd lyrics by Jerome Kurtz. Gloria ScIkIc. Samuel LIIT. Itoland Kruus. Jack Purcell and Sxisan .Miller: skctclios. Lift. Kraus, Garry Dnvin nnd I';rncst M<ityl; Alex SeRal. director; Davis. Lift, Knius, Motyl. Uutli Hrodle . and Henry llevves; continuity; Kraus. dance director; Purcell. mualral director; Edward lliirkowltz, nettlnga; Alan BluiSi, costumes. At Cnrnenle Music Hall, Pittsburgh. Aiirll 30. May 1-2, '41. Cost: Robert Chnllener, Molly Van Ameringen, Jenny Lou Law, Garry Davis, Ernest Motyl. Alice MorKan. Lester Stan- ford, Betty Kllen Morris, David Ellis. Tom Jonea, Michael Sivy. I).-irbiim Burns, Audrey Uotkln, Bose Marie Hills. Frear Twins, Wlltrcd Tliunhurst. Jrmes Mciirlt- tin, Milton llownrth. Alfonso Checco, Sam. uel Lirr, Roland Kraus, Marjorle Gibson Adeline Roth, Maxine Diamond. Bstelle Wyn-cr, Ruth Means, Helene Jaffln. Anne Alexander, -lletty Uleherson, Phyllis Cohn. Bunny I.ewy. Rue Knnpp, Hetty Johnson. Paul Cuddlhy. John Blankenchlp. Henry Howes, Marvin KInhorn, I.eatrlee Miller. Eleanor Weal, Alllton fjevlne. Septa San- derson. J. L, Jones, PeBgy Young. Henry IJarnanI, Wllllani Lebnu, Jeanne Howard, Betty Jaho Klesel, Ada Mnrmcclnl, Helen McMillan. Muriel Rotiult, Horton Oaynor, Jesjic Hill. Carnegie Tech's Scotch and Soda Club is a comparative newcomer among the college groups. 'It was founded in 1938 and 'Here's to'Vou' is its fourth show. If improvenrient continues at this rate, it should come up with at least a 'Meet the' People' in another couple of years. Unlike most other campus shows. CITY CALLED HEAVEN (JOHNS HOPKINS) Baltimore, April 24. Fantasy In four acenes by Richard Roh- man; presented by Uio Johns Hopkins riay- ahop nt Johns Hopkins .University, Balti- more. Md. Directed by N. Bryllion Fagln; settlnRs, Marshall Hawks, Dorothy Dr:iKer, Katherlne Brauns; opened April 22, '-11. IronmnnKer Bernard Ho(tm;in Hellsped Arthur llnKor First Waller Ernest Gohn Sappho '..Phyllis Tllley WUmer D. Morrla Stadd Fan Sylvia Celw.nsscr Iris Adele Miller Doon Alexander IJonsc Roland Amos Tailor Honey Doris RalllnK Martin CenrRc List Second Walter Donald Gibson Polly Model Elsie Kane Miss Daniels Ester Hankow Worms Dan Rclcher The Playshop of Johns Hopkins University has presented several new plays that have reached into more ambitious company. Current effort by Richard Rohman New York newspaper man now publicity director for the Amalgamated Cloth In^ Union, attracted' some interest prior to its preem here. Opening night had several film scouts on hand and local dailies carried a yarn about Lawrence Shubert Lawrence optioning the piece for uncles Jake and Lee Shubert. Based on its catching here, 'City Called Heaven' will not go far. It's a fantasy that deals with the often tried angle of what would happen on this sphere if death no longer haunted its inhabitants. The premise has been worked out several times before and more effectively in 'Death Takes a Holiday,' 'On Borrowed Time' and, in a measure, 'Our Town.' In spite of a few spots, notably in the third act, which reveal a tran- sient spark of dramatic writing, play drags through four scenes replete with uncertain characterization and phoney dialog. Its people are of the theatre and a more theatric com- pany has rarely been offered the public. There's a consumptive pro- ducer who is a combination director, booker, procurer, promoter and agent who does all his business in a cafe. There are actors and actresses. UBO Headaches ; Continued from page 73: owning Ford's, however, and the seme applies to the Colonial, Boston. K.&E.'s Soft Touch Formerly Klaw & Erlanger did most pf the legit booking, known as the 'syndicate' and was a clean-up enterprise. Then the Shubert book- ing office combined with that outfit and formed the UBO, limiting most' week stands to one theatre for legit, with the idea of eliminating opposi- tion and bolstering attendance. UBO now concedes it is getting by, but there is no doiibt that its profits ere greatly curtailed from former times. Problem of the out-of-town theatre Is not dissimilar to Broadway. Legit theatres in New York were con- structed under building laws which prohibited the inclusion of apart- ments or offices on the same site. All such spots therefore are wholly de- pei^dent upon the boxoffice and until theatres are included as adjuncts to building which obtain the principal revenue, from offices, apartments and stores, th'e same problem will exist. There are two legit theatres on Broadway within office building structures—the New Yorker and Hammerstein's (Manhattan), now a radio theatre. Bofli are slightly north of the theatre zone and neither panned out' well for the purpose of construction. and both went back to the first mortgage holders (banks). Their failure mey be blamed on the depression, plus the fact that the theatre district did- not expand as hoped for, which also may be traced to the depression. UBO Takes Over 2 Shows UBO has taken over at least two shows this season for the purpose of .keeping theatres lighted for longer periods than was indicated, particu- larly with an eye on the Coast. 'Time of Your Life' is one of the shows concerned. Last year's prize winner was due to be closed by the Theatre Guild in Baltimore in February. Deal was made whereby the UBO guaranteed losses on far western dates and bought an interest in the show for the balance of the season. Known that the UBO profited by the arrangement. Show, after complet- ing Coast bookings, is working its way back to New York. Somewhat similar deal was made with 'Cabin In the Sky,' ih which s number of showmen are interested. Colored musical currently in Chicago (Selwyn) will play at least four weeks on the Coast, with intermedi- ate bookings to and from.