Variety (Sep 1942)

4S LBoirniAtE Wednesday, September 9, 1942 Plays Out of Town VICKIE Wilmington, Del.. Sept. 5. N>w fiirro In three nrts by S. ^C. Ilorzui; fealurM Joje Ferrer, Uto Hagcn. 'I'liylor Holmes, Krnnk Conlan and Mine. Mum.ini Malzeniiuer. Rtng«<l liy Ferrer iiml Krank Mandel; «elllnE» by Ernest Glover; pro- ■«nie<t by Prank Slandel nt the riayhnune. 'Wilmington, matinee :ind night, Sept. 9. •42. $'.'.20 top. „. „ Vickie Roberts Via Hogen Oeoim Boberta . .Joae terrer Mr. Dunne Taylor llolini-a Blanche Evelyn Davis Mr. Noonaa F-riink Conliin Hra Dunne MllJrcO Dunnu. k j^lQv Colletio Lyons Prlvat'a Cootes Edward Clover Private Carter "ed Butlunn Karen Oerry Ciirr Sandra I<ynne Carter Qratm Mine. largaret Mntienauer TaKl Driver GenrKc Spelvlii Kay Hackett Wynne Hoie Mr Corllaa Charlea Halton Mrs. Frye Eleanor Oirror<l Hia. Arthur Marcella Markham Mr. Hatch Hel Hughes Mr*. Corllas Sura Seegar It was inevitable that the new sea- son should produce at least one play poking fun at the organized female urM to help the war effort. 'Vickie' Is^e first across the line and by th« time its deficiencies are correct- ad should find a ready audience in New York. Really funny dialogue and expert trouping by a large cast are the main asseto. The plot, dealing with the rapidly dwindling 'home' life of a husband whose wife spends 24 hours daily In war work, never Intrudes too much on the general gaietv. However, many women, especially thoaa with WAAC and WAVES com- plexes, may resent the broad satire on the weaker sex's contribution to national defense. Tht heroine is one of those gals who determines to do her bit even if It means turning her home into a ftidd headquarters for the Women's Auxiliary Camp Services. She en- tertains reluctant, but amorous, sol- dieia over weekends, practices first- aid on her long suffering hubby, and gentrally makes a nuisance of her- ■aU. At the end she is deeper in war work tiian ever, but here the author is forced to do an about-face and m the only solemn scene of the play pays belated tribute to the womaf in uniform. S. M. Hetzig, the author, has flaUM his plot to the point where tha tUle could be changed to 'Any- thing for a Laugh.' The first act Mta tha pace for unrestricted non- ■enM second act Is pure slap- •tllgk, and in the third the author trlaa io extricate himself, as well as tha Btaln characters, from their vari- oua Medicaments. WlQu 'Vickie' rtill needs a faster paca^ H has been well staged by F-aak Mandel, the producer, and Joaa Tarrer, who plays hubby. Fer- rer aad his real-life wife, Uta Ha- 8en, aa the harrassed couple, bear U lien's share of the plot and come through nobly. The real surprise of th) caitt is Mme. Margaret Matzen- auar, former Metropolitan Opera dhra, who burlesques opera queens In a manner which would do credit ' a Mack Sennett comedy. Other roles are played for maximum lau^ Taylor Holmes. Collette Lyons, Frank. Conlan, Mildred Dunnock, Charln Halton, Red Buttons and Ed- ward Glover. The living room setting by Ernest Glover provides a pleasant back- found. Don THE MORNING STAR Hiiladelphia, Sept. 7. K- 51'."""""; by Guthrie .McClln- . t.i*n'5.wJl*"J'i,.?"?'*" Chaney. Prcaented SIi*S""2» McCllnllc at the Walnut, Phlla- aelphla. Sept. 7, •42: »2.83 top. £2" SfrHM Bnnia. Forbes Mn. Parrtlow Gladys Cooper Sf; ^'^A"-- t:«H Humphn-ys Sr.'""". "O"" Rhya Wllllnma »L-/*Jr"";"' Gregory Peck y"** Wendle llarrle ■Ir Leo Alvers Nicholas Joy Guthrie McClinUc's production of Emlyn Williams* current London •ucceM looked very promising in its ^erlcan debut at the Walnut Street theatre. The Morning Star' may be a trifle on the longish side for 4r?"!Sfir.?"^i^"=*s o' course, It is sfflctly British in dialog and Jn some ways, in spirit, but at the jame tune this country's current in- terest Ik blackout tests and air raid alarms lends a peculiar topical local Interest to Williams' vivid story of London under air invasion Muchbetter written than last sea- •ons 'The Wookey' (which it re- sembles in some respects) and with frequently the human flavor and coura|aous warmth of 'Mrs. Mini- ver, Williams' latest piece of staee writlna diould find real favor with the Intelligent quota of American drama lovers. Not probably destined for sm«sh proporUons, it should set the N. y. season off on the right foot. Just u It has done Philadelphia's. McClinUc, always meticulous in his casting, has done a truly bril- rSPi ^S^ J^^J*- cast *s almost 100% Bngllsh and is definitely 100% •Olclent. Gladys Cooper, some of whoM American vehicles have been dlwtoolntlng, has never shown to battw advantage here than as Mrs. ParrUow, widowed head of the Lon- don home where all the action takes place. Her role calls for sudden jumps from light-hearted gaiety and airy conversation of the drawing- room comedy type to heavy emo- tionalism, and she never fails to make the transition. There is going to be plenty of talk about Gregory Peck in the role of her eldest son, a doctor who is tempted to give up his practice and research for a cozy Hollywood as- signment coming under the title of propaganda. But who, when the air raids start, decides to see it through in his native London. In type not unlike a younger edition of Philip Merivale. Peck has a tough part and plays it flawlessly. Cecil Humphreys stole much of the audience's interest in earlier scenes as the querulous old Dr. Datcher, who comes to tfe Parrilow homestead as a paying guest and stays to l>e of great assistance to them. It's a performance that will not be soon forgotten. As Dr. batcher's former 'batman' in World War No. 1, and now his constant at- tendant, Rhys Williams, remembered from the film, 'How Green Was My Valley,' has two or three strikingly moving scenes. Three young actresses are pro- vided with juicy roles and give good account of themselves. Jill Esmond is the daughter-in-law and plays the role with rich sympathy and under- standing. The shallow, babbling but beautiful Wanda Baring, who al- most steals young Dr. Parrilow from his wife, is bitingly played by Wendie Barrie, and Brenda Forbes creates one of the play's most strik- ing and human characters, that of the maid of all work, Mrs. Lane. Nicholas Joy is good in his two scenes. First act is a mite talky, but Act n, although long, is consistently thrilling. Although it goes into me- chanical melodrama (an air raid), it shows Williams at his very best as a playwright. Act III starts a little slow, quite naturally after the fu- rious pace of Act It but soon gets into Its stride and builds to more dramatic intensity. Stewart Cheney's single set, draw- ing room ot the Parrilow home. Is changed several times to show stages in the destruction wrought by bombs. There are two scenes, same setting. In each of the three acts. McCllntlc'i direction, as well as his casting, reflect his usual artistry. WateT$. Phy OH Broadway I I KILLED THE COUNT Mystery play In three acts presented at the Cort, N. T., SepU 8, '42, by Prank CarriDgton and Agnes Morgan, with the Shoberts Interasted: written by Alec Cop- pel; staged by Carrlngton and Miss Mor- gan: setting by Bmll Holak; t3.30 top Count victor HattonI Rafael Corlo f!?"/; - ;-; Ethel .Morrison Divisional Inspector Davidson.Louis Hector Detective Raines Bertram Tanswell L« Rol Openl Police Constsble Clifton James Ganon '/<"''»• Roe*" Doris Dalton Kenee La Luna Ruth Holden .Samuel Diamond Clarence Dvrwent iS^.r,'.?" Edgar Kent - ^- J- Herbert Bernard K. Froy Robert Allen viscount Sorrlngton Guy Spaull First drama of the new season is a rather efficient presentation, but not diverting enough for Broadway suc- cess, despite several standout char- acterizations. 'I Killed the Count' dates back five years in London, where it was first produced, but it remained for Frank Carrlngton and Agnes Mor- gan, who are interested in the suc- cessful stock house in Milburn, N. J., to select it for their maiden Broad- wa" managerial bow. Looks like they made an unlucky guess. The mystery piece is repetitious to a de- gree and quite incredible. There is an element of novelty which wears off because the stunt is done too much. Three different men confess to the same murder. In each instance there is a fadeout and the supposed killer enacts the homi- cide before a Scotland Yard in- spector and his assistant 'brains.' The chief snooper becomes exasperated, the more go when a woman also con- fesses to the crime. The first nighters, as the perform- ance pointed to a close didn't seem to care whodunit, for the chap who was bumped off was a ratty fellow with the title of Count. To complete the evening, one of the star wit- nesses enters to say that he thinks he killed a visitor from Paris who ha- been milking him for excess ex- penses. That, however, is on the lighter side. New play Is essentially masculine. Although there are three players on the distaff side, their contributions ar.-! bits and mostly provide what change of pace there is. Playing honors go to Clarence Derwent, a Londoner who has been on Broad- way for a flock of seasons. He is the irascible witness who has a flat nearby that in which the murder occurred. He Is called in a number of times when discrepancies of other \/.tnesses develop and his clipped answers bring laughter. Derwent's conception of the part is admirable. Louis Hector has a long part as th; Inspector, which he enacts very well, but one of the play's weak- nesses Is that he is kept on stage practically throughout. Bertram Tanswell is okay as his assistant. Robert Allen licks as one of the al- le' "A killers, same going for A. J. Herbert. Doris Dalton. as the wom- in the case, hasn't got much of a part. While she plays well, she seems to be w.isted i-' this too talky play. /bee. ST. L. OUTDOOR SERIES GOT $480,000 GROSS St. Louis, Sept. S. The Municipal Theatre Assn.. which sponsors alfresco entertain- ment in Forest Park, just skimmed into the black during the 24th con- secutive season that just clo.sed. The 12-week season drew a total attend- ance of 760,346 in 86 nights, and grassed an estimated $480,000. The total draw was 51,167 less than the attendance for 87 performances dur- ing the 1941 season. Two performances were lost be- cause of rain. Attendance records were hung up on Aug. 8, when 11.385 saw 'Roberta'; Aug. 9. 11.382 for the same piece, and Jime 4. when 11,337 turned out for 'Hit the Deck.' 'Show Boat' was the biggest money maker, its two-week stand to end the season drawing 14f!339 and grossing' ap- proximately $100,000. Holyoke Strawhat Shows {22^75 Rrofit Springfield, Mass., Sept. 8. The Valley Players at the Moun- tain Park Casino in Holyoke ended second season Saturday (5) with gross and attendance figures that gave no hint of gas and tire ration- ing. Manager Carleton Guild said that the 10-week season had drawn a total attendance of 40,250 with a net of $22,275. Last year the com- pany had 28,882 customers and a net of $13,128. Best week was 'Nothing But the Truth,' with Ralph Edwards as guest star. It netted $2,853 on a $5,300 gross. 'Watch on the Rhine' netted $2,657. The Players is a cooperative ven- ture. Others associated with Guild include Jean Guild, Jackson Perk- ins, Lauren Gilbert, Joseph Foley, Dorothy Crane, Alfred Paschall, Ed- ward Sheffield and others. CorroBt Road Shows (Sept. 9-19) Inside Stuff-^iegit Report that Ben Atwell was raising rattlesnakes on the California desert turns out to have been one of his gags and not to the benefit of the crack advance agent Since being injured in Philadelphia last December, when ahead of a Shubert Gilbert & Sullivan outfit. Atwell has been resting at an oasis about 85 miles from Hollywood, making occasional trips to town to see doctors for treatment of a fractured knee. P.a. went to the Coast to be near his brother, who is chief of the fire department at Culver City. Latter isn't in the snake-steak racket either. Item which appeared in 'Variety' some time ago wai picked up by a colunvnist and. with trimmings, was used in a number of dailies. One result was that the indemnity company for the Shuberts cu'. off the par- tial disability allowance he had been receiving, on the ground that if he could evade rattlers he could follow his avocation. It also involved his chances of collecting from an accident insurance company, to which he has been paying premiums tor a dozen years. Atwell reports that he is coming around and will soon be able to hot- foot it ahead of a show as fast as formerly. While resting under strict orders, he has been writing a book and may come forth with a comedy which he has been nursing for some time. A critic to replace Richard (Dick) Watts, who is in Government service, may be named by the N. Y. Herald Tribune this week. Howard Barnes, who is the daily's film critic, has l>een covering legit openings thus far this season in addition to his picture coverage. Possible that Barnes will take over strictly play coverage, as reviewing for both departments is regarded as too tough an assignment. A name or two has been mentioned for the Trib's critic berth, one a femme, but stated around the sheet's office that no appointment had been made. William Saroyan would like the job which may start something. He submitted a sample of his idea of reviewing to the Trib last week. Through the American Theatre Wing, merchant seamen are getting free tickets for shows, picture houses, radio broadcasts, concerts, ball games and other sporting events. It is a similar gratuitous service given soldiers, sailors and marines of the Allied Nations through the Civilian Recreational Committee of USO. Amended laws permit men in uniform free admission without tax, but there is no covering rule applicable to merchant seamen. Tax has been absorbed by the Yankee ball club and it is understood that theatre managers issuing the ducats to the seamen have similarly paid the admission taxes for them. They receive but a pittance when not on active duty. Max Gordon denies that he has formed a partnership with Eddie Small and the latter also says it isn't so. Duo was supposed to co-produce legit shows and pictures. Gordon explained that he has a contract with Colum- bia Pictures which has a year to run. Small has been identified with United Artists. Number ot showmen and authors have teamed in Gordon's shows, Marcus Heiman being his most consistent partner. Gordon was Interested in some of the late Sam H. Harris attractions and the letter's top authors, George S. Kaufman and Moss Hart, have figured managerially in his more recent presentations. Small Is entering the legit field and will also prob- ably have associates. As a result of objections by managers and agents, Nixon, Pittsburgh, has cut from three weeks to two advance advertising on coming shows. Big weekend ads used to list trio of shows, one opening the following night, another for the week after and still a third for the next one. Sam Nixon, manager of local legit house, has cut layouts by a third now, ad- vertising only current and coming. Agents and producers claimed that a big name show being advertised three weeks ahead had a tendency to cut | into gross of immediate shows, claiming that, since public on road has just so much to spend, in many cases they'd pass up- something current and wait to see a bigger show on the way. 'Abe Lincoln In Illinois' (stock)— Playhouse, Providence (9-12). 'Angel Street'—Cass, Detroit (9- 19). 'Arsenic and Old Lace' (1st Co.). —Curran, San Francisco (9-19). 'Beat the Band' (tryout)—Shu- brrt. New Haven (17-19) (premiere). 'Best Foot Forward' — Erlanger. Chicago, (9-19). 'Blackouts of 1942* (vaude)—El Capitan, Los Angeles (9-19). 'Cland^' (1st Co.).—Geary, San Francisco (9-19). 'Count Me In' (tryout)—Shubert. Boston (10-19) (premiere). 'Franklin Street' (tryout)—Play- house, Wilmington (18-19) (pre- miere). 'Good Night Ladles'—Blackstone, Chicago (9-19). 'Magic' and 'Hello, Out There' (tryout) — Playhouse. Wilmington (11-12) (premiere); National; Wash- ington (14-19). 'Moon Is Down' — Royal Alex- andi-a, Toronto (9-12); Selwyn, Chi- czgo (14-19). 'Morning SUr' (tryout)—Walnut, Philadelphia (9-12). '.My SisUr Eileen' (2d Co.).—Har- ris, Chicago (9-19). 'My Sister Eileen' (3d Co.).—Er- langer, Buffalo (9-12). 'Pirate' (tryout) — University, Madison, Wis. (14-16) (premiere); Pabst, Milwaukee (17-19). 'FrIoriUes ot 1942' (vaude)—Shu- bert, New Haven (10-12). ■Private I.Ives'—Ford's, Baltimore (f-12). 'Pygmalion' (stock) — Windsor Bronx (9-13). 'Show-Ofl' (stock)—Lafayette, De- troit (9-19). 'Strip for'Aclion' (tryout)—Nixon, Pittsburgh (l(y-19) (premiere). 'Vickie' (tryout)—National. Wash- ington (9-12); Ford's. Baltimore (14- 19). 'Watch On the Bhine'—Lobero. Santa Barbara, Cal, (9); Auditorium, Employment of about 23 servicemen in uniform as supers for the premiere of 'Janie' at the Erlanger, Buffalo, resulted in a backstage comedy mixup. The soldiers were recruited by manager Richard Kemper from a group engaged in army construction activities at the Buffalo Air- port, with the agreement their week's compensation was to go into a fund to establish a recreation room at their barracks. Presence backstage of half a dozen regular members of the show's cast, also in arrhy uniform, was enough to confuse the men, but when Captain Herschel V. Williams, one ot the authors, showed up In army dress, the problem of whom to salute and of army etiquette in general was foremost around the theatre during the engagement. Mecca Temple, N. Y., located on a plot running from 55lh to 56th streets west ot Sixth avenue, which has long been in financial difficulties, was bought in by foreclosiire last week to satisfy a tax lien. Sale price was $100,000, possession being taken by the City of New York. There was a mortgage of $622,076, with taxes and other liens amounting to $195,000. There were occasional legit presentations in the house, which has around 1,500 seats, and the name of the spot was changed to the Cosmopolitan, operettas having been recently staged there. Auctioneer was Ralph W. Long, formerly general manager for the Shuberts. N. Y. ticket agencies are known to have had the best summer period in many seasons, but whether all earned an actual profit is not definite. Onc^ of the larger agencies conceded business to have been far ahead of other summers, but claimed the net just reduced the operating red. That broker alleged that ordinarily the outfit lost around $700 weekly between May and September, but only dropped about $400 this time. Other brokers said that was baloney and that all operated to a profit. Some agencies during summer retain only their key ticket sellers, balance of the staff being on vacation of six weeks or more without pay. Broadway is losing one of its top costume designers, Irene Sharaff going to Hollywood under a term contract with Metro. The current Broadway shows in which she figured as designer are 'By Jupiter' (Shubert), 'Star and Garter' (Music Box) and 'Count Me In,' opening in Boston this week. Long Beach, Cal. (10-11); Russ Audi- torium, San Diego (12). 'Ton Can't Take It With You' (stock)—Flatbush. Brooklyn (9-13); Windsor, Bronx (15-10). Engagements Stuart Erwin, 'Mr. Sycamore.' Reynolds Evans, Henry Antrim, Florence Sundstrom, Ethel Wilson, King Calder, Frank Otto,- Tommy Lewis, Peggy Conway, 'Franklin Street.' Harry Bannister, Paul Huber, 'Strip for Action.' Averell Harris, James Lane, John Clarke, Cliff Dunstan, 'Beat the Band.' Leon Ames, 'Little Darling.' Nick Perry, Edwin Cooper, Clif- ford Carpenter. Dorothea Freed, Stanley G. Wood, Charles Mendick, Beatrice Manley, Edward O'Shea. David Pressman, Joven E. Roia, 'Eve ot St. Mark.' Flora Robson, 'The Damask Cheek.' Lee Dixon, Donald Burr, 'Heels Together." Joseph Howard, Irene Hilda. Red Marshall, Evelyn Case, "Time, Place and the Girl.' Dorothy Stone, Charles Collins, Blanche Ring, 'Life ot the Party' ('Patricia').