Variety (December 1943)

82 LEGITIMATE Wednesday, December 22, 1943 Play Out of Town Over 21 New Haven. Dec, 16. M.u fic.nluii pr'oduotioii or («.m«.il) - h tilt.--' IM-ls (unj' SCtl hy JUllfl CoKlOM, Staye. ■K>- Georftrt s. IvHiifriwn; set.iinj;.. Kayinniu SoW'a. Slurs Miss fjordou.. 'tpellod (it: Shtl lira. New- Haven. Dee. Jiv till.'!! *'-',7.V Inn Jan I.uph'ti. Kiu l.uiit.ini'... ...... . I'Hilla W'h.a-rtjin,,.:.. Ala x • WhaMun ..::..., ■. Kohert Diesel (low. An HKl.'i lj «*ni..i. ; jit'*. Anuina .(iat'eV.. Col. it", f. ': Wry. i Mis. Foley,-. ...... .loo! I. Nixon, ....... iVriss Mnt.vle> . . ; .;,'...■ .IVali l'ear nn.i ii1i>l . Itiiiti (loVitou . I Jan'ey Si'eobolis ;.. .•.i.i.r:fin ! ..s,,iiii( . . K.lnuni.l, Undue 1, -.!e. Uiiiioy .C.ni'otl .,Vshburu ;, lMnoe if-ooto ....; '. ..Ia\t<K, J)gr..iui K t\ At. use Shows in Rehearsal Schuiberg, 'Marianne' B. .At the moment. 'Over Tw.enty-One' isn't. In other., words,; the play hasn't yet conve of, age. It's still 5 V.ory jmach.. in the adoiesccnt stage as far as de- ve!c.'!):rir-r.'t. is concerned out it has. good sta"t , ng material to woic on. Right now, the comedy lias a sack second act that serves like'the bal- ancer on a .-seesaw, witii stanzas one and three- doing the heavy fluctuat- ing. However, the George ..S. Kauf- man talent for taking good stuff and building it into better stuff should manifest itself here with ultimate good results, Ruth Gordon. has left few stones unturned, when it comes to-involving .or--.mcrrtianing„^._vddc_.ya.riejly_; of characters. Everybody from air cad- ets to Hollywood figures are dragged into the plot or dialog, and. for good measure, a few assorted literati, are added. The audience 'can take its pick of jusi who is. supposed to be who when the barbs fly. Central, Character is Paula Whar- ton, successful scribbler who has just completed a scenario of her best-sell- ing historical novel and has hopped from Hollywood to Miami where her husband, Max. has reported for air training: • Spouse is ex-editor of a liberal newspaper which he has built from scratch to national recognition and then tossed it all overboaid to enlist where he thought he; could serve his country better. Max, age 39-plus. has his troiib'es grasping the various manuals, and play's title revolves around the thought that 'after reaching 21. no- body can absorb anything.' But he finally makes the grade. Story is . timely in that it reflects the general upsetting of lives transpiring today. Also, there's an indirect flagwaving approach and a poke at wealthy civilians who have not donned uni- forms for self-centered reasons... In her initial attempt as author- star. Miss Gordon portrays herself as a more or less continuously brilliant individual from whom verbal gems pop out with the regularity of mass production. Occasionally, this ■ be- comes monotonous, and at times the characterization ijas an artificiality about it. Otherwise, she turns in a smooth job of reading her own lines. Harvey Stephens makes the role of Max believable, and Loring Smith milks the comedy part of a pompous newspaper publisher for all it's worth. Beatrice Pearson and Tom Seidel draw an attractive picture of young love as the newly graduated flying lieutenant and his bride. Girl has a photogenic sweetness and scope of facial expression that should even- tually place her before a'film cam- era. Jack Durant's Hollywood pro- ducer is good: Kay Aldridge is okay as his secretary: Dehnie Moore. Jes- ■ sie Busley. Carroll Ashburn come through with compe tent co medy sup- port"^ ^~ : .-, - . -. .'. • .: Kaufman's direction stands. out. clearly, so much so that play's heart- iest laughs come from stage business rather than lines. Single setting of an overnight bungalow interior is at- tractive, and some fetching attire takes care of the wardrobe dennvl- ment nicely. .'. ," Bone. her in some stunning creations'.and she's right at home in Stewart Cba- ney's luxurious setting. ■Star plays a twice-wedded dame who comes back to her home country —America—after a dozen years, in Paris, where she was married to: a French biggie. Since fall of France he's been a . noted collaborationist, and for expediency's sake she's .natu- rally been seeing and entertaining a lot. of the Nazi higheT.tlps, But Pearl Harbor changed all that and she's in the good old U- 'S, for keeps and. also ■to see her son. a -young pilot in the ferry command. The Nazi' taint she .Coy explains satisfactorily to the press., and the newspaper crowd gives her a clean bill of health- wlu-n she gives 'em a load Of her charm. - ' / Her. first husband has, since she ■left him. become a Washington mighty, the power, behind the White House,, and begins to woo her anew. Everything's going swimmingly until the valet and ladies' gentleman she has had to hire when no maid.< were available turns out to be a colonel in the Gestapo. He wants to know what time the plane carrying a So- viet, bigwig to England is leaving the country (50 Messetsehmitts will be laying in wait for it), and either she'J.l_ge.t_f.he information, he tells her, or he'lihave published'a number of letters she wrote to Coering, Goeb- hels, et al. They're innocent notes, full, of small talk, but" enough-to im- peril her son's army career and her original:mate's position in the capi- tal. Situation's as phoney.as a lead nickel, and so is a corny third act when it's resolved neatly and patly. Lines sound like pretentious rehashes of all the speeches that have ever been written in the more polite anti- Nazi dramas, Miss Chatterton accomplishes the herculean task of seeming almost natural amid the Hollywood B-hive, but Frank Cenroy. the first husband, and Ralph Forbes, who plays the en- emy agent, are licked at the outset. Best performance is turned in by the juvenile, Henry Barnard, a good- looking, extremely engaging young actor, who should be heard from one of these days when the odds are bet- ter. Margaret Bannerman does what she can with one of those flutter- brained Helen Hokinson characters gone to war on the home front, and: Charles McClelland comes through with a satisfactory bit as Conroy.'s combined secretary and bodyguard* Direction of K. Elmo Lowe isn't very helpful: - ■ - Curtain came down on first per- formance of 'Lady Coines Home' dur- ing a blackout in the Pittsburgh streets. Some one who has a mania for drawing parallels might conceiv- ably see something darkly prophetic in that for the George Brandt pro- duction.-;... .'■ ' V Cohen. Marion Gering. .'•■ 'Peep Show—Ernest Pascal, Sam- uel Branson/ y : '•'«'.- 'Wallflower'—Meyer Davis. 'Mexican Hay ride'—Michael Todd. 'Doctors Disagree' — William B. Meio'ney. Rose Franker., ;. 'Suds in Your Eye'—-Kay Brown; Jack Del Bondio. .'■■ 'The Cherry Orchard' (revival)^ Carly Wharton, Margaret Webster.. 'My Sister Eileen' (road)—Max Gordon. /•/-. '■■''..■;■■.:'';•'•,• ■.:'-/' v> ;Wh»l a Life', (road)—Frank Mc- I.juIv C "oiim»s Home Pittsburgh. Dec. 14, fjoorse \V. B •ft di-Mum (ihree nml .larnues Ther Ralph l''orhes an by K. .Rlnio.-TKf^ ney. Opchetl at $;:.7.-, 'ton. -.'..- Wainwrlehl....:.. Mrs. Ptolemy,... Bellhop. ....... .. J'';tMi. N-tOiortet. .. Spcoroi Reporter. "Phlcd Rppahvr..;. AVonmn Reconer Pliotojfriiplu'.r. .. . DftlsA it? lit'iiioii-i.' .Robehts..., , > Henry Stpnlp. ... .Teft'iov KtPrllP. :.. Rii C'leai-y ..:. .':. -Fh-yH-w-^-Hw,^—^, Wniter. n<lr nroiluftloo nf three- scenes! fiy Ktiiel Borden r. Stars Kiiili Cfialierton, il Frank Contvy. sianed e. Setting. steVari Chii.- Pii tshuiKh; Dei-. • IS. I '4»-< ...... .-r'rn,n>: Rent!tsen .... . M.-i rs*.iret Bnnrieniian .. . .....UUiaii: .fOvaray ... , ...Uotldu'l >>?.I.snn ... ..;. William- PhllllpS: • • • .....I' hri Grojrnn ■ ... . .Heuy-Kellov , . . . .n,nn Malloy .iu. / R-t.: h- -:".»a; if rtor. . . .Halplf T'orbes. ............P.i'tiiik' ('ohi'oy *.'......:.;Uenr.\' Barnard .... ..Clinr les' McClellinid ... i .... K ^i+oAr-i-tie—u: im.i n- .:..i .- !..:n: Parrish Opening of hew . Ruth Chatterton play at the Nixon had a 24-hour post- ponement until tonight (14) because colds laid several members of the cast low .and: delayed the dress re- hearsal. . That might.suggest a sloppy preem. Such wasn't the-caSe at all. Performance, itself turned out pretty well. in. fact. Unfortunatelv, that doesn't also apply to; the play. ' It hasn't a chance. ': Hollywood will probablv go for 'A Lady Comes Home' even if Broad- way doesn't. The script Olive Bor- den and Jacques Ther.v have knocked out sounds exactly like the< lower- rung of a double feature. It has that twin-bill look. In. dialog, situations and everything. Personally'Miss Chatterton doesn't fare too'badly. She looks better than she has in years. Mainbocher (major program credit, no less) has outfitted Tli«» Fact* Hollywood. Dec. 15. : Mon'.e Banks, ami J.aszlo S/.U.-S prwluriion oC romantic (llama by l-'rancis Cibbes in three acts, (t) :»t:e,hes). Slara Aria Allen ami Alfred Allegro. Directed by Leon C'hai'les: setlinns by Chariotte Kerne Uerz. Hupport- big cast: .Miixine Sciiion. . Kennolll Oon- ner. MaiKuerlte Skoila, Robert Byrne, Todil sianton. Xorma (ieue .Nelson. !.,\-on ^eane, Muriel Collins,. Dale Leltcr. Eleanor Shaw, David (Irani. Opened nI Playtioie ihealre, l-loUywood, Dec. B, 1943;.: $3.SU premiere, $-'.2U lop, (hereafter. f augurs an early demise and there's nothing there for pictures: either. A pair of newcomers. Aria Allen and Alfred Allegro, perform the ro- mantics with restrained ardor and otherwise dominate the play's best scenes, too few and too futile. The gal has sircnish possibilities for the screen and handles, herself well. Leon Charles directed with a heavy foot on the soft pedal and the reins drawn tight. Settings by Charlotte Feme Herz are outstanding for such a small house. '•>", . " Helm, : 17.; ,A : PhIiIIc Alfalr Los Angeles. Dec. 15v~ Byit tin Ro< jn oil not ion of. Ills throe art (tl . HoetHis'l di-aina:. Stars tlle.nn Itnnter. SluRed' h\- lire author; set .by Ojanond. " t.'asl.: Claire . Whiln.ey. .\anoy Itandolpb. r.y'nne .Sherman, .i'alil: Stevens. I.arr-y 'I'lioinpson... Sain - Conrad. Carol - Ifai.rbanKH. .loseph Bernard, .lana kkettind, Sheila .I.iiN- I'erly: ,bi,-kie Sanies. Al Left Bank lehatre, L.-A..-Dec. UK UlU $1.(m tvl*.;. f; It has been so long since Glenn Hunter has been around that this performance must be regarded as a comeback (from wherever he's been). After considerable controversy be- tween act's by those who knew him when, the intelligence finally was volunteered that he last strode the. boards some: 10 years ago in one of his former successes, 'Waterloo Bridge,' If this be a serious attempt at a comeback rather than a lark (in 100-seat theatre) then his goal must be that of a middle-aged character actor, a far cry from the callow in- nocence of the plays that.endeared him to another generation. In 'Public Affair' he is cast as a grumpy, belligerent husband and father, whose own unfaithfulness condemns him to wheelchair invalid- ism. It doesn't give him much of a chance to showcase any other acting quality, his clipped words and hate- ful attitude consigning him to the category of misanthropic males. While the play-won't do much to reinstate Hunter in the graces of studio'or legit producers, it should prove a valuable vehicle for Paula Stevens; who gives an animated and well-turned performance as Hunter's tortured wife. Studio scouts were out in force to look over Hunter but likely were more impressed with Miss Stevens. It's the male of the species that draws their critical ap- praisals, and in Larry Thompson; as the unsuccessful suitor, they might have a juve-in-the-rough. 'Public Affair' blends snatches of old themes—tbe narrowness of small towhers, the wayward husband and intruding lady-killer and the tragic consequences of a messed-up married life. With some expert help from a playw right who knows where to lift the sag'sTt'lTi'sHstage-pie-ce—might-bid- for serious attention by both the stage.and films. It's a-woman's play all the way, which gives it a strong commercial asset, and has a dramatic denouement of powerful intensity just before the curtain falls. For a small house, play is given an.impressive presentation and firmly directed by the author. Intimacy of Chelle Janis' showcase displays both the play and players to good advan- tage. Helm. Boston 'Suds' Party Mary Lasswell, author of 'Suds in Your Eye,' blew into Boston last week for three reasons, the first be- ing that her Navy husband had just put into port and w-ired her to Pop- lar Bluff, Mb., .to hop the first freight. The second was that Dorothy Hillyer, the editor who had discovered 'Suds.' had gone overboard for its sequel and Houghton Mifflin, had the new contract ready to sign. The third was that Brown .& Del Bondio had se- lected Boston, for the premiere of Jack Kirkland's dramatization of the Lasswell success-on Dec, 28, , To celebrate: her ariiyal and the Lasswell. reunion,..sales manager Ben'. Ticknor shepherded ,' the Boston booksellers into the back room of the Ritz, Michael Goldreyer, advance p.a. for the p'ay, rounded up the dramatic critics, and Dale Warrenv just off the train from New York, found himself in the middle of a ready-made party. 'Literary editors, radio bigwigs, • and columnists all turned out. and Alice Dixon Bond of illS^ii£2!Sy_S ,iea ' <C! ^ in_between lec- turesT^Goulrmef" "Staf'jorie ""Mill? okayed the refreshments and Lieut. Lasswell provided a cheering-section of uniformed shipmates. , ■'' .'...;' . Sometime or other, while browsing thrcrtigh^orrre—mus-ty--volumeST—one Francis Gibbes was startled into writing a play about the one big love affair' in the life of Leonardo Da Vinci, the big brush-and-oil man of Milan some 400 years-ago. Not only that but he persuaded a couple of gents to give it a staging—Monte Banks, onetime film comic and direc- tor, and Laszlo Szucs, pre-Hitler music publisher on the continent. Either they had a burning yen to be- come stage producers or Gibbes must be a terrific salesman. 'The Face' may never drag itself out of this small-scater. That $2.20 tariff won't prolong its life here, either. As etched here, Leonardo must have been a drab, colorless character among the gay Milanese and the second strike was called when the play revolved around:.him. As sol- emn as a padre, he yearned only for" his brush and pallet. Gals were com- pletely out of his. life until one crossed his path—rather>.ie studio— but he would have none of her un- til he realizes hers is the face he had long sought to paint, that of Moha The decision was made to back one onf . Ut 4h e-'<™y--->\as other .ideas-..u,-four .per-fotmar.ees .of .a..firs.t show. flnrl save • en in hai, h,rr c.«^rt«>j ^, . . *■ .. . . and says so in he;- big second-act speech. 'I'd rather be the girl in your heart than Mona Lisa on your can- vas.' But, no", she must not be . de- spoiled lest she -lose that spiritual something that would guide his brush in painting the Madonna. Well, as- you must have, guessed-by-now, that's exactly what the old boy need- ed, and upon emerging from the bou- doir really gets down to pigmenting his princess. There's your play, .no more, no less. Thin stuff for: the theatre and too costumy. in contrast to the more exciting modes of the moderns. Play is well put together, nicely mounted and capably performed, but when most of. the dialog has to do with Leonardo, Michelangelo. Raphael and other masters of ye olden days, in- terest ebbs among those whose only interest in painters is the gi.iv who slaps a second coat on the house, and that's a good 85*rt Limited appeal Indpls. Season Indianapolis, Dec. 21. Prospects for a summer season of musical shows here, .starting in 1944 QrA: a modest basis with professional home talent; developed at a meeting last week of the Citizens Music Com- mittee with the Indianapolis Park Board, which sponsors the comrnit-: tee, made up of civic.music leaders. MacArthur's Break to Press Publicity - wise General Douglas MaeArthur set a new Army 'first' last week on the release of the news of the invasion of New Britain, north of New Guinea. Although the in- vasion took place on Tuesday 04), the news was set for release Thurs- day evening, two days later. In an effort to make a super-splash of the story, MaeArthur held back his own communique for 48 hours so as to give the eyewitness stories of cor- respondents time to reach this,coun- try and run simultaneously, with the communique. Normally these stories would have trickled ip> hours after the communique. , Correspondent stories were clear- ed from two different sources. Men with the fleet had to put their stories through Naval censorship and the copy was radioed from the ships. Those with the Army had their copy censored and cleared through an ad- vance Army base on New Guinea. Stories started to come in Thurs- day morning, all slugged 'hold for release.' the first time any news of an invasion had been treated in this fashion. There was some confusion during the day, with AP stories out of New Guinea set. for release at 6:30 p.m. EWT. and UP and INS copy marked for 7:30 p.m. release. All stories sent by correspondents with tha fleet were marked for 7 p.m. release. News service officials conferred fh Washington with -OW1 and. settled the matter by simply agreeing that the yarns should go simultaneously with the communique as soon as that .was- released. ' ~~T3hTy' TirinX"th Eit"^weirt^tvroiTg "Witti- the plan was that a radio ham in Phoenix, Ariz., announced in the afternoon that he had heard a Jap communique in English on the inva- sion. This was not picked up by any of the Government monitors.. How- ever afternoon newspapers, which knew from the 'hold for release' side-stories, what was coming, played the amateurs' announcement in head- lines, since if was safe to do so. This gave some P. M. journals a beat over what would otherwise have been an exclusive morning paper break. to a point where it would cost more that way than by individual news- stand purchases. Helped somewhat, but not enough, to keep-its circ down, and other means, are now being worked out to keep the circulation at a figure commensurate with neces- sary paper cuts. Some.trade papers have long had. to refuse more subscribers. Practise of one of, them, Modern Plastics, is to issue to those who want subscrip- tions miniature editions of the,mag, sans ads. Idea is.', to keep prospects interested until such time as the paper situation will permit them to get the full-size publication. 24% Newsprint Cut in '« Newspapers and magazines will be thinner in 1944 under a War Produc- tion Board order issued Monday (20) which cuts down the use of paper in all printing operations. According to H. M. Bitner, director of the WPB Printing and Publishing Division, the order /would force magazines and newspapers into fewer pages or re* ^.!i££^_8M? sizes, since all other economies w?re utilized.- »o "Hfeei""!*!*^ paper curtailment orders. Newsprint made available to news- paper publishers in the first quarter of 1944 will be 23 6% under the 869,- 296 tons consumed in the fust quar- ter of 1941, with paper tonnage allo- cated.to all graphic ai'ts industries in 1944 approximately 75"'c of the 1941 consumption. ' Xmas Juvc Book Biz Rig Christmas trade in juye books is breaking all records, according to preliminary estimates by publishers, who report demands far exceeding supply. One house reported they were unable to fill orders for 500,000 copies oh two titles alone. Wartime shortage of toys is credited by many for the boom. Chain stores prove big customers in the juve field, one outfit placing a $100,000 contract with one publisher and screaming because re-orders can't be filled. But for paper short- age current juve trade could have been doubled, according to conserva- tive trade estimates. Deems Taylor's 'Movies' Book Deems Taylor, in collaboration with Bryant Hale and Marcelene Pe- terson, has just had published 'A: Pictorial History of the Movies.' Published by Simon & Schuster ($3.95; get that bargain .basement price, by the way), it is an entei'- tainlng cavalcade of the' cin.emato- scope from its pioneering days through 'Mrs. Miniver.'' : - - -;/ - :.■ /. There may be some captiousness about misplaced credits and perhaps de-eiiiphasis of more worthy pix of recent vintage, but in the main it's a highly interesting volume, certainly a must for the show biz libraries: Bernard Solid's Third Edition Bernard Sobers 'Handbopk. of tfre~ Theatre' has gone into its third edi- tion, with the price tipped to $3.75, although not revised or enlarged. That means some 20,000 copies to date, rather extraordinary for a vol- ume of this nature. It indicates a steady growth into the libraries and such, beside general consumption. in the outdoor theatre at Garfield Park, with initial funds to be raised by subscription. , :■ ■ ■ / ; '. ■ "" The city has sponsored band con- certs and semi-pro variety programs in public parks for. several years, . New Coast Group Hollywood. Dec. 21. /New stage group, the Gate Theatre Studio, was formed here by Peter Godfrey. Warners director, who .op,* crated similar groups in Dublin and London before: coming to Holly- wood,' ;- •'/'",-'.•.•'•'•':-: ; ■'--',Hi Members act without pay linder di- rection of Anita Bolster and Renee Godfrey, with Peter Godfrey as pro- ducer. First production is 'Maya,' authored by Simon Gantillon.v Syndicated Book Crick Washington Post has just signed to take. Sterling""'Norih's; syndicated book reviews which appear in N. Y. Post and Chicago' Sun. North joined the Post- as regular book editor six. .months ago,.following use of his re- views.on a syndicated basis from the Chicago News where he was book editor for 11 years. In. addition to his critical work, •North is the author of 14 books/ - Subscription Curbs Now A Fact .- Mags which, had been telling read- ers they would, soon, have to refuse additional subscribers have not been voicing idle threats. /Hearst pubs have now gone on record as meaning it, with no more subscriptions being accepted for Cosmopolitan, Good Housekeeping, Town & Country, Harper's Bazaar, House Beautiful and Motor Boating; Results from fact that no more'paper trimming oh any of the mags is possible. Ladies' Home Journal, Curtis mag chain link, recently ;took unique means of discouraging new subscrib- ers by raising its subscription price Time's Canadian Section Canadian edition of Time is now actually that, a department devoted to news of Canada having been added last week. It's : edited by Robert T. . Elson, Canadian news- paperman and air commentator.. /- Preyipusly, Liberty was the only American mag with he ws of "Canada in its Canadian edition.:. *..'-':" Mex. Newsprint Slash Rationing of newsprint from 15 to 25% has gone into, effect in Mexico eit^~W-itlr--a^;000a300-i)opt.i-laf-iotiv- city has nine, daily newspapers. .' : The order . limits 'daily papers to a certain maximum number of pages daily; cuts normal consumption of other periodicals 10%; magazines, 10 to 15%, reduces cartoon 'booklets;. 25%, and prohibits Special editions. It's the first newsprint slash in Mex- ico, •;' .:'-; ': ■ Seaver's Anthology Edwin Seaver's projected collec- tion of new American writing, 'Cross-Section.' is definitely set for. spring publication by L. B. Fischer Book will comprise 40 novelettes, short stories, plays and poems— about 300,000 wordsi . : ' / Featured in tome are Richard Wrigl. :'s first fiction since. /Native (Continued on page 54). •