Variety (Nov 1944)

44 LEGITIMATE P%1UETY Wednesday. N(»\ember .], 1911 iv,. sln'-i.;' S««li«' Thompson Philadelphia, Oct *iti. I- W ,i*.man prt'M'-niw-■a H-"-'Hv>-r ( VI '.- ,n ,>1 uiUH'tioii: imisii ,vl |i!»>:.', in i i| i li,'- HntilirtiDicfsf' ami i!.'Hl'f'il. M,,( iii'>ii-: i, is- -,t ■ nil ' tvitiil !i\ . \\ , '-s,'.l,"-i s<" , inn niil Jolin C.uliod ivi u ■* li< llniv H«l/: llllln[l' ll.v ■ Vi'CIHlll- (>»I!>- M I" - ItiM 'V ■ Jl.-r, .'., l.nllSIIM ililfll'-l'l .| Mir , I,. . Uall.lli. DlimkK, :"Z'I.I>"-. T.)I [11,1,. \m- l-,alv | 4-n". ■>.■.. Mili'ilii Ai Eil i. >A r i , ' III s ill |-,f-Kill* tiiall i.l lllr.-.-i In I' I" K'l ill rill- 11-11 t'I'iniiU'.'I'il, .1:11.1'I-, , .. li .i.-.,Vi..i.ii;^K !)>;. . 1 Ji>i'i^. :\ i.i'iisini:.. ir■ i.. i.i. l is I: II il!-II 11 lill'Si'ii r isiiini--. In Vvvini'Mi,^ l'l.lu„'s iii-irmi ,- ii -in! iiiiill: slll'liV'S- l;i,\-..;Aii.:lili:.i ,Ni-iMlvah ' y,.| illlil'- ill S.-ti.i'.i'. -Ill:.' i,' US' 1 ' iii 1 " ,1 3.1. Mil SUlill-iilt, f f 'K'(a.i " -l<: ' t IIVi' II .' : .,., ,, -. , ... (iil'-i'li I 'l.t'ii iVt'ttli-istilt^ VV"lt:'> -.I'i-Hi '-^■■-i i; ,H,"i. Mi's ' .('••i'.-'--: ■ )'«■) : 'S'i-.l.',' ' ■(j.ii.iiii'.i.iiiii^li i.'' )l.'i.tt'-,", ■' It - Mil .1 '.ll/iviiltnil' - i»i -I,,,,.„ iMusi-US''. -: . 'B-^i'-iil'ii'H'l'.'K V- - ■ '■'.-■'• - Sli''-:->l ;■: ! : -^lisst-a", .Villi. KM i-v-r i'. 1111. ill ,U|'';*'M ':f>ll-V'iit'!.'IIJ.. Hi. (Mil i.;". I'liiiiiiiiMio'.,;' r ,i:Sn«'-<''.-V-"*'- . . .f-:i ini-i'-NiVi-, , v i';-'-V.t i ■'«•!• .".Kfiiii '.V ."/.aiia'taln''.' Wt'i; I'liVO^'r-iM lKisI .ltiiirt!.i'sifi.ni Hi' .. .1 (111 •: I I. 1.11 si Hi, tl.'.H-.il ,.\|.i;Vlii Ml'-i-iuyii ..( (i. -x V-iil ,-i.t Sir- nil ill ■ i.'iiian (,'avii.iit.i, ..ii,,iii. . |.:'iii.,! ■Ciii'iif;Jhiv.il> ii :.\l.-il,!.. I'lin.i- ■\| ,:,, l.iiiilir W'.li i,i>-.' Mi'-a is.- J ''li'l-- : ,VI,li~ . . sail. Ai'liijI'iV' AiiillTS'i'll.; .. iU-H'lfii,' I ':i ri I i ilir !>•> r,lii.'.(':i>>iifi ; , Xi'il'C|iii'ii;ni iOfl.iiiiir.'l.tlii/M:. maun Ilfilii'ii .1 .[in i uliit' ;A:ni. Nn.,1 .'Ikin , is -.Missis Viviun ('hfu .. UiiiliUaii ,',.' , :r;i!!- i iii.i-nn.>,.Aiiiii-rii tiuVviiitn,,..l Uili ..:.l,;.;s,' »1i\vf ... v»ii».-' in ski ■J,mid Willi ffijjii .Minn • K-Hi; :.Mni:v iti-i-y;'' 1 .i-v ;-I.,in(ii.ii<-. ;v : ht;i:<iii' ■ '-1 iii-mli»i',i lii"is>..."<-H, Viiiii -si. il..- .\ir» Mhisiikinii. r.ni.ii- ■ s,.,i,,,iK.,, sil. Xiiinfic AVyimi'Miissts. Ki'M Mm ; , liiiilit-i I (iiii i T, i i''i":s Vi il'lnm Vil li i I'oilviiiiini'V liii'i T itiiin ill, :nf V" ;ll>.> .lilllll'•« !l I ."■'il.' ,.V|ll.sii':i!iilW: ",\.\'M-'i.ll,!ilH'. Silli.il. ..slr.' ; s; : l!...'jl : iiiiiV,.'f,"-.Ei'''i)l; M Mili■ i'lii's, . ' ■' ■ : It was 22 vears at;o (Oct; 9;i;1922; to? In- exact) when John. D. Williams: . first ti icct the John.Cotton tClanience EaivfjolpbJ ctvamatixaticin ol Somei- 'St-.t Maugham's stoi'y "Rain at -the Oai itk theatre' tirovv : deimvcl.) ,in ■'■ thi-» citv Shaw opened against a. iHunoer.ot rivals, and mostl.v second- str'inseis .caught it. They wei'e pi\ the rave side but show \va> so : elose tt, the vyalJ diiviiig ti \ out here that Williams had to sell out njajoi in* ' tere-st ill- it , Subseciuently, liiidei- Sani Harris' aegis. '•Rain' became .stasje histovy. . :.-":,;■/.','.'. :'■['■'■: " Hard to figure what .the star. Jeanne '. Eas-els:-' Williams and Sam 'Forrest, tin- clirectdr, all now' de-ceased,,\vot.ilcl. th.ir.v oi the, new, version. w hlch preemed at the Shubert tonight i2«i with elaborate musical and, ballet embellishments Here's one particUr lar .mugg who caught, both openings and Sticks by the;original one, hands " dcKvii".:v ".v ■;'. •■'.■'.i'-.','-i- A P. Waxman. veteran publicistln shxiv bit, emerges here as a. pro- duce! He's given -Sadie Thomp- son,' as the.' storv is itovi- called, a laviih staging and has called in a ftpcl; ot lootlight bigwigs to take care at the 'various departments No- b-'iciv s going to,, deny- the. e.flecttv'e- . ne.-K oi' Boris Aronsons' settings' (theie are two. one being a briet jungle set iit addition to the {aniil.iar one ol' Joe Horn's general store on Pago.Pago), nobody s going to, claim that the ballet, interludes,, staged -by Edward Caton. aren't' colorful and eye-nUing; nobody can say that people like Howard Diet/.,. Vernon Duke and •Riiulicn Mamoulian aren't tops. in. their own special line.-. .'■'.■ . Trouble is that "Sadie :s a little ot everything, not enough of any- thing, and pretty generally .jumbled in the iiision oi the basic dramatic story and all-the opulent musical and dancing features. Show is still best when the Colton-Maugham drama is left alone, and it become* particular- , ly: stiff and unnatural when some oi the characters- are called upon to bi eak into song or to stand in heavy observation of dance evolutions as they aie otten ,compelled to do. It .looks as it Vernon Duke should bear a,lot of the responsibility for -the- production's tailure to click on-, all cylinders. Duke's score is pre- tentious, claborateh orenestratcd.. rich in numerical strength. <ot songs actually programmed l ai.td.woetul.lv w eak in memorable melodies Out o: 2a numbers listed, three ai e repi ised and will presumably be pltiggect Ini' possible, "hit" grooves', 1,'hev aie "The- Love I Long for.' "It You Can't Gel the Song You Want ' and ., * Sailing Midnight." The,' possibili- ties arc- only moderate. Only, reprise allowed opening night was tor, topi* cal piece. "Poor as a Church Mouse," delivered by June Havoc in title role.' and that'was undoubtedly Wise as. even without encore-... Show ran Until 11:50. v, ; ; ::':„ One reason for extepded session.is ■ picse-ncc ol: three ballets, one: in Act I divided into two parts imostlv rla- . live dance stuff >. "and two in Act If, first being devoted to cutback visions ui Sadie's early life, aiid second to . ceitaih mental images (very much on the lascivious side) .by the Rev. Davidson . Last-named is probably best- the duo: called 'Sadie's Strug- gle' is mostly static and could well bi 4 eliminated. or- savage I v s li ced, A number of Duke's spng numbeis .wouldn't be missed at all. several .coming" as abiupt and: unwelcome it)-' t-ei ruptions of,taut drajiiatic. action. An example, is the "Hurdy Gurdv" number (witlv. a live. monkey i to- wards the end. While on the subject of the score, another factor to be considered is allotment of songs lo Rev. Davidson. He's played by lian- sing Hatfield, ol the MetropoTifan tiitio voice.-but to quite a few .of the hrsl-iiightery' there was siiiiiethiiig iarriiig aiid- iiVcohgruoiis in-his break- ing in'io I'rcqu'enf song. 'In i'airin-s.s.it should be stated that Diet/, and Ma- inouliaii have- partially prepared:, for thi.> fii.t icism bv explainuig'tliat,Da-. virison had never been oi darned in. the ntinistrv when he became a.-miSr sioniU-y.. ','..'.:,"' -'' : .:::'■ \- .'„: ■':"■:,''.'■ *' : '"' Storv has ■ been i a!her fiilthflilly adherci'! fi> ev en to. the uiclilsmif nl the rcviM'Cnd's latiious reteixiiH t l ;tn Miitchills ■ ot Nebraska." In. fact' thiit's ''iiii'vcxcu'su' for ' tlie.',last;;;stixy ( !• ballci'. '' l-l()v-v:i-v i t>'r. ,the'.'pi.uic,li'y line', or' 'the lingular (spoken., it ■ memorv UiHvkS- rlglitiV 'by '■ Oi-- Mc Ph u! ; \s hose'chaiactor has been deleted), is ' hot lisi-d. The reason ior-Dayidson's i ih.mkmg; a bout .those molehills in cuii.r . -i^i 1 liH-i' w it. h. certain' teat in es , ot, tin- | femimne' torso- iv clearly hinted ui, nvi, | the ballet, howevei In place ol Di ', V't '. lAlcPhailaiid.his wile,there's a single tein'me character, a t at her screwy v oung: author- seeking, data .on ■uative niarriage. customs Another tliiinge w-biit not too important'—is. that, Da- vidson meets death by throwing him-, st It into a shark-infested lagoon in- stead of cutting his throat Most ot. the play's best lines are kept and some are ipretty torrid, especially Sadie's tirade against,the reverend in which Miss Havoc winds up by call- ing iii'm ..a psalm-singing so-and-so v f.hout mincing oi -slurring words Miss Havoc has no voice but deliv-. er's lict niimbers fairly well and acts the dramatic scenes better, than misht be expected, Only real voice in the east is Hatfield s, and he's okav in Hiis stodgy aiid ' unsympathetic part. Charactet is made, much younger than in dj'ama vetsion, James NewiJI, 01 the' films, is , Ser- ileant O'Hara, with ■ not to0-g0,o,d a voiced-'"■,'■'.•':■:■''',",.'"■'■" ':■'■-■':•■■?':'•■' :This is hot a mUsjc-al eqmed\ but a liuisical -play, and : >vhatever.' the hg'litei touches, they are provided by Ralph Dumke.■ as fat. old Joe Horn: G: azio Narciso, as his : tatter - wite, and bv Daniel Cobb. Norman Law- rence and Bert Freed, as the .service- men, Zolya Talma gets over as-pa-, thetic Mrs. Davidson, and ..Vera Ful- ler M.ellish is satisfactory as the girl: m scai ch of-tribal marriage customs ■ Like "Deep River," which Arthur Hopkins produced 20 yeais or so ago, "Sadie'', is neither fish, flesh nor. good led -herring.: Its heaviness should, bore musical-comedy :l'ans; : 'its 'heavy, musical and ballet interpolations will very much, annoy admirers ot the original "Rain," and it is very much to be doubted it the more artistic .as- pects ol the Duke score or the. Ma- nioUhan directioiii with the long-m- tei'larded ballets, will carry . much weight, . Of course, "Sadie Thomp- son"' can (andwill.') be cut plenty but even then Waxman will have a problem on his hands. Nor do its musical features give it much reason for another screening Waters. now a major, has been killed in siM v ice breaks the charm f'abfi. has held ov el- Devon and emt.un finds 1101 railing the whole thing,oil Wliatevcr may be lacking in the Chase scripting; chore, dries not .have a counterpart iii -hcv acting assign- 'liiefit At all .limes she, exhibits an assurance .that sweeps h.ei through the entire play on the ciest ot a ,ariet v of emotions. Her delivi-rv of- comedy .irties is excellent and . Iter iCoiitinued on page. 4ti i on Knafii ■ ■'.(,l*HH.'ii.-. AUl'iftl i>: "ilin-t :■•-' HI" .'Ciillii'ily,; ill: ■ii'ii'i'i-'' iit U,, uili • ;,i I'lier. I'.v liii'tii-i. S|.!liini"ii , ; il'iii ' t l.l ii'lit' fllli In iiil.li; .Slnn'-il l',v, Alii'"l l : M'-Ultlti, ■ .ti. Ini' - tlinil';, ', OlK-lii-il.'' til .1.1 tiilKtni:., " 'i'i \-. V.. A ll ', 'j'lsiiiiliniij, . i i'' iliiil.ii.''':,s , i,-\'.i;n liiillin :.li'.nsi||:i li'.'ii Sl.t-V'tt'li - "I'.'Vl" In Boil Dl>- fry ' ■'''. ■. New Haven, Oct. 20. '.• .T'iiin ' 1-'. Wilson lit'Odini ion o(. I'liliii-O^i 'irnin-a in lln-t-t, ait's (seven st'Um'-i'i. !'i> llkn rhtiiie.-'ill-aisiaiizerl from -In-r nivvel.:. T'.-h: l.nri-s , llliu 1'hasf-. Fredeili' Twit, ' Pa ill ■il'-dralli. i'.uih 'Mat'leson. l>'ri»in' ; ia IHSaVs. ,Si'.'i s ..,l: i,y W'ilaoii; actlinRa. .'Iop-dIi f-lati. Ol'em-'t ai Slmbpi't, i\e«' : Haven, Oi-l. ai, '41; . ' .■ .,;,:,■ -y ■■ ■ .... Jasp.-i .Uiiiili'ttle . Villi Mil,' i ii Bi-lie .Vli'l.li-V Inllll Katie tie'viin Rlliatt ; VV.ai liu-rls'lH . . . , . , 1 11;a, i 'lia Kiiv.a niil-;, 'itin' w 7 iiin\vt''igh', ;.';.. MiWii..... ,: .... All ii a ill l.>oyl*-'..;-',.., ,(r*ii t iiai-iV fi'iriii'k:....:,,,.' .Vii'k vail A tat on ..'.'.. Dli'k friailiey. .'.;;-.. ,. sli'.iiiiie iVioOre,,-,.. i.V,. i lane, I'.iaiifjeirield, i. PiiiI'viiealliei,..-..,.. tciii't, palm ,.: .Via t'ia .Sellner, .... , ,. .Viriihiia lva\w . .■ .T'-i'aiK-ia' t>iiSate« . ... . ... .Ciynia llrav , . ■.Clauilia VVal'lii-li , . ,'. .'. , iteleti ■ M;i i-i'\- :,.VIailry i'lK'tye.i inn li' .'. .TJiiilslaa-l ileK"! « ,,... Itiilh .viiitti.>iriii ...I-'.iea:,..! Avntle:, ..:... HaViHitil ' i/iane . . . i F|-.eilet-y- .Tiizf i-l. i. Kti-ila' ivai'il'nl "In Bed We C: v will, probably go down as this seasons Exhibit A on the affirmative side ot the discussion, as' to whether a play can lack sub- stance and yet. provide entertain- ment, This one -should come through as a hu from boxoffice angles, but as a literary , standout—that's some- thing'.' else,\',,'" 'i ."-'.' '"'. A-'"- In emerging from the cocoon of novelist .into the spotlight of plav- vvnting. Ilka Chase, finds her best expression m,-the medium of'dialog lather than, overall play construc- tion While,her 'sceives.-individualtv. are generally well done, ; with only a slight tendency towrard Overwriting., c ollecti v ely the result can. elaini, only model ate appeal. Howevei, sharp quips that Crackle fairly consistently throughout the , three acts tend to .611 in .the story's, deficiencies, Said to follow the novel,: very closelv, theme reveals behind-the- scenes episodes in- the romances of .a successful , career w oman Devon Elliott Wainwright, head of a beatitv products concern, finds hei .sex life nullified when' her husband Tim. medical .scientist and partnei in her business, departs for research work .in skin"'afflictions;-' She hurdles satis-, tactori'.j ..a temporary six-week . stretch ol. this but when her spouse leturns only „to announce that Iris interest in his work prompts him to ask an indefinite extension of the separation,, Devon succumbs to the advances of a,- glib and attractive refugee, hedonist named Fabrt, She divorces : her husband -and. against her, better judgment, is about to marry the refugee, who has .turned Current Road Shows ', ( Period Core mho Oct; 3(i-Nu! 11:' " Ah if, Ii istt Kose" - St, ubei't-La * ,f:ivette. Detroit. (.0-11, )„ ' Bell foi .\ilaiio"-Sii.u>eit New Hav^n 19-11). '■'.''.'-".'."'• ', "■'„,',■ i- '- ■.' , "Blossom Timc"-*KaiMton, W.'mspt Pa, 13D"! Lvnc Allentovyn Ci'M, Mejn And .; .Trenton l.l i: Lvi Hi, Rlcii'iiiOiid 12-3-41 Natioiiiik- Wash. \6-UV'. : ■,'.'.'■:'' ''v" : -.v : ',■'",'.■"■' "„' K' "Cherry Oi'cliai'd''V-Parkwav /Madi-, son (30-31), Davidson. Milwaukee, 1(1-4) „Ta-l't, Cin'c.v (<i"8>, Haitiuan, 'Co'tv. : '(9;-Jl:.'):■>'.''.•'■ ,-"'':''.,'■■".■ ../'','.'""'■.'.'., Dante (Magician)—Biltnttiie. L-. A,- ;('3'(v-i:i:-)v' ,'.■,■' :'•""'"",:■'■.""'■':■•;.,',' ',■; "Doll's House"—Geary. Frisco Ui- 111 'i', : ;-. Gilbeit &' Siillivaii—Foi ie.st. Piitla - (30-in - ;'".;'■..,,";.,'::-;:; : ", 'Good Niglit Ladies"-- Mi-lropoh- tan, Seattle (30.-0 ) - Temple, Taciima (7): Capitol Yakima, t81.: Fox. Spo- kane.'O't; Wllma. Missoula (10); Fox,, Butte (ID. r ,s'. : ': ; ':.''-''. : :' .Harriet"—National, Wash, (30-4); And , Roehfcstei ,((i-7), Ei la.ngei, Bull. 18-111. ''-v-'V \- iloi-ses Are:Like That"- - Shubert-- Laiavette Detroit (30-4 i. In Bed We Cry - —Wilbur, Boston: • 30-in.-. , ,:■."•''"■' "■:.: "' ,- Kiss and Tell". t2d Co.)—Stude-, baker. Chi. (30-11). ' " ■ ' Kiss- and : Tell" ,t3d . Co; )—Muni. Aiid : N. Orleans (30); School Bi: n Rouge (31 l, A.ud., Beaumont , ,(1 i; Music Hall. Houston t,3-4.i; Texas. S.: Antonio (.6); Par, Austin (Ti; Ma- jestiti/Ft. Worth ;(8-9); Melba. Dallas' do-in ..■■','',' ; ; v;;s",; s;;, ; "fcaffia" Room Only" -- Sh-.ibert Boston (6-ii>. ; ';>■{■■ : -. ■■,'■..■'■'■■■ ■ "Late George Aplev"—F'olii - Bill-: to 130-4 ' Plymouth, Boston. ( 0-111. '•Lite With I'alMer" (2d Go i— Nixon. Pitt. (30.-.4); Hartman. Col, (5-8), English, Ind'p'lis (9-11 i, . "Man Who Had All the Luck"— Playhouse, W.ilnrton (9-111. "Men \ Widow:" — Cass. Detioit i30^ii' ; i,,'v;': ; y:;-...',, :: : . -.a;;:. ^.:: ,:';-':; ■ "Meirv Widow" (2d Co. I—Lanier. Moritg'y -t.301: Temple. B.rm ham (3,1- 1).; 'Ryman, Nashville (2); And , Mem-, phis 1,3-4 ); Robinson, : L, Rock (6,1;, Muni And, Shreveport (7i. Aud,, Baton Rouge (8); Muni. Aud,, N. Or- leati? 19-n.i. . '■''■■■■;';■. ":.'.','■ "Oklahoma" i2d Co.l — Eilatigei, Chi (30-11). ,' : ':"'.''■,'.' .".-■'." "OlHello" — Hanna, Cleve. (30-4); Nixon; Pitt. (6-11). ■' '.'■ "Over 31"—Hai i is. Chi (30-4); Da- vidson, Mil, (6-11). :..'"'■ "Ramshackle Inn-'—Orpheum Da- venport (30); Shrine, bes Moines (31); Orpheum,. Sioux City (1); Arid.,- St. Jos. '2); Grand, Topeka (3 ): Mem . Sahna (4): Arcadia Wich. (.6); Aud , Pueblo (8); Chief, Col. Springs (9i; And.. Denver (10-11 i. ■'■■;■: ■-, "Rebecca"—Mem. Aud.., Worcester (30), Coin t Sq.. Spnngfd (31-1), •Met , providence (2 ); ,SushneH, H'tf'd 13-4 i. . Royal Alexandra, Toronto (6-li ; ).::..':"; l y:'';'' : ,,: ; ' : : ''',v'"'-A;'' : -., "Robin Hood" —Bushnell. H'tf'd (30-31); Lyric. B'dgp't : <:1); Shubert, New Haven (2-3-4) "Sadie Thompson"—Shubert Phila. '30-4 i; Erlangft!-. Phi la. IB-Ill San Carlo Opera Co.—Opei a Hse , Boston (30-4). . "Sing Out, Sweet- Land"—Bushnell, Hiirltord 19-11). ; :; ','.',''.■'.:■■:.:.':'., "':"■,•''■ "Sons O' **un"—Shea's, Erie (30 >: Shea's, Jamestown ,(3.1); Colonial,. Akron (1); Palace, Canton (21; .Park, Youngstown (3-4); Drake'; Oil City (6l; Embassy, Johnstown (7); Aud,. Newark. O. (8); Weller, Zanestille. 19); Hipp, Marietta (10); ..Virginia. Wheeling.(11), ' •'Streets Ar* Guarded""-Playhouse; .Wilmington (3-4); Locust, Phila. (6- K jH- U.-i-i'tin a .,',.,, ,■ .V im! .iiinlty', . .;, ,,'.'.':. »<» am i'i") *w'd > i«l, 1 ,'-^n.n:i.in£M . ^lii-l ' t,i'iniitiiiiiii'i'\',,,','. |:iat.,hi'lii(il|nirii:i-;.. . ,'. '. iiiiiinli.l Si,'-\.i. J ns, ,-. .... '1'fiv liiiiiiv>-' t!iiiii'l'-.',,''. ,.V')vs. v,ni:l" it ..,.'•'. " s.'.'..(;ii'-uii" , I'liiKi'iiiji' . . .'.',, .'.:,, KiHI'f'lli ' I'tl'li ■ ,..:.-..;'i."£l(i:iti|H:.Ki.l;liiili:hl ......'.; .niiafi.il III, iall."- , .'. . i;,.■.'.isliiiiii, Miilli'li"!-: , . . |li'l.lK-l laalii- .■:'. :■,,',. . t'liiid ,\lii i-tii'.v,. .:: .it'll vv. i i.ai'ii., i» ,';'.:, ;:i ,'t'.:i'h\',iir-i 'ii.ui'ii'1:''' . Ui ii.rsi li.iw in ,:Sll-.|illl'ti:i'iil-IIIHrli .'-.,,'.,,'."ill.Uy' Ueiilii'lit' . ,, ,'.;,:.'■.-,'■,.. I'llit,! '.(■.'.'lill'li . ., ,'. ,, , , , . , AII11 I M'.IV' . , out to be a .champion aiming heels. Opera Co., who lias a splendid Pari- Word Horn Africa telling thai Tint, The best -of last vveeki's attd-als,, "'Siialu ' has a fairly good chance to registei iin 'Broadway. New Hugh, play would be among the 1uk.Iv ^ross crs '(■( t-lie ,seeoi,id ; . act wasn't some- what of a dud, and'that's .because there are a. couple .of. characters who could be eliminated.' Fust act is .good but. it fakes tin;: third to-send 'em out laughing. -"General!>, th,e play 's\ lormu'la of puns',lint;' adoles- cents, and patents is similar to George Abbott s ' Kiss and Tell lie s also presenting "Snatu." - ''Snafu" is an, "Army expression, inoaiiilij!. "situation normal—all fouled tip '' Play deals .with Ronald Stevens, back home in Pomona, Cal„ from the South'Pacific, havtnt; been discbirrgcd froni the Army at the • request 01 his parents because he isn:t yet lb. The. tall., rangy kid had enlisted and quickly won his stripes 'as,-a sergeant. ; , .Madge and Ben, the parents, Ijave .no idea that tliPtr.,Ron.ine has' de- veloped into "manhood' at the: light- ing, front, and think they have a problein on their hands The boy, however, has teamed plenty, includ- ing tuclo, and 'there's a demoiislra- turn of that wheiv lie (lips a legitm- nane .over .his shoulder* ■ Ronnie ,s buddy, Danny somewhat Older, an ives on liii-lou{!h, Laura; another adolescent,, who is studying journalism in a nearby, girls college,: mistakes that boy for Ronald ai d there are complications because, he goes into the girls .dormitory to be interviewed-by the potential lour--, nalist, and that's ,fouhd out. . In lively act three the somewhat bewildered parents realize that they have another man in -the house— Ronald.,-who, incidentally, has been, decorated for bravery Second act lags because, of: wordy speeches from ■an alleged senator and a couple of other characters who arch t lea'.lv needed. -: '':'..'- ;■:■;- :V':'. ;; . " Billy Redtield. a lad who did all right in "Junior M.is,s," .fares bettei jn this, play as Ronald,: really top- ,p.mg,the east Maybe he seems too .slight. to .-do the. things- he does, but' the .boy is. plenty okay as a light comedian. Perhaps too, Russell. Harclie and Elspeth Eric seem too ydung as his parents, but they both give good performances Patricia Ktrklaiid's Laura., the college girl, not onlv looks plenty luring but tops Bethel. Leslie as Ronald's next-door sweetheart. Ralph' W, Chambers has the unfortunate.' part of the windv politician but Enid Mat'key, is amus- ing as Laura s spinsterish aunt. Okay, too. are Dort Clark and Eugenia Delaro.va even though latter's Indian dialect is hard to hear. Ibee. Au,y sciious ideas presented hardly stick when the story,terminates, anil '• the aveiage couple out iront is liltoly to-., become sonu-vyhat bored with it all, There cevtfiinly isn't much, di- " vei.s.ion lor a show so sintullv pre- 1 sontGd;i. v ;':' •'■ -.'.'"- ', '-■;.: . .", ;■ .■■■.v : Miss Hopkins and Jury co-slnr as, J.enny and Dale, tjeing ,on stage nearly .all the time, Both are real troupers, but have done .-■bettei' id other-pails. Martha Sleeper is fea- tured and. plays Gloria tctchinglv. Joyce Van Pall-, n is the kid; Some- times aunoyu),g bttl , rather real ■Hit.U'tvEtint,-J'atnes Todd and Ev. iwi ' DiH.iS complete the cast, the liilfei' hav ing an..amusing, scone Ibec, Viol*'! :,\lli"ft li'i'il •M.-l I'ls'-'til-s' .in .all '.."Illli-iU J'.l VV llilli.i-l.l I', itiiti t"s'l iif:i' ; s; .■Ci'-'i'tiii ,'h':1';, -i'i' '.iSii'iilliiils,: ■llt.'li'-ll 1 , #,il.),il.W, llimniij ' . '.iiiilist.'iti;,' 'I'tiV'-ijivii Jl'S; ";\'' V, 11,1, 'ii i».H'-nln,t; ,nij;lil.l. r'tiiwi'ii-.i.:'^.'-'.,..'.;.. ■..;•■,-,,'; t'.t.: (.'ihitiil'MI :' , , - .Mi- i':iii., riiit'-'iii i It.-ii i nti* . ,«'.., i.iiy i'\isiiri!".. .".:'■'..'. ..', ,, ;" I:-1 il' I . .,......,', , )'' i4S'ii ' ' ",V. '.V ilinli' SilrtV. si'-ii'-iy WiUlin- •rI-} vnil. i in. i ;..U'- VViit i-i,ni'.a, • I • n ;.- .VVaiini'i'Ls ',', ,',■.'; VV VV , I I'-ln ,U'y.|. '. ,'isvj' VViifn.iis i\i .-i.jc ..i-... ■l liili/' nr Uii s'i- art "k„'.'')|aS';'l i,n' ,!,i,i', iMItli-tiiaii'k',,: tiai--. la'Mr ' . St if,,',! ,|,j: la v ;'. i-iisl'inillis . I.y .ill ■'«.-lilsl.-''', -Hirtfi • * 1 t.(|.' (SI;S(i . .liiliii - i.'iiiii'i'y,',' ;;l lai-Vi'i Klyiilit'iiy , . It'll " -.Vli'i liiiln ,,,' iil.li ■ Uullistc'i- , :l-l;1,i li- i tftsp ' ;. . I.'il li'lii, 'I'l'iit-tiniii. - V ' I i:ll> Xl'Vill'ti' .,':,. I'm 'i.iiii'ii'aH'if, . .l-'ll'/'. Mi-I.JniHlS ..- . ..VI )i:ili.i,:.i'i.:n(V ,.,'.tiiiiai-y ,S"ii.ji-l-a'. -.,.l.'a'i'i'i'' lintiliiiitiii ■ ...' ,'Mii^iiti Ailavna : . . I' ' v liilii'i- .V, .:.,..:.;l'ian. V.iti'r . .,i ,'> l il,: (i'llnii.v - .IStls,s".(t (i iltia 11). "Student Prince"—Blackstoiie, Chi: (30-111. v.-,'':"-;'„' .'■:';.;.'";",'.,:'''. ; "Ten Littlo Indians" (2d Co )--Cox, C.iP.cv (30-4); Harris, Chi, (6-11). ' '•Three's a Family"—Curran, San Francisco (30-11): , '^Tomorrow the Woitld"—Colonial, Boston 130-111. : „ ■ ■','.,■■''■'■', :: ■'"-.'':".'■':■'"'.".' , "Ti'io';—Locust, Phila, (30.4 i, "Tropical Revue" (Katherme Dun- hatti,)—Erlanger, Buff, (30-4 >>; Hanna, Cleve. (6-11). ' • Voiee of the Turtle" (2d Co.)— Selwyn, Chi (30-11). "WallBowei"—Amarican. St. Louis.' (30-11), "Wait* King"—Aud., St Paul (So- il; Parkway, Madison (3); Shriiio Des Moines (5); Victory, Dalton ii- 8). Cox. Cmcv (9-11). "Winged Victory" — Mas, Add. Frisco (30-11). - (,'lit»i-,V t..i:i'ii'\vri,i'i.l. . iii'iaini't iiiii nl' -cniiii"t v ' in: til lift - ivi-If. (iiiii. ,af'i.iii.>. liy : Siill i-si ui, i lii iiliii',!.'' Stin.'' . Sliii's- ■ .Ui i'iaiti.' 'H onl.'nis ' ail it' 'V ir lui' •Iticy: feaiin'cp 'iliii'iiia Sji.f-i>in-,sia K vii. tiv aiiliiiii-: sir-lliiiK', by Olivi-l Siiiilh.'':(:l|ii.|itiil nl Rari'i inni-f, \ ,T, O' t '..II. '11; *,t fill Im. l>a li Wit I la.ina,, .,, ..;. ..i. :,:, Vii-tin- , ilm y .li.ni.jv \\ illianifl, . „,'.M li-inin ti,,(ltdlis ttiisa , . ,. , , , , IJviHyn i),n is .VlahPt M.-iiiii.:iiii; ,. ,i, .t li'.li'ii r-1-iiK, Ailitisini .VKiiifiiiiK. .. ,'. ;* . . . . ..Iiiini'V'.' 'I'iiil'l ( iliii ia "lOii'li. "Il . ,,,.',:... Vhli'lha .Slaciit i lit If-ii -VV itli'aiiis , . . .Jiivii, Y.il'j I'ntl"') - For a play that was reported.doing very well put-of town, "The Perfect, Marriage' is disappointing. That it will last beyond, an autumn that is liectic'-in the matter of theatre book- ings'is questionable. It has name leads (Miriam Hop- kins and Victor JOry) and a corking setting,which, howevei"', do not over- come a repetitious, , performance,, Thei:e ; Is a. seven-person cast but What goes on is mostly a duolog be- tween two persons who. devote the evening to argument, result, teing rather enervating to,.first: "nighters. •Jenny and. Dale Williams have been married for 10 years, then seemingly convince each other, that romance between, them is over, Both ate professionally occupied, he a .de- signer of bombers,, she being, on .a magazine, They have, a nine-year- old ciaughtei and at the start seem to be fond, of each' other, so v hy Jenny and. Dale Should:suddenly de- cide they are out of tune is not ex- plained satisfactorily . Years before he had had a notion about caring: for Gloria Endtc'ott, blit there , was no affair,: and when he tries to revive the idea, in retalia- tion it just doesn't come oft. In act three Jeniiy;:dates an ;unseen admirer, aiid so she and Dale battle about her going out with the fellow, but: they end up in: each other's arms. It seems that the author has the idea the 10th year, of marriage too often ■ ends in the divorce courts. There .are some witty passages but the new play is shy .on-laughtei. and there seems to be too much gab. Whitfield Cook, author-of, the Be- lasco s now . tenant. Violet, based' on his Uc-.dbook mag short Stprtes, starts ,oil' Nxnv Yearls Eve' 'with an Cx-tlame. fiv e assorted kids, tvvo ex- ■vV'tve's, and several Utnelated zanies, all ot whom converge'on • the pivotal untie The mixture sliould have brought tmti-. a good., rneasviie of ■ hilarity, but Cook's play, fails to. jell into- sustainedcothedy As it is pro- duce! Aluin t Mai goiieS won't jostle manv'laughs- oul of Broadway, and the comedy's picture possibilities ap- pear equally as stun ' Violet is financed by Metro,. Basically, Cooks play only points up anew that real comedy.' is ■ built on simple themes that piling up cx- agget alums only on, rnre occasions tosiilts in flte ■ souglit-tor pandemo- • mum. In , Cook's, comedy . the un- beiievable pi-ocOeiOusness of. the . 13- year-old brat who tries to solve papa's marital problems fails.to hold water, The ultra-sophistication of the' two ex-wives, the imaginiuv global ■treks -.0,1. ilie frustrated Vei-. monteis the timid eagle scout wild the laundu bi- headaches, and the brood ol ,kkls underfoot aie all 11-1 own iii to the stew: but, come out- flat, minus the? necessary condiments to produce fun and spontaneity! Fault, too, lies in Cook's, staging. Acting is far from smooth Rre- prccm Broadway interest in. play- centered , Chiefly ui Pa! llitci-.cock. daughter . of film du-ectoi Alfred Hitchcock She's been assigned role ■ol the adolescent with the high I.Q, who ai;t'atiges her, father's, third •marriage. Although (lie roughness in her acting could be polished "by. belter direction, the kid doesn't shape up as any great luminal \. re- gard less Hei performance on the whole is rather colorless, with the "heavy"', scenes distinctly flat, Harvey Stephens, as the rather prolilic lather, gives an erratic p.er- forjnance which also sutlers much trpm poor direction Paula True- man atone seems to capture the au- thor's intent of unnihibited zaniness. Helen Claire, Fay Baker and. Joan V'.ic in other i pie's are adecjuate, .but fall to nisptie their paits, .■'■.■.-:■■;■•" /"':'■ ':■';■■ , ', Kosf.'.'.::' Waiv Oul lMili.'it K.'tili. iH'iiiiiii tiiiii uf■ iiii..|i.i.ii",iin.i "t- i tll-i'i'- ai'Is In", i'>'\'v..ii ' Duvi.s-.''.' I'Va I i'il'i'a. tu-in.." H.'Ui-\,'JVJiil.i J'l is'.na. itiiiK-l t K"jlli ;V'atl.i Uiiii Iii, Hns'-'i i'i is^ini ami Innis, si-l- lillS'. 'K'IWiil'll .il ill'l.'l-l, «)|iarii"il:'l|i, I VH.i' lll";!,- Ii!*»- : 'N.- :y.,,"i>( : i:"Stl. ' '-II; $:i.l-|ll-,t,ti|i■■''i,S:l„Si!„ nivi'iiiiiS' 'iiii-iit'l " iVil-li' liiM'fiii'.'t '- ,1'tl'.' Klilil- Kilit* • Rnil; Kailny . 1 iBnriiui'ii Tt ani; •N'tii'iiitf-iiii,,..',;.,',.'. .'■;'. 'Mnlly 'l.PN'aiis^Jla'i' '.,' Iii'."' WaUlni- l.;<-v>ii,l.w t'fi-altier "Paiiriiw :,,.:.'•; Dr. NilM Hiltiai-.l.. ,Tim Siatla''■■.;,'...',■,. . . .v y'liilii :-li'i: , .'.v»H ' I:.-1,0 IP M-* '.'.r,in''ilii.' !>:-"l'll(n-. Nain I'tl.aiiu.aii I .'■; iMoftii • ftliii/rtbH ,•;'.. Violii. Jt'ii'i-J'" ■ l'miat'il KosK'l . :l. hi rami. , . II..In i • K."|li , Jin iii iff- t'ljii'lv* O.wen Davis' has the makin's of a good melodraina-problem play in "Mo Way Out." which opened, at the Cort theatre, N. Y. Monday (30), but it's-botched completely in the tell- ing, There' is. g ceitaih giibiicss about the play,'a natural '..product .of- a prolific veteran talent, but for the riiokt part this play about medical ethics certainly,needs the adrenalin tile characters kept talking about all evening. .:' ' --, "' ■"..-.''•:'' .The play's melodrama involves a girl dying of a:rare glandular disease and hei'" stepfather-doctor who- de- sists from saving her because, he wants her money; the problein in- volves the professional:ethics, of an- other doctor stepping into the case. Without being invited to, to save the girl. The girl,' who is approaching 18. lias, Addison's disease, a glafldilku deficiency which., it not tfeateft eiirl,- and arre-sted, will prove, lata 1 H< k ' stepfather:, a .brilliant- surgeon,, yh',',. tConfipued on page 46)