Variety (May 1945)

46 LEGITIMATE Wednesday, May 9, 1915 Plays Abroad LnMgli. Town. Laugh ■ London. April 2:1. J.i.K 1MI»»'» inii'imiluii. I In M..I III..1111. I-Mili.. lli:i.i. l-'ivld.i tS.liil.'iMi'l I. fi'iiiin'K Sjil 'in.I Mvx IIiiiiImiii Sl-l'li-.iiii- (iiiiHlti'lK. Hilli HcM lind IisiiiiI. \;ilcii-' Tnn-lv lour I'llKill:^ Mdl.nli" Tl i'.-. I) iln Smiimips. Miih.icl Aii'-lm. V Hi^s l-li'>"llli'(l: id Sli.ll llmiur-. I.i'li Al« .. Show. despite its tillc. is prnili- callv a siring of vaudeville acts.. First soi* is delivered by Syd and Max Harrison, who fit into this show.niuch better than In the last ycar.'sPalla- dium fiasco. Boys put over, llieir in- consequential knockabout comedy, with solid hootcVy. to good returns. Eddie Gray, standard, with a clever stooge, proves clickcroo. having crowd at his mercy.:. Another hit is registered "by Hal Monti", cockney war product. .Comic lias only been around for a Tew years, and some four years ago, was com- paratively unknown. But is now in the big coin. Not everybody's meal, and. at- times he is very aggressive, almost to point of rudeness. But he pleases the crowd. Freddy, direct from lengthy slay at Victoria Palace; liasn'l varied his act any: But goesover big! This Hyl- ton lind. however.' is being over- worked in West End. Troupe or 18 femme dancers in- cludes neat.lookers and lair steppers. Quite, a tew unknowns are also' in; show, mostly youngsters, atid all hits. Tommy Trindcr's find. Michael Aus- tin, strums the Hungarian Rhapsody like a seasoned performer. Looks big for concert field. Three .-youths, the Nairn Brothers;' give a solid impression of the: Ink Spots, and come near stopping show. The more experienced Malcolm Thomas, balladist. repeat's the hit he made in George Black's "Lisbon Story." at London Hippodrome. •Valerie Tandy, one of the leading ladies in Arthur Askey's "The Love Racket." is; disappointing. Gal can dance, but is not so strons as a singer. Four Pagolas, two males and two femmes. in Russian dancing, impress. Ventiiloquia) bit by ' Gray and Freddy proves laughable interlude, but is not novel. " Show lacks ambitious sets, with Hyde Park Corner .scene, in which most of cast indulge in some old melodies, the only outstanding one. Dorothy Squires ■ warbles' Sophie Tucker's "The Man I Love" and shows great possibilities though over- exuberant. Hylton is presenting the show by arrangement with Prince Littler un- der a guarantee and percentage.- House is doing capacity, with first week's lake expected to be hear $20.- 000. This should yield plenty of profit- to both. With abundance of youthful talent, management should exploit this tad for lop business. Re0e. .fial -of I horn exhibit nciir hysterics !on sum- occasions, bul they all talk ■ like machine guns. Clins. Tht» IViiul of llfavcn ! London. April 13. J IT. M. • Tixinr'il. I.lil : |iii.iitnc|l,in or nvu'. .|il.ii iii lu>i :(■•(?. Iii Kmlin Wlllliiin*,. I»(r |ii-i-|.-il In. I-:uiI.mi Willi. hum. :is*i*iril In Wil'- I': ! li.ilu , I ..■!>.! '-Th'li.i lil'l. ' .Mi'iinii Ain:...i-- Klh i:\uii ii.i«i ll I*•11.-. 4 *, U \ 11 . . . . . Mi* l.-iki-. . . A i iii-l i mm Alnil 1-'. M :lti uK*s* lllpulic. .. .Dliinn Wy.nynrtl ...... Mi 1 ):.* JonkiiiK . liui'ollii Kitu'nnls ....Kiulvn. Wlllhniii I Ifi lirrl l.uniiis . Artlnir llHinlilhr.: ...('11(1.,id llnxli'i . v . IJni'lwi'a <.'uu|ii'V Enilyn Williams' latest play will cause a l.ol. of comment. To some if will be his-greatest work—to others, the promise .or something even finer to come. It is an impressive achieve- ment, from any angle. The coining' of Ihe Messiah in the person of a. small boy in a remote Welsh village in l<j5C is the basic plot. This results in the conversion of Ihe two: main characters: a flam- boyant circus owner, planning to make capital of this child who draws • music from the air and heals the stricken soldiers: and the young widow whom war has bereaved and in whose home the action takes place. The transition from Ihe flashy i showman lo whom money was a god into , an inspired disciple anxious id spread the gospel is brilliantly de- picted by Emlyn Williams. Diana Wynyard. as the sorrowing woman who has lost faith, gives a gentle and sincere portrayal. Two simple, mov- ing, performances, conic from Megs Jenkins as Ihe boy's mother and Her- ibert Lomas as a god-fearing farmer. ' Many people consider Ihe suffer- jings Of war have revived a religious i lrend--in-Britaimr-Tlrc author, who 'wrote this play while visiting the balllefro'nls during a 12rmonths tour, obviously feels this offering istimely. He has staged a tine production, i Play will undoubtedly draw its own particular audience, but whether it has. enough, general appeal for the masses is a matter for speculation, Clem.. Play Out of Town llpnr Desert Ba<t» •" A . London. April 27. Sliorpk' prn'lucl Inn . of h npiv itlriv III Hi.,'.' :i.l.- Iiy Colin MulTis. .llli.vl-,1 .'hi H-'nri Sllpii'k ' nl j\(lcl|ihl, London: Aluil 2'i. T.. C-nn.in Sri'connl-.Xf.iJoc I-Vli\ Kniiiir»-i- Scr*:'».nii 1 Itmiier I.i'd Ki him Mai n- A.hi:.n l.l.iy.l-ll.me .I .n r..lln I.i»li(-p-l'(»iJMinil .-Kil|:Jniill: Lurry Nulil,' ("Hiiriiir. Anlliuily' rulllli'r. . Mil nnililf: Wllili'.i Tni.iH^i' t»'.\*cll, ..Ki^rmr O'N.nil'iili.in I.I. l.itcl Kcil.'KKill. .Uirlbfl U'l.ll l:ikc, C'din. litfrttrvei' DiivleH.... Nni'iiliiii' Williinti.t C»l«. MifU Scull ....nid'K'd.Cr (■ Tnelpar B:il.'^. ......V HDI l*.(iwti(itll;ilil Ctmkiii orfli'tr ..Kcllx K■uiOfi'-i- C'ei-ncin l'rii-tilo..-.: Anlhiini- ChvIii This is a code-eyed war and public reaction today is equally cock-eyed. Who could prophesy that such a big initial, welcome would be given to a war play in London at the present time, when all smart men of show business here thought nothing bul 100";. escapist fare would click? It was five years after first World War before the British public wanted to read war books like "Farewell to Arms" or to see War plays such as "Journey's End." Perhaps it was jtist a .compliment to the Eighth Army, but the audience ale up "Desert Rats." . Some audi- ences may'And the dialog a trifle , in- digestible, even though the action and tension are always there. There Is fine tension in the first act when a booby trap is planted by a Nazi ser- geant in full view of the audience but out of sight of British officers occupying a wrecked %illa near Bu Ngem. And its explosion is-all the more of a surprise. Xhe story is of a dangerous desert patrol to Tripoli, .cut off by the 15th Panzer Grenadiers, shot up by dive bombers and. finally killed or cap- tured! except for two delirious of- ficers. One".of the two has had an affair with" the other's wife, without knowing her identity. British officers and men are usually portrayed as languidly efficient but fearless. Colin Morris, himself a "Desert Rat." pre- sents them in the opposite light! Sev- Itlemphis) Bound . Boston, May 3. .Ji.liii WiMWt'K lu'diliicliiin (In fixaociulUrn M'dll Vhtlmi: l*'i .llryi '(if 'mtlHlcal 111 livir Hl't)(. uil:(|H"(l I'l'iiin Uillicrt. Sulltvtili'Ji '■riicif'Hii;" s.i;n« Hill kuiiincun: feaim-ci Aviiii Limy. Siwllu ilni'K. Idii Jiiiniiti. ■ 'i'hPl- lli:i'. (.'iil lii'ill.T. |l''ll;i Khyl'liil I'.OJ'H. . llllt)' |l:il(J"lM. All:( Hl-dM'll. I IfurROl If! Hdl'vcy. Iliinll, Iiy .AIlH'it H;u;l;i.'r ;ind.Si(lly lloiiKuli;. .hiiii^m. Ddii Widkci' iiml I'luv Wid'nii'l.: fliitx.'.l Iiy Kiilicri llu.is: ilnncr*^ by Al Whllp. .1)-.: Ii:iIIim hy Annul I>i'lln;.sci'iiory. ilefilKnfil :• ti,l lii;liii'.l iii i; -km .Icn^iinc i-<i.ifunic'H by l.ti'.'iil(l:i l::(ll.(r(l: cinflui'liii'. rhlil'les San- f'u'.l. 0|i(.'iii'il .hi v'uimiliil. -Un^lun. M:iy 3. • i:<: »m.i;ii i.li... ■ ' . Ili'i nii' .flsrtir rtniup .\l.'liyK:( t":il i-r. lAunl Mi'l)..-.. .JI.eli'n Doii'dy ICi.li.l. ll:i K) :.ill I'.iiixin S:ir:ili.'ll-. . , Mil*. I'rii-MllM''. Il'iyliliv: I.ili V:il"iillu.'. I'm 11 ii i- I ':ir:nllm'. .. :.. . .'. Il-llly l-'iruitlxi' sti"i-iir i ;niik iim; I'Y. Kliii-li Wi(ili.-I.l i-.ii I Wln.lyl '.I'ii|i IH hip Hi-hp..'-. .Hill.:..'. Cnhri.'l. M:illnl.'i . Hilly Ddlllcl.-. ..IIuitIpI Jacknon. A(|R' Brnii'ii .. llin-rlpt .lacksun .'. . ...ShPlIn t:il>s ........]d:i JnineH I'hi'lma- Cal'MPilK-i' Cliurlox WpIcIi .... 1'Yu.nU \Vlls(ni Avon JiOriK ,.; Hill Jlohinaon Ann Robinson Wlllhim C. Smilll William Dillard ..(looi'Kln Ann TlmmntiH Oclla llhyllmi Hi'ii'8: 'I'l-.typrHp Crawford. Ileiie Op Kiiiirht. <'ii'i-I Jiincn. Kolsey lilurl'.- 1.pp Ui'lmp.i. SAMUEL FRENCH HINt'K IMSO Flay Brokers and Authors' Representatives ta tt'ml 4filh Nlrnt. 'S>w Vurh HII Wrxt Hh Htrrat. Lo* Aag<iln John Wildborg's glorified-minstrel show. "Memphis Bound," in opening with all Negro cast—headed by Bill Robinson—at the Colonial as a swing version of "H.M.S. Pinafore," nearly saw the old showboat scuttled in con- fusion of a second act which owes little to Gilbert and Sullivan. Yet. despite lack of a coherent, unified book, which now would astonish the Savoyards by sandwiching an eerie "Trial by Jury" and strange doings in a Tennessee hoosegow between the decks of Pinamore, "Memphis Bound" seems destined to be a wow in Manhattan for several reasons. The first is that repairs went under way immediately to keep the second act afloat in shipshape fashion. Then there' is. Bill "Bojangles" Robinson' himself, genius of the tap dance and. the ingratiating grimace. At 65. or thereabouts; he carries a big part of the production through personality and amazing . agility. Right With him is Avon Long, spring-, legged "Sporlin' Life" of "Porgy and Bess." who always wanted to be an actor and who. does act and dance .superbly well, though not often enough, as captain of the "Hot Pina- fore" under command of Bojangles' Sir Joseph Porter, KCB. This couple in duet and separately delighted a capacity first-night . audience (in which society clement was unusually thin); slid are mostly responsible for a sellout, during 10-day run before Manhattan. Brilliant color, tuneful music, some of it new. and an infectious gayely on stage surround their antics. Also cavorting enthusiastically is a mixed chorus gorgeously costumed by Lu- tindii Ballard in altciTiatc Tennessee river-billy and jazzea-up .'Plriaforc- Victorian garb. The Delta Rhythm Boys. Ada Brown as a jolly Little Buttercup. Frank Wilson (original forgyl as the judge . of a . boogie- woogie, spectrc-rldden "Trial by Jury." and some of the most delecta- ble'Negro kids seen on any s.lUgc made melodic entertainment of high degree. After a slow preamble, depicting Helen Dowdy's fine Aunt Melissa or- ganizing a troupe to sail the old river boat. Ciilliboga Queen, down to Memphis for a performance of "Pina- fore ." the .first act Of an explosive operrtla ortcn recognizable lo Savoy- ards comes brilliantly to life. The pace of satire is set by Long's sly version of Capt. Corcoran and Robinson's geiiially leering, foot- loose ruler of' the Queen's Navee, Pinarore. iyrics are. ehihellished-with hep-hep variations. The 'cast swings flamboyantly up lo intermission. Al- most the only .".letdown iii this first act. Avilh ils rainbow lines and tight- packed motion, comes from Billy Daniels, as Ralph Rackstraw. love- sick fo'casth-swain'bewitched by the captain's 'daughter: Though pleasant, his voice .is not Up to demands of a Medium stage. The daughter is in triplicate; Sheila-Guys. Thclina Car- penter and Ada James. pull cute tricks crooning tonal variations on Sir Arthur Sullivan's music. Bul the second acl makes one wish that "Memphis. Bound" could be an- other "Carmen Jones." with the orig- inal operetta followed more closely. Disjointed, confused; incoherent in- spots., '-even with discount of first- night scenery trouble and light fail-, urcs, jl "wanders far from' "Pinafore" and often gets nowhere. Faults may be laid to the book by Sally Benson and Albert Barker, rather than the direction by Robert Ross, and to the badly costumed ballet invented by Anion . Dolin. This phantasmagoria gets running on full steam again toward final curtain, with the cast once more rollicking "Pinafore" crew. 8 At the' start of a badly conceived second act. which can be niade good. Long, shorn of his outrageously gay captain's uniform, becomes a river-, bank deceiver who ran. off with the showboat money: Bojangles is his jailer. Both fall asleep in the coop and then the whole stage becomes a dream world to the tune Of "Thing* Arc Seldom What They Seem." " Wan ghosts of Gilbert and-Sullivan watch, the village cutups. and a clumsy ballet of spectral dancers who oi\ce were-sailors and b.umboat ladies and now have Ku Klux drapes. Frank Wilson admirably presides at Trial by Jury" in the midst of this odd diversion. : Of course. Robinson does his fa- mous stair dance, magnificently, and sings "Growin' Pains." a specialty song hardly conneclpd with London's Savoy theatre, with the aid of a pica- ninny. '"Old Love and Brand New Love" is another 'catchy new ditty. The. show could stand more dis- tinguished singing and more of •'Pinafore." Bul everyone works with a will, and in view of castas "fervent enthusiasm, rough spots should soon be smoothed to give Max Gordon's. while 1 production of "-Pinafore." open- ing in Baltimore May 7. a'graiid run for the money. Sets by George Jen- kins are excellent, lighting needs at- tention and. orchestra is much too overwhelming. Dame. MARRIAGES Ruth Weston to Alfred Reginald Mead. -:Ncw York. May 4. Bride is stage and screen actress, currently, appearing- in . "Oklahoma!", St. James. N. Y. Helen Laing to Chet Zphn. Cleve- land. May 2. Groom is WTAM pro- gram director. Virginia Patrick lo Herbert Gigan- det. Pittsburgh. April 17. Bride for- merly was vocalist with Lee Helton's staff orch at WJAS. Pill. Rita Lupino to Enrique Vcledcz, Las Vegas. May -3. Bride and groom arc dancing partners. BIRTHS Mr. and Mrs. Joe Hanson. Cape Town. South Africa, son.-March 12. Father is "Variety's" South African correspondent. Mr. and Mrs. Dave "While, son. New York, May 3. Father is radio producer of "Hour of Charm" and "Schaefer Revue." Mr. and Mrs. Henry Maas, son, Hollywood. May 4. Father is: with NBC's western division.' : •Mr. and Mrs. Barry Wood, daugh- ter. New York; April. 30. Father is the former Hit Parade singer now touring in vaudeville, Mr: and Mrs. Bert. Horswcll, daughter. Hollywood;. April 14. Father is a screen writer. ' • Mr. and Mrs-. Lewis Rachmil.. son. Holly wood. May 2, Father, is dircc-. tor of Harry Sherman Productions. Mr. and Mrs. Harry Konier, son. Los Angeles. May 3. Father, is a film editor al Metro. . . • . iMr. and Mrs. Arthur Slander, daughter, Hollywood. May 3, Father •writes for Ariiiis 'n' Andy. -. .fule Slyne and Sammy Cahn inked lo write the score, for-"Slightly Perfect." Richard Kollmar's forth- coming legiter. OBITUARIES ] THKODORK HAYS Theodore Hays. 78. pioneer Min- neapolis showman and known as "father of Norlhwesl show buiness." died in that city. May 7. Before 'retiring from his public and labor relations post with Minnesota Amusement Co. in ■: 1940 because. o£. ill health. Hays had been, connected with (lie show business in Minne- apolis area Tor more than 50 years. He' entered the show ' business; in. Minneapolis in 1887 when he organ- ized Hays & Sterling to operate the Peoples theatre. When the house, playing road shows, became the Bijou. Hays was made treasurer and then manager. In 189H he was named manager of Grand Opera House; SI. Paul. In 19I7 ; Hays /joined Finkelslein & Ruben; predecessor of Minnesota Amusement; as manager of the Gar- rick. St. Patil. He was made gen- eral manager .of lli'e .F. & R.. theatre circuit and other enterprises in 1919. When Minnesota Ainusemcnl ac- quired the F. 8c R. chain, he joined as director of real estate and Insur- ance department. He also was di- rector, of labor relations. Hays "was head of Twin City Scenic Co. and was interested in several theatre properties. He Was secretary of the Associated Managers of the U. S. at 17. later starling his thea- trical criticism in England. Farjeon'.presented- "Diversion," a comedy, at Wyndhanis. London throughout the 1940 Nazi blilz. He was author of..many plays in- cluding "Friends," produced in 1917; VPicnic." "Herbert Farjeon's Liille Revue." "Many Happy Returns." "Why Not Tonight?" "Nine Sharp." "Big Top" and "Light and Shade." lie and his sister. Eleanor, pro- duced .their.-'.operetta. "The Two Bouquets," in. 1938.' SIR VALENTIN lv GRACE Sir --Valentine' Grace.: 88. best known as "actor baronet." died iri. Dublin, Ireland. • May 3. .from in- juries, received in ,a fall from a bicycle several .weeks ago. He en- tered the British 'theatre.when about 30, playing opposite Lily L'anglry; He made more than $120,000 in the stock market prior to going im. i ue stage. . Sir Valentine ,servcd. : as a captain in . the Leiiistcr Rcginient. He suc- ceeded his father to the title as fifllv baronet in 1903. .. CHARLES I,. DOOl.EY Charles -L. -Dooley.. 07. veteran shqwinan and former district man- ager of Warner Theatres in Pater- Ill Fond Remembrance W. II. STEIN May 14, 1943 Tw-in Cities and vice-president of Minnesota division of . the Motion Picture Theatre Owners. . His widow and a son survive. DEZSO D ANT.ALFFY Dezso D'Ahlalffy. 59. Hungarian- born composer, .'who. once was or- ganist for; the N. ,Y." Philharmonic Symphony orchestra, died April 29 al Dciiville; N. J. He became a ; pro- fessor of organ al the Landes-Musik- akademic in Budapest ,at 23, and later taught also at Die Royal Music Academy in that .city. He ,was as- sistant conductor, at (he Cologne Opera House before coming to the U. S. in 1921. . DVihlalfTy directed the orchestra for Max Rei.nhardt's "The Miracle" and other productions. He also was associated with several symphony orchestras in this country. He com- posed the score of "The Voice of Millions," an oratorio, broadcast in 1932 at^ the dedicatory services of Rockefeller Center. He 'became a staff composer and organist at the Radio City Music Hall until 1939. Many of his works, including tjie operetta legend. VOnteora's . Bridej" were given at the Hall. He authored music for file organ and violin, in- cluding "Hungarian Suite" for or- chestra, and a light opera, "Ein Fas- chingsabenteuer.'.' Survived by widow, a . daughter, two brothers and two sisters. ALBERT Al.tfONT - Albert Almont, 76, musician and musical instrument manufacturer, died in. N. Y., May 7. Born in San Francisco, he changed his surname to Almont from DuMont after en- tering vaudeville. He was the other half of the trumpet and trorriobne act of Almont. &' DuMonl for years, this act touring Europe: among-, other places. Almont originated and manufac- tured the Almont silver mouthpiece for the trumpet and trombone. He also was the originator, of the. seven- belt instrument. -He quit the sjagc about 15 years ago, but taught trom- bone and trumpet.' Survived by widow and" a sister. HERBERT FARJEON Herbert Farjeon. 58. playwright and" drama" critic, died in London, May 3 . He was the author of num- erous musicals and plays, taking over the management or the'Little theatre in that city in 1938'to pre- sent his own intimate revues. He was a grandson of Joseph' Jefferson. American actor. Farjeon, who had edited several editions of Shakes- peare, began his stage career in the son. Bergen and Passaic counties, died May 6 in Paterson, N. J. He had been active in the con- struction and operation of theatres in northern New Jersey for about 25 years. . Associated with . the-'Fabian circuit,, he was active iii -theatre business in Passaic- and Bergen coun- ties.' continuing in charge of ; the houses after acquired by Warners. . Dooley was on the executive staff, of Warners' Newark office most re- cently. . Survived by widow and a sou! JERRY MANDY Jerry Mandy, 52. stage and iscfecn;. comedian, died May 1 in Hollywood, following a heart attack. . We'll, known on the vaudeville stage be- fore moving 1 to Hollywood. Mandy played in many Hal Roach come- dies, and did character, roles on sev- eral major lots. During the last few years he mada tours overseas for the USO and ap- peared at West. Coast camps and hospitals with his trained dog. Pal. HUBERT BATH Hubert Bath,.62, composer, died in Middlesex, England April 24. Had written many songs as well as in- cidental music for plays and. films. Best known of the latter was th« Cornish Rhaphody. for "Love Story." Bath had done others for Gauniont- British, including background music for "A Place of One's Own" and "They Were Sisters." neither of which has been released. HENRY THOMPSON Henry ' Thompson. 56. operatic star and composer, died, in Chicago May 3. Thompson formerly sang w'ilh . Chicago Civic Opera and San Carlo Opera here: and. in England with Covent Garden and Carl Rosa, companies, last appearance here be- ing in "Pagliacci" at Eighth St. the- aire. Chicago. WALTER ANTHONY Waller Anthony. 73. -pioneer screen writer, died May .1 in Holly- wood after a'short illness. Former newspaperman, Anthony moved to Hpllywoood 25 years ago as 'a title .writer and .turned to 'scripting when films became vocal. Recently, he was associated with Jerry Fairbanks, indie producer. PERCY HUTCHISON . Percy Hutchison. 70."-actor.' died in London April IB of injuries sus- tained some months 'ago by enemy action,' He had playe'd many sl-jge (Continued on page 4,7)