Variety (May 1945)

52 LEGITIMATE W<Mln«K<1ay, May 16, ]91. r > Mamoulian Sees Past Years' Sock Dramas As Library for Musicals By ARTHUR BRONSON Success or "Carousel," Broadway's tie \ est hit.'disproves, once and for al! ihe widespread fallacy thai.-.von can't make a good musical out of a gund play, according to Rouben lit Europe after the war, says Mamoulian. .Mamoulian thinks these produc- : lions need a new name, "opera"' be- ing wrong, "musical comedy" too >iandai'di/.ed: and ■•musical play" Mimoulisin. who staged the hit. Any | not quite right. "Opera'' is foreign theme, lie says, whether high, coin- edi. drama or tragedy, is open to musical treatment. furthermore, he says, there is no "tampering" with a tried, ■successful . play, as many maintain,- if you re-■ place dialog or incident with good ; music or dance. Naturally, you have t.i cut oiit some dialog and book to; link* way for the music. But you ; luven*l tampered with the subject..' h< says: you've merely changed the medium of expression. ; He's staged several musicals made , out of straight plays, including.! "Pnrgy a,nd Bess" out of "Porgy.".: "Oklahoma!'' out of "Green Grow the Lilacs," - "Carousel'' out .of "Lilioui." and. "Sadie Thompson" out of "Rain." In. each he used* a form- ' uU of integrated song-daiice-and- , drjma. All these shows; Mamoulian : says, were experimental.' The oiie 1 that flopped; "Sadie Thompson,' - did : so because the integrated elements 1 weren't blended right. But . that ; doesn't hurt the principle that a ; good play can make a good musical. ; "Rain" still can make a good musi- cal. .says Mamoulian. | In doing all these shows, he says. > he was always conscious of the dan- j gei or a flop, because of ,the subject | matter. When "Oklahoma!" tried j out originally in New Haven under j the name of "Away We. Go." it was considered a flop, New Yorker* who . sa a it there calling it neither fish ; nor fowl. You. couldn't have a mur-i dei. or a sinister'villain, in musical ; oomedy. Ihey told him. But "Okla- ] li.inia!" showed that stark drama hact no bad cITect in musicals. Integration Necessary | Tncse integrated song-danee- drama musicals are the blueprints of the future, says Mamoulian. They're 1 not "high art," he says: they're strictly commercial. They're a new road in the theatre, as is shown al- ready by such ensuing productions as "Dark of the Moon" and "Bloomer Girl." In addition to being truly authentic musical theatre, these in- tegrated musicals are as essentially American, as the skyscraper. They're one of the best things to send back sounding anyway, as is "ballet" for the dances in these allows. "Ballet" .'is'.misleading. It's iuM dance, says. Mamoulian: and such dance will continue to be an integral part of these production.-, he thinks.: The dance is just breaking into drama, he says: it has a long interesting way to go yet. .' . In connection with "Carousel,'' Mamoulian pays..' high credit tp others involved in the, production. .They all recognize that the play's the thing, he says. Composer Rich- ard Rodgers. who .-also did the music for "Oklahoma!".-wrote h lovely song for that musical.- Bui Mamoulian pointed put thai the song didn't be- long, and .'Rodgers 'admitted it. and the .song c'anie out'. Oscai- Hammer- siein. says Mamoulian. is mbre than a lyric writer: he's a writer and poet. Quick, flexible and sensitive, he couldn't have done .-o fine a job otherwise, As to Agnes de Mille, who staged the dances; if. she didn't have a feeling-for drama w ithin the dance, all her dance interpolations would have hurl the story, rather than carry ; il along, as it does. 'TURTLE' NEARS MILLION FOR TWO COMPANIES "The Voice of the' Turtle." com- ■ plcliug ils second season al the Mo- rosco. N. Y.. is taking form as oiie ; of llie biggest money makers on rec- ; ord. Tolal profit; including the New, York and Chicago tSelvvyn) com- panies, is approaching the $1,000,001) mark. Net earnings of the Iwo out-', (lis of the three-person "comedy are . around $1-1.00(1 weekly, and profit j cheeks amounting: to $50,000 monthly j are going out regularly lo producer Alfred de Liagre. Jr.. and others in- , lere'stcd in the play, including Elliott- Nugent, co-starring-wiih Belty Field, j : End of I lie "Turtle" run is nol in | sight. It will lay off this summer, as'; it did last year, since the Morosco , has no cooling system. Then, loo.; the players want. a .'vacation.,show'! starting a third season ' hv late j August. It's possible that the picture , rights will bring as : much added J profit as the stage showings, film i coin to be spread over a period of ■ years up to 1951. Understood that \ the Morosco!s profll is around $5,000 i weekly. '-'"..'. j LEASES PA. STRAWHAT j Reading. Pa.. May 15. | Crelna theatre. Ml. •Gretna, sum-, incr colony -28 miles from here.will reopen next /.month after being closed three seasons because of Die' war. The Pennsylvania Chautauqua, owner of the properly, gave a lease to Chiirles F. Cogh'lan. producer, for a 10-week season-this year, with an option of renewal for 10 years. Inside Stuff-Legit Mike Todd, who planed to Europe last week on a War Dept. mission in relation lo soldier amusement, has copped plenty of publicity in the maga- zines lalely. A feature story in Collier's (May 12 issue) by John Chapman, drama critic of the N. Y. News, was headed "Platinum-Plated Pitchman" and decorated with color pictures, including one of the showman and' scenes from his "Up In Central'Park" iCenluryi. John K. Huteheus profiled him for the Sunday ti:t> Times mag, titled "The Mike Todd Legend Grows Apace." Chapman's story was brightened with gags. Writer identifying To'dd as "the most colorful producer since Florenz. Ziegfeld' and Morris Gest." also that-"he has the soul of a pitchman and the ambition of a. Napoleon." Damon Runyon is quoted saying thai Todd is one of the greatest natural gamblers alive, joe E, Lewis also tabbing the guy as one who-"definitely belongs on a runaway horse." Chapman also mentions the rivalry between Todd and Billy Rose, whose $24 champagne premiere of "Seven Lively Arts" (closed Saturday at the Ziegfeld > was lopped by Todd's lavish party at the Tavern on The Green the -night "Park' 1 opened. Revealed tliat Todd's right name is Abraham Gpldbogeii. he is 37, and was born in Min- neapolis, although it's understood his birthplace was a tank town nearby, population 400. Rivalry between Todd and Rose. started at New York World's Fair, where" the latter had the Aquacade and .the former "Gay ' New Orleans" and "Hot Mikado." Stilled that Todd's idea of his success in show business is: "I'm a lucky bum." ■ Hulchens' story has some of llie same . material as Chapman's, Times slory quotes the producer as saying he'd rather be lucky than smart, but "he is. of course, both." Telling of Todd's lake-a-chan'ce angUv there is mention of the time a year ot so ago when he told his general manager to get a safety deposit box so he would be able lo get cash anytime he wished. Actually the depository Was al the St. Moritz hotel, where hi* late aide, Joe Click. Lived. Todd I tuned over lo Click racetrack and gin- rummy winnings one Saturday night, amount being variously estimated and said to have exceeded $35,000. .Click died the next day and lhc : coin ■■• is still tied up. Plays Out of Town Hollvwood I'liiafore ■ .Baltimore, May 8. . M.is 1 Cm-dmi j in. it. hi i mi iisvurinllon with \l.■>••<■ i>) .,i i:.i-..,-m SulUnin'R '.-j-lii ifoiv." ^ K,m,u int.J Ij i i.',s . I'M-lsoil by i i*/ S l\:Mifniiui. Si..'.> A" j>-i• Moor6 • ii.i rt Wiiiiji im i ;;iMi.n ; ifi.i t.i Aminninry I >ii-kfi , (I.'iu it- Km-lt-i. i :tl|.* i.i . HllSAPll. Shi i Mm it h. Ic n>>" Hi cw n ; Si nK«?'l hy- K inriiiiMi. |H >t'iiit-i imii f.ui>^t * >c,i' \'\- Arnold .•inini Sniii^fi . >-i i ink;. .'«■ Mj»*lv,iiiri-: en-. xf*ini»l>* i in ii*-* 1 ** ii> 11 in in i;^ i "nil ill'; modern min^ hi K:tllu inill''.'* "iii M;ii\ IVt n|i«*n it\n liin'" ■ I -> t >..n;.- IMikI: )i.'ill>-l l**i»l'-1" j*. Kll It lltllM". K'thn. S. I. k .Mini;,.. > .A I.lit,.II PLAY PUBLISHERS . . . tl 'Am* ami ma»y oIHt JitlitguUhtd play SONG 0 / ' BERNADETTE TOMORROW THE WORLD lOST HCRIZON-HIGHLAND FUNG • EVE OF ST. MARK • >EST FOOT FORWARD • FEATHERS IN A GALE ■ MRS. MINIVER • GREAT BIG POORSTEP • KITTY FOYLE • HOUSE WITHOUT A KEY THf iMAMATK PUMISHM6 CO. Incorporotsd ' S» E.VAN BUREN ST,CHICAGO 5 l>TUHl COH* ■ o ml net or; i h*-re;rfter. f Tudor:' at' top. ... \ iiri.ir Moore .it. fii-Kf KuBloy :Cill» IL UU39Cl| ill in in (iaxton »...in«fy, Dickey .. . Shirl' y Uooth .... Iiiix- Hi-own .. m..i> M'itkea.. I'iiin.i (*or<tay t i- mei; Randall .Klin Mnyi'r ..||. n Dc Fuolo i; ii. Kk*:<nor Ifi u. r-!l;i Strain ' :«t:n-i .y. . Ki m*-m Taylor H:iJI-l I HI-, In.I.-.- . . . \ lohl I'JflSOIl ■Snm-i.": s.iM> itillniic*. Klm^nf* (Teoruc, .1:1 |l>' ILilCttn. LlK'i llil]:>l>. ,lr.>. iihilie I*ani' ii»*i I. M-* m^'tri M'*K«*nii: . i'. mini'" . Monl- t"iif o. .ii*j('niif N 'i ii., .\» S(.t*-ll. Mary W 'lii.iiu.-H' I ii t '..n.fL- ;.. h'.i it-id t'olo, ,l;i'i-f, l^)lliii> : C|i:nle> I'iiIIi-. ll-.u;tnl HolT- iii in. I |.i I'll- Krri|. .I;.in'..» .\Im-. .liillll JlOlh- I.;nii Hni;iil. I in ii«-(M : Klen n'i:' Ki. <i:il|l in".. . M.i rhqi-;i I |.->i i ,\ 1111' N-i\ ):iimI. .I.tl<ii I: iv.in.<. Sltiiil^'i >i .I:-.-!, puj.'-i;.' Mlk- i'<ii'.'..i:iii t^ilpli r j .i><;k.«i i ;i \i . . lir.-k l.iv^-Kir ' Kiftiilii HI..- >. . \ l . ( |iih-.l.l., I U.ps..r,y j H.tt> Ki-'kfll j IIf in*'. MU* i:|.H'i:i MlMI.lt 1 Mini K-i^rh-i ;\N il I ,■ 11 I - • Mis- \'>'Kft> O.tiM im:i ii : ,«'"f'i»ri.'« U: ks.. ,1.1-. ■•. \\> l::)iie Con- \ n |jini-i AKtycr. --. ru.Mi.y I'liei- sii{ mi O'Biieii, ANGELS I'Iik iMrkrrA of BrOailM'H.v xlmn>. Nmhi^«. Hdilr^MWH. amounln Hiey tn- m.lfil iii prcvloaa pluja. Tli« Hr»i <<>imi>IcI<> rmrurch In this fl«lil. In- tll^iifiinwUIr lo producer*. H.wirrf Ciillmin nyi: "I «n hop«lul this iMOk .III Mlr«-t iddltlMtl tapltil la I lufltimtu . Induitry that ■Hoiild Itavi ■ •r^ti Indiiinci «b our dtnoentlc wiy *t II... • ■ ." Sf.'.'S Per Volom* 1>T(> SUTJIX, Editor MVki 4Hlh Street, New York It fleorjje S. Kaulnum ha.-'undertaken a reu i ile of the W: .S. .Gilbert book and lyrics of "Pinalui-e" and left the original Sir Arthur Sullivan score | intact. The book is a smart job i wrapped. around the Hollywood pic- ture-makins! Tunarouiui. The lyrics, too. have their moments in spite of some forced ihymiiij; hVre and there, but then Mr. K. was up against one of the best in thi.- particular depart- ment. He does be's'i of all with the slaving stint, and upon his further | activity in this departmenl will de- | pend the Broadway-run of this lav- l ish efTort under the combined aegis !of Max Gordon and Meyer Davis. I There's about a halt hour >o be ruth- llessly 'trimmed ant: considerable ^speeding and brightening up. partic- ' ularly in : the second set. when the -novelty of the whole, business begins lo wear a bit thin. It all Shows coiW sidcrable promise nevertheless. Story line deals with the making of Kipling's "If" by Pinafore Produc- tions headed by Joseph W. Porter (Victor Moore I. He's a slow-witted tllm mogul. Upon this characterisa- tion is tacked the rest of the familiar story, with William Gaxton as Dick Live-Eye. a conniving axenl: Ralph Backslraw. a lowly writer instead of a tar. and the heroine, a movie, star. Brcncla Blossom, Little Buttercup has become a'.columnist. Louhedda Hopsons. referred ti) as Little Miss Builcr-up and played to the hill by Shirley Booth. It pokes some comic- jibes at the business of picture mak- ing and lands a telling spot of sharp satire here and there, but there's nothing really vicious and should give no cause for anxiety on Ihe part of the industry. Dialog follows the old-fashioned style of the original, asides and all. This helps in pointing the intended kiddiiig. bul there is a lendencv toward verbosity. ' Business of dress- ing the writer and the rest of the scribbling cohorts in convict stripes: lo be led in and out of their.barred work-shop, is a funny spot, and the studio conference wrapped around the projected production of a. "pres- tige" picture is good for an extended howl. Acting and. singing are tops. Legit vocalizing of Sullivan's tunes, par- ticularly by the romantic leads of Annamary Dickey and Gilbert Rus- sell, proves a standout, and sharp diction of all ensemble singing is an- other credit. Moore and G^xtoh do a number lifted Irom "Pirates of Penz- ance." and a potpourric of other G & S tunes is also used for a." inter- polated ballet by Viola Essen and a group of dancers sla«»d by Anthony Tudor and which hung up a legiti- mate showstoppcr in its preem here. Gaxton and Moore have become an established clicko coin bo on Broad- way and in this one they have ample opportunity lo continue their suc- cess. There are considerable makings here, and in the lianas of the show- wise people .involved here, il should all turn otil well by the time il un- wraps ilself on Broadway: General scenic investiture and costuming are of the best and the- supporting cast of players is completely big time. . Burnt. There has been.a rash of profiles on Broadway "characters" lately, not the least being a dissertation about press agent Dick Maney in the current issue of "Life tMay 14) by Russel I Buck ) Grouse, one of the many legit producers who employs him around the edges. Crouse was once a press agent himself for the Theatre Guild, etc. He also mentions being teamed with Howard Lindsay as co-author of "Life Wilh Father" (Empire), pro- ducer of "Arsenic and Old Lace" and the current "The Hasty. Heart" • Hudson*, but "slanders' 1 Lindsay by claiming to be the "prettier" mem- ber of the duo. It's conceded that his schnoz/.le rivals Duranle's. Says Crouse about Maney: ■•■'■_ , } "He. has corrected Gilbert Miller's English, questioned Orson Welles' \ veracity, blithely deflated Jed Harris and. publicly derided Billy Rose— ' all while being paid by them . .'. he is the most successful, highest paid ■ and .the most sought-after theatrical press agent in America" . . . despite : "Maney's vicious, vituperative, almost sadistic honesty . . . from lime to time he acquires a hangover which is a masterpiece . . . he's 52. borii in Chinook, Montana, described by the guy as a nesl ot mangy Cree.s' . . . Jack BleeckVArtists and Writers club ia ban is his second office ... | Maney has worked for lop producers and has treated them with equal dis- dain and temper ... . he has often spoken harshly to Mr, Lindsay and rue, but:we found a simple way lo curb his barbs . . . before he has a chance to open his mouth we Say: "Maney. you're llred' .. . . he probably makes a i tidy. ?30,000 a year and for him anything tidy is a novelty . . . physically j he resembles a boiled leprechaun . . .in his country home a I Weslport, ■ Conn., he does all of his country reading.and drinking in his pajamas, ; rarely ventures into Ihe strangeness of fresh air," exccpl when trying to '•be.a politician. ' | Theatre Guild hosted a big party in ils mansion offices on 53rd. sheet .near Fifth avenue Sunday tl.li. The event was supposed lo be in cele- bration of "Oklahoma!'' having passed the two-year' mark, which it did . some weeks ago al the St. James. N. V., but also to toast the success of the Guild's newest musical click, "Carousel." parked across the street from "Oklahoma! ", at the Majestic, and to honor Richard-.Rodger* and Qscar Hammerslcin. 2d. the composer-writers of both hits. Guild produced.both hits. . Lawrence Langner and Theresa Helbnrn hosted for . the Guild. On Monday at noon a condensed version of "Oklahoma!" was given in coslume • in front of City Hall in aid of the start of the 7th War Loan. Rodgers and Hammerslein are profiled in current Collier's under title "Words and Music" as the duo who 'triumphantly survived the ordeal ot competing with their own outrageously successful 'Oklahoma!' . They, didn't fall flat on their faces, the way a lot of envious people half hoped they would." Article, which stales they're "even able to commit ail and ' get away with il," also calls this team "a marriage made In heaven. Tivu '■ more unlemperamenlal artists never graced a theatre." Article discusses - hard, work thai goes with their talent, the amount of research put in for "Carousel." and ends by recalling Hamnierslcin's now famous "humble".ad in""Variety," recalling his flops. | "The Two Mrs. Carrol Is." which scored a great run on Broadway re- ! cently. was originally done in London in 1935 and was presented out of • town over here two years later by the late Leonard Bergman and F.ddie '. Plohn but because it got only $1,800 during a New-Year's week Iryout. llie ; drama was scratched. One of Ihe dales played in the tryout was Washing- ton, with Elena Miramova, Frances Starr and Earle Larrimore heading • the cast. ! Recently the drama with Elisabeth Bergner starred visited the capital at the National which Plohn manages and grossed $22,000 plus $7,000. re- i funded for two cancelled Saturday performances on the day of President ! Roosevelt's funeral services (April 14). Pittsburgh is another stand where • the original trybut was shown but since the present company was an- nounced, the Nixon boxoffice has been averaging 200 mail orders daily. "Carrolls" was presented iii Scarsdale. N. Y.. in August, 1942, by The Olneys, wilh an entirely different cast, however. M«*r«*IV' 'I.#.<il>^ K.'M'.'.n |ii.iiIiii-i i.ni III Mil'*- ui-im h> l.'l|.nl^.^ rolnH<l4»ntfal Boston. May 11. I>y Linn Aii|fM: .^I'lilns, \r.iiM top; Oi»i»iJ»il nf I'niiifrti-ilriiiKu Hu<lflili'k. Slued IVny U Hlkln-. . ill. Hhmioji. M;i> Jl./ft; Ten y fiitil>tni>t', . . ; .VelHiin I'.-iniii^iuii. At.... Oynis Wfif'lm-k Bill H;Mili... . ■. ... ('6zy M(ili>. "i'hi l)r. Ho wU lux HtlffUi" iN'iijn'p. ... . ^11 III l,ftVr>rlfll£r>. MudeiiioiHf tu c-nci ,. Jlni llHufMi- -.. -: C:i i eii ii** Hni'xtiiiii ...■....'.. Mi?. g iljillmjIiT.. ...: .Sulvir r'jhl W'-Hx Itii-liMi-riMni . . ,.l;nii"ji ,\lyt t 'nil !l'iivi<l S .lord;*ti imi ('lino" .lnhiiH(>ii n(. ("Mir 8hi 0*lrt . . . Hoi hi** ('oupi-r . Will I .ill VmI.miIv . WllliHiii HpM.aT .-."Uiai-** . Hrtylr M»l* tlfsury 1 Grievously handicapped by a slory that fljes apart in all directions, a cast including some competent, actors fails to make the. grade- in • ''Merely Coincidental.'- The piece seems be- yond repair'. Author attempted a satire of the publishing business 'which actually fell somewhat short of burlesque. (Continued on page 64) Edna Skinner, one of the principals in "Oklahoma!". Si. James. N. Y.. was evidently.'intent On suicide last Thursday 13) evening when, just before curtain time, she was found hanging in her dressing room. She had attached a scarf around her throat lo a steam pipe, but was cut down by Ted Hammerslein. show's:stage manager. Reported that she was moody after a.terminated romance.wilh a Naval officer, and she also was worried about the possibility she was being let out by the show. Vivien Allen, also of the cast, replaced on Ihe night' of the "accident. - ' Miss Skinner appeared lo have snapped out of it the following night, was back In the show, and she attended a party given by the Theatre Guild Sunday (13) in celebration of "Oklahoma!" having passed the two- year run mark. Uniled Booking Office reports that the Nixon. Pittsburgh, had the biggest season in the history of the theatre. II had three weeks during which the gross topped $40,000, the attraction* being "Oklahoma!",. "One Touch of" Venus" and "Winged Victory," first named playing three weeks. House also had two other attractions which drew $30,000 or better, shows being "Harriet" (Helen Hayes> and "Othello" (Paul Robeson). During the season just ending the Nixon had but one red week/attrac- tion being "The Searching Wind," highly regarded during Its Ions run on Broadway at the Fultou.