Variety (Jul 1945)

imnrniAn l^dneHdayf InW 25, 1945 V memoir • Si pix. — ABEL GREEN, Variety Anydrte even rcniotely connected Vitti show JjiaL:: will love Gert's book. From tiie time when a jpenhy fortune told her "A staf^^^^d^ bornV to her "stbrmiiig^^ i^e ISformandy beadihead,: Gert has led the charmed life; th^t only a great actress could experience. Vou will see her as a tiny princess opposite Erie "BTore's^ any |Kidtling"yj... as a harmaid ^. jj^s«n istudy to Bea LiHie-^iindihg in^^t^^ front; row when Bea landed in Rotten Row ( right off her hofte)... as the playmate of royalty and the stars of two cbntinents. Here is the off-stage story pf that on- stage "tipsy" scene with Leslie Howard, which had all the innocent cfilks, paving pvft its authenticity ... all the good<theati;« Revelations of an actress who would rather be a leading lady thah a n^aiiiej lady^^if she had to choose. jFiiled with the iiQStsIgia of thfe past and the ex- citement of the pfes^nt, the curtain gjoes u[>—On the private life of a glam- At yom bookseller'i • $2.50 Play on l)m.rii.H,ioii i!( ii|i'-i'(>([!( 111Mivo ui'ls ■ (olfilit Mr'i^iU's*). Kt-allili's ,l.oan ItiifHM'ls. "i*Tty Sliicl.WfU, Unin.i \ iiiivlit.v, ,AliillMiV>.. AliiMlr lOi (jt'ifli ■ Kylu.tiMVi ■lnici,l( .Vy (lfi))gt» ftlitriun, \.li'.>.' iiiXl - Kiiit- .(''n ■IvrMK : li.v, Miti'iiHi; , Stiiitw) ■by-J.hi'iKtml-. .Hlidi'i■; .-(iiiui'i'!!"' liViil. Jiallw ■ lv>- ' Allii-i'itii;! it»Mi-l>: KcH iii'. If. li.v- .lh'n'Hri1'B.iiK;. i,;i(si.niiii'.' livMiirV i;i;iivi. (lii.-iit'ir Mi. JVinU'F' IJjvilt'if, Niimiii-,^ :;, . wvlvr; , . .V... .:;sV«'nHi I'liiiiiless Xm Oij-i'iMiiUii i'i'i';,iiH)iim Vitlilicv, Itraiil.'irh;-'., : . ; .'. ■ ■ ■. .'ISiihiiv ,.Vni''''iH; I'lai'h ii I'rlHi'i". TiiEilulnliv, . ■, H,:ii:i y Suii-Kxi 'lt Cumn IVrililww itz.-...■i v./fti} ioi' jikIiuvk Kiiv-iil .I.iti>.iii''iiitiil',-i....,...Noi'.l tjiii'iloii: l:*nMlil ■ ■'HfVv O.S, I: ."i v... ;. . I'lUll. ( l"i';viii'iM;... .■,,....:..,..! .I'Mnn rtl• hJIImli, 'J!iHy'.. ;i (tdivniy li'u-m'iiiiKlUoiv M!l.vttl)*l<^'. .i.J .■.•Iiinii ■.i!\iheiM,a AliMlililo .Siii'llH.r; V.i ^ fcllipl; l.ijvvy WiiiiViv.. i... ....-.I.-,..'.. . Jili'k 'l.cxiw l.lflU, Bull!ir/.,v, ....,,; . . : . .i.,Buli: l:)^^tl^ltl^' l':iiU>P-rur , Kr:Hi«:..io!''(''l'.f. vVliuinhojd >!(ilmn,v."I Coinut'HH liiK^kiiiM'.., .■,.. ,;;-AOrit»iui> tli'UiV. Sjsl, .iXt'ijiiiomii,, .-^Wi-liuCI. ■.OiiWi^il- .l-h'ijt,'; C^liO'}-.::,,.,.>...,, .■..liick vliinwrt All opwgtla I'astiiDned ■ &10n^ fa- niiliar lines, : "MaVinUa" is Brightly: prodiieed by .Tiile.; J. Levehtlial ana Harry Hpu-i.i,l:d,: thiHiglv show has gone into, the rerl so niLich jtliiit ifs ^doubtful, pr "i:ecaptui:ihg,'.the tnvesl- ■ment^; ■ •' • ■ ■ :'■■' " its 'scfee^ pbssfesse^, several indieat«cl; hitji^: There Ji^e- enSemlJle dances tluit elifi?,'. »^llife..• the cbstunieS: and tini;s :are- attract i ntt);tif: .^V^feth&t' tlie sivei'age play^ gbei; yyW'gio-lor (he Miay^rlinip; stoi-y again. is,'sQivie\«1iat ijuekliori "for. the l0ve:\affairs 61' Iliidblphy Aus- [ tro-H.uirSai'ian' crown- prince, at his' j. hunting lodge have been used Ijefore | musically an.ci in at .least one'straight .play .(■•'The-Masque of Kings"), .PreS-: enl authors, however, -hyve given it. different treatment, confining Rudy to one sweetheart and, instead of tragedy, tlie tfnale' is liiat of fullill- ment,'. .jpan.Bobeirts and Harry s'oclay^ll. boiii t'ormei'ly in "Oldaholna,"'.. Ss ; Marirtka and Rudolph are tire lovers. They'reiin time, yioiugh wjtli havdlj^ the tii'e of the ;t)0,y.-meets.-girl 'tempo. They botli can. sing and 'duet prettily.'- Ronio Vincent js the life Qf .the. party a.s the.favorite-.cabliy, plus Ijeing but-: ler at: the lodge. He- gets the. score well started. vvith. "The Cab .Song:" It is Luba .:IWal}na -\Vho's the'1iit. o{ "iVIai-Hilta," - Class warbjer rleaiiy stopped the show itt' the premiere with "'Shah," lyric telling .Irow she auditioned for an Eg,yptian po-^- Ifentate* ;Miss Malina plays ttiei-part of a fbrmer Hame of RLidy'.'?; She also scores with "Czardfts," dolled up in one of ,several eye-arresting co.«- -tunies Mai'y Grant designed lor her, Miss Roberts and Stockwell's -Standout numbers' ;are.. "If .!■ .liever Walfz Again," "Oi(e .liast LOv'e Song," •-Si.gh by.Night" a,nd/'Turn Ohythe Charm." latter niimber being first handled by the rol,y-pol.y VihCent, Leonard Elliott was handicapped by laryngitis, on .hi.s vocal assigri-inents. but was plcay Ijr the hoofing deparlf ment al the bow-in, Ronnie; Cunningham Is the show's dancing standout, displaying u(ii,isu3l- ver.satiTity, She dorninate.^ the open- ing toe ballet and then lead.s a Hun- garian ensemljle dance. Gypsy Step- ping features that routine also at the opening of the second act after the melody, "Tieat a Woman Like a Drum,'^ Miss CunnihghaiT) being aided by Jack Gansert and Ellliott. -Taylor Holmes is among the name.s present, doing very . well as a court retainer witli the title of count. He appears in some fancy gold-braid military trappings. Then there is Ethel Levey, owner of Madame Sachel-'s exclusive cafe. ■ She .makes only a brief appearance. BeihHotd Schunzel is polished, as -Emperor Franz Josef, this being' bis first Broad way, appearance after directing in Hollywood. .Hassard Short iSti: the dil-ectiorial end accounts for .some of the .shows attractiveness. Howard, Bay de- signed the Settings,-which are well lightied. Albertina Rasch fashlbned the eflective ensemliles. With Ray ;Kavanaugh' wa\Hhg .an' illuminated baton, ''Marinka" has:the. riiaking.< but:it's questionable .wheth- er audiences will go for operetta with Contihental background: Still, there's the seasonal revival of "Tiie Student prince," wbich'^ does alright —in fltb sticks. . , J bee.. ■ London, July 19. Tl«in\«-, Slii>vi»U.:lVj.'iidjiolli(iv ut 'H\«m« Mif iiin'«..-;u-;u It.v. NSjfuifni nrnHtnir.\; : fMH'Mfd :ii ,\!-\v UiiMiri-. -,nil.»' I.S, -. r'riiij'i..jfi I'll iilolii-.'. (>i"hii'«..-s!<, ,lon/.AIiflli,,., (•rin'i-iV-M Mivry .:..:;. . .: 'I'rh.n ■•.-JM -.MJAli.Mu-.:.,-.'- t'l'Ilir^' I,t-01H'IT1,,... .'., nh<hni> ■'of S'-iitaii'iiri ., WmxAy ,. t 'hrisll nt' ■ i .iliVlssi.V: (")u-i»t-hi:i .Hoi-riihijtn t-'.;..n.i :(-;u,v if f'ViU' rumlliif:- rilnW*»' 111' ■ Wiil.i"!4.., A.nf,v H'.ri>i.ils, I'.11 ni>iiii: K 11)1*1.11.-.:.',,.,:., -;. ,.,l'ji.;r V''"iili)x: svilHiim,' f'l'iiii'ii- (if .lii'a.iis'fjHiil.ir. He»iMi>im> Uiiiiy ■.Ciiiiyl)isi.(a'nii'...t:,. ..^f*^^^ The sheer ph,vsiGal; ciH'fiiileilce of Robert .Morlcy makes it inevitable that tlie late-n play::aboi.it t-lie-Priiice. RegeiVt be placed towards the end of the Regency. There i.s- nothing of tlie. rovtil,yoiiug lovei- and his association' \viih Mrs. Fil:'.-IIerbc.-i. Instead, w.e see a grb.ss,: gfiuly, egotisticali -unpop- ular.:, biit very quick-wilted old/de-' bauclve -kidding hirnself tliat he/ is: the people's idol, and risking near-: rcN'olution becaiise of: his sordid;, re- laUons' wftb^iadies of:;liye.-«Bd;.v,His' .liarifh; trealnxeht of his bbly datlgb- l:tn-. Prifices.^-'Charlotte. :'. -. ' ■ ' Birsl two acls-nf the play center- round tlie, frustrated loye-match; be- tween Prince'ss Clxarlotie and prince ' tjebpold (it ■Saxe-Cobln-g. the-Prilice 'Rcgeiit trying, to force-an ill-favored', Dutch prin(;'e onto his dauglitcr. 'The girl wins: her: way. marries Prince Le-Opolcf! dies in ehildbirth al the, end of 'the second st-ene in ;Act ill. The most vbteVaii ftrst-iiighter fouivd ::it diil'icult' to conceive what author .Norman .Ginsbury ,;Wbiild:;db to carry his storv to a liapp.y arid draTOatic^ coneliisiion.- By. a ,:c1ever:' twist^ he succeeds with the stop-press ne\ys iri: liie.' final , .scene that, the ..infant, later Co become Queen Victoria, has tlist been boi n and will therefbre be the matriarch of the present British: dynasty, This avoicls any possible stricttire. bri the bad taste; of the play in pre.^enling: such a: debauched monarch, who uitimalely . became king at the death of - his lunatic: father, in whose reign the-Anferican colonies becaiTie the .United'States. .Robert.: Mortey give.s a faultless performance, ..but: the best actiivg is provided by-an unknown Austrian retiigee. Atiiy : Frank, as the dowh- Irodden Prinoess of Wales, the Reg- ent'.s linfoitunale' w'ife- . Hollywood- mu.'-t, .surely secure her... 'Wendy Hil- l.er- ' lends color :as the: higb-spirited.- determiried orincc,ss., . ■: - . ■ '.: Henry Sherek lias only a twO-^ month :tenancy. of the:.t>Iew: theatre, an awkward situatioii, as every suit- able tlieatre in London is crovyded, He :eduld scarcely tiansplant the whole show to Ne'vv York-^or could he? : . Tire' enthusia.stic first-nighters in- .cludedia-strong-.motiouc-pictiLve con- tingent—Gabriel JPaseal. Michael Powell, Sob Harle.y, Max Milder, Michael Balcon, Alfred. HilcHcpA and Richard Greene, Gi'flu, billeted on his mother, brilliantly played b,y Mar,TO(-ie< Rhodes. Prob- lem now :)s how :to get bff. with the old love' and bh w'Ilh the i)e\v. And despite' the homely humor, tliree acts is too long for the. tcllin,i<. If beijiiij . to Set rjierilously. thin towards tht' end of Act Il aiid then begins to vaiilsli fls a play, .,:.■:■;.:' -:,',:.'■", If the story had been as gbod as the atmosphere and ; the ^ctiiig, if ; WOiild have been :a Br.st-rafe play but the, success it :w:il) have, will lie d-ue to.poh'at,. wh.b.'is: very :go()d. and the excellent coihpany he has with him, ■■;■. ..';:■ '; Ronee AslK'r,son p'llts. up her l,>est peiToi-roaitCe: tb date as the Cockney -liiiihitions: girl.. -and Cliarles, ■ Victor, as owii.er of-, a . piib.-'gi\:es 'turlher proof tliat as a chai/actei- actor—on screen or stage—Ije is in a ,clas,s: oi hlS; .o\vn,; . J'iln\: possibilities si-e»slight;; .ai-\ though ;it>lisht bef -9:;nat:uratlifor:Si:: Lancashire cbhiic like Geo. ;t''ormt>};j .::- 3Io<IiiIm (In Spanish) :': ; Buenos .Mres, July I, . TaiiK Milli;i.ii;iv ,iM't>(.iui'-i;ioM iif.iSii- .tiu'tiKM- iyi:- - Hiiri'iivI) -. iilii!.:. - tru,M«la(»il: li.y; . -I,!!-/..:; :l!itR'4».::*.i!4(>JeiS.<i'4t)<'Hlrp.,-*jn;»,:| ;;;i.X' , ,- lil».V, Wt.Ill'HRHi v; ,■,'„./:: , ; ,;::, :. ,Pi'lH'il <'Mililliv:! ,^1111.. I>i.\\p.\ .* . .■..;■,,:.:. ,,,. .\l.i*Vtia;Ot:i.i*/' l,;.-U i;i(-iii 'ruritnU'.vI icltlii:* l'.'Mt'.til:'!i -, :|->»-mI Mii'klfti:lii , : ... 11-1- Pii..iv:ni>-v--. :tt-.i I biii-)i Tlaftfi<»i:|.\ .-Mm iii I'.ui.SM. I'Vi iiniiiVf.^fl l'li:irlt>..i Ilou i':\ :.: vl'inji .t <..iu:ii'(it.-(;I There haii always beieh a stwbborii , reluctance by even the most gra;iid-,; motherly of Argentina's veterahvaci fi esses to admit the: verdict of Father . Time and play even middle-a,ged parts. This makes Meclia Ortiz's originalit.v -ancl- courage, in ; ,trans- ' forming her ' by: rid wieahs tniddle- a.ged self into J, M. Barrie'ii old lady,;; all the more to be adnvired. ■ It ■ has irideed g;iivani,?>d ■ • critics.; into .a'; fresh' recoghitibn of her quality as an: actress (somewhat dimmed by a: succesiiion of film flops). Apart.from: proving herself a: .good IrOuper, she gives a quite notable pertorniance and the enlii'e ca,st plays most- con*- vincingly. The sel^b.y Rodolfo Franco alone is also ver.y'creditable.; . Pedro Quartucci,; Of - ieViie.. aiid radid work, makes- his bow as ii legit aclor and proves another surprise in this .tear-jerl*er,: .His/flrst transitiori. to a heavy role.show's him to. be an;,, iiltelligent: fierfbrhier: who' handles^ his part skilful],y and with imusual restraint for the local board.s. Al-i • though the pre.^s iiv general--ac-.:. claimed this .show ,and all its e.xceg.-.. tional features, particiilarly the Ortiz performance. - attendance has beenV weak, although a good run was ex-.: pected on account of pro-Alliednyrb.;.' pathy and the play's connection with World'War X T^::; '--^:. -, '-^Wid. ■ ' ; Tl'^V C"»^<* for Xoy*' London. July 1.1. Ttolii^ct -Doli;t( jtnifliM-t ion of (-oitiftii.v it' 111)*'*. .»i-lij b,v- Waltf I-' Ui-e'^iuvoojl. r>ii'*»i-ti'-i h.v If. K. ,\.vllff nl Wccliiilii.ili'r Ilirtili-.-, l.oliflnll. :.l!tl.\- T2, --15, ;, - ,»., ., . : .;„,., .Rpiipe .^!*h(*rHoii , fl(>bM-| ;i)iiiiiii ,::Mm'.1ovj« ttlipdcv , I>6t-0(hy DevvUlifst ,...;.... ..loan Wliilf ; lat'li RrtdnR.v .. . Wlllhiiu HSUbl-olm ....... .(.'(liii'leR Yii'tor Ft!vei-.«hiun . MiUlp Southei-ti... . :i;u-(i IlHi-flar-re .. . .S:ii-nli l-iiirdjKM-e. . Mi-,v, .Ifiikiiip.,.. , ;.r;inli» ,lp.nlcitis'.,,. (.'liH.vlie ■ P'ox,:,,..., 'IVtl '.iVI'initi*!:. ., . ,, yill-l'.v-: l-HllcaHtel-. ,IOP 'ri'iiemiin,,:.. , Produced brigiiiall.if at the begin- ning of the yeai- the OJdliam Rep- ertory company, this north-cbuntry 00med.v has undeil'g'one important alferationii on its way to Londoii, For this : aiithov Walter Greenwood aBltnbwledged. his liidebtedhess 'to actbi'-manacer Bbbert Donat and diVecior H. K, Ayllffv Its chances are strictly : depeildeiit on Robert Donat's draw. Scene is set in Salford fadioining Manchester'*, arid tJonat portrays a goofy "desert .fat'', sergeant who is home on 14 days' leave. In the days of peace, being handy with his Hst.s. he won a .$20"boxing competition and handed the money over to Jariie,:a: fliishy girl, on whom he -(X'as sweet, .She promptly bought a, ring and de- clared she was engaged to him. The moment the sarge lands home he; fails head-over-heels for Millie, a ihunitibris worker from London. PLAY PUBilSHERS ■ 1-., ...'. ;.«iF ■and' Mioiiji' ' . oiUmt 4ittJi>t>iitli»J playt - SONG O'r •ERNADEtTl TOMORROW THE WORID :tOST HCRIZON • NIGHUl>jb fijNisvEveor St. (*A»K - best FOOT F OR WARO. FEATHERS IN AGAIE -MRS. MINIVER • GREAT A «IG DOORSTEF • KITTY ••X FOYlE-HOUSE WITHOUT A KEr THE DRAMATIC PUUUHIN6 Ca . Inc^poi-atad. 1887 ■ - S> feyAN iURBN ST,CHICAGO S i A;i<^i^ A . A: ' A' .iA A'l A ; An < PLAYEB^d LEE Scripts • Music « Lyrics : »M-e. ilth '^ ; Nf K-.- .Yttrlf N. V. PRODUCERS 4TTENT>PN! - llorti(«: >ii(>liijr lu vrry:-|>uiiMlar mnti -.tonm of .I Ik! i'litii:u«rl**rn i;wnn«t<*t«i|-with 11 .'vVCM'v: fi'iiiiiy. , .1 'jliiiv« a' pl«.»': fi<>rl|i| tlitii ; lii^.i ltor.4i4 r»«.|iijt: aM a linrkKroiiiMl. ,a#ii| . i Itellevi* Jt Imin all: tTi0 (>|t*nifiitjf of a irdoil 4.'oiii(>4l.v, IT li>li-r<i.ulvil wrllr 1)1—:l(iix lit, VHii<-I.Vv: ISI IVrHt :|«lli !S(, >■<■«• York 1», N. I'; BfRLESQlK (Bi'iKhton, Brishton :Beach, Ji, If.) : Bei't tahr's guest shot;with Ametir can Gloiip Theatre; as Skid -in fe- ^tyal of George"-Mankei^ Waiters' success,' "Burlesque," is pr'e,sj:imably a warmup prelim..'to :his., fac-kiing straight comedy a.s star of: Mike Todd's streamlined version of "Rip van Winkle,"' : ;: : Lahr can stand upon his; Own in serici-eomic delineation sans musi- comedy trappings. As the star cofnic: ol tankrtown burlesqu'e who gets his chanee at Broadway, only to fluff it Via the booze route; Lahr is solid. As the red-nosed, baggy-pants clown, (Continued on .page 53) , SEE^ THIS WEEK OMLrf KAY BUCKLEY The Comedy Drqmri Hit ■;:; 'Mf^':^H0^'t^a^ KAUFMAN :,-...-/':.■ -.-::'■;-.■ v'T- '..-v-vi'-ipith;; ': .,-: ''■ ' :• .':-;■';■■ ..'' Philip HUSTON. Joye* MATHEWS. Daan NOHTON and a Ui'q Broadway Casf Xfwl.i- t'ouVil .STK;».VI» THKATRK, St«iiit<w<t roji,*. •: . :RII«i)iftint It.WM (STMIFOItO ASSOCtATKS CO., GVS SCHIftMBR. Jr.\ Mod. thru Sat. Cvka., t:40-~9a« :W$L40. Wa<. 4 TliMr. Matt., 2:4l>-^De ti $1,211 (lix IncM SMti at Bm OHIO ft MMkiy i, 234 W«t 44th St. .'tal;-CH.,4>a[ajlt;.::-l|lA^i.;0llqE)«S'F>^^