Variety (Dec 1945)

54 LEGITIMATE Wednesday, December 12, 1945 Plays Out of Town At ills ;< top. St. Lnzarc's lUiarmaey Montreal, Dec. 6. ' Eudlc Dowling and l.ouls J. Sinner pro- do, linn of dramu I" tliree acts by Miklos Lnsilo; adapted hy Howling, Stars Milium Hopkins and llratien Celliuis; features llcrkri Bern twit. Staged by Dowltog: set ting and lighting. J" Miettlner Majeiity's, Mori I rcul. Dec, 6. 'V An Old Woman I . ' , Theme I M-lriam Hopkins Albeit 1 » Crfttlen Gellnaa .Herbert iterghot ... Lueienne Letomlal Huguetic OlUuy Somer AlbetB (ieorges Alexandre. .Henri Letondal Otiv MaufloUe. "... Harry Davis '.' Jean Ijijeunesse .Jean Pierre Musson Tttdii'.i Mima Jean Sr. * Marie Hose Louise Popln.it I Crave Digger i . Police Captain.. Editor Engineer I Waller I .... Napoleon,...... Bus Boj Organist Choir Soloist. .. The new Eddie Dowling opus, a play with a Quebec setting, proves to be disappointing. There were so many laughs opening night, many ot them quite unintended by the au- thor, that at final curtain it was hard to say whether one had just wit- nessed a straight drama (as intended by Laszlo) or a comedy. Matter of fact, one critic here quite innocently captioned his review, "St. Lazares a Diverting Comedy." In its present state this play has no chance for either Broadway or films. Fault lies chiefly in the writing. Hungarian-born Miklos Laszlo has set out to portray life in the Frefich- Canadian town of St. Lazare, but somehow his efforts add up to stilted lines and awkward cliches. Its a play that falls completely flat in the final scene. . Play opens with the interior of a pharmacy (a sock setting by Jo Miel- ziner) at about the turn of the cen- tury. The son. who has inherited the" pharmacy from his father (this has been going on for generations), is tired of the restricted, small-town life in the drugstore and yearns for the big city. Besides which he's been playing around with some chorus girls from Montreal. He quarrels with his faithful clerk (who also in- herited the clerkship from his father), and just as the family is about to be Broken up. a little old lady comes on the scene. Second act is flashback to 30 years before, also in the pharmacy, where the little old lady is a young wife, and pretty, too. She! is the one tired of the small town, splits with her husband^ and goes to the big city. Back to the third and final act. the little old lady is seen again talking to the er- rant one,'but he doesn't know she's his mother. A'ter a few good bits of dramatic dialog, the guy returns to the fold, his wife beats up the chorus girl who tried to steal him, the baby stops crying, and everything ends happily, with the little old lady re- suming; her travels after saving everybody from a tight spot. That is, she saves everybody except the play. Miriam Hopkins, as the old woman and the errant wife, over-acts fla- grantly at times. Her opening lines are done with fine restraint, but she soon flounders to a weak begoff. Sur- prise of the show is Graien Gelinas, Quebec's own fave, as the clerk. He steals 9cenes repeatedly. Gelinas, better known as Fridolin, gets laughs aplenty, but his dialog allows him nothing better than to act as comedy relief. It's his first English-speaking part. Herbert Berghof's delivery is jumpy and gestures exaggerated. The bit parts are neat thumbnail sketches, Somer Alberg scoring as the grave- digger and Lucienne Letondal play- ing a thankless part in a hearty manner. Georges Alexandre is effec- tive as the police captain, as are h Henri Letondal. Guy Maufette and M Hn'i'y Davis in lesser roles. I Laza, Pygmalion '(REVIVAL) New Haven, Dec. 6. Theatre lue. production of romantic com- edy in prolog ami three acts (four scenes) by George Bernard Shaw. Stars Gertrude Lawrence. Raymond Massey; features M.el- ville Cooper. Cecil Humphreys. Katherine Emmet, Anita Bolster, Staged by Cedrlc Hnrdwlcke; settings.. Donald OehsUwer; costumes. Motley. Opened at Shubert theatre. New Haven. Dec. 8. '4.V, $X,uO top. Clara Eynsford-Hill Wendy Atkln Mrs. Eynsford-Hill Myrtle Tahnehill Bystander J. P. AVilson Freddy Eynnford-HIH ..John Cromwell Eliza Doolittle Gertril'le Lawrence Colonel Pickering Cecil Humphreys Henry Higgins Raymond. Massey* Sarcastic Bystander..... ...Jay Black Taxicab Driver Rudolph Watson airs. Pearce .Anita Bolster Alfred Doolittle Melville Cooper Mrs. Hlggins Katherine Emmet Parlourmaid Hazel Jones Pedestrians and Bystanders: Lucy Storm, Barbara Pond. Walter Kapp. John. Parks, Frieda Smith. old. and with not a lino of the orig- inal altered, play is still very bright entertainment, with dialog virtually as of .tod.av, the writing is that keen and understanding ot human nature. Shaw never did get around to pen- ning a sock curtain for "Pygmalion —script peters out into thin air in comparison with balance of story— but the letdown is not marked enough to affect overall pleasant re- ception. ' , Play has been entrusted to a cast of expert thesps. Gertrude Law- rence makes the metamorphosis from guttersnipe flower girl to polished lady in keeping with her acknowl- edged ability as a most versatile actress. She gives the former char- acterization a rough-and-ready inter- pretation which, however, never loses sight of the fact that she's "a good girl." Her subsequent scenes are beautifully balanced between the hilarious comedy of her first social call and the more sober moments of her verbal duelling with the profes- sor of phonetics who is responsible for her climb up the ladder of cul- ture. Miss Lawrence sparkles in every facet the part offers. Raymond Massey. as Professor Higgins, is certainly a far cry from "Abe Lincoln," but the dexterity that stamped that role outstandingly is readily apparent in the lighter part of the wordmaster who takes on the feminine transformation chore as a wager and finds it something more than that when his experiment suc- ceeds. Massey mouths bitter obser- vations on life with all the acrimony which Shaw obviously intended for them. Coming into the cast on 12 days notice, in the role originally pegged for A, P. Kaye, Melville Cooler rates a hearty nod for his performance as the flower girl's father whom moral- ity doesn't faze as long as he's one of the "undeserving poor"' but who has tb turn over a new lea C when a windfall rr.:.-;es him into the mid- dle class. Cecil Humphreys comes through with an ingratiating per- formance as the gentlemanly Colonel Pickering. Anita Bolster gives an adroit reading of the housekeeper role, and Katherine Emmet adds matronly charm as the orofessor's mother." Myrtle Tannehill. Wendy Atkin and Jshn Cromwell make a pleasing mother-daughter-son trio. Balance of cast is fitting support. Staging is consistently interesting, taking full advantage of nicely garbed, intelligent actors displaying their wares against attractive set- tings. Bone. ATC 'Contact Caravan' In Act of Disbanding The ATC "Contact Caravan," only air-traveling GI show, is now dis-. banding after a year and a half of touring the Caribbean, South Amer- ica, North Atlantic, Europe and U.S. hospital circuit. Majority of 36-man troupe is leaving service, 16 already slated to be out. Unit gave its last performance Nov. 18 in Bermuda en route from Europe, and is now at ils Miami base. M/Sgt. Draper Lewis, its writer- director, will return to CBS script dept. S/Sgt. Sascha Brastoff, the Carmen Miranda of "Winged Vic- tory," goes to 20th-Fox as actor- designer. Cpl. Randy Brown, novelty act, will return to the niteries. Sgt. John Springer, public relations, will do a book-length brochure on com- plete activities of "Caravan" for Maj. Gen. Harold L. George, head of Air Transport Command, for .the offi- cial records. Plans of others not set. Inside Stuff-Legit Jack Benny 10G ; Continued from page 1 The legal lift between Fortune Gallo, the San Carlo opera impresario, and Peter Mazzo, Toledo coalman, over jointly-posted money intended for an operetta season in the latter city lasTseason, is still on, Whether either principal wiil get any of the coin is doubtful, and it's indicated that the opposing attorneys will be about the only ones who will collect. Under- stood that there, was $6,000 on hand when the fight started. Not long ago that coin shrunk to around $2,000, and last week it was figured that only $800 remained, what with legal fees and court expenses, particularly print- ing ot the record and affidavits for the Appellate Division of the N. Y. Supreme Court. Meantime Equity has a bouncing certified Mazzo check for lOGs made out on a Toledo bank, To accomplish that feat Mazzo had to deposit another $10,000 to protect the bank. Now Equity wants to know who's supposed to pay the $1.63 protest fee it was charged when the bouncer came back. HClO- l.ei Murder Without Crime Bridgeport. Nov. 30. Theodore C. Ruskin procluclil drama in two acts (Hya scenes Thompson. Stars John Car Lilian Harvey: features Toi and Sonla Sorel. Staged t setting by Raymond Snvey tre, Bridgeport. Nov. 3(1. ' Stephan Cren of i l,y .1 idlne and riiuherfiird Hale Mi Keen: Al l.yric tlven- ; » top. .:n Rutherford .. .Sonio Sorel "Steve Broadley," the press agent character on Benny's Sunday night NBC show (his real-life counterpart is Benny's mccoy p.a., Steve Hanna- gan),"dreamed up that phoney about the comedian being robbed of $10,- 000. it left Benny's scripters, in ef- fect, saddled with 10G on their hands. Benny's writers started kicking the contest idea around strictly for what it was worth as a continuous gag. When they suggest- ed actually running a contest, even the script crew was only half in earnest, but Benny, relying on the American sense of humor, welcomed the idea and gave the "go ahead" signal. (It was figured, too, that perhaps by this time a lot of listen- ers were taking Benny's stinginess as the mccoy.) Benny's green-light so far has not only paid off in 135,000 entries for the first week, but has effected tie- ih plugs with Fred Allen, Danny Kaye, the Quiz Kids and the Louella Parsons shows, among others, and,a flock of tradepaper and column items. Radio showmen are also taking cognizance of how the gimmick is paying off programwise, as well, as witness last Sunday's (9) guesting of Ronald Colman and his wife, Benita Hume, and their use of some boff material based on the "Can't Stand" sweepstakes. "Showman Looks On," fifth installment of Charles B. Cochran's aulo- biographv, has been published in London by Faber & Faber.. Guy Ramsey, who reviewed the book in the Daily Mail, said: "The 300 pages are packed with names which linger like a song." In Cochran's early days Henry Irving was dominant in the British theatre, an actor "who compelled the country to recognize the stage as one of the great arts and who demanded and gained a knighthood." In addition to being a producer of shows, mostly musical "Cocky" was also a promoter of boxing, but quit that field "out of sheer disgust with boxers." Cochran, who has been in show business in England and; in America for 50 years, reveals anecdotes of many personalities of the theatre and the field of sports. Reviewer concluded with: "Bernhardt, Dusc, Rehan . .. actor, artist, clown, boxer, criminal, Bohemian return to momentary life in the Cochran pages." . Musicalization of Louisa M. Alcott's "8 Cousins," librettpized by Sally Benson, under aegis of Cheryl Crawford and Lelahd Hay ward, now is seeking a new tunesmith. Ralph Blaine and Bobby Tucker, who were mentioned, are out, and composer Arthur Schwartz, now in New York, was approached. He is not particularly interested, nor is it likely that Anna Sosenko's bid to him to write a tailored musical for her charge, Hildcgardc, will materialize. Schwartz, who just exited Warner Bros., after two years as a film pro- ducer ("Night and Day" upcoming), .has a number of other Broadway legit propositions. Last Friday (7), the fourth anniversary of the Jap sneak disaster attack on Pearl Harbor, most commercial advertising in N. Y. dailies was con- fined to appeals to buy Victory Bonds. Herald Tribune restricted all copy to bonds, advertisers being permitted to use the name or trademark of the firm only. Other papers carried theatre ads but the Trib excluded that copy, too. However, the Trib listed theatres, shows and films, using two lines each, gratis, as it did during the newspaper delivery strike some months ago. Only extra-space show was by the Theatre Guild, but the copy merely read "Buy more bonds." Matthew lolrn Carradine Jan Lillian Harvey Theatre Inc. has pulled a gilt- edged production of "Pygmalion" out of the hat as a stellar attraction for this combination revival-premiere event. The revival angle, of course, stems from the reissue of the G.B. Shaw opus; the premiere phase ties .in with the fact that this is the initial offering of the new repertory theatre headed by Richard Aldrich as man- aging director. If-this baptismal ef- fort is any criterion of what is to fol- low, the neophyte group has laid the foundation for lusty paeans from legit admirers. Though now over three decades This is third-teeoff for "Murder Without Crime." Psychological mel- odrama was first exhibited in London as "Double Error," and two years ago had a brief Broadway stand under" present tag. Theodore C. Ruskin's new try appears rasher than it is brave, with practically no chance of reversing the previous negative decision in New York. Four members of cast, particularly John Carradine and Lillian Harvey, have some pull, but they play justifies neither their time nor that of the audience. There is much_ too little in the J. Lee Thompson opus for- a satisfac- tory theatre session. The surprise finish is a good twist for a short short story, and may provide the qualification for an Eric Johnston imprimatur in Hollywood, but the average Broadway-farer will find the device insufficient reward. The basic situation is quickly es- tablished in the Mayfair flat of a London man-about-town who plans to leave his mistress and resume life with his wife. During a struggle the mistress is stabbed, and the frantic husband hides her body in a con- venient chest. Enter the downstairs landlord, who spends most of the next act and a half tormenting his conscience-stricken tenant. The lat- ter's wife arrives in the interim, but she contributes nothing to the action. Psycho persecution of landlord climaxes in revelation that he/knows of contents of chest, with subsequent attempt at blackmail. Then comes the snapper, which most melodrama collectors should have no trouble figuring well in advance. Carradine's performance at this catching turned out to be the sole pleasure. Demonstrating that hor- ror makeup is unnecessary, he makes the landlord an easy character to take in spite of the defective writ- ing. Rutherfurd has trouble as the tormented tenant. Neither of the women helps; Sonia Sorel—wife of Carradine—looks more attractive than she acts as the mistress, and Miss Harvey does no more than make it a foursome as the returned frau. Hale McKeen direction is spotty, particularly unconvincing at the start, and at its best the first half of Act II, Raymond Sovey set is un- exciting. . £Icm» Current Road Shows == Continued from page 53 sags (12); Para., Austin (13); Texas, San Antonio (14-15); Majestic, Ft. Worth (17); Melba, Dallas (18). "Lute Song"—Shubert, N. Haven (13-15); Forrest, Philly (17-22). "Murder Without Crime"—Copley, Boston (10-22). "Nellie Bly'! — Forrest, Philly (10-15); Shubert, Boston (17-22). "O Mistress Mine"—Town Hall, Toledo (20-22). "Of All People"—Shubert-Lafa- yette, Det. (10-15); Ford's, Balto. (17- 22). "Oklahoma!" — Colonial, Boston (10-15); Aud., Rochester (17-22). "Pick Up Girl"—Roy. Alex., Tor- onto (10-15). . "Pygmalion"—Plymouth, Boston (10-22), "Rebecca"—Lyric, "Richmond (10- 12); Center, Norfolk (13-15). ' "St. Lazare's Pharmacy"—His Maj- esty's, Montreal (10-15). "School for Brides''—Erlanger Buffalo (10-15); Royal Alex., Tor- onto (17-22). "Soldier's Wife"—Aud., Savannah (12); Aud., Augusta (13). "Spring in Brazil"—Ford's, Balto. (10-15). "Student Prince"—Biltmore, L. A. (10-22). "Suds in Your Eye"—Davidson, Milwaukee (10-15); Amer., St. Louis (17-22). "The Only Girl"—Arcadia, Wichita (10); Men. H., Salina (11); Mus. H., Kansas C. (13-15), "The Passing Show"—Cass, Del. (10-15). "The Winter's Tale'*—Nat'l., Wash, (10-22). v7— V •- £ "^~ "The Would-Be Gentleman"—Shu- bert, Philly (10-22). "Two Mrs. Carrolls"—Gr., North- ern, Chi. (10-15). . "Voice of the Turtle"—Selwyn, Chi. (10-22). "Voice of the Tin tic" (2d Co.)— Bush. Aud., Hartford (20-22). ''Windy Hill"—Hanna, Cleve. (10- 15). . ■ . "Dunnigan's Daughter" and "Pygmalion" are dated to open at the Golden and Barrymore, N. Y., respectively, on Dec. 26, and a conflict of premieres again impends. Theatre Guild, which presents "Daughter," first slated the play to bow in Christmas night, with the revival carded the next evening. Guild, explained the switch by saying it did not wish to "tear" the critics away from their ho.iday hearths. — ■.<— — .Reported that Theatre, Inc., new repertory organization, may hold its first performance on the afternoon of Dec. 26 to escape the indicated opposing premieres. Richard Rodgers is not interested in the revival of "Show Boat." due at the Ziegfeld, N. Y„ the first week of January. Billing will be that Kern and Hammerstein are presenting the revival, meaning that the late com- poser's widow and daughter, Betty, are on the production end. It was the recent, sudden death of Jerome Kern that complicated the billing end ot the show. Metro is supplying the major share of the pro- duction cost, but Oscar Hammerstein, 2d, and a coterie of Kern intimates are also investors. Thursday (13) will mark the completion of the 13th year that the Stage Relief Fund has been functioning. During that period 220 legit show benefits have been given for a total of $445,155. This season "Harvey" (48th Street, N.Y.) and "On the Town" (Beck) gave special performances in aid of the Fund, and next month "Oklahoma!" (St. James) will do like- wise. It will be the second such contribution by the latter, which played a Fund benefit two years ago. Loan to Aid by Freeing Continued from page 3 such as Egypt, the Anglo-Egyptian Sudan, Iceland and the Faroe Islands. Agreement provides that the set- tlement with the sterling area coun- tries will be on the "basis of divid- ing these accumulated balances into three categories: (a) balances to be released at once and convertible into any currency for current transac- tions; (b) balances to be similarly re- leased by installments over a period of years beginning in 1951, and (c) balances to be adjusted as a con- tribution to the settlement of war and postwar indebtedness and in recognition of the benefits that the countries concerned might be ex- pected to gain from such a settle- ment." The U.K. promises to "make every endeavor to secure the early "completion of these arrangements." Another important factor in the agreement, insofar as show biz is concerned, is the arrangement where- by both countries .agree not-to im- pose discriminatory restrictions against imports from the other country "in respect of any product." While the clause does not rule out the setting of quotas by Britain on the amount of playing time given to American-made pix, it's felt in, the industry that it will preveht the Brit- ish from discriminating against American films in favor of those of some other foreign country, such as Russia, which has been virtually "donating" its films internationally to get them screened. i Agreement makes no mention of the present U.S.-British double taxa- tion treaty, subject of much strong protest from Hollywood recently with American studios contending it discriminates against actors and would be a serious drawback to pre- vent American talent from making pix in England. Treasury Dept. reps, outlining the proposed agreement at a press con- ference in N. Y. last week, said there was no date set yet for presenting the bill to Congress for approval and ex- pressed the belief tliat Congress probably would demand that Britain ratify the Bretton Woods agreement before sanctioning the loan. Loan, if passed, can be drawn upon by Bri- tain during the next six years and Britain is to repay, in 50 annual in- stallments, beginning on Dec. 31, 1951, with interest of 2%. \ Also disclosed last week that the two countries had agreed on "broad principles" of commercial policy for which they wouldrseek general in- ternational' support. Present plans call for the summoning of an Inter- national Trade Organization, to meet some time next summer under the. aegis • of the' United Nations, which would draw itp a suitable program- to deal with Government restrictions on international trade, the curbing of restrictive'trade practices by cartels, and would institute and operate in- tergovernmental commodity arrange- ments. Revealed that the two gov- ernments sent its proposal for the ITO to all United Nations except Spain and Argentina.