Variety (Jan 1946)

■■■ f ■ ■■■■■ ■ . ■■. Pbiys on Broadway Thv Illiignifi4M>ng| V»nk4M>{ ." AnhUi': ■ lioiiijiUif iJiVirtVirtliiu ,' u'C pciiibilN'-'. | l)(ii.vih> Cllhlx. KlaKiiit Uy WmiUirt!-,; fii'UJiiSf. j)»ifi ' ("ufriaji>f*s/ AVutnimini; irivjtmitf'oi': *. ,.\t. liujMiii-, s; Vw; 6i>':'iU.Mi!' >liui. ■■;js!, "liii , «.!!<«' 3 . . . ,.. . . , . .\ .V , . . ; i . ...:m:if*,f)'V • Mr; iliistU'v iliilini's. . .'r. /;i.V«ii,--, t'li ilii'i'ii Kiiiiiiy: rilxmnl JHi.lim-M . , . . .•; .Hiifmliy <<i,«t) •WMiiT'-AHiitto. . ■.>■>.,• , . .KliMiiliiK Wnnl ■Cui'r'ntMl. . . ; f /. v^'illisilil'lvv-i: „M'{n v in ■ , . . , . .■.Viv..VvV.A. N,i«'hotiiv Hw-.nrnit'i H .■; .i'. * . i... .■.' .■T']:lt';i nor S\<!iyno Pll1lilcr.;V.,.,:;.'.,i ■Ki.iilircti >liilliMtC'Ji. . , . ; . i\lT. .Ulstivo Kluiuinii) Jl , K..|,u' .1 ' .\VUnatn Ri.c-rii'k .■,SlH-rUiiK-.tJH>>'V ,. .iMillij' ^'pu»'K ,, . .Itulittii limb . . .'HilSftl' r.:!! rU'r JkiUvIn SViiliiii'l. .Isi-Hoc ItraiHiiul There lias Ijcen considei'tible spoqlllation ol! recent years an (he ad\is.il)Uitv of doiiifi a p!<n on Bioatlvav at>but the late Jus ice Oliyev Wendell Holmes, but it wasn't until last week that a diama about the Great Distentcr finally reached the Mam Stem. "The Masnillcent Yankee" is notable for t-vv-o excellent performance-, bv Louis Calhern, in the title role, and Dorothy Gisli. as Fanny Holmes. It.s boxofTice prospects, because of the two fealiu'cd pei'former.s, are tor a moderate run. Characterizations of the two leads achieve the play's major interest. As a play, "Yankee'' ii too frequently talkative without activatinfj the play's motivation; it Is too often trying to gain a : homely spirit ol the jurist without suggesting enough of his deeds on the bench. Occasionally it ;becomes*^with apologies to Lindsay and Grouse— a "Life With Oliver." • Produced by Arthur Hopkins in one of his occasional , returns to Broadway, "Yankee," authored by Emmet Lavcry. is absorbing now and again despite its too-tslkative mood. The Royale theatre's opening-night audience applauded heartily. But, by and large, it is the performance of the two principals that carries this play, and it was they v\'hOm the audience applauded. "Yankee" achieves the Holmes feel for humanity throughout the three acts, which start with his arrival ni Washington, in 1902, to take his place on the Supreme Court bench; The play bridges the gap of the two Roosovelts in the White HouseTheodore at the openlftg, witli the final ciu-tain seeing Holmes, at 90odd, awaiting the honor of a visit from the : newly-elected Px-esident Fi'anklin Delano Roosevelt. There are a couple: of scenes of Irsting poignaucy, as the producer has directed them. Not in; the least of these is the powerful suggestion, in particular, of Holmes: championing Louis Brandeis for the bench, and his championing of the 3ev: in genf-ral. The Ions, pa>— dfc of Holmes' male secietanea — 'ri. h''>r.vtjy-law, as he was woi-,: to ca-1 since he did not ha-, t; an; tliilcireji of his ov.Ti — is anftiifif if uch^rii' ^vAx.'. but in betv.een ii.'^s <sj< ^if '.iTideiit moments or a«i';». oi ' lalot^ Migge^xing actior>, to -r^r-'i t-^^ '■.•ciiici being.of n-'yZfi I's-j otc^^'i -• 1 iri'dc-t vhen ii rfiiiJj'! vO\ hav* been ol pro'our."; 8"S latsiwg sjgniiieance. F!err-;r.ii "iSfii'tf is. H«jn' Adams, Shtr5i/'?i 03;v* it Ov.-en Wister, and they iiirt ■oi.'JtjbAeacjag among the sup portingiRiayei'k Wopdman 'thpnipson has : cievi.'''ed . ' o ■. livingroom-library. that is ih its propor juridiciU setting, Ka\m, Tbo 'riifiVtriV Cliilltl, .:in<)' .Tirl'iu. (■■, Wils..n iii'itlllli'liiln nl' llivbiviiin ■.coTiii'ily (llVo .sfcili"-) iiy. i'l'itau'O U;ilVit;.-i'i. .Siiiis' All'i'v'ti Mint (iiiil l.yuti l'iiinniii'i\, siuBiurliy J..uitt! "iiP.iHiifc;>; Koi'tni , IHi'Viiidfj. ,< tiii»nott.;ivt Ktnp.il'f. \ ^ .1.111 ri. ill, vSuo-tuM (!?7'-n mio" ifiiy iilKlVl ■ . ' ■■ ■■■ ' : ■ (.ilivki ltuiivir,.. .v.vi:v ..... ..T-.vivn Vt'"ti"'"** i'liniiii „ : . I . . , . ; Mui'Ki'iy Aliiiiil't; '.Mlm I'l'H. , . . . . , .HflliiM' MIW'Uoll •»!«>■ J»ni■(''iok-UiT. , .» .;. ., ; , . ... AlfveO I.mU .Mii'linrr ilriiu ii. -..Kl.'k -Vini Patli'ii 1 Mil nil. Vl.McIiiT. : .., ,. . •..Atiii , ,t.iH! ,\Iit.H WiTilni.iiir, .... .. ..i. .ibrlo }!»xUil). The Luiitshave been making love, on the st.iiic loi 20 yejrs or more, ai'd It's al,\ays been good theatre. Tliev aie doing it again in ''O Mistress Mine," known in Eiigland as "Love in Idleness." It's a laughable comedy in, tile hands of the mo.st not£;ble man and wile duo on the .stage. It . can!t nviss. Lunt also directed the play, and there isn't a dull moment, though "Mistres.s" is no wonder script. Miss Fontanne. is amusing right trom the ri.se of the curtain. Between them they make middle-age romance very attractive. ■ Miss Fontanne is Olivia Brown,: a widow with a son, Michael, who is. nearing 18. Lunt is Sir ,Tohn Fletcher, in 'tllfe' British war ministry, where he's expediting the manutacture *f tanks for the army. They are living happily together in his Westminster mansion; he would divorce hi.s wife, Diana, to wed Olivia but for the gossip it would create. Along comes Michael, and the bliss ot the lovers goes blooey. The boy has been schooled; in Canada and has picked up plenty of lefti,st ideas, so is definitely opposed to the capitalism that Lunt stands for; Michael vigorou.sly objects to John and his mother's mode of living. The boy maJses Olivia raove out of the. fash--, iottable' Itouse ihtO' a flat six flights up on the other side :of town, although retaming the job at the ministry that John has provided. There John humorously proceeds to revise some of the young man's ideas. In act three the scene between Lunt and Dick Van Patten, who did so well in "On Borrowed Time" not so many years ago, and is definitely on his way up, is one of the funniest in the play. The kid and star have that part of the show to themselves. Another comic scene has Lunt describing just what busses one must take to reach a modest eating place called Tuck Inn, a joint Michael scr lects. having turned down John's in* yitation to dine at the Savoy. •Balance of the cast has small parts. .\nii Lee looks very pretty as Diana, who married John for his money. Margery Maude is t.i^e m.aid who '.louJoii't Ih'J/si of woikmg in a place v.hen; 'ochav or v,-s.s not correct, ilf'e Paxton as a dinner guest is oulv on occe. as is Miss Lee. Openifls-night some of the lines ^',■eJ•e indistinct to those in the back lo-ws. but that's a fault that could be e^ii&ily corrected, Ibee. EX-SEBVICE.'VIAN would like to bp a'-sociated with recog A Young American BbfkfrijirH prndiiction of' P()tno<h'-c1r.imo In.three aclM (uiip, set ) .b.v EiTwlii JI. Bi'oniHT. Ki.-.iKc(] hj .ni'iiiUs Clni'iic}-. At Bliiokfrt;ii-s (iuilj Phijimuse, N, 1'., .T.1it. .17, 'slti: ISl.W) tup. ,. ..Toan Ficli] . . . , .Ho\v,Tr<i Swahie . , . . Alex . WiLinn ...... .ilariha ,T(»an ;AJnriujy C. Sl:c\viirt .l .ouiH Iietorpnn. .Tr ...... H.iv.f'l TliomaH mn . . . . Harry Gorai'cl M'r.H. TlaMiiiBf. . . .v;. Jdculp aoi.'.tmir. AUx-umlov C'urU'll.... T.ynn Oir tcll.. , . . .... Htevpn \VilKmirljitv.. . Willi.-ini PjutcH. .. ... .^opliie F!.i ine». ...... i-'rol'c.^sur Arnold liar Vctlncsnay, January 30, 19-lf, Indde Stuff-L^t A i-cconl ruling of llie U. S. Supreme Court has boon used by attorneys and accountants for several Broadway legit angeli as an excuse to make deductions from 19-i.> incomes for losses sastained on .several flop-, that closed or will iwvo clos,od earlv in 1946. Deductions aio, in cflccl, a mate, lial tax savint<s, since the 1945 tax rates arc higher than 1940 rates Thev aie al-o M^iulic.uit in that a similar method can bo tiiod at the end ot 1940 lor pKijs that may flop oaily iu 1947, since 1947 tax rates arc likely to bo still lown than l')4G Rca.soii for this assumption is that whereas corporations benefited mainly by the 1940 tax revisions hue and cry among busincs'smon over this, discrimination will very likely hi-ing about further ta.^ rcdiictions for individuals in 1947. At least five shows thai wore flops closed the first and second w ocljonds in January. Aiigeli who los>t money on tlicse shows have been deducting their losses from 1945 income, claiming these losses were sustained in 194,5 with "identifiable" events to prove it. These "identifiable events" would be — a posting notice to close that went up in -1945; newspaper reviews that were bad, and boxoflice take that was poor— all, or any, proving in 1845 (despite show lingering on into '46) that the venture would be a loss. The Supreme Couit in a decision Nov. 13, '43, on Lillian Boehm vs. Commissioners, which dealt, with a stock loss, stressed that "ho defihitii legal test is provided by the, statute for the determination of the jroar in which the loss IS to be deducted. General requirement calls for a practical, not a.legal to.st. . . . The standard for determining the year for deduction of a lo.ss is thus a flexiBle, practical one, varying according to the circumstances of each case.'' Deductions have been made on basis of the Boehm deci-siioii, since the Treasury dept. regulations have consistently interpreted that dediictiljle losses "must be evidenced by closed and complete transactions, fixed by ideutiflitble events, bona fide, and actually sustaijicd during the taxable period for which allowed." Jules J'. Levcntbal delved into straight shows successfully up to this season but last summer tried his luck with "Marinka," a musical, in afsociation with Harry Howard. It fared well for a time but when moved from the Winter Garden, N. Y., to the Barrymore, business started slip, ping. After a layofl! it tried the road but was brought back after twa weeks despite good business in Philadelphia. Understood thilt several leads not under uiu-of-the-play contracts didn't care to toiu" .further with the show, which ended in plenty of red. . Leventhal is now interested in "Polonaise,'' another musieal, now on tour. He recently supplied capital whereby the show could tour; When at the Alvin grosses were strong, with the aid of many theatre parties, but wheii moved to the Adelphi, attendance dived. "Polonaise" ; was produced by Horace Schmidlapp in association with Harry Bloomflcld. Latter took over several weeks after the opening. Record.s show that his partnership with Schmidlapp vvas dissolved as of Oct; 15 last. . : For first time in JO years or more, a Pittsburgh daily editorially tore into a legit show last week, Scripps-Howard Press letting "School.For Brides'' at Nixon have it with both barrels. Editorial began with: "we don't like ceiisorship," and continued, "but at times some pretty good arguments can be advanced in defense of it, and so we hate to see those arguments bolstered." Press headed its editorial "Smut at Nixon," and. charged that "legit theatre apparently has learned nothing from experience of the movies. It (the stage) is runniag hog-wild. . . ."In: the case of 'School for Brides,' the name Itself is a warning sign. But the Nixon has been advertising its performance as *sexatio>ial,' a deliberate pandering to lewd taste, It's the sort of appeal you'd expect to find in a burlesque advertisement— but not in that of a big city's only legitimate theatre." "O Mistress Mine," starring the Lunts, had its premiere last Wednesday (23), at the Empiie, N. Y., but there was a performance the night befoi;e when Theatre Guild first-night subscribers comprised the audience. Other subscribers will attend pertormanees during the • first three and 'one hall weeks. Demand for tickets is enormous and only the cheapest seats are lagging at the boxofliice. Those locations are in the gallery^ price being $1.20; Standees jammed the foyer after the first night, there being more tilan 50 such admissions for the niglit. performances. "Mistress'' brought rave notices from all nine N. Y. daily Critics, second time a show won all nine aisle-sitters this season. Previous recipient of nine such reviews was "State of the Union" (Hudson). "Suds in Your Eye," remited to have grossed more than Sijp.OOO in three weeks at the Latayeitc, Detroit, opened to a strong advance sale at tlifi Great Northern. Clucago, Sunday (27). George Lefty Miller, in advatice, made a tieup with Pabst Blue Ribbon beer outfit, and the company's huge sign on Michigan boulevard carried the name ot the show, first siicli theatrical usage for the advertising device, it's said, Louis Macloon, who put the show on in San Francisco early in the season, had a similar beer-producer hookup there, and it was credited with considerahle of the show's surprising business there. When he took the show" to Los Angeles it fared very mildly. It didn't make a connection villi a brewer in that town. "Suds" was a flop on Broad^^ay. Opening in New York of Emmet Lavery's "The Magnificent Yankee" last v.-eek caused some legiters to recall that Edna Ferbcr some years ago, considered doing a ijlay on Justice Holmes, title chai'acter iit "Yankee." She consulted with Mouis Ernst about it, and the two of them in turn talked it over with Judge Jerome Frank, who had been Holmes' secretary. They couldn't, however, figure exactly how to handle it. Jake Wilk, Warner Bros,' talent and story exec in the east, also suggested the Holmes idea to several playwrights six or .'even yeai-i ago. following his reading of the two-volume "Ilolmes-Polloclt Letters." Pollock was, British chiai: justice. • ; . ■ ■ ,■ Arthur Hammeistein, former producer and now a gentleman fairoei of Palatine, Route 1, near Chicago, wa.s in New York la.st week seeking name peii'ormers for a benefit show to be put on late in February in Palm Beacli in aid of underpi ivileged Florida children. It was an annual event ui^til three years ago, the late Sara H. Harris and Joe Leblang, along vith Hammerstein, having handled the charity event over a period of 18 years, duiing their winter vacations there. Performers who go to Palm Beach fw the show are given their expenses. Bills are completed by specialty people playing nightclubs in Miami. Brock Pcmberlon returned to New York after accompanying' Joe %• Brown and "Haivcy" to San Francisco. During the trip an irritation developed on his neck, and penicillin was administered in several cities visited. Pam iu his neck didn't prevent the showmin from hopping to Washington for the folding ol the Stage Door Canteen there last v,-cck. 52 B.KC!IT|AIATB nized talent agency. Have been script reader, stage manager, assistant to producer on .Broadway. Is senior member of Actor's Equity. Write Box 123, Variety, 154 West 46th Street, New York 19, N. Y. SAMUEL FRENCH Play Brokers ^nd Authors' Kepresentativcs £.*• uvst 4.~i|li Strert, Npw A'orh Rll nVKt Wi KIrppt, l.oi> Anerl«s ], The Blaclrinars Guild ha.=i come up with its .sturdifist .entrant thus far this season in Edv in M. Broniier's . play, "A Young American." While not suflicionllj sturdy by Bioadway standard.s ioi reproduction downtown, it is, however, both in sub. s anco and playing, the nearest approach to prolestion;,lism this somipio group has projected since "Career Angel," which was reproduced for a. brief Broad wav run a .sea.son or so back: With. a . protcssional.production it might do on the main stem. • The play, reputedly the initial effort, .of the aiithoi';: who is, currently head of Iho ,)i)usic depti, and drama crit'c ol radio station WWRL, is a poi£;iiant plea lor racial *olerancc, adepily handled in context and admiiably enacted by Ih'o competent cast.utkler nifty directorial guidance of Deniu.s Gurne.v. Story conceviu a young and bril P^fitEff liant m'u.sic student fi*om a Sotithorh unncrsity, who ha.i siitfir'tted an unthushcd .symphony to a famous orchp.'-tra conductor who is so intrigued ; b.v iti: merit lie ■ sciiidii; for the ' i'«ung: compcisei* to be his ho.uso guest in N. .Y; while , gis'ing '. it., tlje . fiuishinss touches. When the joung man arlives a chill ot resentment encompas SOS. the' household. He's rovcaled. for the ijrst tiniLN' as :« Ne.Gfvfl. . The maestro, however, trios to adapt lumtclt to tlie situation and make the young man feel at home. ComplicatioiLs set in when the maid quits, .statins' "She will not Ayait on a, digger." Fuithor complication.s sol in when the race-prcjudiced suitor of the musician's i^aughter objects to his presence in 'the household and tieats him shabbily at chance. The NCfiro, leaied in an oiph.inage. going directly to the univci sit,\ . had been shielded from the br'int ol racial prejudice until now and is gieatly confu.sed b> the tieatmcnt. Play ends on a iioto 01 hope, Louis ■Peterson, Jr:. plays the Negro with ro'-traint and poise. Aiox Wilson gives good account as the maestio while Martha 'Jean is charmiiii; and talented as the daughter of the musician who attempts to cushion some of the Nogio's hard knocks. Harry Gerard i»s happily cast as the venerable Negro prof. Howard Swaine does okay as the bibulous manager. Neat ))erlormances aie also turned iii by Joan Field, Mmray C. Stewart and Hazel Thomas. £dba. Legit Follow-Up "DEEP ARE THE ROOTS" (Shubert,, New Haven) New Haven, Jan. 26. Hermit Bloon%garden and George Heller, sponsors of this provocative drama, can rest assured that they have placed its road exhibition in competent hands, National company, headed for a Chicago run, got off to a good start here. An enthusiastic audience reaction: seemed to overlook the play's few weaknesses in favor of its absorbing timeliness, as well as its dramatic capacities. A house that applauded individual speeches and actions in 10-20-30 fashion did everything but hiss the villain. , •; As w-ith the original; .Elia Kazan has directed' this troupe and in them he presents a well-cast, nicelywelded -group which completes its chores, forcefully, Edith At water, Theodore Newton and Roljei't Han-ison are featured and come through creditably. Miss Atwater iS' excellent as the patronizing daughter who is about to marry the northern writer. As' the scribbler, Newton's performance is consistently . good. Although Harrison's sonorous tones are a bit diflicult to decipher at times, bus overall interpx-etation of the diehard southern senator is first rate. ■ Playing the Barbara Bel Geddes Broadway company role is Frances Waller, who gives it extremely sensitive treatment. "Hoots" is a first play for Miss Waller and she displays a naturalness that helps her sell herself nicely. Honrv Scott's range, as the young Negro war hero exhibiting first-act hope and la.stTact disillusionment, is well shaded. Robert Emhardt. as the family cousin; Jessie Grayson, the Negro boy's mother and Frank! Lynn, family servant, all give good accounts of themselves. Bits are played by Richard Garriek, Dennis Bohan and Brett Warren. Howard Bay's setting, the Emeline Roche costumes, and the getjeral physical production indicate quality on a par with the original setup. Bone. Play Abroad l\<iw ilic Hay Is Over • London, Jan. 9. ?vf\v plaj: ti* tbrPe nc'ts by bharl'ei? It.; I'Vpcfiiuri', . (l.ci'altl SiiVfMlJ* finiii l>o(lk : .by.Cier.'ild'. HifVory, "Jiollnlfl ; Tlii.i Dvoamer." Dlrei'jt.pd l>y de Martiey. . I'rcKCiiifjd.. hy AnUioi.O" ilavvtif'y, R. 51f>yer In ,a,HSociation witli 'rcM>n(:f'' Uo Mnvncy. At D;niIir^Vsy |li"iitr("; .I.onaon, :.Ta>>. 8, .'itO. :(Miai'rip HuniHkill. . . . ... . .'I'ei'eiii'e tie jfflrney Aimti,;': H; .; . . . . 1 . . . . V. , . , . . ..B'-.nLrici' parley . Htii,'luc. v. . . . .BiU tU,wl,n.thaiiQ 1,1 ly . > . . . ............. . ..Toall . Wi'i' : J'^ii'Myuie, . . . .^:. . . , , . Chriatfmiitfp .ttteele -M" Willi a Hol'jl M<!ilfl(«' .Mill) fi'oni ■IrttnfluH'. ..... 11 I*'leming cniliXr ('(mHtivUIo. ... ........ .Oiveiv Ijijj'iicilrts Ssih^niL , J. O. 'rwiig CurU;y, . . . i .CieniM .La.wboli Soidid sex-psychological drama which ha.s Ijeen sucesslully touring the road with Douglass Montgomery .starred. Now Terence de Marhey ha.s taken o\t'r and givfes his gruesome best to the role. It might make a forcciul film. , , : Drab Midland, rooming house provides the background. A goofy adopted son of the proprietress is believed to have killed two women, both found naked and mutilated rear the dockside which the suspect IS known to haunt at night. But it is one of the lodger.s-^a sex friustrated ex-sailor, whose frightened impotence finds outlet by slaughtering that which he cannot have, Hi.s eutjning helps tighten the net of circumstantial evidence round the mentally deficient youth, but a Scotland Yard man makes short work of all the rod herrings; A neighbor's daughter, in love with the sailor, calls at the house and i.s only saved from throttling by the return of the landlady, who has always fiercely defended her boy. The killer glorie.s in his deeds and makes no secret of his reason^.: Sltow is well produced and adequately acted with' Bill Rowbotham sharing honors with de Marney ?s the half-wit, and Joan Newell cxtcllent as the adoring youngster wuo almost pays with her life lor lier infatuation. Beatrice Varley, a hhiicharaeter actress, makes a splencna job of the Auntie B. boardmg-hou-e keeper There is always a public loi thrillers, and there appeals no icason why it shouldn't achieve the success Qf its liredeoessors. Clou. NOW Open for enrollment DUNHAM SCHOOL of DANCE and THEATRE Katherine Dunham ^ Dkecfm Oisses IB D»*u« lecliiiiHB*, SilteJ, Wiiftha Tij mi Swing fmmm Sss 8f Cri«!i»e InstniaMits, Seliilietiss, 5|i«ecti Traintoj fiEGISTRATfON BA!LY . 1 0 A M TO 6 P M 220 W. 43 " ST. . . . PE 6-2959