Variety (Jul 1946)

50 LEGITIMATE Wednesday, July $\. Equity Wins Wage Verdict on 'Annie's Delayed Preem in Complex Hearing When ah arbitration board oft three heard the play claims of Equity on behalf of the "Annie Get Your Gun" company last week, the matter of salary for half a week when- the musical's premiere at the Imperial, N. Y., was postponed took on the proportions of a complex case. Originally some $3,r 656 was involved, held in escrow, after Equity insisted a half week's salaries be paid by Richard. Rodgers and Oscar Hammersfein,■■■ 2d, "An- nie's" producers.. Latter filed counter claims and the amount in dispute was thereby boosted to $9,500. Ac- tors won the award and the counter- claims were disallowed, A battery of attorneys headed by E. Howard . Reinheimer argued the case for the managers and three civil engineers with voluminous, briefs testified In support of R. & H.'s contention that the delay was an accident. On that ground the show- men contend that salaries were not due and sought a refund from actors on.money paid them. "Annie" open-, ing was suddenly postponed after a backstage beam supporting the gridiron-was found to be defective and ordered to be replaced. Instead of a Thursday debut, show was sent to Philadelphia for two Weeks during which time the backstage equipment was replaced. Equity, through its counsel Re- becca Brownstein, contended that the incident was hardly an'accident, that proper inspection should have disclosed the grid weakness and the actors should' not be penalized for a backstage error. Rehearsal Pay Angle Equity's council discussed the can- celled premiere and ruled, that the actors be paid. Stated that R.&.H. were asked to attend that meeting if they thought otherwise but failed to appear. Injected into the case was the matter of rehearsal pay, Equity claiming that the players were due that compensation for four ' days prior to the cancelled opening but that if the show didn't open on ths advertised date then full salaries were due. There was further in- volvement over a similar period ot time after "Annie" returned from Philadelphia and rehearsed prior to the actual opening (May 16). "Annie'* was said to have cost $350,000 to produce, .budget having been exceeded partly because of the postponement'. It was totally fi- nanced by 20th-Fox. Arbitrators were Sidney R. Fleisher, Myer Kurz and Walter H. Mann, first two being at- torneys while the latter, is head of the Suchard Chocolate Co., having been appointed by the American Ar- bitrations Society. Vienna, Zurich Operas Offer U.S. Singers Jobs Management of the Vienna State Opera, one of Europe's leading opera groups, in a gesture towards cul- tural goodwill, has asked Columbia Concerts to send over two young American singers, one of each.sex, to spend a season with them learn- ing operatic roles at customary rate of payment. Singers, whom the Viennese refer to in their invite as "spiritual mes- sengers of the U. S.," will thus have a unique opportunity of getting op- eratic training unavailable in Amer- ica, the lone comparable house here being the Metropolitan, where op- portunities for young singers to learn a variety. of important roles, are few. Columbia Concerts has ac- cepted the offer and will choose the two people shortly Columbia subsequently received similar offer of two positions "for a year o^'two" from the Zurich Stadt theatre. S700-Produced laidV Bolt 12G Strawhat Reviews Devil Take a Whittler Westport, Conn., July 20. Thcatro Guild production of "nil Amerl- enn folk n>iilna>' with music'' In two ngta (alx scene*) by Wolduii Stone. PYnlures Cni-ol stone, l'Atil Crabtree, John Cunte. I'Mti'lcltv Nc:il, Tom Scott. .Chunk Pnlmer and his Hustle Knmblers. -Music by Tom Scott; special lyrics by Joy Scolt; clibro- I'Srunhy by John Larson; settings by J.hw- renro liohlwnsser: costumes supervised by Httllye OIosk. StHued by Crnbtroe. Opened nt Westport Country Plnyhouse. Weatporl, Conn., July -'!>, '-Hi: fli.OO top. DANCING YEARS' BIG CLICK DOWN UNDER Melbourne, July 16. Ivor Noyello's "The Dancing Years," first new postwar musical in Australia, has become a hit since its preem at His Majesty's two weeks ago. In size the biggest mu- sical play production seen here since "Balalaika" in 1937, show has received rave notices for some of the finest ballet, most tuneful music, extravagant sets and costumes seen on Aussie stage in years. Leontine Sagan, who handled''the London production, is credited with much of success in the staging here. Max Oldaker, Viola Wilson and Elizabeth Gaye* are playing ' the leads, and the Borovansky. Ballet is in support. NCAC's Semon Setting Up lLS.-Ei.rope Artist Swap Gerard A. Semon, head of Na- tional Concert & Artists Corp.'s for-' eign department, is going abroad Sept. 7. for two months, primarily to line up European concert talent lor the U. S; NCAC was first bureau since the war to bring over foreign talent, importing Fritz Busch, German con- ductor; Torsten Ralf, Swedish tenor and Joel BergJund, Swedish baritone, all of whom were on last season's Metropolitan Opera roster. Semon's mission is to organize further the flow of talent this way, to comple- ment the list of U..S. artists NCAC has already lined up for European tours next spring. Second week of "Maid in the Ozarks" held to starting form, with $12,000 quoted. Jules Pfeiffer, who owns the show, says that still com- paratively few' of the 1,000,000 twb- for-one tickets distributed showed up last week. Again the bulk o' the gross came from full price tickets, it's claimed, and agencies are known to have sold some at a premium. Screwy admission prices patterned along the lines of picture theatres have been juggled. When it was found that audiences wouldn't go for $4.20 top at Saturday and Sun- day matinees,, the price was dropped to $2.40 but $3.60 top nightly re- mains. Saturday midnight perform- ance at $1.20 sold out so easily in advance that . that rate has been tilted to $2.40, As a stunt there will be another extra performance, billed as a "milkman's matinee," starting 11 a.m., next Wed. (7), house being priced at $1.20 on all three floors. Pfeiffer laughed when asked if he'd accept milk, bottle tops in lieu of cash. Pfeiffer, a former Chicago theatre candy-butcher, estimated that it cost around $700 to produce "Maid." Price of the show's soto scene, a painted interior, was $200, the cos tumes'cost all of $150 and the bal ance went for some lighting appa- ratus. Around $13,000 was expended on extra space ads to date in the three dailies being used. Show is not listed in the theatre and attrac tion alphabetical listing. Two seasons ago the young show- man, now 30, after piling up a bank- roll went highbrow and presented "Uncle Harry" in Chicago.' It drew a fine press, quite the opposite of "Maid," but closed $45,000 in the ..red. Pfeiffer says that cured him of arty melodramas. It was intended to play "Maid" through the summer at the Chelsea hotel, Atlantic City, but it was quickly evident that the hillbilly travesty was a bloomer in that spot and $12,000 was lost on the engage' ment. Four weks' rent was required in advance, an item of $2,400, and a couple of Gs went in building ramp, so "Maid" vamped out of town after two weeks. Souvenir booklets with sexy photos have not been much in evl dence so far but out of town they attracted considerable attention. Funny, how an out-and-out corn cribber like "Maid in the Ozarks" can click while such a well-inten- tioned folk , opus as "Devil Take a Whittler" seems headed for trouble as a Broadway, exhibit. Theatre Guild, tryout at Westport: strawhat, where the Guild's Law- rence Langner and- Armina Marshall set up their rural address years ago, is probably the summer loop's heav- iest splurge to date, with a company of 40 including some first-rate thesp- ers and musical specialists. But sponsorinl aegis, the talent and* Tom Scott's lilting score do not ap- pear sufficient to put Weldon Stone's (he's a prof at .Texas A. and M.) mountain fable in the money. Com- parison with "Dark of the Moon" is automatic, and that one not only came first but had a lot more quality. No matter h6w authentic the dia- log and the author's knowledge of Ozark : legend, '.'Whittler" adds up basically to another variation on doin' what comes nat'r'lly. Like prac- tically every'hillbilly show, the fan- tasy is strong on sex. The Guild has handled nothing lustier in recent years Official classification as "folk fan- tasy" isn't quite right. Maybe musi- cal allegory would be better. It opens like a musical comedy and has trouble establishing itself until the first act is well along. The 16 song, dance and instrumental numbers are the most consistently Successful of the show, and a revision pointing up the music and slashing the sex apd fantasy might he worth while. Whittler of title is Lem Skaggs, a natural genius of' wood carving who. has never been able to get the devil out of his system, the devil being an extremely likely critter who-plays a piccolo. Lem's decision- to marry Myra Thompson, whose family has long feuded with the Skaggses. is op- posed not only by the devil but by Lem's rampant cousin Kat, who has always wanted the whittler. After the wedding Lem and Myra have trouble consummating the marriage and when they do have a son the child doesn't talk until the end of the show. The devil exits with the advice that' devlin' is necessary to sweeter every home, which is apparently the moral of the story. The problems of the small West- port play bain were remarkably mas- tered for the king-size production,' and young Paul Crabtree deserves solid, commendation for his staging. The ensemble scenes are particularly effective. Crabtree doubled from direction into the role of Lem Skaggs, a con- vincing characterization of a moun- taineer torn between the devil and reform. Top troupirig honors go to John Conte,- from radio, as Satan, a thoroughly zestful. job. Carol. Stone, who was in "Dark of the Moon," is a right choice as the wife who ulti- mately gets her man, and the attrac- tive Patricia Neal impresses as an Ozark siren. ' . Tom Scctt, nitery ballad trouba- dour who is also folk music expert on the Fred Waring staff, registers both as composer of the score and a singer of some of the haunting moun- tain melodies. He has been compe- tently abetted by Chuck Palmer and his Rustic Ramblers, hillbilly four- some. Among the impressive tunes are "Riddle Song," voiced by Miss Stbne; "Fair and Tender Ladies," by Scott; "When a Man's Married." Crabtree; "I Want My Love," "Sour Wood Mountain" and "Swapping Song." Lawrence Goldwasser has managed six sets that serve within budgetary limits. The costumes, under the su- pervision.of the Guild's Hallye Clogg, are colorful and especially helpful in the group episodes. Sex phases virtually Invalidate "Whittler" for films. ; Etem, Short Sues to Confirm $2,050 Judgment Vs. Todd Hassard Short filed suit in N. Y. supreme court Monday (29) to con- firm an award made him of $2,050 as his share of film rights to "Mexi- can Hay ride," ..originally a Michael Todd Broadway musical, In his affidavit, Short said award was result of arbitration proceed- ings last May. Hearing stemmed from an agreement with Todd No- vember 1943 by which Short was to stage the play and receive a per- centage of film rights. Metopera, AGMA Snag Still Knotted Over $151,000 Pay Raises, Chorus Cot 'Okla!' Annexing Texas Dallas, July 30. "Oklahoma!", Broadway musical, will play eight days here March, 1947, Charles J. Freeman, chief booker of stage attractions for Inter- state Theatres Circuit announced here. Customarily, road shows have been playing two- and at most three days on the Texas date, but the coming of "Oklahomal" will estab- lish a new record for roadshows. While here the show will play Dal- las, Fort Worth, San Antonio and Houston. A week's engagement will be forthcoming in San, Antonio and Houston with a five-day stop at Fort Worth. Central City Op Fest's Boff 60G Central City, Col., July 30. This sleepy, gold-mining camp town, which snapped back to life with revival of its wartime casualty, the Central City Opera House Fes- tival, has just closed its- season with a bang. Three-week run which ended Sunday (28) was played • to gross of $60,000, with 750-seat opera house.packed for the three stanzas. More than 30,000 people were turned away, with seats sold to persons from every state, Canada, Hawaii and foreign lands. Shows offered were Verdi's "La Traviata" and Mozart's "The Ab- duction from the Seraglio." Frank St. Leger produced, with Herbert Graf staging. Emit Cooper con- ducted,, to complete the Met Opera combination, although quite a few of the singers, such as Eleanor Steber, John Carter, Fiorenza Quar- tararo, Pierrette Alarie, Francesco Valentino and William Hargrave, are from Met ranks. Production costs for current' fes- tival will be around $100,000, ac- cording to Frank H. Ricketson, Jr., prez, who is also prex of Fox Inter- mountain Theatres. Deficit will be made up from private contributions. Welcome Home . Jn'y Zlmmct presentation of Time.* Squnro Plnyera In comedy In three AcIh by Pnvlrt f.nmciv'Directed by Charlca Polnihcck; settlnc by Francos Kunlz. Opcnc<l nt .Mil- fort 1 theatre, Mllfonl. fn.. July 2!. "-1(1. nideon .Tcppcl . '< Chnrlea Poiaehcck Kellx T. Ilurhel ..Robert "Wnnoner Slmr,n Turk nonnr Ptunrt Clortrurte Tuik Joyce Flatter Huaaell .fennel v....... Joel - Ilnth Wnlly Ko-rner Jnck Wlllln Kvn Martin Patricia PotieHt.i Louia.'Grnett Byron PerchlnK Oeoriro Oraelz Julea Hrenner Sum Dlttln jRi-kxnn Dnvla Ternmn P. 1 Amliro.se Paul-firrtnt John Fnrken Jny Zlntmet Headaches of hotel management on a shoestring are detailed in this knockabout farce, which Beams to have been written on the premise of anything for a laugh. Author ad- mits having batted out "Welcome Home" with the Marx Brothers In (Continued on page 52) VUletta's Experiments Woodstock, N.Y., July 30. Villetta Studio Players will put oh a four-week season of experi- mental plays here, beginning Aug. 2 with Jean Cocteau's "Infernal Ma- chine." Villetta Studio has- been dark since operated 18 years ago by Maria Ouspenskaya. ♦ Status of negotiations between Metropolitan Opera Assn. and American Guild of Musical Artists, representing solo singers, chorus and dancers, remains suspended this morning (Wed.), pending.meeting 0 f AGMA's board of governors set for tomorrow (Thurs.). Lawrence Tin- bett, AGMA prez, whose arrival from Italy was expected to help un- ravel the snarl, planed in early Tuesday but went off for a singing date in Cincinnati. Two sides are at loggerheads on thre« points. The Met wishes to cut its chorus from 94 to 78 members on grounds of age, inefficiency, etc" offering severance pay to 16 to be dropped, but AGMA refuses to okay cut. AGMA asked pay raises under new contract, which the Met claims will increase its budget by $151,000, a raise it calls "prohibitive." AGMA also claims its board of governors should have final say. in discharge of choristers. Met answering that as matter of principle it cannot allow AGMA's claim to jurisdiction, saying "there cannot be any division of re- sponsibility for maintaining the ar- tistic standards of the institution." George A. Sloan, Met's board prez, in a statement on the negotiations, said: 'The management cannot sur- render its responsibility of determin- ing the number and artistic qualifi- cations of, the members of the com- pany. Nor can It ignore the neces- sary limits of its budget. Opera can- hot continue under' the conditions which AGMA seeks to impose." . AGMA, which got a small, increase iii pays last year, said that this rise was the first in years'. It also pointed out that the Met has had a 94 chorus group for 10 years, and be- fore, that used 106 singers, and that at one' time the Met had a chorus of 250, one group for French, the other for German operas. It's known the Met has resented setup of negotiations between union and management. Met has been represented by general manager Ed- ward Johnson; Cornelius N. Bliss, board chairman, and George A. Sloan, board prez", while AGMA has been represented by Hyman R, Falne, exec secretary, arid Albert B. Gins, its attorney. Met oflfloials have felt that lack of artists representa- tion, familiar with' opera setup, has hampered negotiations. Golden's Westport Tryout Westport, Conn., July 30. John Golden will try out a new comedy, "It's A Man's World," by Hagar Wilde, at Westport Country Playhouse, week of Sept. 2, 1 Production will be unusual for a strawhat, requiring revolving stages and four different sets. Show will be presented by Lawrence Langner, Armina Marshall and John C. Wil- son, Westport's producers, with Martin Manulis directing. Donald Cook and Peggy Conklin will head the cast of 20. Salvation Army Preem Cragsmoor, N. Y., July 30. Howard Otway's drama, "A Penny on the Drum," will have its pre- miere at Cragsmoor theatre, here, week of Aug. 5, with Morton Da- Costa, theatre's managing director, playing the lead role. Play deals with the Salvation Army. Author, a juvenile with the troupe was born of Salvation Army parents and has a brother who is ah of fleer, with the organization. B'port's 'Black Eye' Freem Bridgeport, July 30. Walter B. Klavun, Bridgeport ac- tor and ex-radio announcer, and William Bourn Blood will co-pro- duce James Bridie's "The Black Eye" last week in August at Westchester Playhouse, Mount. Kisco, N. Y,, with which Kla'vun has been associated this summer. " v ~- •Stand will be first U. Si perform- ance for Bridie opus and If tryout Impresses, sponsors plan Broadway exhibit. Oakland's 'Bitter Bread' Oakland, Cel., July 30. "Bitter Bread," three-act drama SANG ANKLES N. HAVEN FOR CHI SHUBERT JOB New Haven, July 30. Leonard B. Sang, manager of the local Shubert for the past five years, has resigned to take over handling of the Shubert interests in Chicago. He was affiliated with the Shuberts prior to coming here. Sang is credited with building local spot into one of the country's leading legit tryout houses, as well as a standard stopover for estab- lished shows. He also kept the ball rolling with other forms of enter- tainment ranging from vaude to pix as flllins. No successor has been appointed locally as yet.' New season tenta- tively set f6l*9liI|? i9--<r«'Se>e 4-- by Albert Tallman, will be staged by Playwrights theatre here in mid- August, with Kenneth Bartlett as director. Group does only originals, "Bitter. Bread" being its third this season. Provlncetown Foldo Provincetown, Mass., July 30. Provincetown Players have called it a day here, after five weeks of an announced 10-week season. Poor business for such plays as "Brief Moment," with Glenda Far- rell; "Night Must Fall," with Dame May Whltty, and "Springtime for Henry," with Edward Everett Horton, Is blamed for the closing. Newp6rt's 'Casa' Aug. 12 Newport, K. I., July 30. Preem of stage versibn of "Casa- blanca," from which the Warner Bros, pic was adopted, will be pre- sented by Sara Stamm at Newport (R. I.) Casino theatre week of Au- gust 12. Featured will be Delma Bryon and John Heath. Joy Ann Page, daughter of Harry Warner, will appear. ( If tryout is successful the play will move to Broadway in the fau.