Variety (Sep 1946)

60 IJEGITIMATK Wednesday, Sepleinber 25, 1945 Plays Out of Town ]*ark AviMnn' , New Haven, Sept; 19, Cyvilcm iirotluL'tion of niuj^icnl ; ;i> two ricUi Slura l^'uijiua i in- (1 AlUiur jlurgi'ti'on; ri';ilurijs Ujn- Walbu.n,, ^Mmi'IIiu Stcnart, .MMi-y Wii'lie.4, (,'hiaU'a I'uroell. llarilie KitoIIo, 3l.iv ll.UiinaUl, Uulh Matteson. Kol)i»l't (.'hiiiiicilni. .li'J I'routy, Book l)y Numially | Juhuann . aiiil Geoi-Be- S. , Kaufmnn; .l.vi'(t.'!». li'ii Ciel'SliwIn;- music, Arthur Schwartv.; neUioBa. OonnUV Oenslager; costupies, Tlim liffser; Dools <UreGtod KouriMan; <lavK'C« musical nuinborf?, Eut?ene liOrlns: ot'- «'lieati-!itlans, , Don Wullcer; niiialcjl tllr?c- ior, Cliai lca S.int'ord; production ,«ui>crvls,i'ii l>y Aniblil Sidnt yuUUer,. Onened iit Sliu- biTt ihpairc. New Haveni- Sept. TW, K>; *4.-J0 lop. t artlon ............ ; Kea Scoit ....... IMadffe iJeniiett. Ogilen Jionnctt...... Mrs. Sybil Bonnelt.. i^harlea Cro\vi?ll..... Mrs; ElsirCrawelt.. llGBgle ■ Fo.\.. MrH. Myra I<"ox.,... ■Kirlmrd Nelson. ...... ■Mr,'?. liPtty Nelson.. Ted Woods.......... .Mrs, Laura Woods.. .Tames Meredith...... Mrs. Bev'erly MoreditU ..Byron RuHsell i..,Kay JIcDonaUl .Martha Stewart .Arthur MursetSon ,.. .Leonora . C'urbctt . .Uobcrt Chi.sholin .... .Jliirlhe Krrollp ,.. .Chiirles ,l*urcc|l ..,, .Ruth MtiUoyon .Haymond Walburn ., Mnrv Wlt-IU'.H .....Harold Statto.v:, ,... .'i .Doi'oths- BU\i .. .wiiiinm Skipper Laura .Mann Be .1 Woman 11, Yiiu Caii".;uid '•The Ltiiid oC Opportuntlee" are comedy show-stoppor.si Up. ■■(■li CiBUtcly. for a good score, it Hct.s Utllt^ backing from the solo de- "partim-iil. Onl.v acceptable , voice I'l'om that angle comes via Martha Stewart, who registers: with clarity and tonal quality. Group sin.!;ing is good, also femme trio and male quartet. ,, , ■ . . In the matti>r of casting, when it coines to .satire, Ix'onora Corbctt and Artbtir MnrgctsciiT Giah fling or waft a line across footlights with the best o£ them. Miss Corbctt, too, possesses considerable charm, but vocalizing is •not her strong point. And semi- spoken delivery is not wholly satis- factory in handling the load of this musical.- Margotson, likewise, ap- pears to better advantage in his talk- iiisj chores. Ruth Matteson,: Marthe Krrolle and Marv Wickes tuck things away nicely in the "Woman" trio and also'function well in straight roles. Raymond Walburn is good for laughs in ;in absrnt-minded part, and an- other Hollywood entry, Jed Prouty Ml. Meachcni....................led )'roui Fivddie Ooleman. .......Wilson Smith . .• - D„Ko..f Caioie HcnswanRcr ..vlrRinia ,i:i(iiv':i|makrg, his presenco felt. Robeit J'.renda Stokes ...Adelle Iia.s'ey K nn.ia rollaiit'bee....... ..Sh?i;ry Shadburne ■ Bi-tinda Foilnnsbee-Stolies... .Carol iGhlindler Itr.'nda- .K.-Stbkes-FoUansbee - ■ - Betty Ann Lvnn Bfenda PadwtHlader.... .Kyle llaeDonneli i Bi»nda . SItiyvesnnt .Eileen Cnffman | Brtvnda.' Cnthcart. ..lune Clrahato j Brenda (Tatheart-Cartcnth....... .Bolty Low Bi'enda Kerr.-..Virginia Morris Frenda' I^prr-Iserr-Kerr.. ■ ■.Judi- Bl.-rtpie Bre<'ida O^iinty -^dam'*.. .. .Gloria Anderson j : Brenda Wright, Jr., Sr., .Id I ■. '. Marffarel, Gib^'on If this new Max Gordon musical were in less skilled hands, the .eventual oiitcome would be ex- tremely doubtful, with emphasis on the negative side. However, the talents involved in piecing this opus together may well be able to analyze the production's major faults sacely and apply the proper surgery. Fail- ing in this, "Park Avenue" will prob- ably remain just another street in I the Manhattan city directory. In any eveni. Hollywood will find somethin'; | to interest it here. \ Although this show is billed as a ' in''Sical comedy, actually it is a play with music, and the "play" angle in , liot substantial enough to sustain thtv; ■ ibaTancd of the "production. Utilizin": Only, two settings, one per act, and I , minus the traditional chorus line,! play unfolds somewhat on the inti- mate scale, a fact that was a letdown to a number of playgoers anticipating something of a more elaborate nature. Story trouble is the principal hurdle facing sponsors. Taking the theme ot easy divorce and compli- cated intermarriage, authors have stretched a thin plot to the gossamer consistency of lunch-counter catsup. Story is so repetitious at times it leaves a this-is-where-we-came-in impression. Basically, however, the foundation for an amusing structure is there. Primarily sophisticated, an occasional earthy morsel is tossed in for the benefit of those who prefer their satire less subtle. Roferencfes to I various Hollywood characters and to I modern advertising promotion draw i hearty response. Dialog, per se. is brisht, at times crackling. Sct^re gives indication of taking its place among the more popular ditties. Cleffed in the lighter vein, tunes ac- quire added buoyancy via. lyrics ■which combine humorous and senti- mental wordage with pleasing results. Due for vocal play are "For the Life of Me," "Stay as We Are," "There's No Holding Me" and "There's Nothing Like Marriage for People." More along, instrumental lines are : "Nevada," "Goodbye to All That." "The Dew Was on the Rose" and "Mv Son-in-Law," "Tomorrow Is the Time" and "Hope for the Best" are good- choral curtain*lifters. VDon't Chi.5hoim and Charles Purdell offer r;nod sLinport, vocal and straight. Wilson Smith, as an athletic dope, and Virginia Gorski, a pint-size cute trick, handle bits okay. Tetps held forth via two ballets featuring Harold Mattox, Dorothy Bird, William Skipper and Laura Mnnn. Both numbers are well rc- ceivod, Roy McDonald makes a por- .sonable juve and clicks resoundingly with taps. Stafiing has carried all o£ its bettor eegs in the basket o£ stan7,a one, which offers promise that goes a-begging in act two. Pace of latter is spasmodic as a case of hiccups. There's no denying that Max doctrine o( love, equality and non* violence, contrasts with the explo- sive nature of the god ot wrath as norsonified by the elderly Jehovah. The latter, his patience exhausted when the town scorns Ms command- ment, seiid.'i the Hood which wipes out the community. The ca.sl i.s uniformly good. How.- nrtt Smith underplays the God role but -stili mana.ijes lo ctMivey an im- pression . of. .'-stjit'Odwifr- and inner, dignity. Rhy.s Williams has an ac^ tor's liold day: in the more llashy Satan role. He makes the Prince of Darkness a good-natured gent who is apbalied at the 'wave of hate sweeping the world. Jetf .Morrow brings sympathy and understanding to the Stranger,;/and Tom Coley is effective a.s the young preacher. Paul Huber scores as a fanatical minister, and Arthur Hunnicutt pro- vides much needed comedv relief. Doiothv Gilchrist orovides the love interest and, Randee Sanfbrd is an: attractive menace. Others in the large cast.are Charles Keane, Quani- t;i Hall. Grover Burgess, and Neil Skinner. Martin Ritt diroeted with authori- tv. and Frederick. Fox's settines are outstanding. . . Klep. II4-11 fV VIII Princeton, N. J., Sept. 20. Aninlcnn Reperlbr.V^. i'hetttr^ ■ produetjtm or revival ot' Williini Khakespt^iire's hia- loi ioal play, .S(ai:a •Kvfl/ f.e , lia'Viimhe,. Vle- tor Jtiry. Walter Hanu>tlen; ,lune : Btiprez, Krnest Truex. lilehnrrt VVaVins' rind Philip Bpuriieul'. t'her.vl Walker, inanasins- di- rector; ■ stased I>>v. Warffaret Webster: ■."tt'cncry and ('n.^ttime.* by David IVolkea; danees ananii'Ml Itv l).v Lrhman I-: tre, T'flneelop, N. i $:i,i)P top The Prologue. Ouke or fUtckinshitni T>ul;o of Nortoik..... Lord .Ahertravenny.,'. Cardinal Wolsey ■. . \. CronuVell.., .\ .,,' .;.... Rrandptl. ..'. . ,, Serf?ean^t bf: Q ua rd.., Gordon'has . turned out the lining of | Henry ViH his wallet for this one. Two striking ■sets by Donald Oenslager form a rich background for ultra femme apparel worn by lasses who know how to model it. From principals on down it's top fashion finery. Bone. Mr. Po<>liI»s and Mr* Hooker •Wilmington, Del., Sept. 20. .bi.^ti)l! itL ilyinan ifroduction of drama in tb.et; ttets (sesen scenes) by Kdward E. I'aiainore, ,lr., based on novel by Charles (!. (Vivena. htrtBed b.v Martin Rill: setlinp;:-, 1''rederick Fox. At Wayhonse,. AVilmlnKtiin. t>(-l.. Sept. aO-Sl.,: ".«i}. $2:40 .top, lliude leb..i....... TiiniV';. ..t i.,.. Brolbiir Alf Ije'fantf.:. Tlattie; Mi'other Wally I.eland Humt) Sorrel. Felicia Sorel: niusic . the' McCarter tliea- , openini; Sept. :jO. .....Philip P.ouriieul! ..... Uiehard WarinK . .Raymond Greenleae ... . llobert Ha\vllnf?s Walter llamiiden . ..Eli Wallach ....... i Anffus. ('airna ... ..WllHani WIndqm , i....... < Victor. Jory iCICmn Jtttnbalisi',. Jr. ...Kya Le (inlUenne ,.. ... .':.Kd Wbodhoad ....... ,-Krnest Truex ..lolin Beeher ........lOmery Bnttis ...... Arthur Keecran .Tune DuprcK ..... Philip- Bourneuf . .I'iusene Stnckmann ....... IJonatd Keyes .John Straub ... .('urroll MeComas .l^onald Keyes Plays on Broadway llidilon llorixon .■^Itubert.s (ill a.ssoclatIon with .■Vliter-l He Coijrvllle) protlttclloii i>f inelodramH in ttuee iicU (iiiic scene) by Ay:aiha Clii-lsti.e. I*'ea^ ttliw'j Diana ..B;trrynnire, Ha 111 well Mtibln'S. :l.t).\' Aitit VtiK-e, i>avUI Mutvnei'.'^. Batbarir .loyvc; .'^tJt.ilcd li.v l>e t'oiii'y-il.P'; .stitliii);, CliafleM,l*JtHt>n. Opened at Plytniitith, K. i.'.. Sep'. 111. '■tl!;- ii.'ll) top. l.'.t Hcidsellcr. . :Moniy BanUn.. Jr. -ntl. iie ttlsoWor. ;Da vId , Atrdrew-s Stewardi;......... . .t.MvarleH Ale.Kandei- MIs.t .Ftotitvt-V'founies.. .Kva LeonirrtUHovrte ('hrl!jtrt)a ,Grant........... ..Tn.v A ttn I'aKa -Snillhv..,:. -.'i.... ......... .tliiVid Mi-.nneia Lotlise... .. I'JdIlh K insiiliMi .Or: ];o.«ancr........... .;.. Peter \'int Zei neek Simon' Mcrtyp.: Tllaii' ira vie.*i Kay Mostj'n..........;... .Barbarji .loyen ArChdeivciin:, I'ennyfeath'*r. H.aIli\vCl.I .Hobbe.s .La,equeline. d«. '^SeVerav:... j Uiana 3iarryinort\ ^tcNaUHhl.(..... . V. . .... Wiit.'?iton Ito.ss , I l.iMand Jiamilioh HS'yptbn I'ollcetnen. i Daiui.in Nioier Same authorship and managomeat clicked with "10 Little Indians," a j :nen Sorrel..... ..... Chauffeur......... Mr,(, Hiitcher Cralne. Xate Corbett........ litr; " Hooker.......... .Sherift: Todd Blakely. 1st Deputy:.......... 2nd Deputy..;.. . ill-, liatcher Cralne. Dr. Phil Jameson... Judge Irayette....».. Mr. Peebles ..... Whigsey.. Joe Grtier—.,.v.....» ritraotyer. . Chiirles Kcane j .... .Teddy Rose .......I'aul Huber j .Quanita . Hall ....... .Tom Coley .Arthur Hunnicutt .Dorothy Gilchri.st ., Van. Prince .. .Ilandee Sanford ...Grover Burgess ....Rhys Williams Charles Wiley, Sr. .....Arthur Foran ....Ralph Stantley Neil Skinner ....:.Tom Morgan .i,.i:..Tom Hoier ....Howard Smith ...v. .Ken Renard ...!; .X>ennla Bohan .. i ... .Jeff Morrow DuK-e ot Suffftlk. Katlicrirte: of Ara,^tjn .Surveyor . ,,.. . ...... Lord ('hamberiain:, Tiord Sands .:....... Sir Thomas Lbvell.:. ■Sir Harry Guildford. Ann Bullen ......... First C<ironicler .... Second f'hfoniclei- , . Sir .\ichola-S S'auf.. Cardinal Campeius . An Old Ladv., ,. Grifflth.. r.atly in WtiitInK to ;.Katl»erine. .Ttuth Ne.al Carter .XfinK of Arms.. ..\rifiu.'! Cairns Earl of Surrey.. . ......: William Windoin Archbishop of Canterbury. .'I'heodorc Tcilicy. Pal ience ;.; ...... . . . ....,.; .M:irion. Erenaon A Mesaen.Ker ....,...... Robert Ra wllnca (.■apucliis ..,....i..|i:ui5en(i .Stucfcmann Duchess of Nprtolli..... Slary Alice Moore Lndic.t of the Court. (:rowd, .Ladles to Katlierine: I'avada Htimphrev, Ann Jack- son, Marv Alice ^Moore, Kulh Ncal. Lords, Bishops, Monks, Guards. Servants, Hei'ald.s, Pages.. Kxecutioner, Sergeant-nt- Arm.'i: Don Allen. John Bchney. Michel Corhsin. THonias tJrace, Bart Henderson, I'Vcderic Hunter. Robert T.eser. Mark Mc- Cardle, Gerald -McCormack, Wallet- Neal, James ftolterty, Theddoie Tenley, tions of them. These are spoken (and very well .spoken, tool! by Bourneuf. The result is that the ac- tion is smooth and cohesive. The fact also that the revival is done in only two acts is an added bless- ing. An authentic song oE-the pe^- riod (actually written by the King> is also cunningly employed by Miss Webster in Act II. There is pageantry and pomp in "Henry VIII" and some rosoundin.g dramatic scenes; some of the other action is a little on the static side. Shakespeare's piece, for the benefit of the untutored, deals in the main with Henry's first marriage; his eventual infatuation for Anne, one of the ladies of his court, and, most particularly, his : relations with the interesting, character of Wolsey, whom he made one of the most pow- erful figures in all England. Scenes between these:two are highlighl.s of the play. Visually the production is up to all expectations though at the same time it's not- too^eavy or cumber- some, which is rrecessary for rep- ertory purposes: As this reviewer re- calls, the la.st revival seen here- abouts—Beerbohm Tree's,. 27 years ago. With Lynn Harding as the King —fell far below the current one in pace, entertainment value and all- around theatrical effectiveness. Waters. THEATRICAL FABRICS for COSTUMES DRAPERIES STAGE CURTAINS Mahnram tuppliei (very Fabric nesd for laading Broadway production< and: Hollywood ttudioi, H 'The House ot Service'' 130 Wtsr 46th Street, New York CHICAGO lOS ANGELES 6 E. laks SI. 1119 So. L. A. St. \ As religious drama this is a laud- I able effort but as theatrical fare it leaves much to be desired. Its nov- elty is one factor on the credit side, as is the forthright presentation of the play's message, an appeal for the brotherhood of man and a preachnient against evil and hatred. Boxoffice chances are doubtful. "Mr. Peebles and Mr. Hooker" does not loom as a successful Broad- way entry though there is need for a message of this tyr>e. Designed as a modern morality play the charac- ters of "Mr. Peebles and Mr. Hook- er" represent God and Satan, who appear in a small Tennessee town to wage battle for the souls of the citizens. Formal religionists are likely to resent the literal interpre- tation of the Deity and his oppo» nent. The struggle centers around Wally Leiand, a handsome youth who has "felt the call to preach," but who is coveted by the wife of the town's leading industrialist. The first act has scenes of dramatic fire but the second bogs down in what should be the big climax—the meeting be tween God and Satan. Failing to carry the desired punch, the play from this .scene on loses much of the .symbolism which heightened in- terest in the earlier scenes. The character of the Stranger— readily identified as Christ—is well presented. Making only two appear- ances, the Nazarene, preaching the THE AMVETS GUIDON, Aug. 28 AROUND THE TOWN, by Norman Stocker "Xugent Dses It Airatn: "I^have nlwpys »ul<l that nclors nro bora niid nut made and tills wa<i clearly demnitstrated la»t week at th« IJreenwood Playhouse wlieii .t J) Nn. (tent ateiMied on the boards of this traditional theatre for the first time tli » season and nKain turned the current play, Mnnuary Thaw.' into a one-mnii sliow. This venerable gentleman of (lie theatre coasted throuicU Ills comedv role as thouirh he Were equinped with roller skates and the result was that the jounircr and less ej:|>erlenced members of this company looked aboiit one liundrcd percent better than they have at any time during the season. The nacinic of the show was very near perfection, thanks to J. C, and the nudlence reaction was, In result, one of true spontaneous response. The laughter and applause were genuine.and not sympathetic ,, . So to vou. .T C ^ugent, I say yon did It again and yon helped thirteen other hard working l|«»P>e^l>™vIde the best show Of the current seAson. rdrtliiqd welcomes ' ': Permanent Address: LAMBS CLUB 130 Wtit 44th Stroot, New York Recently organized American Rep- ertory Theatre gets off to a promis- ing start with "Henry VIII." In "Henry VIII" two of the male members of the company have best chance to shine: ie., Walter Hamp- den as Cardinal Wolsey and Victor Jory as King Henry. Both of them give fine accounts of themselves. Hampden, of course, has long known how to find his way around in Shakespeare, and the role of the all- powerful churchman gives him a fine chance to use his' sonorous voice and, in general, suits his talents per- fectly. Particular interest hangs over Jory because he's here tackling a new metier. On the whole, he does an amazingly successful job, and there is every reason to suppose that .after a few more public perform- ances: he'll be even better. Supplied with remarkable makeup toy Jack Dawn of Metro, he may not suggest the corpulence that many people as- sociate with this monarch but he certainly does have the size and majesty that history accredits to Henry. Margaret Webster, who has done a corking piece of staging, ciuite in line with her other Shakespearean directorial chores, doesn't appear in an acting role, but the company's other directress and one of its in- spirational fonts, Eva Le Gallienne, does nicely by the comparatively un- important role of Katherine ol Ara- gon, Henry's first wife. June Duprez, who will have her big chance in the company's second otfering. "What Every Woman Knows," in Philly next week, handles herself credit- ably .as the tragic Anne Boleyn. Ernest Truex — who gets his big chance in the Repertory Theatre's fourth play, "Androcles and the Lion"—does his bit here as the Lord Chamberlain. Richard Waring is the Puke of Buckingham. The other starred member of the outfit, Philip Bourneuf, has two roles, and around them hang one of the important news features of this revival. "Henry VIII" has al- ways been regarded as sprawling and episodic, almost as if the author hadn't quite finished it, or else that hemight be pulling his punches be- cause his own ruler, Queen Eliza- beth, was Henry's daughter (she doesnt appear in this play, by the way). Also, it has long been knUwn that the Bard went to ;Hollinshead's Chronicles (contemporary historical piece) for his material. Accortlingly, Miss Webster has also gone to Hol- linshead (acknowledging same in program) and has bridged and pieced the scenes together with por- Tlic lliK'liftss Of Malli Providence, Sept. 20. Puul d^iinner proiUtclioti of W. if. Atulen atitl BerLlioltt Brecht a(l;iot:tt iuti in' dmiiia by John AVebster in tlirt^e not». .Star.s Kli/.u- beth JJergner. Stnseci b.v GeorKM Kyl.'iinlH: .•toonery Uesipnett by KusPr i'^trwe; linbtitnt. WlUi.'im Itii h.nt'daon 1 t-'o.''lnnie.^. lietttiii-t' D.twaon (Mis') Bpi-B'ner'a ro^luntt^.i by MilfH White, exe.culed b.v ,Min«. Kui-jh.siat): Opened at MetropoUtati tHontre. Provlijenc-e. i!i>pt. ao; J|18.()(l t.ii). DuKe. o£ Clalabrla........... .Oi-mttlfl Klm>1(»h The Carillnal.:......... liihn tJarrailliui tiiovahna. >' ...: ......... :Klii',abelli Jtoi-Kner Atitonlo Bologntt WhU lleld t'oonor SeliO... : ,. ..Klobnril Netvton Daniel DeBor.ola . t^ein-K:i Rytttnil.*! Officers nttcnttinK f>m-hf*ss.. Hen Morse. Mi- chael Boy, Lawi-enue Kyle, Robin ftlorae, Guy Spaull. Gentleiren nttending ■DucheJw.. Kti [)ert Pole. Jacic Cook. ■ Carlola..........'. ,'.:.. .. .. .Patt-!cla Calvert .lulia , Soniu Sorol Chaplain to Cardinal \Villlain : Litytoii Madmen. ."V\'altftr retersion. Robet-t Pike, Frederic Dowiis, Guy Spfinll. Doctor R<'l.>.^rt Ptlte. Ihriller, but they fail to .scoiv iiiis- tinie. Agatha Christie's dramatized iiDvel is a tame whodunit. Maybe it's bec;nise they skimped on the numb"i- of homioidcs-^there are only two one onstage—While "Indians" had' 'em dropping all over the lot Albert De Courville's directional ideas are too British in at least one department. Characters order gin fizzes and when served, the drinks look like fried highballs—light amber liquid without ice. And on the equatorial Nile, too. Perhaps it isn't his fault that "Horizon" is talky and enervating, though there were "some first-night giggles, but at the wrong time; l.ooks like the play didn't shape up any too well during prep, aration; another play has hecti booked into the same Plymouth next week and another next month. Play is a one-setter, the salon of a sidewheeler plying Egypt's principal l iver with tourists. First act estab- lishes ths situation of two v/omen apparently in love with the same feK low, who marries Kay, the rich one, I hough not for her money, it's tep- idly claimed. Jacqueline, the other, is always around no matter where Simon, the guy involved, and his blide go. In a temper Jacqueline swears she'll kiir Kay and after she absorbs a flock of double brandies, there is a shooting. Right after thai the bride is found murdered in her cabin. There follows much questioning, mostly by the Archdeacon Peniiy- feaiher, grizzled cleric who becomes a sort of Scotland Yard inspector while awaiting the police who ar» coming on a launch. The groom also tries his sleuthing hand, but the maid, whom ho is to bribe, is shot right off her chair by an unseen killer on deck. There is a Vieniie.'-e doctor, an English dilettante and as- sorted persons who don't seem to count one way or another. Diana Barrymore as the scheming Jacqueline and Halliwell Hobbes,:a3 the urchdeacon, are the principal fea^ lures. Miss Barrymore is attractive but .somewhat listless as the dosigii- ing woman who totes a rod, Hobhes is alright but is onstage too much. Blair Davies doesn't seem to have enough on the ball for two dames to fight over. David Manners is better as a rich young Londoner traveling incog. Joy Ann Page, stepdaughter, ot film producer Jack L. Warner, makes her debut fairly well. Peter Von Zerneck, who is now in the film "Notorious," plays, the medico. Ibee. ■ A severely dated piece, "The Duchess of Malfi" may well trouble the Catholic church and appeal tmly to the strictly Elizabethan type trag- edy lover. ■rhis piece has been beset with dif- ficulties since it went into rehear.'^al. John Carradine came in a week be- fore the opening date. During the last week the role of DeBosola was left open by illness, and Canada Lee was pressed into service but had in- sufficient time to prepare for the long, diffleult roie. Though it was advertised as the first time a Negro would be made up to take the part of a white man, before the opening curtain a brief announcement was made from stage that the role would be played by George Rylandsj the director. Insufficient time to pre- pare was later given as Lee's failure to pl^y the part and he was expect- ed to open in. the part in Boston. Despite the difficulties, seasoned players gave a creditable perform- ance to a very very small audience m the 3,200-seater. Plot deals with the Duchess of Malfi (Bergner), a widow, who secretly weds her stew- ard of the household (Connor) with- out benefit of clergy and in defiance of her brothers' wishes, B'erdinand (Eccles) and the Cardinal (Carra- dmo). She bears him three children and when the brothers finally hear of it they, with the help ol DeBosola (R.ylands), set about to exterminate the lover, the children, the Duchess, her maid, and eventually themselves, bringing the count of killings to nine, not counting the unborn child the maid claimed she carried in an effort to escape death. A bit on the morbid side though the audience found it fairly hard to keep a strai(jlit face when three of the principals spend a considerable time m dying after being stabbed. .Very pleasing performance is giv- en by Connor and Rvlands, with Miss Bergner, and Carradine giving their usually competent readings. Eccles was a bit too hurried in his! lines and wa.>! difficult to follow when caught. Scenery, lighting aiiid cos- tumes are all commendable. Mnlo. Mtlwtn Lester proiluctlon ot operetia in two- acts (eljfht scenes) with coan>o.HUe sforo ol Vk-lor Horberl'a operettas, "The Kei-enatle" and "The Fortune Teller" (by , niriingeincnt with Klla lleriiei-t Barl!etl>. Book. Henry, Myers; musical ailaptatlon,. dii-ecllon and choral arrangemenls. Arthitr Kay; .•itagcd by Robert Wright itnd Oenrga I'orre.iL; new lyrics. WriRht and I'orrMt; vocal numbers staged by I.eivtf Kesier; dances, Alda Broadbcnt: costumes. Miles While; Ushtinn, Adrian Awan.- .At,Oenlui:.y Iheali-e, -N, Y., .Sept. II,. "40, $1-80 top (to. DPenlnK niKht). ■ : , - llaron Peftibola.., . .:Clarencs Derwent Yvonne.. ......; .Kaye Conntn- l''rea<'o. ...,...:.... .Tacit Goodii Musello ...'. .Helena BilHS Kerseant ot aendarmes. i, .Edmund Dor.iay rite Great Alvaratla.., John l.J eta Valerie.,...Dorecn Wilson tmt-i ... VaJ- ^'alentlnoff Itutlolto. William B.iuei- Horls ... .... .Melville Cooper I'.oazika . ...................... .I*atrlcia Sims Sandor :. ....... . ...Oeori?e Brilloii . Andre ,............ .Gilbert Ilusseil Klophan..........,.:.. Joseph Macatilay tindecided Mademoiselle.. .SuzBtto Merediln M. (Jullbert Armand ..Bert Hillner Majordomo Harvey Shaban Tlte sinKlng ensembles and ballet are Ihe yonns artist personnel ot the tos: Anijeiea and San Francisco . Civle IJirhl Oper,t., , YouiiK ladies of the ooadeirtj:, syiW*'. , , tiieaf.i, mnlfld and mannlltlns: Joanne_ltai. I'rhyllis natemnji, -Mardi Ba.vne, f>,»"' Hrunher, Mai-yciec Busc-her, Dorothy \<.,oni- Icr. lU'th Alba CushlnK, Bflty Galavaii. I'-lorelle milicr, Itoaemaryl.eisen, huMlie Mereiiith, Dftrtl Nelsoti. Bernico Kauiider.?, Nelda Scftrella. PeKsy ■VVeiiktond. n.eien 'Wysatt, ,, ... 'Gyiwies, gentlemen, bellboys, waters. Jatnps Andrews, GeorKo Deinpsey. Pant I'oysler. Rnv ftrakcly. Dean Ktniuntt. Ma^ Hart, Bert Hillner, Elton Howaid. .VViUiaiU James. Dalo Johnson. Richard St-ott.. KijP- crt Se.irlcs, Harvey Shahan, Hay ,Pi»|'!'. : .lohn Stamford, Stanley' Wolfe.,: r':, . Dahclns gypsies and ballet.; Barbi>'f Ballev. I.yza BauKher, Donna Biroc, I'lo'- ence Brundnge, Jean Marie Caplea,..Kain"; leen Cartmill. Blaine .eorl>elt.;MarleUa liolt, Mlt7.i'Garlier, Irene Hal), .ludj^lf*',!. Con.'; ,Toan I..arkln. Betty Ortli. Hlm.s, Betty Slade, Maria Taweel. PalfielH, Edwin Lester, Coast producer who rang the bell resonantly with 'Sons of Norway" and had'^a hand in resus- citating the Coast version of the yesr teryear Montgomery and Stone stai'-; rer, "The Red Mill," misses such Broadway jackpots with his laies'' entrant, "Gypsy Lady." Latter was al.so spawned on the .Coast. Despite the fine production, it can hope lo^ only a moderate run, if that."' . "Lady" comprises a merger of the scores from Victor Herbert's Fortune Teller" and "The Serenade, a happy choice melodically, at least, compared to the dull and drags.v libretto of Henry Myers. Of course, there had to be a switch in dialog, to project the Herbert standbys out what eventuated fails to hold inter- est and merely serves as a stopgap for the tunes. First nighterss prac- tically cheered the latter and, strangely enough, oldies such as i Love You, I Adore You" (from "The Serenade"), "Romany Life" a'va ': .(Continued on nase 61)