Variety (Feb 1947)

SI uicamnMAiK poster? flays Out of lew Parlor Story Wilmington, Del., Feb. U. PiiiiCl Streser production ot comedy In. three acts bs' William McCleery. Settrns, lUymoni) K'ove.v; staged by Bretnigne \«n- dust. At Playhouse, Wilmington. Feb. W- 15, '4T; *a lop, Charles Burnett...... Marian Burnett...... Katy C'hriSting Eii'Ha West Governor Sam Bright Mrs.' Bright Mel Granite Mike, Ktate Trooper Walter Abel , Kdith Atwater ,. ..Jonn Vol" ,Carol Wheeler Kiclvard Noyes .........Paul Hubor Dorothy Knton Royal Beal .Frank Wilcox lialnawii State Trooper Dennis King, Jr. In ."Parlor Story" author William McCleery has compounded a pleasant little comedy which, if the pruning shears are judiciously used, should find an audience on Broadway. It s entertaining throughout, arid that is one factor which counts at the box- office. Also, it looks like a natural for films. At present play is way overboard on length. While emphasizing laugh lines and situations, McCleery finds time to attack a formidable array of problems; . including low pay for teachers, political corruption, Ameri^ can fascism and the plight of chil- dren of divorced parents. In fact there are times when the problems get in the way, but the dialog is bright and intelligent, and the author has peopled his play with some interesting characters. The central figure is Charles. Bur- nett, ah. ex-newspaperman turned college professor. He has his heart set on becoming president of the university, but the governor is luke- warm because of the opposition of a powerful newspaper publisher who wants to force Burnett's, return to the^ newsroom. Ari editorial in the college newspaper, written by. the professor's daughter's boyfriend, " gives the publisher a chance to attack Burnett. The editorial is labeled communistic, and that's enough to cook the professor's goose. Naturally - everything works out okay for the final curtain. However, it's in the gay character- izations and amsuing dialog that the play gets its biggest lift. Topnotch direction by Bretaigne . Wmdust is another important factor. Likewise a hard-working cast of troupers who know their business. Walter Abel returns from Holly- wood to play Burnett, and he does an excellent job. Close behind him is Richard Noyes as the student whose editorial raises all the rumpus. His naturalness adds zest to a char- acterization Which might easily have become a caricature. As the gover- nor, Paul Huber is the typical poli- tician whose main concern is being in with the right people. The pub- lisher gets hard-boiled treatment from Royal Beal. Dennis King, Jr. impresses in his brief appearances as a meddlesome state trooper. On the distaff side Edith Atwater Is charming and competent as the wife, and the teen-age daughters are delightfully played by Carol Wheeler and Joan Vohs. Dorothy Eaton as the governor's wife and Frank; Wil- cox as a state trooper round out the cast. The attractive living room setting was designed by Raymond Sovey. Klep. in .Chicago teed off at the Erie the- atre here with a personnel, auspices and staging different from that of the recent Broadway revival. Plan is to open in Chicago next week and then tour the hinterlands. Ques- tion is: will the names of the play Wrights and natural entertainment values of the piece be strong enough to overcome the cast and produc- tion for a boxofflce draw? Without any wellknown playfrs but a couple of former leads, Ralph Hertz and Sally Cunningham, both undoubtedly unknown to the newer generation, the company is strictly in the road class. Houses here were very slim, which may have been due to the $3 top or potential audiences having seen the film versions. Edward Nugent, featured with John McQuade, provides a satisfac- tory performance as Walter Burns, the heartless managing editor. Mc- Quade fails to convince as Hildy Johnson. Ralph Hertz, playing the Sheriff, and Jabez Grey, in the role satirizing "Big Bill" Thompson, render fair interpretations, Better than average personations are those of Joseph Hardy, Arthur Foran and Morrie Brenner as criminal court legmen. The direction of Ted Post is spotty. Some scenes are played at the fast-paced tempo required for this slice of newspaper, life and others are permitted to drag. These spots Will undoubtedly be'speeded up before opening in the. Windy City. R«ss, / Weditcaday, Fcbrnary 19, I947 . -it. ANGEL LEASES BOUSE TO INSURE HIT RUN London, Feb. 7. H. J. Barlow, Wolverhampton business man who backed "Worm's Eye View," now in its second year at the Whitehall, has taken theatre on three year lease from owner Lou Cooper. Theatre was originally leased by same owner to Phyllis Dixey and her husband Jack Tracey, with lease expiring next April. Dixey wanted to renew lease, with owner asking $40,000 premium. Position now is that ,the show, despite being one of West End hits, is compelled to vacate March 1 to tour provinces, returning May 5 un- der new lessee, who also owns the show, to resume its run. Manage- ment is dickering with Henry Sherek to transfer "A Message From Mar- garet," currently at the Duchess, but which has to vacate to make room for another show on March 3 for two months, * lays Abroad Play m Broadway Craig's Wife CSant (3alther production' of three-act drama by George Kelly, SStara Judith Eve- lyn. Features BhlliP Qber. staged by Kelly; settings, Stewart Chaney; At Play- house, N, Y., Feb. 12, 'il; **.80 top (SO opening night). Miss Austin.............Kathleen Comegys Mrs. Harold Viola Roache Mazie. .,. .B-ortha Duckworth Mrs. Craig ^..Judith Evelyn Kthel tiandreth. .Virginia Dwyer Walter Oralg ...Philip Ober Mrs. Frazter Virgin la Hammond Billy Birkmire Hersche] Bentley Joseph Catelle. .......Hugh Benhie Harry.................,.Allan Nourae Eugene 'Fredericks. .John Hudson The Front Page (Road Co.) Schenectady, Feb. 14. Excepting the playwrights and Harold Grau, of the original and re- vival companies, this fast-moving, bawdy comedy of newspaper days More than 20 years after its orig- inal Broadway production, George Kelly's Pulitzer Prize drama, "Craig's Wife," has been revived by Gant Gaither, with Judith Evelyn inherit- ing the titular role bestowed in the original production on Chrystal Heme. To a new generation of play- goers, Kelly's study of a woman whose name over the years has be- come accepted in the Americana pat- tern as a synonym for the, nagging, domineering, superior wife, it re- mains a biting, brilliant analysis of a woman obsessed with the love of her home and its security. But above all, the revival marks a personal triumph for Miss Evelyn. It should have at least a moderately success- ful run. Kelly's dialog^ by its conciseness and his ability to unfold a complete study without resorting to any con- trived situations or unnecessary ac- tion, is still something for play- T@dfs Ballet Booking Crowds Dance Calendar Booking by Michael ToBd of the Ballet des Champs Elysees for its first N. Y, visit this spring, has caused some flurry in the terpsichore world because of the way it will crowd the dance calendar, and com- pete for the limited ballet audiences. Plan is to present, the French dance group of 35 in Boston, March 20, and in N. Y., March 24, at the Broad- way theatre for four weeks, then tour briefly. The spring ballet season in N. Y ; will have the Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo at the City Center Feb. 16 to March 30; Original Ballet Russe at the Met opening March 20 (and di- rectly competing with Elysees) while Ballet Theatre is set for N. Y. visit in April, Martha Graham wiil have completed a week's pres entation at the Ziegfeld in February, The Elysees troupe got a .300,000' franc subsidy ($3,200) .from the French government, as a goodwill gesture, for transportation both ways, but otherwise Todd is assum ing financial risks. Ballet Theatre played six weeks at the Broadway last fall to moderate-size houses. Ill Mo* by Moonlight London, Feb. 8. Mnnlt & Dimtee presentation of JMbHjj Gate^production In three acts by Mlchne MucIJammolr. Directed by Hilton Kfl- mrt£ M Vaudeville. S'aifi,™ bast " u> :: 3& See ', *.■'.'.*.,Michael MacIaammolr JC'i* Maureen OusaeK Catherine. H.llaro* ~WU.M D »«« Ettuvi^* «*■ The Dublin Gate theatre, whose nlavers (with those of the Abbey fire) are Wrongly reinforcing British pictures, gives London a piax of witchcraft and furies, wrapped in the traditional Celtic twilight In an ancient house in Connemara a new- lvwed wife. Catherine Mallaroe, is possessedby an evil spirit:, scares he occupants by her uncanny knowledge of the past, and threatens to burn the place down in an excess of possessive rage. Into this theme the author has introduced the well- known time theory so fascinating to dramatists. Time can be madei to stop and when the clock' strikes, terror strikes, too, and happy lives are confused. Michael MacLlammoir" has written play which irritatingly reminds one of J. B. Priestley's . time ma- chine, of J. M. Barrie'S "Mary Rose' and of Margaret Kennedy's "Con- stant Nymph," for the young daugh- ter of the play is another Tessa in her way, and the professor, who un- dresses before the audience before going to bathe, is a reminder of Miss Kennedy's wild and glorious Sanger. The general impression, never- theless, is one of eerie charm with touches of madness and melodrama and while it successfully entertains it does not always convince. The play would lend itself better to the screen than the stage. ■ It has a kind of devilish power to amuse, and the theory it unfolds with a good deal of blarney and poetry is always fascinating. It is finely acted, too, with an excellent eccen- tric study by Hilton Edwards as the professor, a nice piece of witchery from Eithne Dunne as the stricken wife, and a beautiful half-woman study of the daughter by Maureen Cusack, midway between innocence and sophistication. The author plays Lse, the manservant, with im- I*" l*v*r Dm S»le}i (Th6, Rf»l«t of the Sun) Paris, Jan 22 Comedle Francatso production ot ni«v't» four acta. by Francois Porclie » n a a" Slmont>: Mrected by Mme, Hlmoi« SetT' Mmue Berth., Stars Vunnel Sua wil Valines, At Luxembourg. Pails, M<)My - bonis XIV...,,.. V.JeaVMarttS Vnllot,,, , t» rwi Philippe Manclni Jacques Cla„i f^? n :::;::;:;::.::: Onde'nel •,: Mnjovflnnio i.... Anne d.'Autrlche,,,.., Marie Munclnl........ I'.aure Martlnozsl rtosa,, SAMUEL FRENCH StHCE 1S30 Play, Brokers and Authors' Representatives 85 West 454 ii Street, New Yoris 811 West 7th Street, JUs Angeles St. Louis, Feb. 18, J. R. Cuniff, a member of Black- stone's magic company, last week suffered a severe gash on the right hand at the American theatre when it became tangled up in a circular lumber saw as he prepared to dem- onstrate how a woman is cut in half and still lives. Blackstone finished up .without mishap. Craig's Wife (Oct. 14, 1935—The Original) Rosalie Stewart production of drama In three acts by George Kelly. Staffed by the author; settings. Sheldon K. Viele.-At Morosco theatre. ,N. T. Miss Austen... Anne Sutherland Mrs. Harold.......Josephine Williams Mazle Marie Gildea Mrs. Craig Chrystal Heme Bthel Landreth Rleanor Mish <!ralR ..Charles Trowbridge Mrs. Praaler ......Josephine Hull Billy Birkmire Arling Alcina Joseph Catelle .-..Arthur Shaw Harry J, A. Curtis Fredericks Nelan Jaa'p • Marco Beliwt '« 'PeWM , Mo Peltle< ■ ...Beatrice Bretti "7.(2;"™ B«»e»- ..Olnrline Beudcm ...Anionta Bouvawt Olympe Munclnl lacaueUirt "5b! Mortense Manctni, ..Marie '] herese MoffiH mense gusto and good humor. Ebet. Vingt Cinq Ann de ■ Bonbenr US Yean ot Happiness) Paris, Feb. 5. Parleys revival of comedy in three acts by Germalne I.elrancq. Directed by .laoques Baumer. Sets by Mile. Plrsys. Starring Betty Dttuasmona and Germalne Montero. At Theatre Michel, Paris. Mrs. Castille.... .Betty Dauswnond Florence Michellne Valmonde The Maid....,, ...Christiane Barbey Marguerite............... Germalne Montero Castille Charles Dechamps Barbler Gallet Andre. .Roland Bom-din Yokel s Coast Huddle Hollywood, Feb. 18, Alex Yokel is here for fortnight' huddles with Paul Gerard Smith regarding production of latter's com- edy "Benchwarmer," Yokel, conferring on revisions of script, hopes to get comedy on Chi- cago boards by early May; other- wise he'll hold off until August or September. NEW PRODUCING OUTFIT Paul Benard, former Republic Pictures director; Helen Bonstelle, niece of Jesse Bonstelle, actress- manager of Detroit Civic Theatre, and Don Briody, have formed a producing company named Theatre Project-. Owner of Opta-Air Theatre would life® to make eoetocti with com- panies to perform for nlm weeks' during sommer of J 947. Theatre situated 7 mi. outside Mia, Pa. Box 8700, Variety 154 W. 46th St.. New York 19, NX EXPERIENCED SECRETARY STENOGRAPHER AVAILABLE IMMEDIATELY! Please Write P.O. BOX 1031 CUAND OKNTRAT, STATION NEW YOBK Interested In H®w PSgy For Summer Try-Out at Reputable Theatre, Pre Broadway Write Box 750, care Variety 154 West 46th Street, N. Y. City wrights to shoot at. Despite the aura which has surrounded "Craig's Wife" as one of the minor classics of the American theatre, the revival points up anew that what Kelly wrote is a perfect one-act play. Had the first act been left to stand alone, with its flawlessly defined characters com- plete in their sharply defined vig- nettes, it might have rated such ac- claim. The second and third acts are anti-climactic, for the actual plot de- velopment never pars the brilliantly conceived titular characterization. Miss Evelyn makes Mrs. Craig a merciless tyrant who is very sure she is right in-her opinion of men and values, capturing all the nuances and meaning written into the part by Kelly. Philip Ober as the husband is good, but his performance is dimmed by the extraordinary acting of the femmes in the play, Virginia Hammond as the garrulous neighbor, played in the original, production by Josephine Hull; Viola Roache as the housekeeper and Kathleen Comegys as the aunt, are all fine. Kelly, who staged the original, re- peats on this one most effectively. Being fundamentally a character sketch, the play suffers little by hav- ing been written a couple of decades back Hose. Turnabout Continued Irom page 49 Films, hotels and restaurants restrict Negroes completely. Lisner Negro Ban Lifted Washington, Feb. 18. George Washington University's Lisner Auditorium color ban came to an end here last week, terminat- ing a situation which began when the place was leased for the open- ing of the Ingrid Bergman starrer, "Joan of Lorraine," a couple of months back. . This, play, a rip-roaring comedy, was first done in 1942 and had a run of about 500 performances, which explains why Mile, Parisys revives it at her Michel at a time when audi- ences are craving for escapists. Betty Daussmond was in the original cast. It is an escape in pink, and would never get the green light from Joe Breen, but on the stage it just murders them, and looks like a good bet on any stage where bluenoses won't interfere with a theme where illegitimacy is trumped by further illegitimacy. Betty Daussmond is the highly respected wife of Charles Dechamps, a wealthy provincial industrialist. They have been happily married for 25 years, and each one believes the other faithful. They have a 20-year- old son, Roland Bourdin, who falls in love with Micheline Valmonde, a pretty Parisian bank clerk. When he tells his parents he wants to marry the girl, his mother, who has more exalted plans for his future, strenu- ously objects, especially when the girl frankly acknowledges that she is working in the provinces to escape the atmosphere of her mother's home. Latter is a well kept woman, and the girl is of unknown father. The boy's father sides up with him, Play further reveals infidelity of both of the boy's parent* and means boy takes to win girl. The play is written in such a way that most lines get laughs without ever getting raw. Betty Daussmond is a wow as the haughty provincial socialite who bosses her husband. Latter, done by Dechamps, and Gallet as the lawyer who sowed his Monsieur. , Tony ■.faponof Anno Merit Marilnoral TouiX ' Alphonur Mnndnl.; Hen* (fiSS , Mmiimnn Mnnc-inl Hose Maria Mjuej This play, penned by the late Francois Porche, father of the cur- rent head of French radio, Wladimir Porche, and whose widow Mme. Simone, was a wellknown actress, should have opened the new sec- ond stand of the Comedie Francaise, It had been announced at the begin- ning of the season but its presenta- tion was postponed owing to sets' and costumes not being ready and rehearsals deemed insufficient. The numerous cast is made easy since the Francaise has a lot of talent under contract, but a large num- ber have only bits, and interest cen- ters on very few. Even at'that, the period nlay is mostly acted in the formal way . which is in keeping with, the Louis XIV period, and fails to draw human emotion except in a couple 'of scenes between Yonnel as Cardinal Ma'tfarin and Mony Datmes as his niece. Martinelli is miscast as King Louis XIV. Beatrice Bretty is fair as the Queen Mother, and » good performance is given by youth- ful Rose Marie Mallea as the teen- aged niece of .the cardinal. She evidences considerable poise for her age and is worth watching. ..>..- The story repeats history. Cardi- nal Mazarin, prime minister of France Under young King Louis XIV, and the widowed Queen Mother's lover, had a niecj Marie Mancini with whom the King fell heavily in love, and would have married If the Cardinal, giving, the State preference over his own family's aggrandisement, had not killed the love affair despite his niece's and the King's protests snd arranged for latter to marry the daughter of the King of Spain in- stead. Climax in the play is the scene in which the niece dares her uncle to act against the Kings wishes followed by that in when he succeeds in doing so. MaxU Sis© Wanted a Cream Front Boor London, Feb. 7. Blanche Littler ami Hubert Wooamrt presentation ot new Inree In three acts w A. R. Whatrtiore. Directed by Austin ««• ford. At Apollo, r.onrton. Feb. B, %*• Krneat BrlBS».«••>•• ••• " Flo Bi'lggs.. • • Sir Oeoi-Ro Basingstoke Violet BrlKS-a ..Robertson Bare .Joan Carol . . .Peter HoOKM ,..Doreen Ftachtr .Brenaa Cameron peler Humphreys ....Sidney Vivian Denis lehrer .Constance IfflM .Christine Bennelt Ms! Bacon ...Ian CarmlchMl Maude Brine*.... ,loe Spence....... Rnmuel Sankey... Tony.............. MnKKle ARntha Alice Teddy Dyeswood. The presence of Robertson Bare, the frightened little man of legend^ cartoon and comedy, in a bedroom farce prepares us for one of tne oldest theatrical prescriptions, ano this one is no exception to the rui£ Hare gets horribly involved mm a series of women while fixing w* evidence- for a divorce, but as ne » fundamentally the most ff^SS of men he naturally .Mis- n with the woman providing the evi dence. Play skates along these wen thumbed situations till act twee, when it suddenly boils up> mtci a wild burlesque o£ an outside iwoan cast, with Hare as a composer ot song hits for Hollywood. , Piter Haddon, returning to™ West End stage after years of over seas broadcasting, makes a welcome comeback as .the s jlly-ass English man of. all time. Hare. Constance Lome and that fine trouper, J»» Bacon, are much too good.for tne ancient formula. Play is built io laughs and .gets them, but fails to Ebet. At that time the place was pick- eted because a "white only" policy \ X# oat ? Wlth hlm ' S'y e ? n excel- in thp anrlipnop wa« fnllnwr-H H n » lent performance as the two men in the audience was followed. How- who c th , ; Uh th , k ever, the auditorium is now closed i 0 £ respectability. 1 * Germaine Montero, who appears only in the third act as the girl's mother, brings out beautifully the contracts between the respectable bourgeois couple and herself who has graduated from the gold-digging sorority into a swanky Parisian derili- mondaine. Among the four of them the comedy is kept at fast tempo with telling results. Maxi. ia"» j rise" above"the conventional level o trite and sexy farce. Pitt Playhouse's 100th Pittsburgh, Feb. m Pittsburgh Playhouse will cele- brate its 100th production Shakespearian work for the w time. . ,. „ n f "Macbeth," under direction ^ to commercial stage shows, The new policy.line was decided by the George Washington board of trustees', which ruled that the uni- versity Would "impose no restric- tions on attendance" whenever the place is leased to outside organiza- tions "for meetings or functions of a general educational nature." Frederick Burleigh, opens Saturday (22) with John Johnsraw Dorothy Scott, who were togetiw recently in "Juno and the and ther ck," doing'the'ieads" and a cast including Marion Leslie, Sun-Telegraph new paper gal making her stage dew St. Paul's Pieem . St. Paul, Feb. IB- World premiere of Robert r Warren's play, "Proud FJesh. take place April 8-13 i" the U»iv el sity theatre, U. of Minnesota.