Variety (Jul 1947)

44 MZGITIMATB 10 New Plays Getting Preem On Strawhat Circuit This Wk. Ten new plays are being tried out-f in the summer stocks this week and another is in rehearsal for a Broad- way showing Aug. 19, it being^the only listing for next month so far. tatter is "The Magic Touch," billed as a comedy, slated at the Interna- tional,; Columbus Circle, which will be operated by Max J. Jelin, current lessee of Belasco. Howard Smith and Frances Comstock will play the leads in "Touch," authored by Charles Raddock and Charles Sherman; Try- out is dated for BuffalQ, Aug. 4, with Newark to follow. In the strawhats the new plays listed this week are: "So Small a World," Clinton, Conn; "Bonfire," Bridgeton, Me.; "Four Flights .Up," Peak's Island, Me.; "Strawberries in January," Oullford, Conn.; "Mon- day Man," Oaks Bluff, Me.; "Holi- day From Heaven," Reading, Pa., "Among Ourselves," Moylan, Pa.; "The Shining Threshold," Falmouth, Mass.," "Third Cousin," Dallas, also "Hi Ho Figaro," Provincetown Playhou$e, N. Y. 'Ruth'8%G, A. C. Atlantic City, July 22. "Dear Ruth," ivi'th Jean Lewis in the title role, did $8,500 gross in the Auditorium last week. The-play was the first offered in this- summer house. Backers expect Sylvia Sid- . ney, in "Joan of Lorraine," which opened yesterday (21), to do better. Theatre running in competition ■with "Ice-Capades," housed on rink in main auditorium while summer plays are staged in large ballroom *ith seats ramped to accommodate 2,000. Ball-'Dream Girl' Up to 24G Detroit, July 22. "Dream Girl," starring Lucille Ball, increased its business in the second and closing week at Music Hall when it did $26,000 against $24,000 ior the first week. "Claudia," starring Kim Hunter ■ and John Craven, opens at Music Hall tonight.(22). :^'Dream . Girl" played nine per- formances last week at a $3 top for • the 1,800-seat house. ; ZaSu's Olntjy $4,300 Washington, July 22. Olney theatre, town's only pro fessional strawhatter, hit the jackpot past week with ZaSu Pittp in "The Late Christopher Bean." Actress' draw was so great, that, despite the rainy week, house had standees for every performance, with cash cus^ tomers frequently turned away for lack of floor space. With a $2.40 top, and a 432 seat- ing, capacity, Olney grossed $4,300. Large bite in profits was taken by lai'ge nut invested ' in four guest players. (Frank Wilcox, Zolya Talma and Nancy Davis are the others). Pitt Troupe Folds Pittsburgh, July 22. Repertory Players, strawhat group operating at the Frick School audi- torium, have given up the ghost after four weeks of a planned 11- week schedule. Outfit nsver really got started and had rough sledding right from the beginning. Troupe, playing only Thursday and Friday nights, lost its backer at the end of the third week of opera- fion ^nd then decided to go cooper- ative for remainder of season. How- . ever) after one show, Noel Coward's "Blithe Spirit,'' Which didn't even draw 50 people in two performances, company decided it was no use and folded. Repertory Players were under the . direction of Fi-ancis Mayville, who also acted leading roles. Strawhat Jottingrs Edith Atwater, starring in "The- atre," which opened Monday (21) at Ridgefteld (Conn.) strawhat... Donald Devlin, 12-year-old, set for title role in "Christopher Blake" at Bucks County Playhouse, Nev/ Hope, Pa., week. Aug. 4...Richard Base- hart and Beatrice Pearson in "The Hasty Heart" at La Jolla (Calif.) Playhouse this weelc . .Janet Cantor, youngest daughter of Eddie Cantor, legit-debuted last night (Tues.) in "Personal Appearance" at Rochester (N. H.) summer theatre ... "The Vortex," Noel Coward drama, is week's bill at Lakewood theatre, Skowhegan, Me. . ."Barretts of Wim- pole Street" tees off today (Wed.) at Josephine E. Holmes' Barn Play- house, New London, N, H.. . .Film writer Ralph A. Jason's psycholog- ical script, "The People Are Run- ning," slated for pre-Broadway test at Hayloft theatre, Guthsville, Pa., next month.. .Noel Coward's current "Blithe Spirit," the 300th play to have ^ been presented at PriscjUa Beach' theatre, Plymouth, Mass., since spot's organization in 1934... Lois Wilson and Eddie Nugent in Kiss and Tell" at Brattleboro (Vt.) summer theatre starting Monday (28).. ."The Shape of Things," satiri- cal revue, slated for tryout next Monday (28) at John. Drew, theatre,; East Hampton, L. I. . "Dream Girl" this week's opus at Sayville, L. I., Playhouse.. .Elissa' Landi and Bran- don Peters have top roles, in "The- atre" st»tlir)g^J5§,ftday (-28) at Town Hall, Cohasset, Mass... Olga Bac- lanova inked for Gian-Carlo Menot- ti's "A Copy of Madame Aupic," to be tested week of Augi 27 at The- atre-in-the-Dale, New Milford, Conn. .. iPort Players of Oconomowoc, Wise, celebrating their lOOth pro- duction this week with "The Bishop Misbehaves".. .New play by Horton Foote, "Return," set for, tryout July 30 by Perry-Mansfield theatre work- shop, Steamboat Springs, Colo. "Three Men on a Horse" slated for Weston, Vt.j Playhouse starting Thursday (31) . . . "Trial of Mary Dugan" rolls Monday {28) at Ben^ nington, Vt., Drama Festival . . . "Morton DaCosta, managing director, of Cragsmoor theatre, Cragsmoor, N. v., plays Sheridan Whiteside in "Man Who Came to Dinner" week of July 29 . . . Tonio Selwart star- ring in "Topaze" this week at Fingw: Lakes Drama Festival, Ithaca, N. Y. . , . Putnam County Playhouse, Mahopac, N. Y., using revolving stage this week in presenting John Galsworthy's "Escape" in 10 scenes . . Frank McHugh and his son, Peter, appear in "Ah, Wilderness," which tees off Monday (28) at West- chester Playhouse, Mt. Kisco, N. Y. ... Stella Roman, Metopera soprano, sings in "La Boheme" next Tuesday (29) at the Cincinnati, Summer Opera . ; Raymond Greenleaf and Elizabeth Eustis inked for roles in "Pink: String and Sealing Wax," opening Aug. 4 at the John Drew theatre. East Hampton, L. I. . . . "High Tor" next week's offering at the Van- Wyck Playhouse; Fishkill, N. Y. . . . "'Trial Honeymoon," com- edy by Conrad Smith, tested last month at Greenbush theatre, Blau- velt, N. Y., set for return booking at same spot Starting Aug. 5. Faye Emerson appears in Charles and Michael Robinson's new- play, "Profile," at Cape Playhouse, Den- nis, Mass., North Shore theatre, Marblehead, Mass., and winds up last week in August at Spa theatre, Saratoga Springs, N. Y.... Paul and Grace Hartman current at the Berk- shire Playhouse, Stockbridge, Mass., in their touring revue, "Heaven Help the Angels" . . . Julie Haydon has lead femme role in "Glass Menagerie" this week at St. Michael's theatre, Burlington Vt. . .•. "Joan of Ijorraine," with Madge Evans, garnered an estimated $4,700 in eight performances through Sun- day (20) at Spa theatre, Saratoga Springs,- N.Y. ... "There's Always Juliet," with Miriam Hoplcins, gross- ed about $6,800 at Boston Summer theatre last week . . . Edward Ever- ett Horton, making the rounds in "Springtime for Henry/' plays Mar- tha's Vineyard, week of July 28, DRAKE HEADS UTAH GONIAL DRAMA Salt Lake City, July 22. The most pretentious production of the Utah Centennial bowed in last night (21), when "The Promised Valley," starring Alfred Drake, preemed at the University of Utah stadium. "Promised Valley" features a oast of 150 topped by Drake, who is supported by Jet MacDonald. The show is billed as a drama with music, in an effort to- shake loose from the idea it's a pageant, and tells the story of the pioneer trek of the Mormons from Illinois to Salt Lake a century ago. , The advance sale topped $30,000, a record^ for Utah. Show plays 18 performances, Heavy advance was largely due to the potent sales ef- fort put on by the Mormon Church, which appointed 1,300 ticket agents to cover every ward (parish) in the country. Result was a sale of 5,000 fix in Los Angeles alone. Music for "Valley" is by Crawford Gates, book by Arnold Sundgaard, musical direction handled by Jay Blackton, while the dances are by Helen Tamiris. Nelle Fisher and Barton Mumaw take the dancing leads. The show is directed by C. Lowell Lees, director of the local university theatre. With 9,000 seats .available in the stadium, and prices scaled from $3 down to 50c for kids, the opus can show a healthy profit playing capac- ity. But indications are this would be practically Impossible, and it is understood the Centennial Commis- sion is ready to write off a $95,000 loss!/ • ■ ■ ■ After "Valley" closes Aug. 9, Drake will head for Westport to do "Pursuit of Happiness," and when that closes he expects to go into re- hearsal with "The Liar," a play with music he co-scrfpted. - V :' V ' Tallulah's "Lives" IViG SRO Westporti Conn., July 22. Tallulah Bankhead hit new high Bummer business for Westport Coun- try Playhouse last week in "Private Lives" revival; which John C. Wil- son will send to Chicago' for a run. 6ross neared $7,500 for complete aellout. More seats at $3 this season accounted for $300 jump over last summer high of $7,200 for Olivia «le. Bavilland in "What Every Woman Knows." .Engagement drew comment in. New York dailies when reports of: Cape Playhouse, Cape May, N.J., •tar's capers" at tempestuous final re-1 Aug. 4, and Spa theatre, Saratoga, hearsals reached the breakfast tables Aug. 11 , . . "Papa Is All" bill at .here of commuting drama reporters|Bass Bocks theatre, Gloucester^ I Broadway press agents. | Mass., starting next Tuesday (29). Jelin in Conrt to Reply On 5V2G Judgment ■ Max Jelin, operator of the Belasco. theatre, N. Y., is slated to appear today (Wed.) in N. Y. supreme court to answer Alexander Gross' request for summary judgment on ^5,S00 claimed to be owed Gross. Grdss, who says he advanced'$5,- 000 to Jelin for a play that was never produced, already had a $4,- 393 judgment against Jelin when he advanced the coin for the play, ac- cording to petition to the court. Ad- vance was submitted by Jelin in his recent bankruptcy plea, and in or- der to get satisfaction for the judg- ment and clean up the $5,000 debt. Gross contends that Jelin gave him 55 $100 notes and says that no payment has been made on them; Gross aslted for immediate hear- ing for his request for summary judgment inasmuch as Jelin's lease on the Belasco expires in two months and, with lease's expiration, Jelin's assets would be dissipated. Mpls. Lyceum's Facelift Minneapolis, July 22. Remodeling of the Lyceum, legit roadshow house here, expected to cost approximately $50,000, is under way following receipt of a Govern- ment permit. Tlie 2,100-seat house, managed by Leo Murray, reopens in October With Ina Claire in "The Fatal Weak- ness." . Wednesdajr, July 23, 1947 Strawhat Avt of Darkness New Milford, Conn., July 18. Louis Town-scnd productiqn of meiodrama In three acts (Ave scenes) by Frank Oabrfel- .lon. Stars Feggry ConlcUn, E). O. Marshall, directed by Paul Vincent Oordeni settings by 3. D. Fltz-Hugh. Opened at TheatTC- )n-lhe-Dnle, New MlKord, Gonn., July 10, 'IT; ?2,50 top. I.ucy Gatie. Peggy Conklln Piotessoi' Chris Qade Jfi. U. Marshall Cora Littlefleia,..,........CeIe Moliaughlin Professor Harold lilttlefleld.Alexander Clark Madeline Hughes. Jeri Sauvinet Tea Petty..................Bruce Carlisle Dr. .Tohn Williams.*....William Olbbersou Dr. Hendricks..Kdmond Le Comte Dr. Maxell.... .........William Robertson Nurse Walshv,............Georgia Simmons Reviews "Darkness" is typical of that type of play that crops up not infrequently in the strawhat belt; plays that indi- cate potential depth but which a nec- essarily limited preparatory setup hampers probing: that depth to its ul- timate values. Unquestionably the author has an interesting premise here, It's built around the theme of a somewhat em- bittered college prof who deliber-' ately brings pregnancy upon his wife, gambling that the resultant strain on hev impaired physical capacities will cause her death, thus leaving him free to mSrry one of his stu- dents with whom he is having an af- fair. That this production has failed to capitalize fully on the melodra- matic possibilities inherent in this situation is due more to insuiiicient development rather than a lack of basic material. It is worthy of fur- ther exjperimentation. Aside from a number of reminis- cent: facets which have been em- bodied in other plays, script strikes out on a; highway of its own via a frank discussion of the marital af- fairs of this thwarted smalltown pro- fessor and the wife he accuses of smothering his opportunities for a literary career. Writing is okay as to continuity, but erratic on dialog, many of the lines handed to male lead being list- less literature, strictly from the-flrst .primer. Despite extreme frankness of subject matter on obstetrics, and kindred topics, wordage is not of- fensive, with one or two exceptions. A gutter reference to enceinte is not only in bad taste but also out of character as part of the vocabulary of the particular prof who utters it. Peggy Conklin makes a capital Lucy, wife of the disgruntled prof. Latter is played by E. G. Marshall, who thesps efficiently but doesn't seem to contribute the qualities that would bring about a series of co-ed crushes. Alexander Clark and Cele McLau,r?hlin offer reliable support, and Bruce Carlisle adds an ingratiat- ing bit as a ^ude. William Gibberson is personable, but stiff, as- Lucy's onetime flame, now her medic, Jeri Sauvinet underplays the co-ed role satisfactorily. Two budget-conscious sets, a liv- ing-.room and a hospital room, fill the bill, and ditto for the staging. •;; Bone. Current London Shows iFigwe shows weeks of run) London, July 22. "Annie Get Your Gun," Col's'm (7) "Bless the Bride," Adelphia (13). "Born Yesterday," Garrick (26). "Boys On Brown,'' Duchess (4). "Deep Are Roots," Wyndhaus (2) "Crime of Foley,? Comedy (2). "Edward My Son," Majesty's (8), "Ever Since Paradise," New (7). "Here There," Palladium (16). "Jane," Aldwych (25). "Ufa With Father," SaVoy (7). "Nightingale," Princes (1). "Noose," Saville (5). "Off the Record," Apollo (7). "Olclahoma," Drury .Lane (12). "Perchance to Dream," Hipp (118). "Piccadilly Hayride," Wales (19). "Present Laughter," Haym'kt (14) "Proudly Present," Yorto (12). "Sleeping Clergyman," Crit. (5). "Sweetest Lowest," Ambass. (64). "Together Again," Vic Palace (14) "Trespass," Globe' (1). "Voice of Turae," Piccadilly (2) "Winslow Boy," Lytic (61), "Worm'f Vlew,'> Whitehall (12). Bent Halo Great Neck, N. Y., July 14. Chapel theatre produotton of : comedy in three acts (one set) by William Corlngton. Stars June Duprez and Stephen Chase. Staged by Si Varlo; set, Paul Bertelsen. At Chapel theatre, Great Neck, N. Y., July U, '47; $2.40 top. ' Carlo Vasari. Si Varlo Allegra Bollng.................June Duprez Christopher Spire.......... .jPeter Fernandez Mitzi Boll .Ruth Morrison Miranda Spire,.,........liadelelne Marshall Frank Spire Stephen Chase Dawson Bollng Rudulph Watson Cella Payne...... .....Phoebe Folger Rudl von Recklow, Anton Dlffrlhg "Bent Halo," by William Coring- ton, given strawhat preem by the Chapel Players, with June Duprez and Stephen Chase guestarring in central roles, shapes up as a likeable, sophisticated comedy: However, it will need->considerable working over, especially sharper editing and more bristling dialog, for Broadway. While plot is somewhat familiar, Cprington has peopled it with some interesting characters. Miss Duprez, from films and who last season ap- peared with American Repertory The- atre, is a particularly happy choice lor the main femme role. As the spoiled Allegra Boling, whose globe- trotting dart has catered to her every whim. Miss Duprez reveals a vibrant personality as well as sharp sense of comedy At . opening of play she is displaying interest in young Chris Spire (Peter Fernandez), adolescent but plenty hep son of Frank Spire (Chase), stuflled-shirt Park avenue medico. The icy guy, figuring his lad is being taken by a money-grabbing sharpy, ventures to AUegra's swanky Greenwich Village abode to buy her off. Instead, he is fascinated by the gal. After imbibing a succession of stingers, he romances her fast and furiously. Gal has seemingly played the field without scorching. When previous lovers had gotten to proposing stage she managed to brush them'off. How- ever, it's Spire who'does the brush- ing now, and she can't take it, There are good performances also by Chase, Rudulph Watson, in cork- ingly good delineation of the girl's father; Fernandez, the youthful ad- mirer; Si Vario, a Latin nitery owner; Madeleine Marshall, the doc's hus- band-hunting sister; Phoebe Folger, a nitwit ballet dancer, and Anton Diflring, as one of AUegra's former Victims. Staging by Vario keeps comedy moving ^at happy pace. Lone settitii- by Paul Bertelsen is attractive Edba, My Fatr Lady , Westboro, Mass. July 22 _ Jlobert Dagget and Robert Hang prodic. tion of comedy in three acta. By Otis Blee. low. 'Staged by William Corrlgan; settings Robert Dnggott. At Red Barn theatre' Westboro, Mass., Julv IB, '47. (--"'le, Clem Moore Tena Slarlr Somrtjy Joe Bush Del Warren Boberi Lauritzen Hugh Grant. .Moultrie PatteS ' -Bonbon Parker McCOrmlek I-aura Landis Grant. ...Vega Kennn Mao Clelland.,. i., John Glendlnnini Mra., Peterson Phillips... .liouise Galloway Dr. Brlggs. .Rloliard Hughes Otis Bigelow member of the Red Barn theatre cast, has broken out with a comedy titled"My Fair Lady." It appears to have a better chance of making the grade than his drama of ; last year, "God's Island." Comedy deals with efforts of Laura Grant .to enter politics while her author-husband, Hugh, takes her antics in stride with as much grace as possible.' Usual family rows are frequent until Laura learns that an "act of God" is to take place, which upsets the applecart as far as her political aspirations are concerned. Dialog, at which Bigelow is quite adept, is bright and spicy. But the chief-adverse criticism is that it's far too wordy at times. More bluei penciling is needed generally. ' Cast is uniformly good, though at times Vega Keane overacts. She's a looker, however. Outstanding per- formance is that by Parker McCor. mick, as a muchly divorced gaj. Bigelow is at his best in this char- i acter, and Miss McCormick leaves nothing to be desired in the manner in which she handles the part. John C. Wilson, Broadway pro- ducer, was among the first nighterg, Lorfc. Play on Broadway Rip Van Winkle New York City Theatre Co. revival of Joseph Jefferson-Dion Bouoicault comedy in two-acts (seven scenes). Staged.-.by; Herbert Bevghof: designed and lighted by Carl ICent; music, Andre Singer; masks. Remo Butuno. At City Center, N. Y., July 15, '4T; IfH.lO t(!P. -„ Gretchen. Rip's Wife..........Grace Coppln Minnie. .Rip's Child;. ...... .'.Jimsey SomerS Nick Vedder, The Innkeeper Martin Wolfson Derriclt Van Beekman Byron McGrath Peter, Nick's Child .....Edwin Bruce Cockles, Derirck's Nephew.. .Jack Manning Rip Van Winkle ....Philip Bourneuf Jacob Stein..........'.. Jack Bittner Town Crier. ..Del Hughes Seth, The New Innkeeper Jack Bittner Katie. His W'ife.,. .Haila Stoddard Minnie, Grown Up..Frances ,Beid Peter, Gfown Up. Arthur Franz ■ Children of the Village: Patti Foster, Mary PoDe, Betty Tjou Keim, Alan Shay, Dickie Orlan, Bobby Nick. Villagers: -William Bales, Del Hushes, Colin Craig, Gerald Prosk, Fredd Wayne. . Women of the Village: Mil Mann, Carol, Harriton, Anne Feris, , Mary Anthony,... Florence Aquino. New York's in-town stock troupe, New York City Theatre Co., seems to have made an unhappy choice in resurrecting "Rip Van Winkle" as initialer of its new, experimental, summer series at City Center theatre. The Joseph Jefferson classic, which may have been something to conjure with half a century back, should have been left undisturbed in tlie cedarchest of memories. Its chances are nil even for the two-week period allotted. Production-wise the group has done neatly by the lovable character of Sleepy Hollow. Philip Bourneuf a portrayal of Rip is at times inspir..' rational. But even that's not sufficient to overcome the general tediousiiess and slow pace of story. Better results mighU have been accomplished had the. cast not played it so straight. As it was, many of the first-night audience walked after the first .stanza. "Rip" will be recalled as the yarn about the bibulous playboy Pf .g" earlier century who barters tne mythical village of Waterfall, N. Y., acre by acre, to scheming, penurious Derrick Van Beekman, whom he had beaten out for hand of the oncerfaff, Gretchen. It's DVB's way of making revenge pay two ways by keeping the tippler in alcohol and his family in want. The shrewish Gretchen blows top and order's Rip out. tie takes to the hills and meets up with spirits of Hendrik Hudson and nis lower-case pals, who ply him wn mountain brew that sends him into slumber for 20 years. Awakening with long beard and rheumatic, tie wanders back to the valley, barely escaping being jugged as a crackpo' until his daughter recognizes him. Latter's childhood sweetie, now a barrister, finds the loophole which returns to Rip his former property and banishes the dastard and his son. Traditionally, "Rip" had been a dressed*up, monolog for Jefferson. It's the same again here, with sup- porting cast getting little, opportunity to match things with central P}ay^^ However. Grace Coppin, JW^y Somers, Martin Wolfson, Haila Stod- dard and most Of the others manage to stand out occasionally. Carl K-em s settings and Ughtlng are picturesque.