Variety (Jan 1948)

66 USGITIMATB WedneBday, Jfoinary 14, 194ft' Plays on ft'oadway Skippef Next to God Experimental Theatre (In assn. with Amet* lean National Thontre and Academy) pr«- duHlttA of drftma in-thtee aotsi by Jai> :t>B Havtog, Staged by tee Straaberg. Setting, Boris Aronson; production supervised by Cheryl, Crawford. Opened at Marine El- Jiott's,- N. r., Jan. 4. "48. ^ . Bhlp's Dootor.i.. ....Joseph Anthpny Jiessroom Bo>. : -BoSft' Doctor ; -. SI Oakland Police OKicer.....,,i.;.....-.Carmen Costl Itlate ...*..•.*..John Becher Captain ; ..John Garfleld Consul..............!. ■• .Wallace Acton Rabbi, ..........i.i. ....■.....Wolfe Barzell rirst Jew.■ .V ..Michael Lewln Second .Tew, .....Peter Kass Engintier. John Shellic Ship's Captain...............v-.Jtibc7. Gr.ny VI. S. Naval OfflGcr ;..Richard Coogan Dutch Naval Oltlcer... .Eugen* Stuclcmann Clergyman../ , .HaTO Irvine either, and can be chalked up as an- Dtheir mistake of the season.. Theme ot plot of this domestic saga of a Swedish family living in California is only barely shadowed through the amorphous verbiage. Emerging is the banal philosophy that the recurrent cycle of love, death and birth override aU the petty setbacks of individual life. The set "Skipper *reJtt to God" is the second pioduction of the season for the Ejcperimental Theatre. It is the -sirork of th^ Dutch playwright, Jan De Hartog, whose "In Time to Come" was ■ presented unsuccessfully la?t fall by the Theatre Guild. Despite its positive qualities, ''Skipper" seems a dubious bet for commercial success on Broadway. The difficulty would likely be not its undoubted ptopaganda aspect (''Deep Are the Roots" and "Watch on the Jthine/^ for Instance, have demon- . strated that propaganda plays can be mashes), but rather its weakness as theatre. As for its possibilities for the screen, that would apparently de- pend on the degree ana ellectiveness ot the adaptation.' It would take plenty*of both. - It isn't clear where the "experi- mental" aspect of the current pro- duction is involved. The play itself, About a. Dutch merchant ship cap- tain's unshakable determination to land his cargo of; Jewish refugees safely-in the western hemisphere, is conventional in subject matter and form. The presentation is standard and the leading artists and crafts- men associated with, the venture are well known. Possibly the ."experiment" was merely to test the dramatic efCective- ness< or even the commercial possi- bilities, of the play: If so, the question may still be'moot, as there was, a sharp difference of critical and audi- ence ■ reaction to the show (several meoibers. ot th& premiere audience walked ojit, audibly outraged at the "propaganda*')'. 'However, there was an- immediate move to extend the engagement and also foids to transfer the production to Broadway for a commercial run. In addition; John Garfield, who plays thettitle lead, is t'aid t,o own the screen rights and to le .'figuring on a film production. ' "Skipper" has an' all-male cast: Its single setting is the cabin shared by ' the captain and ship's doctor on- a ' .Dutch tramp steamer, "The Young N«lly." According to, th« dialog, the '.cargo-passenger snip is 30-odd years «ld, but there's no indication that it's decrepit or antiquated. In any case, the first act is .supposed to take place as the vessel is at a South American . port, and the Second and third as it's- ofT hang Island. There's frequent reference ito the ' 146 refugees on board and on several ; occasions the shouts or moans of the passengers ;are audible. Also, various visitors to the cabin bring out. the efforts of the Netherlands,^. S. and other governments, as well as the skipper's church and the ship's crew, -■at first to persuade and then force him' to return tbe Jews to Europe. But the major conflict, and thus the drama, is in the skipper's mind, as his religious principles and humane instincts detv the pressure of the cynical or "practical" forces. .There should be a stirring, even an instkiring play in the material, but the writing is talky and repetitious, and the emotional effect is jerky and not always satisfying. Neither the ^ staging nor the acting helps as it m might. Lee Strasberg's direction is ■ emphatic,, but uneven; As the skip- s' per,'Garfield has great vitality-and ' drive,, but his playing is spotty and lacks pacing. Also, he apparently hasn't memorized the part perfectly,, or achieved sufficient understanding of it to clarify the motivation for the . Audience. ' ' Qf the supporting players, Joseph. Anthony, Robert White, Wallace Acton,-' Wolfe. Barzell, John. Shellie, Jabez Gray and Harry Irvine are notable, but, not in every case ;favDr- ab!^. - Boris. Aconson's sin|^e setting 19 admirably atmospheric. . H^be. Harvest of Years Ai-ihur J. Bockhard production of drama In three actSi by Dewltt Bodeen; Features Esther Dale, Leona Marlcle, Russell Hardie, Philip. Abbott. Staged by Beekhard; set« ting, ttaymond Sovey; costnmes, Feggy Morrison. Opened at Hudson, t,, Jan. 12,','i7i $4.8ij ;top. Astrid Bromarkt........Virginia Robinson Bertha Bromark.. ...F.hlllppa Bevans Jpnny. Nelson Lehka Peterson "Chris Bromark'..Russell Hardie Bernhai'd -Jonson.; Robert Crawley Anna Bromarft................Kalhsr Dais Mailt* Bromarlc. . .Bmlly Noble Mafgaiieta Bnithark.'..'.>....Leona. Marlcle Jul«' Hro»ark .•.<...«!l>W!lp"ABBatt [D'Oyly Carte Co. ^ „ , Three weeks of the first New York backs'in "the story mainly concern I engagement of the D'Oyly Carte a couple of frustrated love affairs, Opera Company's Gilbert and Sul- first involving One of the daughters Uvan repertoire since 193fi i^as .m- and th^n the son. In each case, an- dicated that the old magic and b.o. other member of the family does the power are still there. Before ;the cheating in a repeating hard luck second week's bill ("Pirates of pattern. Penzance" and "Trial by Jury"), The story's elaboration is handled was over^ the ^'strictly limited''' en- with a weird combination of dead- gagement was extended through a pan sentiment in tragic style and a third complete cycle, taking the series of snapless and dissonant wise- closing date .down to the end of cracks. Symptom of the basic lack jjarch. Indications are for healthy of integrity in the writing is the re- biz for at least that long. If the mail sort to a Witless gag. about Brooklyn U^der strength is any criterion the —al-w-ays good for guffaws from the run may be stretched even longer. Bronx contingent but without rea- j^^. jj^^ ^^.j^^. j^^^^ j^^j^^ son in such a play. „ „inv to quibble about in the presentations. H^^'^l"^ ^TV^lSii^^th; rii(l^<.^nt^ opening "Mikado" was solidly ers, Esther Dale handles the d^^ and sung. The company's pan as a Swedish patriarch with ^^^^ costumes displayed the energy and Senuine feeling. 1^^^^ ^^i,,^ ^^.^^ ^^.^ Maricle.a|one of the daughtM ^ ^ ^ learned is an un- turns to .drink for heart l^^^^^^^^ accomlpaniment of G. and S, Cs«rdTe,'af «?m4'^^^ Win: ^'o^r#^^nSn^mMri5i^^^^^ "Pirates," "tradition cent perfectly but can't contend with | aUy coupled,- gave the customers and Imk Stuff-iegit Broadway managers are mulling ambitious plans for a comprehensive national promotion campaign to establish good will for the theatre In general. But the handling of press tickets recently, particularly in con- nection with, the current D'Oyly.Carte presentation of Gilbert and SulU'* van revivals at the Century« N. Y., is hardly consistent with the idea. ShuhMTts and the visiting management agreed to cut the number of press ticketslo the bone, disre{(arding the "accredited" list just adopted by the League of New York Theatres. After the initial week the entire seoond- night list , was ignored. That eliminated many out-of-town publications. D'Oyly Carte people apparently figured them not necessary because the troupe will not tour this time. But they apparently didn't realize that- Broadway shows, have many patrons from out of town^ and that the good will factor may be important on future trips to the U. S. '' The "accredited" first-night list, already cut to 49 pairs (41 designated and'eight pairs discretionary), was further'slashed and the tickets sup* posed to go to the producer or his press agent for distribution were eUm<< inated. The G. & S. outfit announced a. seven-week extension of the original booking, which would take the visitors well into May, Whether the troupe can continue successfully for that period is questionable, how-' ever, because of the Century'is ' large capacity and the price scale which tilts from $4.80 on Friday and Saturday nights. For previotls engagements the G. St S. company used the more intimate Martin Beck theatre and drew capacity. But that level was not maintained throughout last week,' the second of the run. ■ . , ' ' " ' . an incredible role. Lenka :i^eterson professionals a good time and some adds her looks arid vivacily to the cause, for reflection. Some begm to otherwise dull proceedings. Hem. see signs of datedness in the operas ' which have been played continually .and successfully since the '1870s. Volpone There's some doubt whether a new New York City Theatre-Co. production (In I generation Will accept: "Pinafore," cooperation with Theatre, Inc.) of comedy ""yeomen Of the Guard" and the revival in two acts by Ben Jonspn._ L,+hprs with ihp rtorili+v nf tVipip adaptation by Joss Ferrer, mchard-Wjiorf »"e aocillty 01 tneir and Richard Barr. features Ferrer, Whorf. parents. Staged by B&rr. Sets and lighting, Herbert Nevertheless, the small fry are ^^^'^T^t. J^n. » L.h^^^^^^^^^^ v<>ipone.... .....i.......iJos« ,5«r"I come because they^re draggied by, Mosca .....Richard whprif Urgy meaning family. Some, lacking &ynV.V.V.V.V.^^V.:ai^^aTd 1?cMu™^ indoqtrinaUon in what it's all about to»trone,.!...,..'......Ti.Chartes Mendioit carry only a beef about 'V>Id ba- conevbtna... i - • Susan Cenjer loney" away from the Century. And Voitore there's some quesion that juvenile Corbacclo,... ............Fred Stewart I — . —- Coni'lnftj.La Rol Opertl tst Gentleman ..Victor Thorley 2nd Gentleman*...... .Bobby Busch Cella Phyllis Hill BOnarJo....; .........Walter Coy lAiy PoIlUd Wouldbei Paula Laurence- Notarltt...... i. i • • • I'Ou Gilbert J Earl Jones Court Onicers ,... 1 Frank Caropane|l« rsidney Bassler Judges. .'..................-i Bob Harrison ears conditioned to "Near You" and the Frankie-Bing genre will ap- preciate the Sullivan tonal and choral artistries. But many-of the faithful-who see at least one performance of each of the seven G; and S. numbers in the 1948 repertoire are of a sort who aren't regular theatregoers. They |;i.«igb Whippcr are mainly older people <with a life- Cittadtna k..Marl0rle Byersllong affection for the turn of phrase, ^^^^^^ TO Best legit buy in New York today ly 'Victorian terms) and superb scor is the New 'York City Theatre: Co.'s ing of the operas. During intermis- production of '♦'Volponei" with its. sions and after the performance they $2,40 top. Bevival of the Ben Jon-I chatter amiably, making comparisons son play about the cupidity of morr of present performances, with others tals, set in bawdy 16th century by the D'Oyly Carte and other corn- Venice, is played in the broadest panics, Most agree that Winthrop burlesqued style possible, to make it Ames .came the nearest to perfect- an enjoyable romp. Cast headed by tion of all TJ. S. attempts. Richard Whorf, Jose Ferrer and | Martyn Green gives crisp per- formances, but some: of the new feminine singers from the ranlcs need : plenty of seasoning; Isidor Godfrey conduct . tlie oriihestra wjthbut ■ •varying « notte or a. toot from the way Sir Arthur Sullivan conducted them himseU. ; He's been at it since 1935. TO Show li«cfple, the Current Road Shows ■ Dewitt Bodeen, a screenwriter, has turned out a legit play that bears a . suspicious resemtylance to a radio soap opera. like the soapers, "Har- vest of Yeiirs" is loose and formless In structure,'sentimental in tone and devoid of any true insight or mean- ing. This play presumably falls into that twilight zone category of com- edy-draua but taib to impress m John Carradine enacts it with gusto, as a lark, and the enthusiasm is con- tagious. Comedy Is in for two weeks, as the flr'sf Of three drama offerings by the newly established legit group Occasion marks the completion of a long-mulled plan to establish a resi- dent drama company in N. Y.'s City „ ^^^^ Center, in addition to the established [wonder in all this'is the etema' opera company symphony orchestra freshness and spirit with which the and regular ballet presentations, whole D'Oyly Carte troupers are Cast, as well as all help concerned, able to perform a relatively limited is working at lower than average repertoire that long ago mteht have P^^' "J^il^ ^^Ifli^^ reported rangmg bored them all to distiactioH, to say from $75 to $100, even for the stars, nothing of carelessness Its traS- Sn™P„o,.?«?I*c n'.'^n^**""'^ P^^yer bows in taking from various theatrical unions. curtain calls. It's assumed the ap- Jonson's familiar tale of the old piau^e is for GUbert and Su&van, fox, Volpone, who feigned mortal ^qj. ^wa nlavers Isrn illness in order to cadge rich gifts ' """^ "^"^ P'^'*"- isra. from sundry individuals who hoped to become his heirs, has Certain bit- ter overtones lacking in the present production. This does detract from the presentation's force. But the (Period co«eri»ff Jon. 12-24) incidents and lines are sometimes so An Inspector Calls"—Nixon, Pitt incredible that it seems just as well I (19-24). to play "Volpone" as Straight bur-| "Ann* liUcasta"—Davidson, Mil, lesque, and kid the ti^ts off it. (18-24). Jose Ferrer, Richard Whorf and "Annie Get Tour Gun"—Shubert company proceed to do so with Chi. (12-24). zealous style. Sufficient of the cast- Ballet Theatre—Opera Hse,. Bill- members play it straight enough— ings (13-14); Opera Hse., Gt. Falls as, for instance..Le Roi Operti-, as (15-16); Opera Hse., Helena (17); Corvino, and John Carr&dine, as the lAud., Butte (19). Moore, Seattle (21 lawyer (at least until the courtroom 22); Aud., Portland (23).- scene)—to provide contrast or bal- 'fBlackouts of l»47'-7-El Capitan, ance. Barely has an Elizabethan | Holly wood (12-24), "Blossom Time"—Opera Hse., Bost (19-24), "Burlesque"—Locust, Philly (19 24). »Carousel"-^Nat'l, Wash. (12-24). Maurice Cheyalie*—Wilbur, Bost, (19-24). , "Chocolate Soldier" —Town Hall, vant, Mosca. Carradine, as the Toledo (19-20); English, Indpls. (21- morose, saturnine advocate, Voitore, 24), gives a rich, .witty portrayal. "Doctor Social" — Ford's, Balto. Supporting roles are also well I (22-24). done. Walter Coy, as the bewildered I Donald Wolflt Co,—Royal Alex.^ son; Phyllis Hill, as the wronged, Toronto (19-24). innocent wife; Paula Lawrence, as "Dream Girl"—'Biltmore L. A. a grasping busybody; Le Hoi Opertl, (12-24). as^ the ilfiscrupulous, cuckolded hus- Ibsen Bepertery Co. — Shubert- foand, and Fred Stewart, as the aged Lafayette, Det. (19-24). but still greedy CorbftcciOi lend} Gate Theatre — His Mejesty's, valuable assists. . |Mont'l, (19-24). Richard Barr, who also helped "Harvey" — American, St. Louis Ferrer and Whorf in the present (19-24), adaptation, has staged the work in "1 llemember Mama"-^olonial, an effectively free, slapstick style. Bost. (19*24). Herbert Brodkin's sets and lighting, "Kathleen"-Plymouth, Bost and Emeline C. Roche's costumes are 24) bright complements, to fit the scene. "Lady Windermere's Fan" —Er- aron.- tlanger, Chi. (19-SS4X The D'Oyly Carte company of London, currently presenting its reper-* tory of Gilbert and Sullivan operettas at the Century theatre, N, Y;, muffed a chance for a multiple page photographic layout in one of the^ leading weekly magazines because of the management's curious ideas on economy. The puylcation had agreed to use candid camera shots taken, during a performance, but the stageliands' 'union requires the crew to be paid at the rate of an extra performance when such pictures are taken. The visiting showmen refused to share the expense, involving a matter of $300. They said they could see no reason why''the-union should insist on such a rule where publicity is involved'.' Most American managers feel the same way about it, but nearly always pay the cost in such circumstances, rather than lose the exploitation. - G. & S. engagemeht at the Century has been extended an additional seven weelcs beyond the originally scheduled seven weeks. That will take: it into Miqr. There are no plans to play the road-on this visit. Last mid- week's matinee attendance'Was under eypectatiohs^ and .indications are that business may not maintain the capacitjr pace tidth which the- import started. Two or three of the G&S .operetta^ are more pdpUlar than others^-' so the troupe may concentrate pn those with the strongest appeaL "Song of Norway" is playing a quick repeat at the Nixon, Pittsburgh, returning Jan. 26, only eight weeks after its original engagement there, and at a lower top than it played to previously. The price reduction is despite the fact that the operetta did absolute capacity in November,-grab- bing around $35,000 for a high for the local season so far. Reduction in scale was decided oh because of additional 10% city amuse- ment tax, effective Jan. 1, although even with that included now,*the price of orscliestra seats will be 30c cheaper-than on the sh{»w's first visit Then the show played to a $4.20 top, including the 20% federal levy, When it returns, the top will be $3.90, including both the^O^ U.S, and 10% city levies. Incidentally, "Norway" will be followed Feb. 2 by another repeat, "State of the XTnion," which has-already played-the Nixon twice, tlie first time during ita-prc^-Broadway tryOut tour in the-fall of 1945. Nanette Fabray, femme lead in "High Button Shoes," at the Shubert; N.Y., had the usual two-week contract when the musical opened, but has since signed a'run-of-the-play contract, at. a 25% hike in salary. Reason for not committing herself in advance to stay with the show was that she thought she might not. be right for the mother role,she plays. After the reviews and the musical ciick,^ she was rea^ured.. ' She's since been propositioned by' tTniversal-Internatibnal lor "The Saxon Charm," and has bad offers from Columbia and Paramount, but wants to do at least one more Broadway show before going to Hollywood. Her previous Broadway appearances have all been as replacements, fol- lowing Jan Clayton in "Meet ttie'People," Constance Moore in "By Jupiter" and Celeste Holm in "Blbon^ QitV ' comedy been played so fast and smartly. In general the audience goes for this interpretation. Ferrer plays the avaricious, un- scrupulous Volpone with rich flavor and Whorf, back on Broadway after several years' absence in films, has flourish and style as his knavish ser- American Theatre Society-Theatre Guild subscription series will finally start. Monday (19) at the Nixon, jPittsburgh, with "An Inspector Calls," four months after start of the legit season, That's the slowest geta-way in history for the string of plays and is believed responsible for the reported slackening sales for 1947-48; At that, "Inspector" was a> last-minute booking and hadn't been figured in the .original prospectus. Even so, that's the only subscription date definitely set so far. doth "Carousel" and "Lady Windermere's .Fan" have been promised for April, although contracte are still unsigned, and the Lunts in "O Mistress Mine" are a vagu^ possibility. For the current repertory engagement of the New York City Theatre Co., the City Center, N.Y., is selling only about 2,000 seats, about two- thirds of the house. Directors curtained off the mezzanine and second balcony for better acoustical effect and improved audience conditions. Management is also absorbing the tax on subscription sales for the three productions to be offered, paying 40c. of the $2.40 top. With 75% of the advance sold on the three-show basis at a discount, the company claims it can't malre money on the run. "Bonanza Bound," which closed Jan. i in Philadelphia after trying out there for 10 performances, is tentatively* slated for Broadway during the spring. How many o£ the original cast will be retained is a question, but there will be a definite replacement fqr George Coulouris. He had a run- of-the-play contract reputedly calling for $1,000 per week. Under Equity i-ules there must be at least eight weeks' layoff before such contracts can be cancelled. (19- "An Inspector Calls," the J. B. Priestley drama, which went on tour Monday (12) after playing 12 weeks at the Booth, N. Y,, had been expected to continue into the spring. However, the management decided to take advantage of the unexpected availability of th6 subscription lists of the Theatre Guilds-American Theatre Society in key cities on the road. Under those auspices, 16 weeks have been booked and it's figured that better grosses will be registered than at the Booth. "Look Ma, I'm Dancint"—Forrest, Philly (19-24). ' "Mary. Had A Uttle"—Metropoli- tan, Seattle (19-24). "Master's Cluilr'^-.-Geary, Frisco (19-24). "Medium," "Telephone" — Stude- baker, Chi. (12-24). "Mr, Roberts"—Shubert, N. Haven (22-24). "O Mistress Mine"—Selwyn, Chi. (12-24). "Oklahoma!" — Aud., Ciiarleston (19-24). "Private Lives" — Harris, Chi. (12-24). "Show Boat" ^ Banna, Cleve. tt9-24). "Sons of Norway"-Shubert,I»hiHy (19-24)7 "State of the Union"—Hartman, Col. (18-24). "Student Prince" — Metropolitan, Prov. (19-20); Lyric, B'd'gport.(21): Community, Hershey (22); Play- house, Wil- (23^24), "Sweethearts"—Cass, Det. (19-24). "The FlreOy" — Blackstone, Chi. (12-24). "The Last Dance,"—Walnut, Philly (12-24). "The Red MIU" — Aud., Clncy (18-24). , "Tonifhi At li3e"-^urrBn, Frisco (12-24). '