Variety (Mar 1948)

y«<|<iwiay, Manieh 24, ^.949 Plays on Broadway iJoy to the World JJohn HuU9Ci>inn ana WilUiim K. KiUaell >iT>(lut'tIC*u of coinedy-druniH In throe acts on»> Ketliiig). atara Alfred Drake piui rlaraha Hunt; featurt'H Myron Mt'Corniu'k ,nd Movfls <^Ht'novfJky. Sta^eil by ,lii!e3 asain; aaUintr, llarry Hornei", coatumfis, uveiiy Woodiit'i-. Oponea at Plymouth, N. y„ March IH, M8; $i.aO top. Wary M,iitill. rirtjii Mildred. ,. fcdlth Wham J. NrwlAn McKwi. Miirtlnter Bohrnian. ■ Blcliarcl Stanton.... Kdward t', Gannon. ...Mary WeUh .Mlt^haet DreytusM Lois Jlall ,i,....Pegsry »»ley ,MyroH MiiC'orro It'll ,, .iV. Leslie Iiltomy ,.,.. .Hugh Rennlo . . .liert Freed Alexander Soren .........Alfred Wrukn Tllworlhy... .Harris Brown Ann .Miusha Hu n t , Stei-a Walton .HTerl) Kutner BavBarn Henlon,.....,.-......LutrlUe, Patton Henry .Salnlsbury Walter P. Applet- John V. Hooper,,....... ..Clay Glcnicnt Dmitri Oumansky Kurt, Kaszmir Sainp.iou. Hal tiei-aon Mr. WIUhix. ..............Theodora Newton Harry........... .Sam Bonnell Sam Bluinenteld...« ,....Morris Curnovsky "Joy to the World" is the best filay about Hollywood since "Once n a Lifetime" but it's not nearly as mirthful as was t h a t satirical travesty. It should develop into a winner though it may be costly to dperate. Had "Joy" been properly edited tt would stand a' better chance. Producers John Houseman' and William Katzell .have given Allan Scott's play a corking production, and Harry Horner was evidently given carte blanche in the design- ing,- which ■ includes opulent oif ice gadgets of a Coast studio. An ex- cellent cast is headed by Alfred Drake and Marsha Hunt, the latter appearing for the first time on Broadway. ■ - Maybe the author covers too much territory, touching on a num- ber of topics including censorship. Some of the issues may be hot in Hollywood but probably are. not nearly so interesting to the average niaygoer. There's a bit where three key men in the ficticious Atlas- Continental studio switch pills for their respective allergies or imag- ined ailments, which is rather com- ic and apparently accurate. Third act prcjved the best open- ing night and upon its acceptance the future of "Joy" depends, Alex- ander Soren, fastidious ))oy wonder 6f the outfit, has been forced to resign by the front office because Df his radio address on freedom of Ideas, and he's blacklisted in much the same manner that writers and film producers were recently cited for contempt by Congress. There- upon Sam Blumenfeld, a picture pioneer ( for whom Alex formerly broduced. but to whom he hasn't spoken for 10 years, bursts into the office and pleads with the ypung man to rejoin his outfit The old boy—who could be a prototype of one. of several well known film- makers still active-^speaks so feel- ingly that Alex is brought to tears. That scene, between Morris Car- novsky and Drake, will either make or break the show. The speech that gets the success- ful plcture-^maker into trouble is written by Ann, a Ph.D. from Min- nesota. Their's is a quick love match. Crux of the story is that the speech hadn't even been read by Alex before its utterance but he refuses to disavow its principles. Then he wants to produce a film alwut Samuel W. Gompers, former labor leader and it will be filmed at Blumenfeld's plant. At times "Joy" is frenzied, almost delirious, so there seems to be strange changes of pace. It's all done cleverly, under the direction of Jules Dassin, rather new. to* Broadway; he also staged "Strange Bedfellows" (Morosco). Manipula- tion of the phones and gadgets are interesting bits, and the lighting by Jean Rosenthal is crack work, too. Miss Hunt, who has done numer- out feature parts in Hollywood pix, plays Ann alluringly, a classy ac- tress makin*^ her Broadway bow A^ho looks like she can stay around as long as she wishes. This is Drake's first straiglit part and he seems as adept as in musicals. ("He created a lead male role in "Okla- homa!"). As Alex: he not only looks the, part of a brilliant filmite but plays it convincingly. Carnovsky, who hasn't been, around for several seasons, remains a very good actor whQ makes Blumenfeld real, too. Myron McCormiek,' who's fea- tured with Carnovsky, plays the studio publicity head and does it up to the hilt. His McKeon is a two-flsted drinker who luiows all the answers, the part being similar to that he had in "State of the Union."' Others who do well in- •clude Mary Welch, as the recep- tionist; Kurt Kaznar, a screwy mu- sician; Clay Clement, as board chairman; Bert Freed, Hugh Rqn- ttie and Leslie Litom^, a trio of studio execs. . - ibee. "World's biggest, brightest gamble!" T'faaf s Avhal April Coronet oalls show business, in a . ■paxkllnr IS-page «andld-i»in«m report to America on one of her most glamorous IndlnBtrieg I Be sure to read Broadway Backstage See great stage names like Maurice Evans June Lockhart, Quthrie llfiCUutlc, "on the flrlnac line/' behind the footlights! Make a special note to get April Coronet "^4^^ B9EBBD now on sale. 40 great features for your eojoyment You Never Can Tell Theatre Guild production (In association with AUred Flafhei- of threft-act comedy (three at-enesV by George Bernard Shaw. Staged by Peter Ashntove; settinKS and coa- tumes, SiQwart Chaney. Opened at Beck, •N. y., March 18/M8; ¥4.80 lOD. Dolly .Patricia Klrkland VaUmtine .Tom Helmoro Maid .Scott Douglas l*hlUpv .,,.. .Nigel Stock Mi*fi, Ol^Ttdon......... i,. i.. .Frieda Ineacort Gloria .iJlftith Bi'ook Ornmptoni, *. ..V;. .Ralph Forbes McCamas. , . *. Walter Hudd Walter. ^.. 4> t .*-I^eo G. Carroll Bohim..» ,...........William DevUn Summer theatre for sub-lease Owe of Ainerica'H oUeat summer Jhea- tren, lorah-il constnl Mass., for «nli- leuBe. Moiloin f<ta«rc, Ught. equipment, Iilus Iiiriilshcil ^O-room actorg' «ott«Kr liirhideil ill Huh-Irase. Intensted per- sonii eon«»«t Iiox 4181, Variety, IW ■Weot 46th St., Kew TCnAi l5. •■ •f.n>) I » wa I« I' < ,v» HIM H' )» One of Bernard Shaw's yght- •weights is "You Never Can Tell," a farce better known to stock audi- ences than Broadway playgoers. Its chances-seem limited. The Theati-e Guild.seems, a bit bedeviled to iiU out the seasonal production schedule guaranteed its subscribers, which may explain why "Tell" was-j^ut on. Guild has been rather active in presenting Shaw, whose promised new play for this season is apparently in the waiting department. "Tell" may be often played in England but the past two generations here hav6 not viewed it on the main stem,. al- though "Tell" dates to 1895. The Guild gives it class A pro- duction, and the cast is very good, too, the management featuring nin6 out of 10 in the program. Right- fully heading it is Leo G; Carroll though it does seem strange to see him as a.waiter. , Carroll is a master of reserved performance, and in some ways the part fits him perfectly. His num- ber of sides is limited in' com- parison to the loquaciousness of some other characters, a native Shaw trait. He is a respected friend of the Clandons and to others who come to the English seaside resort hotel, where he pro- ficiently serves all guests." Mrs. Clandon, a writer of sup- posedly new ide?s, and her off- spring, Dolly, Philip and Gloria, go to the Dover resort. They have never known who their father was but at the hotel that gentleman is revealed^ having changed his name to Crampton; he hasn't seen his family for 18 years. Gloria, the attractive e 1 d e r daughter, for whom a young pen- niless dentist, Valentine, falls hard, resists his advances, thereby con- forming to the feminist teaching of her mother. But, suddenly, comes love-^then clinch. Patricia Kirkland is vivacious as Dolly, while Faith Brook is the classy, uppety Gloria. Tom Hel- more plays the amorous dentist very well, and Frieda Inescort is also a standout as the mother, Ralph Forbes plays the grumpy father convincingly, but William Devlin may be a bit too pomjpous as the peace-making attorney. Ibee. Mpls. Clvicers Need Coin Minneapolis, March 23, Minneapolis Civic theatre has an- nounced that it'll be forced to close its doors this month if Immediate financial support from local citizens isn't fortlicoming. ' .JllifUO > .1 ; >,l ir ••l»,J;^- ANTOmnE PERRY DIED HEAVILY IN DEBT To the surprise even of intimates, an appraisal of the estate of tlie late Antoinette Perry filed with the surrogate revealed that she died broke. She was the widow of Frank W. FrueaulT, onetime part- ner of Henry L. Doherty's brok- erage, and was heavily interested in Cities Service Co., gasoline dis- tributor. Miss Perry is reputed to have lost several million dollars in the Wall Street crash of 1929. The Frueauif estate was divided between Miss Perry and her'daugh' ters, Margaret Perry Fanning and Elaine Perry Stranahart. Miss Perry's estate showed assets of $73,442, with liabilities amounting to much more, a major item being a promissory note to Mrs. Fanning of $347,473. Miss Perry was one of Broad- way's most skillfull directors of comedies, her last accomplishment being "'•Harvey." She owned but 4Vi!% of the Pulitzer prizewinner, valued by the appraiser at $53,110, although the j^Iay is still garnering profits on Broadway and th'e road. Miss Perry died of an asthmatic attack in June, 1946. During the war she devbted most of her time to the American Tiieatre Wing, of which she was secretary. Plays Abraad Wolfit Troupe Returns To England After Clicko Trans-Canadian Tour Toronto, March 23. After a 14-week North American tour, first trans-Canada junket by any company since 1939, Donald Wolfit troupe sails from Halifax to- morrow (24) on the Aquitania. En- tire tour was a.success financially' and from the standpoint of audi- ence enthusiasm, with Toronto the only lukewarm date but the Mari.; times and the Prairies going big for the Shakespearean repertory. Visiting some centers that hadn't sifeen a legitimate attraction within the memories of the younger gen- erations. English visitors opened in Halifax on Dec. 18, with all per- formances sold 6tit days before the ship arrived. They then played St. John, Montreal, Ottawa, Toron- to, Brantford, Hamilton, London, NdMh Bay, Winnipeg, Edmonton, Calgary and Vancouver. , Company then had satisfactory engagements in Portland and Se- attle but p ans for a proposed tour of principal U. S. cities during the eastward journey was held up by decision of British Government, which wanted these American dol- lars but wouldn't play along on risk. On return trip, Wolfit troupe therefore played Regina, Saska- toon, a return engagement in Win- nipeg, Fort William and Kingston, with tour ending at latter city on Saturday (24). . ' Wolfit is currently mulling a third Canadian tour with Ernest M. Rawley, his North American repre- sentative. When this will be sched- uled, however, is debatable and will depend on the fate of a new modern play, untitled, which he will do with. Rosalind Iden in a provincial toiA: of Britain, prior to the hoped-for London success. He will then bring this to Canada-~if, as, etc. • ' Current London Shows London, March 23. {Figure shows weeks of run) "Anna Lucasta," Majesty's (21), "Annie Get Gun," Col's'm (42), "Bless the Bride," Adelphi (48). "Blind Goddess," Apollo (16), "Bolton's Bevue," St. Jas (2), "Burlesque," Princes (4). "Carissima," Palace (2). "Chiltern Hundreds," Vaude (30) "Cockpit," Playhouse (6). "Diamond Lil," Wales (9). "Edward My Son," Lyric (43), "Four, Five, Six," Yorks (2). "Gorbals Story,"4^arrick (6). "Hidden Years," Fortune (9). "I Remember Mama," Aid, (3). "Indifr. Shepherd," Crit. (7). "Life With Father," Savoy (42) "Linden Tree," Duchess (32). "Mountain Air," Comedy (8), "Never Can Tell," Wyn (25) "Off Record," Piccadilly (43). "Oklahoma!," Drury Lane (47). "Outrageous," W.. Garden (47). "Present Laughter," H'ymkt (49). "Relapse," Phoenix (8). "Rocket to Moon," St. Mart. (1) "Starlight Roof," Hipp. (19). "Sweetest Lowest," Ambass. (99). "Together Again," Vic Pal. (49). "Tuppence." Globe (24). "Worm's View," Whitehall (47). HHoua Irons a Valparaiso (We Shall Go to Valparaiso) Paris, March 8. Ploi'ie Bluiiohav pmliix'llon of comisily In fnur avU by Marce) Avhiirii. Uirac.teil l>y Blaiivhlii'. Hels by FrancaU OHneau. Slora Blani'httr and Sltnone Renant. At Atlienee, Pni'la.' . Thereae Cabanlii Ijnirt'nce Aiibruy Tanlinci. Oormalna M[>c'hel Paucal Cabitni». . .Jcun I.unlei' Vnlorls FanlliUlaiii <.,,.,, ..SImona ICennnt ((lllPB (.'nbatilu....Pierre Blaiifb.'U' 1,(1 I'l'raldent,.., i .Jean D'Yil McnttnlEloi' I........ ..loiin Toliloiil. I.'Avoyat (.JHimrivl..........Ci«()r«:eM I.annoa SUKnTrntt Furstoi'........ DoiuiiilQue Bi'ovan nabouln.,,, .ISOmand Ardlauon Pierre Blanchar and Simone Renant's names, as well as the Marcel Achard signature, will ensure'a run here. Besides which, the play is well acted and suffi- ciently amusing. For America, a stage adajptatlon would be sure in draw comparisons with "Mary Dugan" though the play Is more comedy than real drama, and it would be felt t6 lack fast tempo and punch, with the happy ending coming as a kind of postscript. Play is likely to hit the French screen. ■ Mile. Renant is the mistress of a shipmaster (Blanchar) whose wife doesn't know of it until the gal herself, thinking she has lieen slandered by her, calls on her and lets out the facts, following which the wife commits .suicide. Husband is accused of her death, to be acquitted in final courtrooni scene. Play has been well produced and splendidly cast. Blanchar, who is inclined to act stiffly before the camera, is okay'on stage. Mile. Renant is her usual able and good- looking self. Jean d'Yd, as the president of the court, is excellent, Mtai. Current Road Shows (Marcli 22-April 3) "A Cup of Trembling" — Play- house, Wil. (2-3).' "An Inspector Calls" — Nat'l, Wash. (29-3). "Annie Get Your Gun"—Nixon, Pitt. (22-27); Community, Hershey (29;3). "Antony and Cleopatra"—Fords, Balto. (22-27), Forrest, Philly (29-3). "Ballet Russe"—Royal Alex., To- ronto (29-3). "Blackouts of 1948" — El Capi- tan, L. A. (22-3). "Blossom Time'v^His Itfajesty's, Mont'l, (29-3). "Burlesque" —Selwyn, Chi (22- 3). ■ ■ V "Carousel" —Met, Prov. (22-27) r Aud., Hartford (29r3). "First Mrs. Frafeet"—Plymouth, Bos. (29-3). "Harvey" — Locust, Philly (22-3). "Harvey"—Xud., L. Rock (22-23); Conv. Hall, Tulsa (24-25); Home, Okla. City (26-27); Forum, Wichita (29-30); Melba, Dallas (31-3). "Hold It" —Shubert, N. Haven (2,5-27); Shubert, Bost. (29-3). "I Remember Mama"—Aud., St. Paul (22); KRNT, Des Moines (24); Music Hall, K. C. (25-27); Broad-, way, Denver (29-31); Chlfef, Colo Springs (1); Aud., Boulder (2); Aud., Pueblo (3) "Inside U. S. A.»' —Shubert, Philly (29-3). "John Loves Mary"-Harris, Chi. (22-3). "Lady Windermere's Fan"— American, St. Louis (22-27); Mosque, Peoria (29); Qrpheum, Davenport, ■ (30); Iowa, Cedar Rapidij! (1); Parkway, Madison (2- 3).. "Mary Had a LitOe"—Erlanger, Buff. (28-31); Town HaU, Toledo (1- 3). "Macbeth"—His Majesty'?, Ot- tawa (22); His Majesty's, Mont'l (23-27). "My Romance" — Opera Hse., Bost. (22-3). "O Mistress Mine" — Biltmore, L. A. (22-3). "Oklahoma!" — Curran, Frisco (22-3). "Private Lives"—Hanna, Cleve. (22-27^ Nixon. Pitt. (29-4). "Show Boat"—Shubert, Chi. (22- 3). , "Sonff of Norway"—Aud-, Me|n- phis (22-27); Music Hall, K. C. (28- 2); Aud,, Topeka (3). ''Student Prince"—O r p h e u m, Sioux City (29); KRNT, Des Moines (30-31); B]ack.stone, Cl)i. (1). "The Play's the Thing" —Shu- bert, N, Haven (1-3). "The Glass Menagerie"—Hanna, Cleve. (29-3). "The Red Mill"—Shubert, Bos. (22-27); Aud., Worcester (29-30); Metropolitan, Prov, (31-3?. "There Goes the Bride"—Town Hall, Toledo (22-27); American, St. Louis (29-3). "Tropical RcTiie»-<;a8s, Detroit (29-S). . Miry Morean prod«ctton'^J^om»!*av^/'%,v S?'ae!^?.,^a^r* J'^^l-e::::;;::::::::: ce^oiu:::::::::::: w v • • -iZTn iviuciitnan Pierre HueUet ^ This comedy is based on thf eternal theme of the husband whose .jytfe cheats on him in such an open way that he is the onlv one not to realize he is a blind fool, living in a fool's paradise; Hackneyed situations and comv jokes abound, and though not for sophisticates, show^ will draw at the boxoffice. It's unlikely for America, though. Simone Simon, as the cheating woman, is very good. She gives an excellent performance, lookina better than she ever did. Her hu£ band is most amusingly done by Marcel Carpentier, virho draws plenty of laughs. The lover, done by Henry Guisol, is competent with other parts, including thai assigned himself by playwright Louis Ducreaux, just bits. Fran- cette Vemillat, still in pigtails, is a consummate actress and prac- t'f'.'iUy steals the show whenever she is on. Maxk I^n Droit d«< Rlr« (The Right to Laugh) / Paris, March 2. Club des cinq protluction of rovue In tW0 acta by Plerry Diu^ «nii rornand Kauzens, Directed by Maurico PokrI. yds and can* tames by M. van Moi)p<'». Munlu by I'red and Jacquee Breux, Ktiu a Ti eiie Hilda and Dae. At Theatre du Olub flea OInq, Paris. WHU Irene Hilda, Pierre a>ac, Mareel Alma, Robert nioniP, .1(^an Tjeo, BuKUette, KuKene Wyl, Genevieve Vlgneau, .laeque* line Guerin, Ady l^ldt'lin, I'lerre Budan,/ Vernand HauTicna, Jamhlan, Michel Sotdow. This Is very conservatively budg- eted production, but it's highly en- tertaining and very well done. It's strictly local for the most part, be- ing (as implied by the title) a sa- tire skit on the right still left to the French of laughing at the dif- ficulties caused by governmental interference and red tape in most of their daily life, but an interna- tional touch is given by Irene Hil- da. She's bandleader Bernard Hil- da's sister,^ and proves that show- manship EUns in the family. (Sue also doubles at the Ambassadors). What makes of the various sketches a continuous chain is the appearance in most of them of a couple of interfering dicks cleverly done by Marcel Alma and Robert Blomc, Other unusual scenes are one by conjurer Michel .Seldow, and another with singer Pierre Dudan. Another scene is a wild west parody of "Manon'* with Pierre Dao doing the lover as a cavalry officer, .Tean Lec the father in the guise of a sheriff, and Manon done by Irene Hildq. She scores heavily in her act and is worth watching for musical comedy. Music is played by Fred Freed and Jacques Breux, each one pounding the ivories on one of the two pianos set on each side of the proscenium. ' Maxi. . i« «»«" VAoc ID}} rmii AviNwi 11 5Tlk SIlMI aUIVCM HMIU Ml* ANNA LUCASTA stock LEONARD and COWL Airthor$' Rsprismtatives SU Fifth Aw«j. N. Y. TR 7-3082