Variety (Apr 1948)

40 UBCillllllATi! Plays Out of Town An4 He Did Hide lllmself (HlinGEROW THEATRE) Moylan, Pa., April 21, Hedgerow ThcnfM arodtMtlon of drama In four acts by Itrnazlo Silone. Directed oy Jaaiier Deetor; scenery, Eo»e Sohumivn and l>l1cha«l de Beaqsset; lighting, Rlchanl KoQl'or; costumes, Sheljey Forman. Opened •t HMWrOW theatre, Moylan, Pa.. Aiirll 11, -IS! t!S,40 totf. The Hedgerow Theatre inaugu- rated its 25th season at its play- ' house in Hose Valley (Moylan) with the American premiere of a new play by the Italian writer, Ignazio Silone, who is l^etter known as a novelist than as play- wright through such books as "Bread and Wine" by the author "School for Dictators" and "The Seed Beneath the Snow." It's strictly for. arty or little theatre groups. This one, "And He' Did Hide Himself," introduces Silone as a dramatist! it is an adaptation pf "Bread and Wine" by the author himself and discloses him as hav- ing quite A flair toi? the theatre although inclined at Umes to ver- bosity, too much declamation and windy rhetoric. The controversial nature of some of its material, however, might conceivably cause enough pro and con argument in give the play some (more or less dubious) notoriety but that^would hardly be enough to warrant it life in a regular theatre. The action takes place in the Abbruzi mountain disl^ct of ttaly during the autumn of 1935, when Mussolini was riding high, wide and handsome and the under- ground was functioning in furtive terror. Leading characters are Petro Spina, a young visionary who has been exiled tyit has re- turned stealthily to the scenes of bis youth to take up the anti- fascist movement; liuigi Murica; a member of the revolutionary group,' who turns informer and then, rependant, dies for the cause, his loyal sweetheart, and a wander- ing,- unfrocked friar, who reap- . pears off and on during the' eve- ning with his disjointed but often beautifully worded religious creed. • It might he all very well to say that Silone is attacking dictators, but It's also true that he leans strongly and heavily to the ex- treme left, with much repeated ref- erence to "comrades'" and the "good cause" and all the rest. Once again Hedgerow has done an A-1 job in presenting this arty piece. The case is uniformly good. Deeter's direction is sensitive and under standing,, and the production especially the lighting deserves high praise. Waters. sica" has nothhig to offer either Hollywood or Broadway. Purporting to be the true story of Shylock, play opens with a prolog that has a drunken Bill Shakespeare cursing the success of his "Merchant of Venice," but for reasons other than those which have inspired similar reaction among generations of schoolboys. Will tells an interested stagehafid that the play as presented is not a slice of life—that he was prevented from writing the truth. Tlieme then developed is an ex- planation of Shylock's acflon. The lust for revenge was born after vicious treatment at the hands of anti-Semitic Venetians who sought to destroy him even as they sought to borrow money. Their machiaa'^ tions bring shame to his household and cause his daughter's death. His partner and the rabbi seek to dissuade Shylock from forcing An- tonio to live up to the letter of the contract. . They win in the end when the rabbi propounds the flesh but no blood" thabry. Portia does not exist in this play, which takes its title from the nam<!' of Shylock's daughter. Underlying reason for the script apparently is a plea for religious tolerance but.it is badly handled. Author does, however, show some knack for creating. characters. Cast doesn't do much to haitdle the uninspired dialog, aiid the old- fashioned direction of Michael Mark makes it pretty much a static piece throughout althougjr mo- ments of tension are possible. Kap. Jessica = . Los Angeles, April 21. ■ . Michael Mark production .of drama in three acts (£our\scene3 and-a prolog) by Dr. IiCon Prltcher. Directed by Michael Marie. Opened at Masque theatre. Los 'Aneeles. April 20, '48: $1.80 top. PROLOG - William Shakespeare.......Michael Shean A Stage Han4.,.».,r Frank Turovlch Jlesslca.,.,,, . .HeI<!A Reed Maria.... ;* ,....>.«,,..Jean Frederick David , i.......Russ White Shylock * .David' Ormont EabW Samuel.,...*;..''...... .Michael Mark Lorenzo...,,....j;a'clc Marion Antdnia.........Lloyd Harkima Bfissanio: .Walter Hymer Tubal, ,j,,..,... .J, I. /Michael StoykofC Sellario. LeOnarS" Georgo Magistrate .Michael" Sheehan Choked to death under a, blanket of childish and sometimes vicious ^dialog is a fairly interesting theme Totally rewritten by a competent playwright, it might have some chance. In its present form, "Jes- SUMMER THEATRES FOR RENT THREE ESTABLISHEOi SUMMED THEA TRES availslile tlili nimmer. (1) EQUITY'tummer thetlnr: tit''«il,OOI) inm< m<ir uopulatioir.'. (GraMet 14,000 witk capaelfy.) (2) NON-EQUITY tumfflir lliiatrt, with tclioel iiet-uii <olastrooms, 2 tli«atr«t. 4tli oldest tummer theatra In America. Plut eirttage foj- 3S peopla, (Ji EQUITY lummtr theatre In lai'gt New England city. Beautiful-'^hauu. Seat) l,200i All the«<M(^«|iil|iBed-rWlth seonery, llohii, ready to 'go. Rentals average $1,800 on each theatre for 9 weelis, or $200 a waeli, (Coea.Cola concession and program ads pay .antiro rant.) Will rent only to reiponstblo partloa with ex- perience. 'A.^NKLIN TRASK PRODUCTIONS Winter Headquarteri: nrattie IlnU TliAiitre llorvarcl Siiuaro, t^iiinbriil.cre, Bfuss. . SAMUEL FRENCH ■ SIKOB 1830 Play, Brokers and Authors' RepresentativcB t(r«it ««tb B<Met> New,Vork WeAneadity, April a«. 194^ . ar6 equally clear-cut aodi disci- plined, the tableaux at scene (9id> ings clicking nicely, • Carrying the main burden of the singing and hoofing, Miss Meadows and Whiting click plenty. They look great together, and work Ipto a begoil in "Papa Won't You Dance With Me?" and again in "I Still Get Jealous." Both have the voices' to handle the big (3,000 seats) Opera House, and'they .put over the Papa dance with a knowinjg stage presence. Had to reprise it three times at opener. Miss Mea- dows likewise scores with the sing- ing girls, Romantic leads Ellen Hanley and Harry Fleer also are plenty per- sonable. Fleer's big voice being just right for the house. As with Miss Meadows and Whiting, they've got the looks, too. In fact, whole company Is' on the attractive side. Other sock duos.^re jpnson and Ijynn Joelson, who click in the tan- go, and Ralph Linn and Maria Karnilova, vvho register in the 'Summer Incident" ballet. Foy and Marty Barrett combine nicely in the comedj' roles. Foy, a plenty, solid trouper, warms up as tie goes along, does a couple pf hoiofing routines, and gets over big in the vocal of "Nobody Ever Died for Dear Old Rutgiers." Company has talent and esprit de corps, keeping the show on the move despite defi^clencies St the book. die. . Harvey (48tb St. Theatre, N. T.) Jack Buchanan, taking over Mon- day night (26) in the role of El- wood P. Dowd in the Broadway production of "Harvey," becomes the fifth actor to play the happily daffy character and the fourth in New York. - The part was crated by Frank Fay, who recently went on the road with it. Joe E. Brown is now in his second season as star of a touring company, and James Stewart and producer Brock Pom^ berton have also played it (the lat- ter as a stunt that shows signs of being taken seriously). Although the amiableL Elwood is a changed character as played by Buchanan, he's still an' amusing one, and "Harvey" remains an en- tertaining play,' Buchanan is still obviously unfamiliar with the* part, missing Unes - occasionally and showing the lack of performance, before an^ audience and vrlth the rest of the cast. Being a veteran campaigner, he^U soon.- adjust' to surroundings. His slight accent is unobjectionable. But even . on the basis of the Monday night performance, the British actor is . effective in the role. His playing will never get th^ nuriiber< of laughs Fay did, but he makes Harvey's friend and inter- preter a more" believable and sym- pathetic person. Whereas Fay played the part for comedy, Bu- chanan plays it for humor. As a consequence, "Harvey" is probably not quite as funny as Fay made it, but it isvmore plausible and has a poigaance that was only suggested before. The remainder of the cast shows the inevitable signs of a long run. Even such ■ a technically precise actress as Josephine Hull has been unable to maintain the same fine edge to her performance, and the others vary from merely passable to heavily exaggerated. Hobe, : Anna Liicasta New Haven, April 22. Davia Lowe, taking over opera- tion of road rights to "Anna Lu- casta" as Lowe-Davidson, got pro- duction off to an okay start at Shubert this' weekend. Staged , by Harold J. Stone, current version is pretty much a replica , of the origi- nal, with sets by Frederick Fox and costumes by Paul Dupoht. Pa- trons liked it. - ^ Cast is recruited from players who had appeared in prior produc- tions of this all-Negro opus, with exception of Sidney Poitier, who hopped from understudy to current lead as ^Rudolph. For their first performance as a unit, group does a very good job. Liiieup indtides Valerie Black, Sadie' J. Browne, Rosetta LeNoire, Laura Bowman, Roy Allen, John Bouie, Prdnk Wil- son, Maxwell Glanville,- Alvin Childress, Lurlean Smaulding, Mer- ritt Smith, Lance Taylor and Al Harris. Playing the biirly Frank, John Bouie exhibited some fast thinking when another character, about to be married, called him by the wrong name. "Just a minute," said Bouie, "I'm Frank, not Stan- ley, Why,- you're so eXcited about your wedding, you don't even know my name." Episode j>assed the blob off smooth^. ' Bone. tSfxes sad the tradition he and his hoy must sustain, suffers mental torment. She declares her hus- band is responsible for the chRd's death and because of liis glaring infidelities refuses the reconcilia- tion he offers with its prospect of another heir. She conflde's in an old sweetheart, now a psychiatrist, that she believes her life is in dan- ger as her spouse has inherited an unstable mind along with grand- pop's spunk. \ Joanna, pretending to acquiece in the proposed second honeymoon in Scotland, in reality setting a .trap, suggested by the doctor to prove homicidal intentions, and is •caught by her husband's unex- pected return. In trying to free herself from his stranglehold, she shoots him. A pathetic finale shows the wounded man proving his sin- cere love for his wife by dragging himself out to his car which he dashes over the cliff to free her and save her from a murder rap. Of the generally capable cast, Torin Thatcher is outstanding as the proud, feudal squire glorying in his own strength and valorous war record^ skilfuliy depicting the light and shade of the warped brain. Judy Campbell brings pathos and sincerity to the role of the wife who pays hour by hour for a loveless marriage. Clement Mc- Callin is not wholly convincing as the former lover turned psychia- trist, his best moments heing when he is winning the confidence of the hoy, admirably played by David Page. Anthony Havirtrey's direction is commendable. Play Itad an en- thusiastic reception. Clem. ■ Vremy London, April 22.. Slierek Flayers presentation at drama In three octi by Peter Ustinav, adapted Ironi the Swedish of Ingmar Bergman.. Dlr«at«d by Murray Macdonald. At St. Martin's the- atre, April-21, 'is. Birdie....... Harold Scott Strom....., • Blohard Beynon CallKuIa..,.. .Peter Ustinov Bertha. ,.. Joan Greenwood Jan«Brilt Vldgren..Denholm, KUiott Headmaster..............Kynaeton Keovea Sandman A'an Badol Petterson. . - > • ■ • ■ • .Hugh Monro Ijeftlor Charles Kennlaon Anderson Michael Oxley Berggrcn Ronald Essck Kummel Donald Bttln Oatergren; AlBJwnder Harris Waiters■ ^.Enpert Davles Portrait m. Iliekory London, April 21. Envoy presentation of drama in two acts by Adrian^ Allngton and Iieslie I,andau, Di- rected by Anthony Hawtrey. At Embassy, London, April 20, '48. Lauru Stone Helen Haye Lady Joanna HicIiory..,.,,.Judy Campbell oMorlc Hickory..................David Page Sir Blcliard Hickory,.,.,,..Torin Thatcher Tlqa Ballantyne.........Georglna Cookson George Ballantyne.. Derek O^ansley Cblohel-Stone...... H, O. Stoker And'rew Bellamy.,....,. .Clement McCallin Marsden...,, Stanley Lathbury Hobson; .Beckett Bould High Button Shoes (NATIONAL COMPANY) Boston, April 21. . Touring company headed, by Ed die Foy, Jr., Audrey Meadows and Jack Whiting ought to shake dovm into a crack outfit before.it fin- ishes up its four weeks here. Foy, in particular, needs time to work into the role of Harrison Floy, the part created in New York by Phil Silvers. He brings a nice impro visatory flavor to the comedy role and once he gets it down it'll really take. ■ Company has everything to work with, the sets and costumes being as sharp and solid as if the outfit were headed into New York in^ stead of out. Plenty of time has been spent by Jerome Robbins in staging the dances, the split-timed chase ballet going off at the openeir as if the company had done it all season. Other production numbers Despite its somewhat novelettish highlights, this play has an air of plausibility and achieves its <le- nouement with a credible degree of inevitability. Its developments, which seem set in one. way, twist into a different direction more reminiscent of real life than the usual ordered plan a dramatist sets his puppets. On the screen it could be developed into, a good dramatic story with Its wider back- ground. ' , From the beginning it is obvious that a "fear of fear" complex pre dominates. A small boy is terrified flf jiot living up to his father's con- ception of what he should inherit from his spirited ancestors—in par- ticular a great grandfather who rode his horse over a cliff rather than live a cripple following the crude amputation of a leg, Forc- ing himself to undertake dangerous jumps wi*h his horse, and subdu- ing his dreadM>f heights, the child emulates his father's prowess at the same age and crashes to death climbing a 90-foot tower. Joanna, who as the unloving wife of the fanatically courageous squire obsessed* with his broad This is an excellent adaptation of the Swedish film, shown iii the U. S. as "Torment." Of neciessity on a narrower scale within tlie con- fines of this small house, it gets over the footlights most of the mababre qualities that were out- standing in the screen version. It should appeal to lovers of this morbid type tit entertainment in intimate theatre; on both sides of the Atlantic. Story is of a lonely, middleaged schoolmaster whose perverted mind finds relief in tormenting his pupils and corrupting the soul of a young girl. She finds temporary solace in the arms of one of the boys experiencing his first love af- fair. This is overshadowed by the haunting terror of the girl that she will again fall under the mag- netic influence of the older man, The boy finds his sweetheart dead, chronic alcoholism putting finis to a diseased heart. Both master and pupil are involved In this unsavory case; the former twists all the situations to put blame on the boy* .and in the end both are expelled. ' Author stars in the play^ giving a brutish realism to the role of the master, with alternating spasms of sarcasm and self-pity indicative of a disordered mind. Joan Green- wood gives an intelligent interpre- tation of the little slut in the throes of fear trying to raise her- self above the mire. Denholm El liott is splendid as the adolescent facing the stark brutalities of a world beyond his depth. Harold Scott reaps a goodly portion of the evening's honors as the benevolent, understanding tutor. Show opened with a slick smooth- ness following a provincl^al tour, and direction is all that could be desired. Clern, T^he €np of Tremlillnc Paul Czlnner nnd C, P. JacKpr ni-n,i„„M ot two-act (8 scenes) play bf lM^S'"," Stars Elisabeth Borgner; featoos S;?'- Carradlne,. Slartln- WoKeon, Beverly ti/vi"'' Millarfl Mitchell, Hope Emerson Ar^„''- Francis. Staged by Cainner" b^™."?' Cha.ies Eljon; ■ costSmos, Natille'"^'^ Walker. Opened at Music Box. N v April 21, -IS; SM.80 top «0.0O opeVni Jh Mrs. Bosahnrdt Boverlv rSS Men Croy l31i»abeth%rM'^ MUen Croy p,,,!, John Croy... Millurd. Mitchell •waiter Powicr Jolm Car-Si- Ann?!!??;;;:;;;:;;;;;:;;:.""''™'," A poUo4•iVhVex^•vH'•.V.•.• A deiiveryman William Boliovtmn Dr. Donning Martin Wiiffi William fiundemanAniiiony noml J.aowee-- .-• U. T, Atlwton Sheila Vane Ariene FrajjcilJ- There are a few fleeting In- triguing moments. In this so- called "study of, a woman," which author Louis Paul calls "The Cup of Tlfembling" and which Paul Czinner and C. P. Jaeger are pfe*< senting at the Music Box as a field day in histrionics for £Usa> beth Bergner. The two-act saga of a femme lush will have its chief appeal for the matinee trade, but as dramatic fare it*falls completely, to pieces, notably in the second act. Paul's serious trieatment of fh^, story behind a woman's esc&pe into the bottle of necessity resorts to psychoanalysis. But it winds up more as a preachment on be< half of Alcoholics Anonymous, And the over-simplification of the analysis, suggesting a bargain* basement cure-all-in-five-easy-les- sons wherein the interpretation of one dream makes all the elusive pieces fall neatly into place, ^ ie< duces the analysis thesis to one of magic rather than science. The sympathy and feeling the author has used in ..creating Jiis central character (Miss Bergner) seems to have exhausted his underr standing, with the result that the many supporting characters have been built up pf incidental shreds.' The result is t^at none, save Miss Bergner, come out alive or real.' The first act has a couple of absorbing moments, particularly the buildup to the intermission when , the bottle-scarred dame's husband (Millard Mitchell), in an attempt to bring her to her sensei^ goes through the motion of admin- istering a terrific physical beating when she demands a divorce be- cause of her alcoholic, excesses. This scene, at least, leads one to expect more in the second act, but it's never forthcoming. Instead it turns into a tedious, drawn-out set-to between Miss Bergner ami her' psychoanalyst. The particular personal mannei!- isms of Miss Bergner, who is on stage throughout the play, inten- sifies the portrayal of the highly- wrought, nervous femme on the- verge of a breakdown. In some respects it's personal triumph for the actress, Ariene Francis,- in a brief scene as a dame who took the AA cure, tiu'ns in a creditable performance, as do MiUard Mitchell as the hus- band; Martin Wolf son, the ever- patient psychoanalyst and John Carradine, as a bachelor friend. Rose, Ebensbnrs Sets Season Harrisburg; Apnl 27. Director Richard North Gage, of the Harrisburg Community TItea-. ter, will return to the Hi-Way theatre, Ebensburg, which ne helped establish last summer, Tentative plans call for an eigm- week strawhat season to open tW latter part of June. . Reading Hayloft Reading, Pa., April 27. The Reading Theatre Guild, pre- senting stock in the Plaza theatre, has completed its planned 10-week run there and will continue for an- other month, closing on or about May 8. The company has nearly completed plans to operate as a summer stock ^organization here and has secured a 300-seat hall in a location close to the city limits, on one of the main highways en- tering Reading, for the summer.' SPSCIAliTY MAN aceustomed *• earnlns f10,000 yearly. Sell greetlW card deal to ifetaU etoteg. BIO SEW.- ING POINT—o <ree floor model aw- play eabinet ivltli large orders I »*" tremely \atga commissions to live wires. Cat nccc»s«r.v. W«* Variety, 1B4 West 40tli St., New VorK Male and Female Models to poM far Fact.Orttetlve MaSi«" riMf, Hew York City. Fl«* $15.00 for 4 iwari. Coll VA *-M» for appotaniMih CHENEY, RITA Cilte AUEMACHl Dausliter ot Bmma and Alfred Aoer- baoh. formerly of New Vork, or ny descendants, wHI learn gometliins a« vantnscous by eommuniontin* "'"i KUUKJUAN & FltANK, Attorneys, »? Broad Street, New ITork City *, »• »■