Variety (Nov 1948)

60 LBGrnilfATB Wrflnesflay, November 17, 1948 Plays Alnroad lltkiiio la Tom«ri*«W ', pans are all commendably han- XtOIlM* »« ^^'^rj'^ Sled, and Michael MaooNvan's di- London Mask TS^a". pVoZoLn' „t' rection leaves nothing to be dr>ni.i in two acts by J. B. Priestley Dj- desired. ClfD). letted Ijy Michael Macowan At Cam- _____ biiclEt! theatre, London, Nov. 4, '41). ■ La<l> Foitrose Irene Worth Sir E(iw.ird Fortrost ... LcSiUe_HjnK'( Tli4> : Nils . Dayton ■ Ann ■ WestiVeld >. Sir GeorKc Surrey. l*ula Riherac "Dr. Mdnik j.. ... : -Prfll'es.'sor Chu.... . Rp<ra Olacca Xernia Vezabar..... i....... Kara in ' Felipe . . . .'>■. . ; ... Gordon Tannei i .i ;. Helen BacklinI .. .DouRlas .leflerlen t ..., Alan Wheatlev i^f»nnialnti LoMk lliff(>>roiii Dublin, Oct. 26. Hilton Ed«rards and Mleheal Macl,i,im- general- niijriager. of the company i Anthony Terraeiano, present , geiieral; nianageis wis riiined v;—7 i:";r-v ,-.~",t:.--' s.,;-.;.;.;. t!„,. ..f retarv pro tein. and Louis Forte Cet'il Trouncer i moir-Dublm Gate Theatre production ul V i John^ Ruihiiick 1 drama iii three acts (two scenes! by Mac- was tonlirniecl MS acting trt'asilior. .loy Parker 1 ijaininoir. Stars MacLiainmoir and Sheila I " ards. Setttncs by Geoffrey Dunn ] JSurrell Staged bj EdW! . .: . . Bin Astar Carl Bonn: Opened at Gaietyt. Dublin, John Nilsson i Edgar Whitburn i A problem play loosely con- structed, "Home is Tomorrow" con- tains diverse characters who wan- der on and oft' stage leaving sue 0<t. 25. '48. Battv Wallace Martin CVrealish; Baii'bre .... Tom Grealish ... ,.. .Jolui Battles :. ,1,., .Dennis Brennan . ,. , Sheila Burrell . Mlcheal - MacUammoir There are farms in the .west of Ireland, away in mountains wliere expounding the auttioi s tneones , h„j:„„ m,,. opffino „f Miclieal V r M^lelTn^v^^^^^^^^^ J B. Piiestley tans v.i'i ste j ^.^.^.^tg gm-h an atmos- this w-Iierever it is staged but ,t 8 start - hearing gives the impression It could all be I news that Tom Grealish is told better in booK lo™- ; I bringing a bride he married in Broadwav oflerings steadily taper Story IS set on a Caribbean is- ■ London to the hills — one feels ^jj land administered by a covey of; y,at happiness can come out of Nations oilicials drawn, honiecominB; Having set the Another Pdiosi Heads Phila.-La Scala Opera Philadelphia, Nov, 16. A. Victor Pelosi has been chosen president pro tern of the Philadel-1 phia-La Scala Opera Co.: He's, brotlier of the late Francesco , some of the allied nations. Chance Pelosi, founder and for many years 1 arrival of an expedition with the Keneial manaxer of the company. : news of the world s situation, which appalls the castaways, forces the climactic: deeisioh whethei*. to' stay on the island oi' return to "civiliaaii tibn;**'' „:-/'■:■■-' ■ y-C-■-•'^■r C«ist of Geller WbiKsfhplp students does a genei'iily credible job under liUcius M. Cppk's directibri al- tliough there ars ho especial stahd- buts.. StiJderits als& .constructed the single set, which is ^Scelleht;. : Plays Out-of-Town Cohtlnued from p»(t it\ Ice Grosses Continued from pate S9 : draw big attendance, the contrast- ing patterns follow through the winter and into spring. As. the ice show gross consistently decreases, other legit receipts climb. Then, with the start of a new season -for the skating spec, business spurts on- the upgrade to the summer highs, while takings for the, strictly United Nations ofticials flrawn , homecoming; __ _ „ from different countries who plan! mood MaCLiammoir lets the nat to educate the inhubitants for a urai comedy of the country-follt future world - wide Utopia. Un- amuse for a while, then tightens tapped sources of a valuable min-.| the strings' again. . ::. ' «ral cause big business Interests' Tom Grealish, in his bucolic in- to clash with the pacific alms of nocence (or ignorance), has .mar- • the ruling community, culminating j ried : a prostitute. Her arrival at In the return from banishment of the home of Tom's father, Martin * native agitator. Primed vt^ith. out- Grealish, and a duet in the kitchen glde funds, he plans to seize con-1 between herself and the father, trol, liquidating key officials and ! brings the tragedy to its peak. ■ shooting the English comraai\d;mt. I M has had a good who dies maintaining faith in his deal of whimsy in his earlier plays* niissibh, in wliich nobody else be- ibut this tragedy improves his status lieves. las a dramatist. It is melodramatic Leslie Banks is his easy, natural at times, but for the most part is self as this colonizing type of lH»e ^'^al tragedy liglit^^^^^ Hriii«liPr spfvptlv vparninc for the tlie natural comedy of rural litc. fiPPn hVdePS oPhis^ o^^^^^ Edwards- direction is sure, f e'ne Wort? s gracuJ^s a«d"bJutfe ^vHh fi"^«'^>"PtVcl^'^f^"he as his most unworthy spouse, fe-ifi'^^r-Jndp^f ^Xe^^^^^ plcting to a nicety the caged - in thiee ^iincipa^^^ frustration emanating from a bor^ 1^^^^ BuVrell-ai^^ sound Ma? ing marriage which finds Uneasy Burreii—aie souna. ii-iac, compensation in a series of amours.. I Alan Wheatley's French characteri- zation of a disillusioned cynic; John Ruddock's philosophizing Chinaman; Cecil Trouncer's chol- : eric Czech physician all lend -coloi< and variety to the varying person- alities. Joy Parker, as the little I.e Bonlionr dea (••Bad People's Happiness") Zurich, Oct. 23. . Drama in -fonr acts by .Jacques Deval. translated into German by Maria Kein ohd Werner Kaufman. Staged by Johan. native girl who's been Anglicized | J?„%\,j;S2.s''ltwii;''D'oide"*'^^^^^^^^^ and educated, exudes grace and j schwaizkopt'. At Kuechun theatre,, Ba.5ie, H^^^V .'''"l^HoitnP^^nrnviHP^'''« I jTo^a'SS'ullV"!": ""I"'- Maria Fein \ the Henie-Wirtz management de- Amencan colleague provides a I Govrion Floyd.^. .Heini Woester.' » crisp, smooth contrast^both.. lov- i Valentm .v.:-:, ."Weirner Kau^matu^ Henie-\Virt7 management figures that the reason for the reverse pat- tern for skating sliows. is not only the psychological appeal of ice presentations during hot weather, but also that they are primarily kid attractions, which tend to get better attendance during the no* school months and at holiday pe- riods, such as Easter-and Christ- mas-New Year vacations, ■ : . LUtle Advance Sale Partly because of the large ca- pacity (2,964 seats) of the Center, which ainiost always make it pos- sible to get seats, there's never much advance sale for ice. shows. Another factor in the lack of ad- vance is that a substantial portion of the, skating spectacle, .trade comes from out-of-towners; ■ Fact that there's generally a small ad- vance eauses attendance to vary drastically according to immediate conditions, such as bad: weath«\ ■ The ice show (most patrons don't appear to know the actual title of whatever show may be current) is a regular tourist attraction, com- parable to the, Statue oi Liberty, Empire State building, etc. And, as such, it's distinct from the rest of Radio' City. Because of this out-of-town audience for the show, Xow Is f li«> WIn<r>r Hollywood, Nov. 13. ' "'Actors'' Lab production , ol' drama in two acts iseven scenes) by ,Tohn 'O'Dea.: Directed by Bert Conway; settings., Les MarzoU. Opened at Actors' l;ab Work- shop Theatre, Hollywood. Nov. 12, '48! ■$2.40 top. Shorty Billy Smith Processor:.:.;.. :■..... .Peter Broeco Utilities Philip Pine Oakl*....i........... .James Anderson Te-v......... .... ,lohn Conipton, Sid .:.. L i. . Jerry Pans Sars* ... ...:.......... . Ian MacDonald Lieut. Willis Bub W llofTman Lieut. Brett Walter Coy Private Murphy.. ,. Curt Gonway Col. Balow . , Mervm Williams .. .Marllee Phelps , , ,lulli|S Makofl: ..; Mark WUliams ...lames Parker .George Buchanan JlUius Makoff George: Biichanati, ing men who don't want. them. | gj'-" ,,3,-•;.'.'^"#ritY&s • Geoffrey Dunn turns in a neat I Fannv M.is!i6iibrs,......... Lola Muethel performance as a powerful money ; sophie Voise 3osy iioisten lord twisting loyalities and lives to IZ"!^^, . .:.':!: V... Fo*h?Reu"tab achieve his own ends. Supportingj Anais souniler,— ,.i..:;.oiea cioor French author Jacques Deval de- cided to have the world'preem of his: new pl.ay, *'l-ie ' Bonheur : des votes an unusual share of its pro- motional eftort to national adver^ tising and publicity. : BARBARA PERRY EXTENDS THANKS TO VAL PARNELL FOR WONDERFUL YEAR IN "STARLIGHT ROOF" LONDON HIPPODROME "Best woman dancer ever seen here:'': ■. :■■■■■■■. ■ Worth Wales News "Girl who puts drama Into her dancing, humour Into her sketches, and charm into every- thing she does." Weekly Sporting Review "The show is stolen by Barbara Perry's dance to 'Pedio the Fisherman'." Theatre Newsletter "One of the highlights of the show is delightful dancer Bar- bara Perry." Evening: News $60,000,000 B. 0. Continued from pnge 1 . . , , . , where, to swell the fantastic total Mediants," set for Switzerland in j constantly. German translation rather than for \ n..^,,,.^ *„k„v , Paris in the original French ver-|J^^^i^j^'jf -(^™"s<' t<^«"i wrote sion. At any rate,,it is a very: poor piece of playwriting, not only corny and tasteless, but also boring and uncpnvincing. It IS the story of a "high-class" prostitute in Paris, end of the 19th century. Being tired of her old lover, a rich and influential but r a t h e r blockheaded government and 'estate of the Union," and produced "Arsenic and Old Lace" and "Hasty Heart,'' They also wrote the books for "Hooray lor What." "Red, Hot arid Blue,.' "Anything Goes", and "Strip for Action," which/aren't being in- eluded because the last-named was a flop, while on the other three ate aiurpny....... Balow.. . . ; Pat CoUms Second Medic ,.......... Colonel Bates . ........ Captain Taylor......... Lieut: Johnson .',:: .'.. Second Poken Plajter.'., Soldier There's a temporary letdown in the first, part of the four-scene second act, but except for that th* ■ yocks come easily. First act espe-i cially is an almost continuous howl. However, the prospects are bet- ter for films than for Broadway in its present form. Rewriting cer- tain sections ■would give it a better ■ legit chance, and the efl'ort seems definitely wortliwhile altliough the large cast arid four different sets mean a: lieavy production outlay^ Under Bert Conway's slick direc- tion, cast does an excellent job. Standouts are Peter Brocco as a drafted professor; Curt Gonway as a former actor; Ian MacBonald as the sarge; and Philip Pine, Jerry Paris, James Anderson and Billy Smith as GI's. Director Conway, Incidentally, clocked: up an addi- tional laugli with a swell piece of: final curtain staging. Kap. - The funnier side of Army life is limned in this tale of barracks life in an Army camp in the Aleu- tians. For the most part, the sketch, is a hilarious one. Autlior John O'Dea lias shunned a formal plot. preferrinK to sustain interest through a series of inci- dents In which the same characters figure. Actually, the script is a collection of one-acters . which O'Dea penned over, a long period. He is at his best when painting his 'characters, bringing them to life with deft, sure strokes. He gives them good dialog in keeping with the characterizations, and lilts a high rate of lauglis-per-minute. distributed ultimately) for $300,000 and 25?'o of profits after distribu- tion costs were, recovered. "The Hasty Heart." between its N. Y. run and subsequent: tour, grossed about $1,000,000. The Rodgei'.s ^ Hammerstein ac- count stems from the time of their collaboration, and don't include any shows they worked on sepa- rately before; Rodgers wrote many hits with Lorenz Hart but never hit fabulous flgures till his tieup Shorty Pittsburgh. Nov. 12. Pittsburgh : Pla.vhous* production at comedy, : in tlu-ee acts :(one ' scene) ' by ' Margaret and Joseph '\r«blonskl: SlageA by Pi-edericlc Burleigh at Playhouse, Pitt.sburgh.', John KalLsh .:...,.:.;..:.... Samuel Meli Andy Krivda:........,:.:... . Vic Mangan Steve Woods:.... .....:.Joseph Korvick; Jr. Sophie...,. . . ..... i,..:, j;Peg Harlg Helen.: .: ■.:............, ,:.;. :Pearl Hipps Rosie:.^. , Jacnuehne McKint Mary,,,.,.,,.,:...:.,-.... .Frances Parry. Pittsburgli Playhouse'« luokiAvlth original scripts, continues to be bad. This is the tliird or fourth new play Director Fred Burleigh has tested at local community theatre, and paydirt still eludes him. "Sliorty" may be a slight improvement over: the others. Written by husband-and-wife team bf Margaret and: Joseph \Ya- blonski (latter is an official of the United Mine Workers Union), it deals with three lovelorn ba<*hclors living together in shack of a coal- mining town. Autliors. being resi- dents of such a: community, have caught the tang of the coal miners' patter and the comic rhythms in it. Unfortunately that isn't enough. As 9 play, "Shorty" is merely a loose and rambling: collection of character sketches, whose romances : and humor grow painfully thin alter three acts. There are many laughs in "Shorty." and they're honestly earned, but when the brief sketches: of laughter stop, so does the plav. People in "Shorty" rarely if ever come to. life.. Playhouse perform- ance is pretty undistinguished ex- cept in two instances—Vic Mangan as the timid guy and Peg Harig as the trollop, both turning in fine with Hammerstein. . Duo wrote | performances. -Chances of "Shorty" Allegro," "Carousel" and ,"Okla homa!" (which the Theatre Guild produced), and produced the other 'executive, she finds a new affection i they shared credit for the writing I in an Knglish doctor who,_ at the I with the composers. Grosses on the R&H's U. S. Crosses. "Annie Get Gun". $ 8,073,842 "Show Boat"- 1,358,472 "I Remember Mama" 1,224,539 "Happy Birthday", 1,733.321 "John Loves Mary" 1,444,643 "Allegro" 1,615,000 "Carousel" 6.770,000 ^'Oklahoma!" ....: 18,200,000 getting a professional pi-oductiun are practically nil. Cohen. end, turns out to be a killer and .leweliy thiel. But this isn't all. Her butler is also one of her ex- iovers, and she has only hired him to prevent him from spreading talk of her indiscretions, 'fhe spectacur lar finale oi this horror story is 'that the doctor strangles the lady Ion a nocturnal rendezvous.: 1 ; The cast practically consi.sts of | I one stellar role and nine support- ! ing ones:- German actress, has for I' herself a "one-man" show. She is; : also responsible for tiie German i I adaptation, She overplays and is | ■ I miscast; ::Best supporting perform- | Goes, three musicals, would account foi another $2,477,000 ("Anything L&C's U. S. Grosses "Life with Father" $10,000,000 "Arsenic & Old Lace" 6,000.000 "State, of Union'! . . 3,700,000 "The Hasty Heart" 1,000,000 $20,700,000 $1,3152,000; "Hoorav ance comes from Rita Wottawa, 1 What," $550,000; "Red, Hot & former; musical comedy singer, i Blue." $575,000i; The rest of the players are either, "iTather" grossed about $5,000,- just fair or bad. Mezo. \ OOO in its seven years in N. Y., and I another $5,000,000 on the road. It Nick. Kusso optioned :"Moumou," played a year in London, as well French play by Jean :de Latraz for [as in others foreign cities, for addi- an American premiere in Holly-. tional revenue. It was leased to wood and possible Broadway Warner Bros, for seven years (one production next year ... Ben Boyar pic; no remakesi for $500,000 down optioned "Miracle .loncs," new and 50-50 split after distribution play by Riau James, lor; Broadway I costs; production this season, with James i < i ^,„-..„, eo nnn noA • it xr o rio tlu- st,'.King I Arsenic S?,000,000 m N. Y ■ I "Arsenic and Old Lace' in its $40,419,817 ORIGINAL DOLLY SISTERS' COSTUMES COLLECTORS COSTUMERS PLAYERS Th*i« eoftumei, many of them duplicated for a sister act, part of the . original wardrobe of Jenny Dolly or* to bt lold on the site of the old Boitpn ;Stor«. Itemt Ineludo dresitt, wrapi, ovening gowni, riding habltf, wigs, eil'Ramciits,:fons and:-numorous other Items of valuo.and interest to eolloeters, eosfumers or play«r). Ploose write FRANK:KOHN,: State and Modiian •lilg.,: CMeago, or phono STat* 2''3000. shows. The gross on "Show Boat'! is figured only from the time tiie Rodgers-Hammerstein firm took over management of. the revival. | "Annie" lias grossed $5,579,0341 to date in N. Y, (where it's in its | 129th week), and $2,494,808 more on the road. It's still touring the U. S.; is in its 74th week in Lon- don, and has played over a year iij Australia, with the latter t\yo gross figures not inckided in above for I totals. Metro bought it for $650,000. "Happy Birthday" ; and VShow Boat" are both currently touring, 65 46th St the U. S , to add daily to: their given totals, ; So; of course, are "Carousel" and "Oklahoma!", While "Allegro'' opens I its road tour in Philadelphia tomorrow (Thurs.). "Allegro" grossed $1,615,000 dur- ing its N. Y. run. : ''Carousel" grossed $4,250,000 in its 110 weeks in N. Y.. and has thus far racked up $2,520,000 more on the Toad.... "Oklahoma"' grossed about $7 THEATRICAL FABRICS for COSTUMES DRAPERIES STAGE CURTAINS Mahoram tuppliei (vary Fabric need for leading Broadway productions and Hollywood studios. 'Ttn Hsuse Bf 8erVfc«" 130 WosI 46«h Stroot, New York CHICAGO LOS ANGEIES ' 6E. UlioSt. 1113 So. LA. St. Jeai VASILESCU Photograph/ FASHION SCREEN STAGE 10 1^483^; SPECIAL RATES TO READERS Of SHOW BUSINESS 11,444: performances iiv N. Y. grossed lover $2,000,000, while four com-, 110,000 in its 268 weoksTnN.'Y'., panics on ihe road took in over' while the one or two companies I $f,00O,t)0O more. Show had an ex-1 constantly on tour, totaling 280 tended run in London, and else-]weeks of performance, account where. Pix rights were sold to,for $11,200,000 more. Warners tor SliiO.OOO and 15''r of I Return to the producers-writers SAMUEL FRENCH SINCE 18S0 Play, Brokers "and Aulliors' Representatives S.l West 45tli Slreel, Ki-n- lork 7033 SiinHet DiTd.. Ilollvivmid 4«, Cat. gross alter recoverj of negative charges. "State of the Union'' gros.sed over $1,200,000 in N. y.. while three road companies added an- other gross ot $2,500,000. Pic was sold to Liberty Productions (Metro from their various participations can't be arrived at. But an idea of return can be gauged from: the gain shown on "Life With Father." In Its seven year um a profit of 6^000% was earned on an: invest- taient of $^,000. HAHRY MEYER AI"W1011'S llKl'BKS1<,N i' vr\ VK NOW READING NEW PLAYS FOR NEW YORK AND ROAD PRODUCTIONS itijf 1>.1iii11h()1i .VvontiA ISc'f. llth * 4,-,tli New York it, X. y. Ml rrtiy Hill i-llK)U