Variety (June 1949)

60 IJBCITIMATB TaHu-lives’ Wow IIG at Olney; CitroneDa Circuit s Strong Start Olney, Md., Jurrf 7. Tallulah Bankhead in “Private Lives,” supported by Donald Cook and the rest of the Broadway re- vival cast, launched the season at Olney theatre with a record-break- ing gross of $11,000 for eight per- formances in the 700-seat barn theatre, with house scaled to $3. Extra performance Monday night (6), usualb' dark under the Tuesday preem pattern of house, will bring second week of the Noel Coward opus to phenomenal $12,- 500 for nine performances, or a grand total of $23,500 for the fort- night in the country. Bankhead, always a sock draw^ In Washington, from which Olney garners most of its audience, proved such a lure to the legit- starved capital that show was a complete sellout days before its preem last Tuesday night (31). Newport Casino Set Newport, June 7. Sara Stamm has set the full sea- son for her Casino theatre here, starting June 27 with “The Me- dium’’ and “The Telephone,” with Marie Powers. Final week. Sept. 5, will have a tryout not yet an- nounced. Schedule for the 23d summer season includes: “Candlelight,*’’ with Jean Parker, July 4; “The Winslow Boy,’’ w'ith Ian Keith. July 11; “The Philadelphia Story.” with Sarah Churchill, July 18; “For Love or Money,’’ with John Loder and Betty Caulfield, July 25.* Also, “Present Laughter.” with Edward Everett Horton. Aug. 1; “Accent on Youth,” with Paul Lukas, Aug. 8; “Her Cardboard Lover,” with Haila Stoddard, Aug. 15, and “The Heiress.” with Basil Rathbone, Aug. 29. Pitt Revue for Me. Strawhat Pittsburgh. June 7. “Of All Things,” the original revue which closed a five-week run at Pittsburgh Playhouse Saturday night (4t, has been acquired for a strawhat production at Ogunquit, Me., summer theatre. Wesley Mc- Kee, co-producer of that spot, came here last week to catch the show and offer followed. It’ll be done for two weeks at Ogunquit. and other rustic bookings may follow. Ken Welch, composer of mo.st of the tunes and lyrics, and Margaret Jones, musical director of “Of All Things,” w'ill go to Ogunquit to prepare the show there, and seven of the local players. Florence Lord. Robert Parks, Collette Crawford. William Leech. Corinne Kessler. Jacqueline Sloan and Rosemary O’Reilly, have also been invited to go along and recreate their orig- inal roles. Lawrence Langner, .Armina Mar- shall and Paul Crabtree, all of the Theatre Guild, caught “Of All Things” and were considering parts of it for inclusion in an original summer revue to be done at the Country Playhouse. Westport. Conn., but so far there has been no word from them. Wood.stock Exits ‘Star System’ Woodstock. N. Y.. June 7. Michael Linenthal, managing di- rector. reveals that the Woodstock Playhouse is abandoning the “star system” this season. He's adhering to public taste, he reveals. Permanent compan> includes Anthony Ross, Jane Lloyd-.Iones, Randolph Echols and Fa> Sapping- ton. Resident director is Joseph Leon. “I Remember Mama” will be the Initial oftering. featuring Ruth Hammond as Mama and Ross as Uncle Chris. Haila Stoddard will UDtES REDUCE at ABBEY SLIM GYM SALON, Ltd. N«w Low Roto for Limited Time Only Treatments $75. Valu* for Only mO • 10 Massages *10 Turkish Baths *10 Gym Sessions Under Strict Medical Suporvision ABBEY SLIM GYM SALON, Ltd. HC cL ABBEY 151 W. 5l*t St NEW YORK CITY Tol.: PL 7-3295 join the company to play in “O Mi.stress Mine,” “Anna Luca.sta” and “The Skin of Our Teeth.” Other shows are to include “Morn- ings at 7,” “Androcles and the Lion,” “The Heiress” and “My Sister Eileen.” The Woodstock is reducing its prices from $3 top of last year to $2.40, Playgoer clubs in Dutchess, Ulster, Greene and Orange coun- ties are being formed to foster in- terest in the theatre as a Hudson Valley institution. Midland Players* Shuffle London, Ont., June 7. Under the sponsorship of the Midland, Ont., chamber of com- merce, the Midland Players, whose headquarters are actually in To- ronto, will shuttle betw'een Ham- ilton and Midland this year in a summer stock program. Under Jack Biacklock, the com- pany. in its second summer sea- son. will play at the Brant Inn at Burlington (in the Hamilton area), 40 miles west of Toronto, two nights a week and for four nights will play in the Georgian Bay va- cationland theatre at Midland, w'here it uses the curling rink. Midland is 95 miles north of To- ronto. During the olT-season, re- taining its Midland identity, the I troupe has played in the small theatre in the Royal Ontario Mu- i seum. ! Company includes Marjorie Douglas. Elwyn Yost. Adrienne j Walsh. Edith Haig. Catherine Mc- 1 Kie, Hardin Greenwood. Rolf Ken- 1 ton, Cameron Langford, Ken John- son and Joan Armstrong. Brant I Inn opening is July 4; Midland, June 29. Old Log’s June 15 Opening Minneapolis, June 7. Old Log theatre at Lake Minne- tonka, only local strawhattcr, opens its annual sea.son June 15 ; with Don Stolz again managing director. Initial offering will be ; “The Front Page.” featuring local newspaper people and the Henne- pin county sheriff, all playing ; their counterpart roles. Offering proved to be last season’s out- standing attraction presented simi- larly. Current season will run 13 ' weeks and company w ill include I Guy Arbury, Kelly Flint and I Diana Kemble, newcomer recruits I from N. Y. Show’ Shop in 10th Season Hartford, June 7. With an 80-.seat increa.se In ca- pacity. the Show' Ssbop, in nearby I Canton, has started its 101 li season. ! House now' seats 340 and is operat- 1 ing under the Equity banner. Op- ' crated by Stanley and Joan Cob- leigh since its inception. Eli/abolh McCormick is in as director for the fifth consecutive year. Show Shop this season will op- erate 14 weeks, w'ith each produc- tion skedded for two weeks. Cur- rent company consists of 10. John Balmer has dual role of business manager and drumbeater. House operates Tuesday through Sun- day. Opening production is the G B. Shaw' comedy. “Arms and the ^ Man. Other productions pencilled in are “Made in Heaven.” “John i Loves Mary” and “Three Men on a ^ Horse.” Strawhat Jottings A summer tryout (Aug. lOi of .Tosephine Victor’s and Irving Strouse’s new play “Spring 1805.’’ W'ill be put on at the Pitchfork Playhou.se, Sharon. Conn., in an- ticipation of a London production. Tryout of Michael Clayton Hut- ton’s new play, “Arrangement for Strings.” contemplated for John Drew theatre, Easthampton, L I. Arrangements made for Anne Revere to star . . , Barn begins its season June 27 with Signe Ha.sso in “Love from a Stranger.” Other scheduled productions include . "George Washington Slept Here.” “Male Animal,” “The Late George Apley,” “Happy Birthday” and “Streets oi New York.” James O’Rear has been engaged as direc- tor . Ocean Playhouse. At- lantic City, begins its .season .lune 28 . . . The INlillstream Play- house. Sea Girt. N. J.. operating under an Equity franchi.se. be- gins a 10 - week sea.son July 5 with “John Loves Mary" . . . Thousand Islands Play- House. Alexandria, N. Y.. begins .sea.son June 28 with “Private Lives’’ . . . Robin Hood thcatn*. Arden. Del., begins a 12- week season June 14 with ‘O Mistre.ss Mine.” Arti.sts Theatre. Inc,, will (iperate the theatre again this summer with Windsor Lewis directing. VeJnetday, June B, 1949 Gate Theatre, Dublin, To Do Coulter Play “Oblanoff,” dramatization b y John Coulter of a Russian novel of the same title, will be produced next fall by the Gate Theatre of Dublin. The author has also com- pleted a new play, “Riel,” based on the life of the French-Indian half- breed patriot of that name, which may be presented late this sum- mer as the feature event at the an- nual festival at Halifax. Coulter’s “The Drums Are Out” was done last summer by the Abbey Theatre, Dublin. A native Irishman, Coulter is now' a permanent resident of ! Toronto. Inside Stuff-Legit John Chapman published In last Sunday’s (5) N. "y. News his selw*. tions for “The Burns Mantle Best Plays of 1948-49,” to be publish^ next fall. The choices are “Death of a Salesman,” “Anne of the Thou, sand Days,” “Madwoman of Chaillot,” “Detective Story,” “Edward mJ Son.” “Life With Mother.” “Light Up the Sky,” “Goodbye, My Fariev » “The Silver Whistle” and “Two Blind Mice." Richard Watts. Jr., of the N. Y. Post, also picked a 10-best list last week, as follows: “Death of a Salesman," “South Pacific,” “Detectlv# Story,” “The Victors.” “Life With Mother.” “The Silver Whi.stle.” “Set My People Free.” ‘’Light Up the Sky,” “Madwoman of Chaillot” and “Edward, My Son.” SADLER’S NO. 2 FIRE Ballet troupe which lost all its props and costumes in a fire at Hanley. Eng., last Thursday (2), is not, as reported generally, the famed Sadler’s Wells Ballet of Co- vent Garden, which will make its first U. S. appearance at the N, Y. Met in September. Troupe involved is Sadler’s Wells’ so-called second company, which dances at Sadler’s Wells Theatre instead of Covent Garden. Meg Mundy, who left the cast of “Detective Story” la.st week, was partied by other members of the cast after her final performance! The affair took place on the stage of the Hudson theatre, N. Y. The actress was given a spun-glass chafing dish and set, and the attached card read “From your friends of the 2ist Precinct.” ’ Anne Burr, who took over the part of the detective’s w'ife, received a huge bouquet from Miss Mundy for her opening performance the next night. Irving Berlin has sold a slice of his share of “Miss Liberty” on a dollar-for-dollar basis to a group including his children and Joshua Logan, Jay Blackton, Jerome Robbins and Don Hershey. Latter three are musical conductor, dance director and stage manager of “Miss Liberty,” of which Berlin is composer and co-producer with librettist Robert E. Sherwood and Moss Hart, who is staging. Orel NlaoDnor im (Three Men in the Snow) Zurich, May 17. Rudolf Bernhard production of comedy in four arts by Robert Neuner. based on novel by Krich Kaestner. Directed by Al- bert Pulinann. Sets by Florin Mueller. At Bernhard theatre. Zurich. Tobler Rudolf Bernhard Hertha Olga Gebhardt ' Menslng Walburga Gmuer I .lohann .Seidelbast Willi Stettner Dr. Georg Srheinpflug Tony Niessner Frau von Haller Lilly Maschler Baiun Kaehnitz Ernest Boilsterli Hotel Manager Karl Meier Concierge Albert Pulmann In for a Vrr.v Young | NIan Off Broadway. Inc., production of drama ' in two ads tHve scenes* by Gertrude Stein, originally published under title “In Savoy." Directed by Lamont Johnson; . setting and lighting, Kdwin Wiltstein. At ! Cherry Lane. .N. Y.. June 6. '49; Sl.BO top. I Ferdinand Anthony Franciosa Denise Kim Stanley Henri Michael Vincente Gazzo Constance Beatrice Arthur Olympe lane .Moutrie Clothide I.eola Le Sand George A. L. Dreiblatt German Gene Saks ■ This is the dramatization of Erich Kae.stner’s novel of same title, filmed in 1938 by M-G under the title “Romance for Three.” Play is a hit here and might have U. S. charces. Plot concerns a millionaire who i disguises himself as a poor man to find out about the reaction of people towards him. The play docs not reach the book’s sarcastic i humor, but still offers enough gags and comic situations to make the ; audience roar with laughter. This, however, is chiefly due to the high-; spirited performances, topped by i Rudolf Bernhard, popular come- j dian and ow'ner of the theatre, j Other excellent portrayals are by Willi Stettner, as the butler, and Albert i’ulmann, W'ho directed the play. The romantic team by Olga Gebhardt and Tony- Niessner is equally satisfactory. Two sets by Florin Mueller are good. Mezo. i 1-0 Itoi KnI Mori (The King Is Dead) Paris. May 21. ' Rideau de Paris pie.spncatlon of drama in three acts by Loui.s Duereux. Directed bv Jean Marchat, Scenery by Denis M.ir- ' tin: incidental music by Louis Beydts. At tlie Theulie des Mathurins, Paris. , Miihael Michel Bouquet Chiaverina . .Laurence .4ubra.v i Mar'he Claude Larue ' |*»«ues Jean Marchat Prof. Minarev .lean D'Yd Lanlz Lucien Guervil As its initial production the newly formed Off Broadway. Inc.,! staged the last complete dramatic j work of the late Gertrude Stein. At times captivating in its simplic-1 ity, “Yes” at other intervals is com-1 pletely unintelligible in certain symbolic references. As a potential Broadway offering, the play’s ob- scure aspects shadow it with an i experimental flavor that makes it an implausible bet for midtown theatregoers. Ncverlheless, the theme of intra- family friction among the French people during the German occupa- tion has been clearly presented. It is only in individual character i study that Miss Stein tends to be-, come confusing. And the symbolic , usuage of the words yes and no, which are constantly employed to signify other than their common- place meanings, is one of the play’s major weakne.sses. | Anthony Franciosa, as the young man of the title, registers pathos in both his love for his country and for an older American woman, i who is capably portrayed by Bea-, trice Arthur. As a member of the! French resistance. .Michael Vin-, cente Gazzo gives a credible per- i formance, and Kim Stanley is amusing and pathetic as his wife, i Jean Moutrie adds an eflective comedy touch as a maid. Leola Le Sand. A. L. Dreiblatt and Gene Saks give le.s.ser roles a sincere loucli. I Direction by Lamont .Tohnson ' is standout, and F^dwiti Wittstcin’s sets appropriate. formance, carefully detailed and rising to hysterical pitch toward the end. but seemingly a bit studied, as if from playing against type. Meeker is forthright as the primitive young Polish - American, possibly lacking some of the ani- mal-like brutality the part requires but giving a clear characterization and enunciating the lines admir- ably. Miss Pope’s playing is tech- nically acceptable, but her appear- ance and personality are a trifle immature for the role. Malden, excellent when the play first opened, seems even better now. Although the- performance is generally audible, occasional lines are muffled. At Friday night’s (3) show the opening curtain was raised before a sizable part of the audience w'as seated. And appar- ently as an economy measure by the house management, the theatre was inadequately cooled. Hobe. Theme of this interesting play is the struggle for power of tho.se who haven’t it again.st tho.se who have but are disinclined to use it. In 1980 the “la.st king in the world” rules witli a detachment that in- luriates his ambitious uncle and his mistress, who has fought her way up trom the gutter to become a successful star. The uncle cooks up a plot whereby a double of the king is a.s.sassinated and then forces the king to a.ssume the role of the double, a young revolutionary stu- dent, while he himself seizes power. The singer, however, leads a re- bellion against the usurper, and appeals to the king, w'ith whom she falls in love in his role as the stu- dent. to denounce the intrigue and to seize the throne. This ironic sit- uation. In which the rightful king is replaced on the throne by a woman who believes him lo be the false double, makes excellent theatre. The piece Is admirably acted, particularly by Laurence Aubray in the role of the singer, Chiaver- ina, w'liile Jean Marchat gives one 01 his customary fine performances as tlie unele. Michel Bouquet is a trifle too wistful and vague as the king, hut is effective nonethele.ss Jean d’Yd is excellent as the pro- tessor and C laude Larue is amus- ing as Marthe, the king’s secrctarv The two settings, of the king’s hed- room and a village living room in the lyrolean stylo, arc attractive. Fred. A Streetcar Named Desire (BARRYMORE. N. Y.) After a year-and-a-half's run and the substitution of three new leads, ! “A Streetcar Ncmed Desire” stacks ' up more than ever as primarily an individual triumph for author' Tennessee Williams. Granted that Elia Kazan's production is bril- liantly arresting, that Jo Miel- ziner’.s skeletonized scenery Is dramatically compelling and that the various performances have been skillful. The fad that stands' out on a second visit Is the in- herent quality of the play itself. It is a terrifying drama. -season, I Uta Hagen has been shifted from the second company to succeed, Jessu-a Tandy in the principal fea- lured load. Ralph Moekor has ro- placed Marlon Brando as the male lead, and Carmelita FNipe has taken over for Kim Hunter as second femme lead. Others new since the i preem are Hilda Haynes in place! of (.ee Gee .lames and Vito Christf' m.stead of Wright King. Still in Hieir original parts arc Karl Mai-, den. 1 eg Hillias, Rudv Bond. Nick ' Dennis. Edna Thomas, Ann Dcre and Richard Garrick, With the revised cast. “Street- car IS still irresistibly moving. It IS expertly played. Ihdugli the per- formance .seems somew hat delib- erate. Miss Hagen gives a tine per-, George Abbott will make the Broadway presentation of “Thank You. Just Looking.” the revue re- cently produced at Gatholic Univ., with sketches and lyrics by Walter and Jean Kerr, and music by Jay Gorncy. It will open early in the fall, with Kerr directing. Joseph Kipness, who had expected to be a.s.sociatcd in the production with Abbot, will not be included . . , Geraldine Fitzgerald reportedly plans to star in and produce an untitled play by Denis Johnston and Marianne Rieser on Broadway next fall or winter. Nick Ilolde resigned as company manager of "Two Blind Mice.” with Charles Stewart succeeding . , . William Conway, general manager for Hugh Beaumont HI. M. Ten- nent, London), sailed Saturday (4) on the Queen Mary, after arrang- ing details for the West End pro- ductions of “Death of a Salesman” and “Streetcar Named Desire" . . . Reinhold Schunzel, who clo.sed re- cently in “Big Knife.” sail last week for a film a.ssignment in Munich . . . William Taub sails Friday (10» for England lo arrange contractual details there for the Broadway presentation this winter of “People Like Us” He's dicker- ing with Basil Rathbone to direct, from an adapation by Ouida Bergere (Mrs. Rathbone>. Actress Peggy Cass, wife of house manager and television pro- duction manager C!arl Fisher, frac- tured her collarbone in a fall downstairs, and lias had to call off plans for a European vacation . . . Contrary to report from London, Richard Rodgers and Oscar llam- merstein, 2d, will not attend the party there Saturday night <12) for the second anniversary of the West End “Annie Get Your Gun” pro- duction. London Peter Saunders to do a new farce titled “Wanted on Voyage.” in which he Is to star liUpino Lane. Show to be tried out in provinces .sometime in July, with Ronald Shiner directing, after which it comes to the West End . . . Lew and Leslie Grade have leased the Strand theatre for Horace Schmld- lapp, who Intends to bring over “Brooklyn, U. S. A.” to the West End .sometime in August with Lionel Stander starred. It's now definite that Flora Robson leaves ea.st of “Black Chiffon.” current Westminster theatre hit. to star in Henry Sherek’s new play. “C’harles and Mary Lamb.” at the Edinburgh festival for one week in August, after which she reopen.s at the Westminster with Sherek’s play postponed till “Chiffon” clo.ses.