Variety (February 1950)

VEmnMATE Wedneiiddfy Fcl>jiiary 1, 1950 At a meeting attended by aboutt 150 out o£ a total membership of 1 approximately 3;000> Chorus Equir ty last week proposed to take ‘^punitiye action” against members who fail to attend at least two of the four annual sessions. Move took the form of a recOmmenda- tioh to the union’s Executive com- mittee to cphsider rnalurig sue attendance cpinpulsory. If ap- proved by the executive commit- tee^ the matter will go to the coun- cil of the parent orgamzation, Actors ■’Equity. > $lim attendance, not only i at membership meetings, but of the regular sessions of the governing body, is one of the major prob- lems of all unions, but is particu- larly acute in the Case of show business groups, many Of whose members are apt to be but of town or otherwise unable tO be present at scheduled gatherings. In the case of both Equity, and Chorus Equity, It Is sometimes difficult to get a quorum for meetings of the council and executive. Committee, respectively. In the case of Equity, its mem- bership meetings are frequently attended by no more than 10% of the total membership; some- times even when issues of intense Interest to the Union are to be decided. Attendance at councU Ses^ sions is relatively little better, al- though members; are almost invari- ably sounded out . on their ability and willingness to come to the regular. weekly nieetings before they are chosen by the nominating Committee^ Neither Equity. nor Chorus Equity informs its mem- bership of the attendance or vot- ing records of members of the gov- erning bodies. .Because of consistently scanty attendance at membership meet- ings, the Assn, of Theatrical Press ‘Hwyey’ $16,600 in Seven 14 llffee Midw Stands Evansville, Ind., Jan. 31. “Harvey/’ starring James Dunn, kept the wicket clicking in three different stands last week, grossing a total of over $16,600 in seven performances. Dates included the Fairbanks, Springfield, b.;, Victory, Dayton, and the local Coliseum. Warren Coleman, currently in the Broadway production of “Lost in the Stars,” is forming a little theatre group, on IJZSth street in New York’s Harlem. Group, which will operate under the label qf Stu- dio Theatre, will put bn new plays; hoping to draw Broadway interest. Initial work,. Lynne Riche’s “Salt and Repper,” is scheduled for pres- entation Sometime in March. Productions will be enacted by a mixed group with casting assign- ments distributed irrespective of color. Grbup will also put on playb for producers who want to look at a work in its physical form before going out on a limb, with prpduc-. tion plans/ ' [■ Deokin Sgns Cl^ ItenckChoreo Plays Out of Town Continued from page 50 What is considered a lO-strifce in the ballet world is the signing by Serge Denham; director of the Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo, of Yvette Chauvire as guest artist for the troupe’s spring N. Y. engage- ment at the Met Opera House, be- ginning April 9. The French dan- cer, ex-premiere danseuSe etoile of the Paris Opera Ballet/is consid- ered the national ballerina of France, on par, for instance, with Margot Fontayne of Sadler’s Wells. Mile. Chauvire was the Only dancer to score rave notices when the Paris Opera Ballet appeared in N. Y. at the City Center in October, 1948. Dancer will receive $1,500 for j two Weeks of performances and a Agents & Managers and the United week of rehearsals. If she dances Scenic Artists now fine members ! a third week, she’ir get another $5 for missing such sessions with- out a satisfactory excuse. Since the adoption of the policy, both unions have had large turnouts at all meetings. Equity president Clarence Der- went and Matb Briggs presided at last week’s Chorus Equity session, which was held at the Capitol ho- tel/N.Y. ... $500, Pacting is considered a mas- ter-move by Denham because his Ballet RuSse is admittedly no longer a No; 1 company today, and needs bojstering, ; Last fall the troupe got ^bad notices throughout its N. Y, run. The troupe has a psychological problem, being the first dance company to go 1 into the Met since the Sadler’s Wells made its sensational stay there last fall. Althpugh Ballet Russe has done ex- cellent biz on the road this season, management has been leary of the I spi'ing N. Y. engagement, and of the reaction of N. Y. press and puh- since Sadler's departure. ^ v Another reason for bolstering Russe is the fact that Bal- ; let Theatre, its rival, will also be Mus\car Salted with \SoStin N. Y. this spring, at 000 in three performances MoSty i the same time. .Last^spring Ballet and Tuesday (23-24) at the Metro-' ^^se inked Ahca Markova and politan, Providence, and after a ^^^ton Dolin as guest artists to healthy one-nighter in Bridgeport , strengthen its, N. Y. draw. Mile, wound up with a blazing $24,800 iii i Chauvire should prove a stronger four performances Thursday-Satur- attraction. She was given a year’s day (26-28) at the Bushnell audi-1 leave of absence from the Paris WADOON’ HOT 43G IN 3 EASTERN STANDS toriuin here Cheryl Crawford production is splitting the current week between Utica, Rochester and/^^Syraeuse. 1 ‘Brig’ $4,300; BJgpt. Bridgeport, Jan. 31. “Brigadoon” did SRO at ringle erf ormance at the 1,500-seat Opera Ballet, after an inter-organi- zational squabble, and has since re- signed from the company. ‘Little Sheba’ Mild $4,600 In Four in Wilmington Wilmington, Jan. 31. Come Back, Little Sheba,” the lein Memorial under Katherine : T4ieatre Guild’s production of Wil- Shea’s management last week (25). Show did $4,300, without tax. IDANC^ 100 WILLIAM ST. NEW YORK 7, N. Y. Bowiihg Oreen-9-4420 liam Inge’s comedy, picked up a mild $4,600 in a four-performance tune-up at the Playhouse here last i Thursday-Saturday (26-28). Play is in Boston this week. ’Fine 196, St. Loo attention EQUITY! Equity, members (with iiards) receive a 10% discount bn all checks duriiig ' week, days at Greenwich Village’s moot. unusUal’ epektaU loiihgc. SALLE DE CHAMPAGNE ■ 135 MacDougal Street, New York GRarhercy 7-9221 r want summer theatre to rent or to buy, 3,500 leatc, Equity £ 0 , end stare/ .Write details immedt- ately to: Box V-342, Variety 154 West 46th St., Now York 19, N. Y. St; Louis, Jan. 31. ; “Private Lives,” with Tallulah Bankhead ancl Donald. Cook head- ing the cast, wound tip its orie- ;week Stand at the American Satur- day ,(28) with a, swell $ 19,000. Gom*- edy was scaled to $4.27. “Harvey” teed Off Sunday (29) for another one-week stand, with James.rDunn in the lead irole. It was the fourth meal visit of the show. • (Jqn. ;30-Fcb. 11) Ballet de Paris-/-Shuheri;, Phila. (30-4); Majesty’s, Montreal (6-11 k Ballet Theatre^Aud., Portland, Ore: (30^31); Temple, Tacoma (1); Metropolitain, Seattler (2-4); Ciiirain, :S.T.;(6-11),:„ ... ' : “Barretts of Wliinpole Street’’--- Cox, Cihey (30^4); Walnut, Phila; 1,6-11). / .,;.^ . “Bird Gage” ~ Shubert, N. H. (2-4); Loeust, Phila- (7-11): “Brigadd6ii’’-^Avon, Utica, N. Y. (30-31); Aud., Rochester (1-2); Em^ pire, Syracuse (3-4)i Grand, Lon- dph. Can: (6-11). “Come Back Little Sheba”— Co- lonial, Bost. (30-11), ^ “Death of a Salesmaii” W Er- langer, Chi, (30rll). “Detective' Story” — Aud;, St. •Paul (30-31); Lyceum, Minneapolts (1-4); Omaha, Omaha (7-8); KENT Radio Theatre, Des, Moines (10). , “Diamond t»U”-^Plymouth, Bost. (30-11)/ ; ; “Goodbye My Fancy” — Blaek- Stone, Chi. (30-11). “Harvey”— American, St. L. (30-4); Orpheum,- Cedar Rapids, la. (6-7); Waterloo, Waterloo, la. (8); Palace; Rockford, 111. (9);rPalrkway; Madison, Wis. (10-11). “Iiislde U.S.A.” — Strand, Van- couver, B. C. (30-4); Aud., St. Paul (8-11). “Kiss Me, Kate”—Shubert, Chi. (30-11). “Lend An Ear’’—^Ford’s, Balto. (30-4); Shubert, Phila. (6-11): “Light Up the Sky’( — Sttide- baker, Chi. (30-11). “Madwoman of Chaillot”—Shu- bert, Bost. (30-11). “Man Who Came io Dinner”-r^ Orpheum, K. G. (30-4); Biltmore, L. A. (6-11). “Merry Widow” Lyric, Allen- town, Pa: (30); Community theatre, Hershey. Pa. (31); Rajah, Reading, Pa: (1); High School Aud., Potts- ville. Pa. (2); Playhouse, Wilming- ton (3-4); Ford’s Balto. (6-11). “Mister Roberts”—^Davidson, Mil- waukee (30-11). , “Now 1 Lay Me Down to Sleep” —Forrest, Phila. (30-11). “Oklahoma!”— Aud., Fresno, Cal. (30-2); And., Riverside, Cal. (3-4); Arlington. Santa Barbara (6); Russ Aud., San Diego (7r8); Civic Aud., Pasadena (9-10); Municipal Aud., Long Beach, Cal. (11).. “Pliiladeiphia Story” —- Geary, S. F. (30-11). “Private Lives”—rQuimby Aud., Ft. Wayne (30); Victory, Dayton (31-1); Town Hall, Toledo (2-4); Co- lonial, Akron (6): Park, Youngs- .,town (7): Shea’s, Mansfield, O, (8); Lima, Lima, O. (9); Shea’s. Ashta- bula, O. (10); Shea’s, Erie, Pa. (11). “Streetcar Named Desire” (No. 1) —Erlanger, Buffalo (30-4); Shu- bert, N.H. (6-11). “Streetcar Named Desire” (No. 2) —Virginia, Wheeling, W. Va. (30'-l); Hartman, Columbus, O; (2-4); Aud. Louisville (5-7); Lin- coln, Decatur, 111. . (9); Shrine, Mpsaue, Peoria (10-11). “That Lady” — Harris, Chi. (30-11). Webster - Shakespeare — Robin- son Aud., Little RocklSO); Centen- ary College, Shreveport (1); Fine Arts Aud ,. Natchitocheg. La. (2); Gym Aud , Scbtlandyille, La, (3); City Aud., Beaumont, Tex. (4)' Jones Aud., Texas College of Arts & Industries, Kirigsville, (6); Jeffer- son H.S, Aud , San Antonio (7); Gregory Gym Aud., Texas U., Aus- tin (8); Melba, Dallas (O); Texas State College fbr Women,. Denton (10); Tarleton Aud., Stephenville, (11) ■ ' “Wisteria Tree” — McCarter, Princeton (10-11). “Yes M’Lord” — Walnut, Phila. (23-4); Wilbur. Bost. (6-11). All Yon Is One OOod BreaK monody in which Rothman holds the stage practically the whole evening, often addresrihg his re- marks directly to fhe audience ini Oratorical fashion. The other characters are mostly dim and fleeting, although those of the father and mother do ^ have a couple of scehes; which giye them vitality/;/ . :/;■'• /•/■;•.; -v. This gives “One Good Break” the aspects of an extended mono- log^ sometimes exciting but just as often static and sometimes, as in the later parts of Act 1/a little tedious. It's a trick. that Mahoff has performed and he has done a rather neat job with the help of John Berry as Rothman; but the whole thing seems much too onc- dimensional. It will attract respect but scarcely great enthusiasm, To be sure, both the author and Berry have been greatly assisted by the mechanical aspects of the production. Samuel Leve/has done a fine job of stage designing and, with the help of twin revolving jstages, shows 18 or 20 scenes with smoothness and celerity, Peggy Clark’s lighting of these multiple scenes is even; more extraordinary. At the opening; the physical pro- duction moved/with perfect precir sion and it was possible for the customers, satiated with Rothinan’s long diatribes, to forget them tem- porarily while watching the chang- ing scenes. , ' Berry, hitherto associated with films as both actor and director^ doubles here jtoc/ He and J. Ed- ward Bromberg co-directed. Berry is bound to TVin plaudits for his ability to carry this gargantuan role. Parts of it will, of course, have to be trimmed, : Show ran until 11:15 at opener. Bromberg has only one short scene as an actor and clicks neatly, as does Lee- Grant (“Detective Story”) in a single scene of Act II. Reuben Wendorff and Anna ; Ap- pel, as the parents, have the best chances. “One Good Break” belongs, of course, to the strictly photogra- phically realistic school, of Clifford j Odets and Miller. , Its main diffi- culty is that, although often im- pressive, it simply is not a good play. Waters.. doomed regardless oi their good resolutions. It is mostly a play of character- ization, mood and unhurried inci- dents in the couple’s shriveled .lives. ./' -.r'./ Shirley Booth gives a gli^ving perforjinance, making tho/lt^pr- i^tb ley ; lies Mnd tddent tunate wife a real person be pitied: .than. Censvired. Blackmer, as the husbaiid/ her portrayal in . seiisitiY, competence. As the art^.,,^„,.„^ Joan Lbrring is lovely aiut: han- dies her scenes with feeling; Lonny Chapman is impressive as the ath, lete with a Kinsey slant on girls, and Olga Fabian has several good bits as; a neighbor. Robert Cim- ningham, John Randolph and Daniel Reed all are good In sup- porting roles.. No small factor in setting the play’s mood is Howard Bay’s set- ting of a cluttered living room and kitchen which expresses the wife's lack of taste and energy in house- keeping. Daniel Mann’s direction is Well coordinated, especiallv in his keen attention to detail. ‘ ‘Barretts’ 146, Ktl Pittsburgh, Jan. 3f. “Barretts of Wimpole Street’’ got away to a slow start last week : at the Nixon but picked up and finished around $14,000. That was okay at a $3.25 top. I Nixon is currently dark and ap- ; parently will stay that way until Feb, 20, when “Madwoman of ; Chaillot” comes in urider subscrip- : tion auspices. Coiiiie Baek;, Lliile Slheba Wilrnington, Jan. 26. Theatre Guild .production of drama by William Inge in two.- acts (six scenes). Features Shirley Booth; Sidney Blackmer. Dii’ected by Daniel 'Mann.' Setting and lighting, Howard Bay; costumes, Lucille Little. At Playhouse. Wilmington. Jart. 26, *50; $3.60 top, Doc.. Marie/.. Lolai.............. ’r u r k Postman.. . Mrs. Coffman.;.... Milkman....... Messenger Bruce. Ed Anderson....... Elmo Huston...... . . . Sidney Blackmer ....... .Toaii Lorring ..Shirley Booth .....Lonny Chapman ........ .Daulel Reed ........ Olga Fabian .John Randolph . .. Arnold SchUlman . Robert Cunningham . .Wilson Brooks Paul Krauss in Keysi.C (Comedy), D {Drama), CD iComedy-Drama), R {Revue), M {Musical ), O ( Operetta ). “Bird Cage” (D)—-Walter FriCci & Lars Nordeiison • Harold Clur- mah, director, v “Great to be. Alive” (M)—Vinton Freedley, Anderson Lawler and Russell Markert; Mary Hunter, di- rector “Heart of The Matter” (D) — Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hani- merstein II; Basil Dean, director. There are many excellent things in this Theatre Guild offering and unless audiences are surfeited with the modern American tragedy type of play, it should be in for at least a moderate run. At present its chances are retarded by a slow, lethargic first act. However, fine play-writing, topnOtch p h y s i c a 1 production and excellent perfonn- ances give it an aura of artistic success regardless of its boxoftice fate. William Inge has penned a mov- ing, touching drama which has all the elements Of tragedy. Central figures are a couple living .their lives against a background of un- happiness and futility. To Lola, the wife, dwelling in a dream worlfi; the best things in reality are represented by her dog, Little •Sheba, ■■ • With the disappearance of the dog, she is . unable to cope :with bven dally humdrum activitios. Doc, the husband, is a dreamer gone astraj*. Forced to give up his medical education after a marriage of necessity, he becomes a chiro- practor and faces the realization he is a failure. To hini his wife is a sloyenly fat caricature of the pretty girl he sediiced. _ They find sonie escape in affec- tion for a girl art student Who rooms in the house. Doc idealizes the girl and the wife sees in her what she might have been. When Doc finds the girl has entertained a college athlete in her room all nigbt he returns to liquor, from which he once had been rescufed by Alcoholics Anonymou.s. In drunk- en fury he turns ori his wife and attempts to murder her with an ax. Collapsing in a stupor, he again is taken In hand by Alcoholics Anony- mous and there is a more or less happy ending. The author leaves the mipfession the couple is still Trescoit Ripley joins the cast of the touring “Man Who Ganie to Dinner” tonight (Wed.) in Kansas City, succeeding Mardetta Edwards as the niirse and understudying the femme lead. . . . Jane Middle- ton, who played the secretary, iti the original Broadway production of “Light Up the Sky,” has gone into the leading part of the actrc.ss, succeeding Lynn Bari. The coinedv is playing Chicago: * . . Theatrical attorney Saul P. Pryor due back today (Wed.) from Florida busi- ness trip, . , . E. Martin Broivne, British director who staged T. S. Eliot’s “The (Cocktail Party/' will speak Friday (3) at the weekly “Round Table” , at the American National Theatre 6c Aeademy: Bid of Edivin Lester, general di- rector of the San Francisco and Los Angeles Civic Light Opera companies, to take.over the Center, N. Y.> for an annual season of musical revivals, probably will be turnecl down in favor of the con- tinuation of the present ice show series, according to Rockefeller Center representatives. ... Wil- liam Redfield takes over the male lead in “Miss Liberty” two weeks hence, when Eddie Albert goes to the Coast for a picture commit- ment. . , . Jed Harris says he’s es- tablishing legit producing head- quarters on the Coast, with filiii producer Charles K. Feldman as partner. . , . Gilbert Miller leaves early next week for London. Leonard B. Sang Is bouse mana- ger of the Lyceum, N. Y., repre- senting Harry E. Gould, who took over ownership of the theatre this week from Max Gordon, George S. Kaufman, Moss Hart and Marcus Heiman. . . . Peter Cookson’s pro- duction of “The Innocents,” which opens tonight (Wed,) at the Play- house; N. Y„ is financed at $40,000, but cost about $55;000, including b()nd?. The producer’s actress- wife, Beatrice Straight, featured in the cast, is a silfent partner in the presentation. The backers are so- ciety names, except actor-producer' Gookson, who has invested $4,000. ... Skater-playnTight Ken Parker, currently in the cast of “Howdy, Mr. I(ie of 1950,” is working up $ night club act. Jacques Aubaelion, an actor in. “Madwoman of . Chaillot,” is en- gaged to marry Denise Coubise ns, daughter of Henri Coubisens, stage manager of the production during its Broadway'run . . . The Ameri- can National Theatre & Academy; which last Week, bought the Guild .theatre, N, Y.; will have; its head- quartei's there; but. Will retain- ii.'^ • office spacie in the top two floors of the Hudson theatre building,- N. Y. . ,. Alan Schiieider, continu- ing with the Actois Studio, will direct a productidn of “Oedip«s Rex” at Catholic Ui during February. ' Margo Jones has returned to j pallas following close of her pro- duction of “An Old Beat-Up Woman” in Boston . , , Micliari Cook, dance-mime seen in “Lute Song” and “Duchess of Maifi/’ tu give first New; York solo prbgrain at Carnegie Recital Hall. Feb. 39; ‘Ljl’ OK $26,600; Balto Baltimore, Jan. 31. Legit continues to boom hero vvith return of Mae West in, “Dia- mond Lil” to Ford's.last week reg/ i.stering a very solid $20,600 this on the heels of a resounding Streetcar Named Desire/’: immem- $44,000 total for two weeks of A ately preceding.