Variety (April 1950)

LEGITIM ATB Wednetdayi April 1%’ 19S0 Hiqrs Out of Town «•«»** — the CllfL i l^ew. Haven, April 13* ; and Robert Lieb and James Pob* Pe8?y Wood, . Joseph . F. 'Mopn «»nd gQn appropriately portray two ariiis ‘oser Slearns production of comedy ii» -p .. ^ iree acts (four scenes) by. Enk^Martin pt ine.ta V, iul Cliavies Gdlby; Costars Fa^^Baiuteiy With expert Adaptation, . they Ernest Truex; features Harry Bannister. make an acceptably B “hn S-ai'ed by Leo MUtler. Scenery »“P cos- . BoMC. tumes, 1 auil Morrison. At Sliubert, ^,ew • xl Oin iniS laea.. . Haven. April 13, '50;. $3.60 ton . Sarah Clityton V.Fay Bamter : mr Carl Clay ton ... ......; Franl^ Overton Tliel^e OoeS M eStl^raJiy Al))ert Clayton. Harry Bann^ter , , _ ivyArtfi-oal Anril Emily Clayton Peggy Cass Montreal; Appi lP* ■ Inspector O^Shaughnessy ... Itooert Lieb Iviunay and Donal Pavls production of T*«vonn uaroie Oificcr O'Donnell V........ . James Dobson. ,.eyue in two acts (29 scenes); Stars John I Karen Jackson .cwwe John Wicker Ernest Truex. pj.a^t and Murrdy . Matheson; features . Buck> .v* Mary Stanley Pappas ..:v.:.,,.;.;,PortCla>^cjiy„ay Davis; Beth GiUandM;a^ Laura I : HainiUon, Araby.r. Lockhart,. Charm.ipn With a Silk thread Irving Kaye Davit pretenUtion of di'ama in two acts (■even ,«ceneg by Elsa. Shelley. Features Claire Euce,^Philip Huston, Phil Arthur. Staged by the au- thor; setting, costumes and Ugh^g, Wat- son Barratt. At Lyceum, N. Y., April ja, ‘50, At $4.80 top ($6 opening).. • . . Dr. Walter Lucas.;..,.., ,:i:,Phmp Huston Barry Winters ■,,.. ........... .Rose Rayniohd. George Lucas t>....., • • • • • r Yony .Fern .;...........Arthur Karen Jackson .. *...... Carole MatheWs — MacLeod This is an attempt to stagA *iiection by **Dorothy Wat and ►screen whodunits. Its tongue- and Jessle MacDonald; Clioreography. ihrcheek approach; as bi its tphls* Burns; ^seUlngs,^ miere. inspires only ;ft thumb-alv UO"^- At P'r nose response. Unless rascal provenient is achieved prior to Firrt postwar revue to meet with Broadway, the critical marksmen 3^, g^^ccess in Ganada,‘'Yesterday” there wdll probably : be guilty of plays a second time at His Majesty’s shooting a turkey put ()f season: ; vvithin the year and shows much Play has a few interesting tea- improvement, better routining and lures scattered throughout its foiu" general show savyy. The revue, scenes, but there is nothing siis-. made up of 2D scenesr takes its nhnnf its hotimistic file- iriinpninff Pile froih the i lained aboiit its optimistic; ele- opening cue froni the music of: ments. Ifs not for want of acting 1895 and continues through tp Perhaps there was once a place ih the commercial theatre fpi* plays like ‘‘With a Silk Thread.” In that almost-fprgptten era of low pro- duction costs aiid amiable playr goers a mediocre drama siich as this might have been Leblanged into a modest success. But in this day of discriminating audiences and quick hits or flops this Elsa Shelley opus merely heralds the ' arrival of spring, This time ex-actress Shelley, The THAI London, April 13. Kildint Prodiictlont presentationJDI drt- mt in two parts by Jacqueline and Frank Sundstrom, translated nrom Andre GIde and Jean-Louis Barrault's dramaUzatIpn of novel by Franz- Kafka. Direcj^d by Frank Sundatrom. * At Winter ' C*rden, London, April 12, '50. ^ , i v ^ Joseph K.‘.;........... Frank Sundstrom Franz .,. XJerald Pring Wilhelm ................. De^-Holmes Frau Crubach ..............NeUy^Arnp Block .. .. v........ , . Fraulcln Burstner..... .Kathleen Michael Leni ,. .. v..,. . .. Jacqueline Runctetrom Counsellor Huld Laundress > • « • « I Allah Jeaves , Mary Honi i .5}*"****^ Behesse Paris, April 1. Yvonne Prlntemps presentation of cpm. edy in three acts (four scenes) by Andia Roussln, Directed , by Jean Helvqt. Sets by Denis Martin. At Theatre de. la Micho- dlere, Paris. . Tony-Bobosse ... • • - >... Francoise; Perler A Reporter. «■... • »•.. .Jean- Hebey Reglne-Slmone Lucienne Granier Edgar-Leon .......... .Bernard Lajarrlge Uncle Emlle-Marusier. . . .Cammtle Guerlnl Anne-MarlerGilbOrte .. .. Michele Monty Yvette .. .... .. ..,., <... Michele Gerard: Policeihkh: ;.;...... . ... . Jean Temersoh ,. Robert Le Fort . Jean Helvet • • * » . • ♦ *. » UncI?^*. f. ^ Frank Tickle i Mlmouche ....... ...,,,. Mei’ie Daems Prostitute Henryetta Ed^rds! ^ - -r-r—*- Titoreiu: ..; . ,.,. >. i Prison Chaplaih; Noel WlUmah Examining Magistrate.:... .William; Squire Judge ;. . 1 ... .< • David Keir.. Harry Bannister gets pR to a good who do well with; most material | fidelity and the jealous love which tiiespian heacistart. But even the offered, but take tlie star spots: torments a self-^centered former host trouper needs sonietlung more with a repetition that tends to pyCr-1 stiige rtar and her boorish, sus- tlian a creampUff for fodder. Much power other players. Pratt gained i picious surgeon-husbarid. But the of? tjie writing is routine material considerable attention during , the [ piece offers nothing penetrating bi* and dialog’s, biggest . laiiffh ' comes u»ar ac .fl- lipijirf in. the Navv Show : m'-hvor.ativp on the siihiect. More- . . frbin an oldie .( ‘‘it over the cliff that was: the Sudden.’' rtpp When he salvos. Matheson, a pibdu(5t of the j ept, so the evening‘tehds to be landed”). ' English music hall; wdrks well with come progi'essively sd-^whattish. • Basically; play ebntains an anius- Pv^^^ but adds ^little to the show j As her own director, Miss Shel- ing idea; It fails^ however, to Avith a cpuple of vocal offerings. } seems addicted to cliches pf capitalize on the farcical content > All numbers /move with speed ; stagecraft. The Cast, headed by and only occasionally c o m e s and lapses are covered for the most j qiaire Luce. Philip Hustpn, Phil through ill that metlium. Actually,/part by the bff-the-cob v comedy I Arthur and including William prodUctiph emerges as a hbdge-v skits. Curtain number for first half [ Duff, Carole IVIatheWs, Mary Mac- podge of dream sequences, flash- scores with entire cast doing a ' Leod, Lilia Skala and Henry Hart, , backs, attempted spine-tingling and ; collectibn of numbers from the j makes a commendable attempt to grand manner acting, Technically, ’20’s such as ‘‘Crazy Words,*'“Doin’i giye dimension to a notably dis- play has a million prop and light - the Raccoon” and an okay interp of j agreeable assortment of characters, cues and from that angle it 15 .“Louisville Lou”:by dancer Maxine;' ^- generally w^ell done> A thought- Material for most of sketches is reading sequence, via lights and original but some ik lifted from mike dialog, is cleyerly; obscure English revues and switch Watson, Barratt has conceived a tasteful interior and beachfront setting. But Irving Kaye Davis, offstage mike dialog, is cleyerly obscure English revues and SAvitch j who has produced his wife’s play, done. Dream scene is interestingly is noticeable at all times. 1 has a boxoffice clinker. Kobe, staged by Frank/VVestbrook; Sceni- Although company has just fin-! ■•- • ; ../ cally, atmosphere IS weU set with a cross-country tour to ,fair . a claptrap living room in a North - ^gturns, a definite Canadian note A t-lie reacoCK Atlantic . coastal village. • should be added, otherwise it will James cpiiigan; and Donald . Me^ord - Play’s central character is Sarah i suffer the usual comparison with i 'SasoS. rdVte'd Clayton, spinster housekeeper for: the slick toiming shows from New i ;j©an Anouilh's “Ardeie ou la Margue- ■ V.rt',. fa,1iir.lt r./tT,cicfc I Vr.;. -r.nAAr.nni.i, ♦.tlriiff I vite.". Features Oscar- Karlwels; Raymond L'ovelii Marta Linden, Lili Darvas, Philip Tonge. Directed by Martin • Ritt; scenei’y and costumes, Cecil. Beaton; lighting, Cecil Beaton, Peggy Clark: at - Mansfield N. Y., April 11, '50; $4.80 top ($6 open ing). • General ..... .Raymond Lovell Ada ..................... Lucille Patton Nathalie v... Patricia Wheel Toto Clifford Sales Count . ....Oscar KarlweiS Countess .. . ........,.. Matta' Linden Hector de Villardieu........Philip. Tohge Nicolas . . V :. :........... Peter Brandon her brother’s family whicli consists ; York. Outfit has necessary talent of the brother, Albert, who has [ and with more original music and been working ph a book for 10 j production items;. company shapes years; his idiot son, Carl, and his flapper (it’s 1920) daughter, Emily. Events indicate that a certain widow has been murdered in thC ; Alexandra in, Toronto, village and suspicion points to the Claytori menage, plus a ruin-runrier. for whom Emily has fallen,, plus a Mr. Wicker; a tramp philpsopher well to a strong Canadian revue unit. “Yesterday” is currently dor ’ ing a two-week stand at the Royal Neiot. Loiig ifGSiiont who invites himself into; the house- : Cleveland. Pl^y^ House, presentatton of [iWarTe** Christine'‘ ’. V/.' ’. ‘.V . Mimf. Strong'in fiOld; i diama i» tkvee acts .by_ Jo Slnclau'._pi-A M»rHn Afler a couple of hours of comr plications, story ends with the widow not murdered at Bll, Eniily r » rected by Frederic McGonneU. At Play ; Wife ’ ’‘ ^ Dartaa House, Cleveland, April 5, '50; Sl.SO top. | s wug., .Lm uarvas Influence of “Ldst Bouiidaries” and the rum-runner headed lor‘ and other recent plays and films marriage in Cuba, the zany son | on racial discrimination is clearly re.stored to normalcy by a eohkihg evident in first stage play written with a ukelele, and Sarah and the by Jo Sinclair, Cleveland novelist tramp building up to au romantic who won the Harpers $10,000 climax. ' award for hCr. book, “Wasteland,” The Sarah role calls for varied ! Known herd as Ruth Seid, au^ emotions, all capably depicted by! thor reveals a promising amount Miss Bainter. Truex salvages a few. ehiickles from some pretty lean pickings and Bannister does a good job as the slow-witted would-be author, The Peggy Cass version of Emily is good, as . also is Franks Gverton’s interpretation of the FOR RENT ESTABLISHED SUMMER THEA- TRE 55 MILES FROM N*YX. AT DEAL, N. J. - (Ocean re- sdrf near Asbury Park and Long B rd nch.) I mp ressi ye Stanford White building, fur- nished dnd equipped^ Sedu 200 plus. Ample living quar- ters and housekeeping facili- ties for cast, $4000 rqhtdl for Sedspn. Addreiis Box R: L. 2, Variety, 154 W. 46th St., New 19, N. Y. FRENCH SINCE 1830 Play, Brpkdrf dnd Aiithdrs* Rdpraicntativas 7423 Sunset Blvd./ Hollywood 44, Cal/ of deep emotional power and prp- vocativeness in hCr psychological tale; of a brilliant young Negro musician who passes as a white to win a fellowship as an assistant symphony orchestra conductor. It’s still an exceedingly timely, touching drama, although Miss Sinclair doesn’t know' all the tricks of professional playwriting. She overwrites her theme of the men- tal anguish of her main character, torn ap'Brt by his poignant prob- i lem^is a successful career worth j ail the unhappiness if it means re- ! houncing his / colored mother, sister, young brother and» sweet- heart, and living a lie? ’His dilemma develops about a hal£-(lQzen dramatic crises, sharply handled by the Gleyeland Play House’s? repertory c()mpatiy, which, plays them sympathetically under Frederic McGohiielrs shrewd di- rection. Yet the dialog becomes at times verbose, loose and re- petitious, as the author pounds -! away on a Johnny-one^note saga, which has too many faltering mo- ments in its present form. Roberta Wooten, one of the four colored players in the iriixed cast, eloquently plays the sister who serves as the playwright’s: mouth- ' piece. Robert Ellehrtein, of the [Play House’s staff, /projects a I moi^ sensitive, forcefully realistic performance a$ the neurotic musi- cal genius who poses as a Latin- American for fear of losing, the fellowship. Ray Boyle also does honest work as his white new's- papermah-friehd who helps him;’ His patient mother is gently enacted by L. Pearl Mitehell, with Juanita Owens as his confused sw'octhcart and Charlie Bettis as! the hero-worshipibg, impr'^s^’oii “ able yquhg brotheri Whatever merits there may have been in Jean Anoiiilhts “Ardele Ou la Marguerite” in the original French have been lost in this Cecil Robson adaptation, titled ‘'Cry of the Peacock.”; In its present ver- sion the play is merely tedious until the final scene, wbeh its becomes embarrassing. Unquestionably, this James Colngan-Donald Medford production is‘a flop. The typically French story is an attenuated dissertation on the Vari- pus aspects of love, love, love. Everyone in the ornately decorated chateau is a victim Of Tamour, and they bicker and philosophize mis- erably until the General’s de- mented wife screams a tirade on the subject and his humP-backed si.ster an(i hejr deformed lover com- mit, suicide because of thwarted passion. It’s the sort of show that aroiises sympathy for the actors trapped in it. Oscar Kariweis gives an ad^ mivably honest performance as ah unhappy philahclerer. Raymon(i Lovell is plausibly pompous as the beefy General who carries on with the servant girls; while his crazed spouse ' screams for him from up- stairs. Marta. Linden is properly feline as the Countess Who dallies with a flaccid lothario,. overplayed by Philip Tonge,:. Lili Darvas is believable in the appallihg part of the General’s Wife, who appears for one strident seene. Of the non- featured players, Patricia Wheel is appealing as a young wife who de- spises her husband. Peter Brandon seems somiewhat anemic as her de- voted childhood' sweetheart, Clif^ ford Sales and Miml Strongih are irritating as precocious brats, and LiKiille Patton is accpetable as a coquettish maid. The rtaging of Martin Ritt, who succeeded Leonora Corbett dur- ing reliearsals, has given the gab^ fast /teasonable movement and pace, but Cecil Beaton’s single setting and costumes appear osten- tatious. Hohei i Closed Wednesday (12) (ifter An Aniericah-backed production of a Swedish translation into Eng- lish of the Frenph dramatized yerr sioh of a . Czech ; novelv this takes a lorig shot in ti*ying to win Lon- don. Being an impressionistic modern “Everyman” type of play, it would have stood more chance at a private theatre club or small intimate house of attracting the intelligentria. At this large the- atre, it’s doubtful if there are enough playgoers to attract prof- itably ^ While .its big cast and com- plicated scenery switches couldn’t e accommodated with less space, A young bank manager is sud^ denly arreisled for an un$pecified crime, and spends , the entire length of the storj( wandering from pillar to post seeking his unloiowh accusers to help; extricate himself from his predicament. .ShadoWy characters flit'by him and he finds everyone is under the influence of the mysterious court before Which he has been summoned. He flound- ers helplessly until he finally reach'- es the execution block. A laughihg crowd of revellers pass by un- aware of, or indifferent to, the dead man at their feet, The *'court” seems a symbol of the ruthless powers that be and the/hecesrity for great and small to justify their existence before this shadowy tribunal. But wheth- er it’s intended as a warning of the inexorable hand of justice, or a mere flight of fancY into the su- perhiitural, is an Open question. . Frank Sundstrom has the heavy task of director and chief player on his shoulders and comes through the ordeal triumphantly, His wife and corauthor, Jacque- line, makes an alluring young Siren Of a nurse, and Allah Jeayes, her patient-paramour, is forth- right and impelling as the boy’s counsellor/ pther outstanding characterizations come from Mar- tin Mijler as a C^liban-like slave, Gebffi’ey Dunn as a portrait paint^ ei* and Mary Horn as a slut. Apart from the actor-director, biggest burden lies with the stage crew, Who have a non-stop changeover of cameo sets aiid intricate switch- es to cope with. Clem. = (Closed Saturday (15) after five performanees:) It looks as though Andre Roiissin . has another hit on his hands (his “Petite Hutte” has passed its 800th consecutive perihrmance, and his “Nina” is this season’s sellout): even though “Bobosse” in a more complicated play than the other two arid somewhat disconcerting : fpr Its audiences. “Bobosse,” a play within a play, concerns a sue- ? cessful caricaturist but a timid lover, and his various romantic; misadyentures. Roussin’s gHt f(jr amusing dia- log and the creation of comic sit- uations is given/full scope‘iii*'Bo- bbsse.” The loiig trial monolog is a wonderful mixture of defiance, illogical logic, sentimentality and satire. The play belongs to Fran- cois Perrier, who once again proves one of today’s top French actors. He is far from being a matinee- idpl type, but he can hold an audi- ence in the hollow of his hand. The rest of the cast is capable, if not particularly outstanding, with the exception of Bernard Lajar- rige, Who is excellent in the role of Edgar-Leon. The settings of a studio modeled after Tony’s for the play, and Tony’s actual studio, are attractive/ Fred. The lloiioralile ? Cii^heriHe /Paris, March 15. Faulc Itolle presentation, of 'comedy in three acts by Solange Terac. Directed by Mme. Rolle. At The.iti'e Gymnase, Paris/ •Tacques............ . , .Daniel Glerioe Pierre.,....; ..... Gerard Landry Catherine ..........Jacqueline Perel Gisele ........ .V...... . .Suzet«Mais Peslgtt for a Headstone Dublin, April 10. National Theatre Society presentation o£ drama in three acts by Seamus Byrne. SUged by Ria Mooney. Settings by Vere Dudgeon.'At Abbey theatre* Dublin, April 8, '50. Conor Mangan ..........Michael Hennessy Aiden O'Leary............Edward Golden Jakey Brian O'Higgins Flynn Originally written as a play, “The Honorable Catherine” was first produced as a film, and in view of its success; has at last reaehed the footlights. While the plot is dissimilar, it is a soft of Gallic “Private Lives,” with Noel; Cowardian oyertpnes, Catherine is honest in that she disapproves of the husband-lover comninatioh, but in the end comes around to changing. her mind be- cause she can’t decide between Jacques and Pierre, both of whom she loves. So the original triangle of Gisele, her husband Pierre and her lover Jacques, seems about to be recreated, with Pierre again as the husband, Jacques as; the l()Ver, but this time with Catherine as the wife. This inconsequential bit of froth has many amusing moments and some funhy situations, but the dialog lacks the sparkle that makes for high comedy. It is extremely well acted, however, by its cast of four, all of whom are on their toes every minute. Fred, Pull, [two performaiices.) Warder Geriity ...... Philip Flynn Prison Chaplain.............. Liam Foley Ructions McGowan ......... Walter Macken Muscles Rogan.,..,.,. . .,. Harry Brogan Bayer ., M. J. Dolan Mrs. Mangan . .Brid Lynch j This first play is one which is as essentiaily Irish as the early work of Sean O’Casey. The set- ting“iri a prison” and the time “some years ago” present no prob- lem in place or time to an Irish audience/—the jailing of political prisoners and their weapon, in in- carceration, the huriger strike, form part of recent history. Set in an overcrowded prison, With 16 men in a three-man cell in the opening scene, brings “pGliticals” and ; ordinary jailbirds together. The“politicals”. demand. political treatiiierit, led by the in- flexible Conor Mangan (seritertced as a criminal), wHb goes on a hunger strike Which proves fatal. Dialog is live and there is an air of realism about the characters —even the ordinary jailbirds, Bayer, in for a currency offense; the dim-witted “Muscles” Rogan, and the cadging “habitual” Jakey who provides a comic element. But the theme is tragedy^ tragedy which Irish families have known. Arid the main fault is an excessive wordiness, The players, for the inost pait," are young members of the Abbey Players Go. M. J. Dolan and HaiTy Broigah are the only two bred, in the O’Casey tradition, but there are some excellent perform- ances from Michael Hennessy, Brian O’Higgi ns, Waltqy Macken and, in a smaller role, Brid Lynch; the be.st young tragedienne in Ireland at this time. Mack. FAMOUS SUMMER PLAYHOUSE . . . For SALE Nearly ;20. yeare aid. Lars# appraiitloe grei)P> who paid not . lost than $23,000 ovory turn met since 1034^' A|ro Equity Xo. real estate, equipment, ete., to be saerifleed 30o an the dollar, for quick sale duo to hospltalliatlon or both partner!. Total inventory and real eitatc worth $103,000.: Must bl told this month for 135,000. Only $8,000 - down, bal- ance In IS yeare. Ready te pull curtain , to- morrow. Lons teaion. N. E. rosort: 400«eeat thoatre: alwayi sold out. Thli-ad will appear Only. ones. . Tho chance of a lifetime. . Re- ipMtible parties only, ■OX V.88I9, VARIETY IM W, 46th $t„ New Yerk I*. N. y. INDIVIDUAL INSTRUCTION ONLY Elsmintdpy and High School Subjocts Profoasiohql Children'a Hours Arronged . 11 Wott 42nd Stroof, Nsw York wiisoniih r-Tiar - FOR SALE WPODSTOCK, NCW YONK Sacrifico magnlflcant homo* oxqui- slloiy furnishod* six badroonit* aach .virith bath; sutst cottaga; farait; sOryanta ouartora; 30 acrop; on two main highways. Sultabla .for tins hotal, . BOX 35S, VARIRTY 1S4 W. 44th St.> Haw York If* N. Y. j* J, speran^ Cerffiiad Public A^ovntttnf EMPIRE STATE BUItIHNG Ntw York tAe 4^1944 ■st. 1f32