Variety (September 1950)

P&R 1 ETY Wednesday, September 27, 1950 Hays Out of I^gond of Sarah Philadelphia, Sept. 26. v Kermit Bloomgarden presentation of comedy in three acts by James Gow^and Arnaud D’Usseaii, Stars Marsh Hunt, Tom Bolmoro. Etliel Griffie*; features Ld- mon Ryan, Philip Coolidge, Judith Par- rlsh. Joseph Sweeney. Staged by .Bonn W. Levy; sets, Ralph AIswainR; .costumes. Ben Edwards, At. Locust, Philadelphia, Sept. 25, 50, . t, i Minerva Pinney........... .-Marsha i Hun* Adam Harwich -Tom Helrnote Clementine Pinney......... ••Ethel Oilffies. Wanda Manklewicz..... •, ^Judith .Paj**®h I*. Walter Landis.. .. , .Philip Coohdge ■^''gar Caniei'on..........v. Edmon .Ryan Mr? Angus . . • •.... . - • • .Joseph Sweeney The Curious Savage Wilmington, Sept. 21 , Theatre Guild and Lewis Sc Young pre$* entatlon of comedy to three acts by John Patrick. Features Patricia CoUinge, .Di- rected by Peter GlenvlRe; scenery and lighting, George Jenkins; costumes, Anna Hill Johnstone. At Playhouse, Wilming- ton, Sept.. 21, *50. _ Florence.............■ • • ■ • •?3 S0 ?} Hannibal. i ....... . Robert Emhardt Fairy May .. M a ®. Jeffrey, ........... . .Hugh Reilly . r» i .i.. • * ' r • • rlnHtra IlAtiaoil real dramatic flame at any point. Talky script deals with the trumped-up “ritual murder” trial of five Jews in Hungary late in the 19th century. Play is based on an actual occurrence, From a dramatic standpoint, something might be done with “Bush.” It needs a tremendous amount of pruning and re-shaping, and elimination ot unwieldy- flash- backs which are supposed to heighten the impact. Effort is not j worthwhile, however, since both' locale and subject matter remove A. number of highly agreeable performances and a sane and knowing directorship blend to make “Legend of Sarah,” new James Gow-Arhaud d'XJsseau play Which, opened tonight (Mom) at the Locust Street, an easily-digested and generally entertaining eve- ning. At another time one might have predicted unqualified success for the new Kermit Bloomgarden production, but in these days when it 7 is not only a question Of a sur- vival of the fittest but a survival of nothing but the “fittest of,The fittest,” future Broadway chances for the piece are problematic. The plot of “Legend of Sarah” has some elements of novelty and the authors tell their story with adult assurance and a neat sense of / footlight requirements.’ If the “Legend” runs a little thin as the Unfolding proceeds and if the last act, especially the first part, seems a little incredible and hard to take, these factors should not be too damaging to the overall effect, but that is just what may happen in Broadway’s analysis of the comedy, Gow and d’Usseau, formerly as- sociated* with heavy, controversial drama, deal here with a young couple who, after a tempestuous and quite illegitimate relationship in Greenwich Village, wind up in a bitter squabble. The guy; hereto- fore somewhat of a complacent heel, goes on to become a success- ful writer. The gal, returns to her New England home, denies to. everyone that she is carrying a torch and becomes a leading figure in the “restoration” of the town, Which has played a historic role in the Revolutionary War. Naturally, her ex-flame shows up and as ex- pected, she gives him a furious brush. Here the plot reminds a bit of Arthur Richman’s “The Awful Truth,” with the hero letting the gal find out for herself rather than through him directly that she’s mixed up. with a couple of phoneys who are much more interested, in making coin for themselves than in the historical “restoration” of the town. Aiding the young man in iu$ subtie campaign is the gal’s . shrewd, acidulous mother who has HO use for the “restoration” idea and who produces at the psycholog- ical moments a diary by one of the family ancestors (feminine) which discloses the fact that in Stead of being a heroine and m tyr, the colonial gal was little nidi than a high class floozy. Mrs. Paddy ... *. , r . ,....... .Gladys Henson j from the general interest cate- T1 THusi;...i....Brandon Peters! gory, nuti&ating against its chance*; Samuel.. ......... is.... Robert Wendell , ior success. -I I Authors obviously felt they were; The staff: ! saying something urgent, partic-1 Miss . Wiihelmlna...... .Flgra Campbell • u i ar ly at this time, namely that. Dr. Emmett. . , ..... ... . . .Sydney Smi h • and reason frequently are John Patrick’s new comedy seems feria* anVblind headed for at least ^allV trouble, however, is that the play is : on ,.Broadway for R .hasa fieheimore -message than entertainment, i satisfactory plot, quite a few spar-c’aqt ffencrallv- manaaes to. cive : j} n ® s credible performances despite the ?/*aracteis- But iu its P^sent foi.in «lines and Wicclair’s stilted direc- | it seems to lack the lequisites of there are no standouts, Considerable resentment is being expressed in Pittsburgh by advance ticket holders for Sadler’s Wells two-day stand at Syria Mosque there Oct. 6-7, because of the announced programs. Ballet troupe is giving three performances, one Friday njteht and two. Saturday/and seats were sold out-practically from first announcement even before local reper- toire had been set. Then it was discovered that the British dancers would give “Swan Lake” at both matinee and evening, Saturday,/,Oct. 7, which brought pretests, since some patrons had bought for all three performances and figured inasmuch as Sadler’s Wells Was here for only two days, the repertoire would be different for each show.. Beegle Concerts, sponsor- ing the Pittsburgh appearance, has said there is nothing it can do, sinde the programming i^ entirely the province of Sadler’s manage- ment. a smash hit, “The Curious Savage” has noth-, ing to do with aborigines. Savage is the name of the family which comprises a mother and her two sons and daughter who have her committed to a mental institution ; in order to get control of her j money. The first act seems, unusu- Sets by Rudi Feld are okay. Kap. When “Come Back. Little. Sheba” opened its tour in Pittsburgh last week, show found itself at the last minute without an actor to play the bit role of the Western Union messenger.; In New York part had, been filled by Arnold Schulman, author of Theatre Guild’s recent Westport (Cohn.) tryout, “My Fiddle’s Got Three Strings,” and he had intended t 6 go on the road for touring experience and then decided to stick around New York to be on hand for any possible action anent “Strings ’' It was. too late for the Guild to get somebody else for Pittsburgh, so the management immediately contacted’ the Pittsburgh Playhouse and White Barn strawhat to see if they had an Equity member who might fill the bill. Latter sent along Gerry Stovin, recent Carnegie Tech drama school graduate, who had been working as actor-technician all summer for White Barn and only recently joined Equity. 1 He got the bit for the engagement here, and Guild expected to have a regular on hand for the start Of the Chicago engagement. Affairs of Stale Richard W. Krakour and Fred .F. Finkle- »11v lnnfy Vint- hnPA all thp rharae- 1 Richard W. Krakour anct urea r. nnKie- aiiy long, out once an me cnarac hoffe p resenta tion of comedy in three ters have been properly, presented - acts <f ive . scenes) by Louis Verneiiii. stars : the action picks up. Peter Glen-' Celeste Holm;. features Reginald Owen/ : riirpcHnn flWt ; Barbara O’Neil, Shepperd Strudwick, | V1 >lvL S - PeC T 10I l I s . i ?. Harry Bannister; Staged by the author; : The principal fault IS to be found. . Getting; Paul Morrison: costumes. Dorothy in the play itself, but there are iJeakins: production assistant. John Hag-! apparently enough laughs to win ’ N * * > Scpt - 2o * - 50; $4 ; 80 j cpn?iderabks u Ppdrt.Mlrs. Savage’s j. Ehill “ „ UMell . ,y......... .Reginald Owen < children are somewhat overdrawn, l Lawrence.. ........;...., Elmer Brown | while the guests, despite their I Constance Russell....... .Barbara O’Neil; eccentricities, never appear I much affected as to require insti- I Byron WinklerHarry Bannister ; tiitional care. It seems question- ' able that so many, lovable charac- j . ... ,,. „ . _ ters, with nary a stinker, would be . Although Affans of State . is ; in a place of this type. If the play hardly a prize dish for theatrical were intended as a farce such ob- ; sophisticates, it is a pleasantly di- i J***®' y Florence is an unhappy mother which Celeste Holm.and an expert who has substituted a rag doll for cast, maintain a deft blend of seh- her dead child. Hannibal,, a former timent and laughter. It should be govemment statistician, believes' good enough for a moderate box- himself to be a musician and saws , office click. ! discordantly on a violin at the least provocation. Faity- May is a flighty The Theatre Guild is not “retiring” from production, it declares in a statement signed by Theresa Helbiirn and Lawrence Langner, co- directors. This refers to a Variety item on the Guild’s various pro- duction tieups, indicating, according to the Helburh-Langner interpre- tation, that it had “retired” as an independent producing outfit. The Guild states: “Daniel Marin Was the director .of ‘Come Back, Little Sheba,’ nothing, more. Katharine Hepburn was the star, of ‘As You Like It,’ nothing more. The Brattle Theatre is not the producer of ‘The Relapse.- The association of John C. Wilson and the Guild dates back many years, eriibraces many plays, which have been pleasant and profitable.” The Guild substantiates that it is associated with Lewis .&• Young in producing “The Curious Savage” and that it was linked with Anthony B, Farrell in producirik 44 Arms and the Girl.” The play, which Louisf Verneuil. whipped together as a vehicle for j Miss Holm, is a synthetic trifle j about a. plain schoolteacher (the situation isn’t always quite believ- young girl who must be frequently assured that she is loved. Jeffrey, once a concert pianist, will not touch a piano . 4 and believes that h .s j who becoiues wife-in-name- face was horribly disfigured during, orily tp a young U. S. Senator. As the war. Mrs. Paddy .reluses^ to I s t a tesmen and assorted dignitaries talk Dther than to recite a list of move through their Chevy Chase, the things she hates and she spends Md ii v i ng r 0 om, romance buds her time painting wavy lines m-: pi . ecisely as the audience expects, o l * 4.1 j ,, and bursts Coriveniently info bloom Mrs. Savage, who since the; death at the third att curtain, of her husband has been doing all, , m g „ othing even raildly those silly things she, had always i . , v u ^ wanted to do but had suppressed j unexpected ab 0 !!t-tlie pij^ce, it is at to avoid irritating liini, is commit- j lea ?t capably constiucted and tod hv her three children. Sen, Ti- sprinkled with ted by her three children, Sen. Ti- I tus Savage, the greatest obstruc- j der the authoi s tionist in Congress; Judge Samuel j the - P^rf° p hi a n c ^_Pi 1 - 1 " Savage, who has had more dcci-umphant assist. JBss sions reversed thari ahy other mem- first solo starring appealance, is c ber of the judiciary, and Lily BeUe,, captivating jcpmbination °i Cin- wbo has been divorced six times. , derella and Maggie Wylie. Except After her commitment they d 5 #-, ^°, r . country-mouse^ fnsL m-; cover that their ^mother has con- j which no mentally^nprinal playgoei ar- Verted, the $10,000,000 Savage for- ‘could be expected *o^^eve;.her are ‘tune, into negotiable bonds, which .playing js^ ( ? 0 i nvmc ] i ] 1 P., an a men class noozy she has hidden. Principal action of an d skillfully sustained, wi.h an an a mgn class noozy. I , concerns their efforts to exquisite sense of timing and com- The play’s most obvious fault is - 0 bt.ahi these ^^bonds 1 from 6 her and ; ecly taste. What’s more, the actress that most rif its situations and cci- j ^b e assistance she is given by the' displays the personal magnetism ^ /V 131 -i guests in resisting their efforis. » requisite for stardom. Patricia ColUngej is excellent in' Among the talented featured ..re role of Mrs. Savage and she is , players, Reginald Owen is persua- ably assisted by the entire cast .' sive as a kindly, perceptive elder liaracterizations, wmie not-,unique,-j w m T Mae Cooper as Fair May and statesman Whose inspired wire- re hardly stereotyped. First act; xsobel Elsorri as Florence worthv 1 pulling causes most of the play’s as an abundance of laughs, the ; of special mention. The setting of action; Barbara O’Neil is effective telegraphed well in advance. the other hand, the dialog is brisk the role of Mrs. Savage and she is , players, Reginald Owen is persua and keen and seldom banal, and. the j ^Liv assisfpd hv thp entire e*isi..’' <:ive as a kindlv. nerceDtive eldei characterizations, while not unique, are has _ ? ... second^, (and; best) has a shrewd | the living room at The Cloisters, i (even in her final, awkwardly-writ- ininglmg coffiedy^ and serious ; with its ceiling high book shelves Ten scene) as his feline wife; Shep- and its scrollwork for barred win- pcrd-'Struclwick "is -plausible as the clows, is Avell done. Klcp. moments but the third act sags for its first 10 minutes before righting itself with a spontaneously amus'i ing final curtain. Under Benn Levy’s deft and Well calculated direction the entire cast distinguishes itself. Best op portunities are offered Hunt and Tom separated but still affectionate lovers, and by Ethel Griffies as;.the outspoken mother. In their alter- nate moments of affection and Spleen, Helmore and Miss Hunt re- call some of the similar scenes in •‘Private Lives.” They are both able and discerning. Miss Griffies, a veteran last seen in “Miss Lib- erty,” does a top notch job as the Caustic mother, the best in the play. Judith Parrish clicks surely as a pert and assertive domestic, and Philip Coolidge and Edmofi Ryan are quite acceptable in the Ungracious roles of the two men Who aim to feather their nests by the “restoration” scheme. With a stunning set by Ralph Alswang, the cqmedy ads up to af-r fable and adult entertainment, but it is dubious if it has quite enough body to carry it across to solid Broadway success. Waters. somewhat pompous Senator (par- ticularly in one good scene in the last act), and Harry Bannister is acceptable as an ingratiating Sec- retary, of State. Paul Morrison's living room set TIip Iliirniiijf Ititsli Hollywood, Sept. 22 . lUT-Aiiel-vA-'.! ./Walter. Wicclair produbtion df. tlranm.- .. *. UMJk 4 . 1 JLV& A.AIJV' 4 * IJ ** T ***{-> •* A/VIH. VVV onereo jviaiMia , in tbroe t\Ha py - Geza Herc'/eg and Hp ; :va ting suggests proper elegance and I • V 1 ® ' v f?» cn ’ s g 0 'V ns ?rc. -^siiitably • At Coronot,- Hollywood, Sept. 22, '50; decorative, as well as in character. 4op -.. .. T j, .V ' “Affairs” is . anything but an im- play,, but it- seems .enter- Bailiff - : ....,.;Roy gchnUcri : taming enough ior popular con- ^ ■ “ ■ ‘ Kobe. i Ralph Clifford, juvenile at Mal- C61m Atterbury’s Playhouse, Al- bany, last season and with Harry L. Young’s Brattleboro (Vt ) Sum- mer Theatre group, has gone to France to study drama. State.Attorney . ... . . . ..... Rudy MrKool . 1 sumption District Att. Substitute. .. Anthony Canon Chief Investigator ....... J; Byron. Foster Defense Counsel.. Rudoluh Anders His -Associate Richard Fletcher Joseph Sch'trd ;, , ..,.. . . .Manfred Furst Abrahivm Buxbaum.;,....: Buff Stanley Rabbi Tauli \ . Sam Scm- Hermann Wotlner ......Gilbert Marshall Member of Parliament. Richard Barron Mrs. Solymosi....’.Hazel Franklyn Mrs._Hurl ;......... Mildred Carr Hr. .Szabo.......;..,.; J. Lawrence Slone and Wig Preem Set for A.C. Pix House Atlantic City* Sept, 26. Through the efforts of Harry ’ v y • ■ • • • • .Virginia Tanjtan . Waxmann, owner of a string of Mrs. Lenwei ............ Joyce smith motion picture houses in .the;C-lly, Ancireas Melchior........ . N®d Eirkhanv 1 the UVof Pennsylvania’s Mask arid MnV.Srnert-*TFieirt"* ’.'show will premiere here at Moritz gchwr ............. Ralph i.pwin, the Warner theatre Nov. 18. Show Davw S:" 1 ::';:;:;;:;;®® \ ««•.'»%.. *• benefit, with cash'go-; Jo^ef. Mate.1 .Ren ci’Ac^ftti i ing to a student assistance fund—> chohtha.uer, •,»•-». .Otto W? , * , Vi5 i flip nrnippt- nf Vp ■ fllde Tvinei’c Darlnka Kisch ......> .... France*; Conicv • P ro J eci: 01 X e Uiae 1} lliei S Mrs. Grossbera.Laioia Wendorff club, composed of former students , " ; V , ^ 1 of the resort school system. sit^ra e ble k pe!?od ai this Vez^ Here- ‘ Waxmann plans a top campaign zeg-Heiriz &erald collaboration has ^ 0 . se1 ^ f ^ aril f r l s 1 4,2 JJ° s ® ats finally won a tryout, only to prove fnces- starUng at $1 and going up the script’s limitations. “The Burn- lto $ 5 - A supper fiance after the ing Bush” smoulders through three I show at a beachfront hot el will alow acts, failing to burst into any • give the affair a social flavor. Patricia Collinge has withdrawn as star of “Curious Savage,” with Marie Carroll, understudy, tem- porarily taking over. The John Patrick play is trying out in Bos- ton . . . James Light has joined the faculty of the Yale drama depart- ment as visiting critic in play di- recting . . . Hermione Gingold, British star/ will, make her U. S. debut in the title part of “Lily Henry,” Peter Cookson’s produc- tion of the Mae Cooper-Grace Klein play. . . . Rodgers & Ham- m erst e in have signed Jerome Whyte as stage manager of the forthcoming musical edition of ‘‘Anna and the King of Siam,” starring Gertrude Lawrence. He’ll continue his duties as musical supervisor for the Theatre Guild . . . George Campbell, pressagent for the Brattle Theatre, Cam- bridge, Mass., has been admitted to membership in the Assn, of Theatrical Press Agents & .Mana- gers . i . Margaret Lockwood is re- portedly set as star of the London production of Elmer Rice’s “Dream Girl” . . . Judy Garland, already a possibility for a Rodgers- Hammerstein musical for next sea- son, is being sought to star in “Careless Love,” the Paul M.ilton- Bud Fishel-Gcorge Lessner musi- cal which Lorraine Lester hopes to present on Broadway this sea- son ... . Joseph Kipness has op- tioned two shows, both scripted by Philip and Julius Epstein, One is a dramatization of Dostoyevsky’s “Brothers Karamazov” and the other is a musical edition of Sheri- dan’s “The Rivals,” for. Which Jerry Livingstone and Redd Evans will Write the score. Wesley Addy and Joseph Wise- , man will be featured in “King i. Lear,” in which Louis Calliern will be starred . . . Michael Todd, .whose “Peep Show” revue is ap- • parently on its way to paying off Sat the Winter Garden, N. Y. (with weekly grosses of over. $50,000), has lined up the entire $100,000 financing for his forthcoming pro- duction, “Tcvye’s Daughters” . . . British designer Oliver Messel took an examination last week for membership in the United Scenic Artists Union and is awaiting ad- mission, so he can work on Broad- way shows; He’s tentatively set to do the scenery and costumes for the Olivia de Havilland revival of “Romeo and Juliet” ... After leaving the Coronet, N. Y. to make room for the incoming “Hilda Crane,” the Hartmans revue, “Tickets, Please,” will move to the Hellinger, N, Y. . . . The stage- hands union, in negotiations for a new contract with the League of N Y. Theatres, is demanding a l.Of'p- wage boost, plus a 5% pay- ment for a welfare fund . . . Geraldine Brooks arrived this week from Holly wood to conclude arrangements for a Broadway play. Roger Gerry has gone to the Coast to direct tlie James Doolittle production of Gian-Carlo Menot- ti’s “The Telephone” and “The v •• Medium” opening at the El Capi- tan, Hollywood, Oct. 5. Then he returns to N Y-to resume his TV chores; ... Maurice Turet has re- placed Vince McKnight in handling publicity chor e s; for George: Brandt’s ^ubway circuit. ^ . Geraldine Hamburg, who has a singing lead in the N. Y. Carnegie Iriterplayers’ current “Beggar’s Opera,” is d a ti g h t e r of Kansas City’s Paramount exchange branch, manager Harry Hamburg. . . Phil Bloom and David Lipsky have split up their partnership, and will each do publicity solo from their old quarters. Susan Leigh, daughter of Vivien Leigh, returns to the Coast this Week after a Visit to New York. . ... Bonita Primrose has returned to New York after two years in South Africa with “Annie Get Your Gun” and “Oklahoma.” . . . Al- fred Drake returned last week from an extended European vaca- tion. ; . . The total profits dis- tributed thus far to backers of “Member of the Wedding” is $112,500, not $37,500, as reported. . . . Ken Parker lias withdrawn from the cast of the Originals Only production of “Hidden House” to supervise the : Brooklyn i Masque players’ presentation of liis own play,' “There’s Always a Murder.” . , . The Richard Aldrichs (Ger- trude Lawrence) have returned to New York for the season,; after summering at East Dennis, Mass. . . Defendants William R. Katzell and Ray Golden have beei#direeted to appear Friday (29) for pre-trial. examination in the -breach-of-con- ■'tract' suit brought by director Da- vid Alexander. Trial is now set for Oet. 23 in Brooklyn supreme court. Daniel Mann,; who just, finished directing the subway, circuit edi- tion of “Streetcar Named Desire,” I is giving a staging tuneup to the Broadway company of “Death of a Salesman,” starring Thomas Mitch- ell. He’s being sought to stage Steven Sclieuer’s proposed produe- tion of■ “Sunday Breakfast” and is assisting Martin Ritt on a teler vision series. Ford, Schildkraut For Brattle’s ‘Characters’ Boston, Sept. 26: . Ruth Ford has been signed by the Brattie Theatre Co. of Cam- bridge To costar with Joseph Seliildkraut in their forthcoming production of “Six Characters in Search of An Author.” Play will tee off Brattle’s fall season, Oct. 3 and will mark the third year of producing by the company in Cam- bridge. Others, signed for the production are Cavada Humphrey, formerly of the Mafgaret Webster company, and Michael Wager, last here in “Streetcar Named Desiro,” With supporting roles filled by members of the resident company.