Variety (September 1952)

■Wednesday, Seplcmter 10, 1952 LEAIiriMATE 59 Wlsliimg Well London, Sept. 5. r anc Plnyfl. Ltd., presentation of s'omey in three acts by E. Eynon Evans. Stars Eupino Eane, Directed by John Warrington. At Comedy Theatre, London, 8ept. if *52; $2 top, H^nry Pugh - . .Lupino Lane Amos Ferry E. £vnon Eva;« j-ne Patsy Smart Delith Gwyn Marilyn James John Pugh. Peter Jennings Michael Bird Irene Jennings Barbara Marshe Ann Murray May Horn Amelia Smith Violet Blythe Morgan • Q^yu .Houston Abner .Frederick Victor Horace Pepper Michael McConnell Lupino Lane makes his first straight appearance in his 50 years on the stage in this engaging little Welsh comedy. It’s a simple, rustic story of two kindly old men who play God to readjust unhappy lives. Told with a naive sincerity, it has both humor and pathos and Is likely to attract on the star’s reputation and through its very simplicity. As a film it could be developed artistically, but as a play its interest would be purely local. The two ''t .cral figures are the cockney landlord of an old Welsh Inn and a poetic, gannllous letter- carrier, who see all and know all. The hosVlry has acquired a name among the superstitious for achiev- ing minor miracles through the ad- joining wishing w'ell. In reality the two amateur psychologists, through prying and plotting, solve tJie problems of unhappy visitors. One, a rich widow, drips furs, je^vels and complaints until the wily conspirators sense her hum- ble origin and fake a domestic crisis to enlist her practical aid. Another is a young war widow, stunned and dr^-eyed, who cannot reconcile her loss or find occupa- tion to ease her loneliness. To save another couple, maladjusted following wartime separation, she reads aloud her husband’s last let- ter, which brings to her the blessed relief of tears, and to the others the appreciation of their own good fortune and need of each other. The termagent of a housekeeper is neatly tricked Into accepting the mailman after years of rejection, and her niece finds happiness with the landlord’s soh. The boy, para- lyzed through war Injury, has re- fused to marry her believing he Is Incurable, but is psychoed into dis- covering he can walk again. Lane carries his gay, ingenuous personality serenely through his role as fairy godfather, while his partner in the crusade is delight- fully played by the author, Eyn James. Moit Horn Is moving. the Inconsolable widow, an^ bara Marshe and Violet P’ well contrasted as tl>'' -^he are happy femmes. M ..jj igther un- and Douglas Argt^lffj'n James most of their cha thwarthed thn, and Patsy S? acidulous Houston make the as the lovers disablement. is forthright and housekeeper. Glyn forme’-.j^Pgives an excellent per- he ' in a small scene where tl‘ v^#i|es a seduction act to rouse girl’s lover to a dramatic iergence from his wheelchair, is well directed by John War- rington. Clem. with effect in some sketches. He‘s a lively, energetic and virile com- ediaii. He gets top ovation for his impression of a female fiddler in a London cafe, and for a neat little sketch in which he is companion to an aged woman. Leading femme is the outsize Hattie Jacques who exploits her overweight personality but other- wise doesn’t contribute a great deal. Her numbers lack punch and she fails to succeed in providing the requisite touch of spice and humor. Indeed,'the whole produc- tion is lacking on the femme side, and little more than a negligible contribution is made by the others. Roma Milne and Pamela Hill. The male casting is substantially strong- er with John Rutland and Peter relate supplying„a distinct com- edynavor. Production had obviously under- gone last-minute doctoring before its first night presentation. Some of the numbers on the printed pro- gram failed to materialize while others were presented unheralded. The revue needs much more doc- toring before it can be considered a likely click. Myro. Hub Barn Season Winds; ‘Jezebel’ ll^G, ‘Time’ 910 Boston, Sept. 9. The Hub's strawhat season winds this week, with Denise Darcel in “Happy Time’’ at the Boston Sum- mer Theatre, and “Desert Song” at the County Playhouse. Regular legit season teed off Sunday (7) with “Bagels and Yox” at Shubert. “Jezebel’s Husband,” with Claude Rains, pulled a neat $11,500 into the Boston Summer Theatre last week. Miss Darcel in “Happy Time” was belov/ hopes at the County Playhouse, with a fairish $9,500 re- ported. noils of St. Martini's London, Sept. 2. Intimate Bevue with Douglas Byng. Hattie Jacques, Roma Milne, Richard War- ing, Pamela Hill, John Rutland, Richard Waring, Peter Felgate, Peter Glower, Joan Elvln, Patricia Kelly, Terence Theo- bald, Gillian Barton, John Cronin. In- rected by W. Lyon-Shaw. Lyrics by Rich- ard Waring, Geoffrey Coop, James Dyrcn- | forth, David Croft, Michael Flanders, Sid- j ney Carter, Julian Leslie, Joseph Sliaw; music by Francis Essex, Geoffrey Coop, Cyril Ornndel, Jack Jordan, Julian Leslie, Alan Langford; musical numbers by Peter Glover; decor. Richard Greenhough. -At St. Martinis Theatre, London, Aug. 20, *02. $2 top. New Hampshire Reprise Raymond, N. H., Scjt Regular cost has gor. New York, but the s^ j^ilTOack to on at the Hutchins still goes tre here. ,^0ammer Tliea- Strawhatter t', and was clos^^ncluded its season week, during Labor Day reopec^l^nanagement decided to sc?r>t^|^oday (9) for an extended continuing until Sept. 20. special cast was imported from ew York to present “Glass Me- nagerie,” Sept. 9-13. A new play will be staged during final week of the stretched-out season. Sber'A Preppig Gotte. Brilisli Pr®dMcti 00 $ Edinburgh, Sept. 2, Henry Sherek, British impre- sario, here for tlie preem of Chris- tophfr Hasf-aU s; “The Player King,” plan.*, a trip to N<;w York shortly lo put on an adaptation of a French play. Impresario will also stage “The Guilty Pany" by Loys'ton Morley. starring Eric Poitii-ian. Si’s sot to preoin in Manchester end of the mouth. vSherek will also present the Bris- tol Old Vic in a new play, “The Bridge,” which Lionel Shapiro, Canadian war correspondent, has adapted from hie ncvel. “Jpurriey Into the Night.” Preem is slcedded fo • November. A new comedy by Scots playw’right Ro.'^er MacDou- ga.ll will also be staged by Sherek. Hartford Parsons Sets Lone Snbscriptiion Series Hartford, Sept, 9. The New Parsons liere, which has scheduled a 30-week season of !egit and foreign and a't film, will have a nine-week .subscription se- ries this semester, as rgainst two subscription series la.st year. The house will not have available to U any ANTA or N. Y. City Center plaj's as Iasi year. Although the .season opens Sept 18 v;ith “Mr. Roberts,” the pla series v.ull go into effect with ti second show, ‘Mane.” pencllljapPyg for three days, starting The 1,167-seater will 2. by Philip Langner operc^ted Charles Bowden ^pR^ethcr wUli third nartner. v Stern, a in N.ew \ork do the bookings sist of: Cr Jij^nouse staff will con- and house manager boxf John Fankhauter. e; Delphine ten Boeck, sub- tion secretary; Gala Ebin, bmptroller; Dorothy Reed, execu- tive assistant and Eldon Elder, artistic supervisor. Jorm Golden, in an Interview last week wits) Dave Garroway on NBC- TV”s * Today,” insisted that major ^mpha.'^:? ?bould be placed on devel- ;>oinenl of topflight new piy^ wrtghts {cilhfT th.an on the modernizing ot New York theatres. “The play i* •.iui the thing.” Golden said. “The p.ta.ywright makes the pla: 'iVj bciUU'i’t eriough of them. I don’t think the.fr are 15 first-line among the 150,000.000 people in the .A can't afford to give that much effort to thing that cicse at the end of the week. We have -ihousatid.s of good writer?,, fine novelists. Many of them are potential pla.y wTiglit-,.. T think money should he paid to the support, of playwrights, selected by a good screening committee. There should not be too much support; a little hunge.i’ helps. 1 would be glad to contribute $1,000 to start the movement,” Here Garroway interposed that Lee Shubert had heard an caidier interview—Golden did two—and phoned he would give $1,000. Golden o,ffered to donate another $1,000 if Shubert would match it. Golden disagreed with Howard Cullman on the importance of refurbishing Bronilw'ay legit houses. “Present theatres,” he said, “are not outmoded, they arc good enough.” WUen Garroway inquired whether anyone attended a legilimuLe at^e simply because of its appointments, GoSden replied. . , so.” He added that Frohman and Belasco were clientele, long ago, for particular houses. Golden to ^ that certain people, like Cullman, who had n\^j|iWn^uded by imhing would put some of it back in the develoT.^t^|l^^^'*oney m th< th'.atro, ^ int ot playwrights. Paul E. Glase. manager of Pa., has one of the mo.st Embas.sy and Ritz. m Keadrng, of all phases of the show biz libraries, and a- ‘-n .student historical happeninrr-^^^pi^ent industry he i*- an eoiuvnt with many of the Actors’ tried to interest both Waiter ^'ineent, prez 200th annive'‘-^^Jiii^f Amexaca, and Mrs. .Martin iLoui.*;.»; Beck on the debuted of the Hallam Company of Ergli't; Plajers who Va. Ac: Merchant of Venice” on Sept. 5. 1752, r.t William.sburg, of an annafs, this was the first pei'forr.ance in America mganiza'tion of real professional players howmon in New York—not Mrs Beck or Vino* ni --have challenged lis by pointing to the Murray & Keane Players, in New York. HSL with a supporting cast of amateurs and scmipi'ofessionals from the Colonies. < Gilbert W, Gabriel, Cue mag drama critic and prtz of the N. Y. i Drama Critics Circle, who died last week, as the subject of a tribute written by his friend. Brooks Atkinson, crUic of the N. Y. Times, and appearing in the drama section of the latter sheet Sunday (7). "He had a particular genius for friendship,” Atkinson noted. “He had a warm, linmox’oui.s., shy personality; he loved to be with people and he knew instincx.iveiy how to entertain them through a long, easy cv- with stories, gossip, anecdotes and comments on art. . . . We shrdl all miss an old comrade who responded with enthusiasm to beauty in any kind of art and Imew how to find the words to describe it. But most of all we shall miss a warm-hearted brother who loved to be with ‘ people and knew how to make them friendly and gay.” Although billed as an intimate revue, this production, with its lack of sophistication and satire, has the appearance andLthe qaulities of a moderately good-natured and amia- ble seaside concert party. There Is little In the way of biting wit and (iuite a few cheerful numbers that are pleasant enough to listen to, but quickly forgotten. Prospects are only fair and it has little chance of more than a short season. Mainstay of the productibn is Douglas Byng. He’s a long stand- ing local fave with a big following and is best known for his fc-mme impersonations which are u.sed >» < I II I— ‘Glory’ Pulls 70,000 People | To Wind Season in Black' Williamsburg, Va., Sept. 9. Attendance at the 1S52 «cason of ' The Common Glory” war. sl4;h ^-1 ly under 70,000, despite six r.'riV;* outs, greexosi numbgji'’ in the hi.c*;3 tory of Piiul Green’s syiripbocic I drt:ma. Final financial statements' have not been completed, but it's i anticipated that the outdoor drama, will come out of its sixth season ’ in ’he black. ! $how played from July • through | Aug. 31 at Lake Matoka Amphithea- tre here. A number of clianges in ‘ script, scenes and dance routines broL.ght enough gvood word-of- mouth publicity to bring back to V/ilJiamsburg many who had not j viewed the play since its first year, j Director again this year was| Hovjurd Scamraon, a rr.ember of j the .acuity of the Fine Arts Dept. I of William fic Mary College. An- thon.v Maiizi of Georgetown U. served as associate director, and Myra Kinch as dance director and choreographer. Others on the pro- duction staff included Roger Sher- man, A Ibert Haak, Dr. Carl A. Fehr, William Ellis Waters and William Nelson. WANTED SUMMER STOCIC THEATRE with tdpscity for star polity. Bor and rtitauranf op premisvi dostrabl*. Box V-aai, YarUly, 154 Wt»t 46th ltr#ft, Ntw York 34. Cut Albany Aisessments Albany, Sept. 9. A $65,000 reduction in the assess- ment on, Malcolm Atterbury's Play- house la. shown In the tax rolls for 1963 prepared by the City Dept., of Assessment and TLsation. The valuation is cut h'Gtii $180,420 to f;il5,000. Atterbury's Investment in . the theatre, 'rhJeh rwirchaser: •' j from the lata 'W. W. Farloy extensively rcmodcK'd in ; about $225,000. ! Assessment on the Strfiwd Theatre i Bldg., is increased to* 000, while that on Palace is hiked $10,000 tc TM Ten Eyck Hotel, which i‘h« Sehinfr interMtd own and w’wtrs WPTR offici'itudioi, 1ft At ?2,a0fV im, “Knocked 'em Cold!” “Miss Webb an Lilli VjnC'.si, wxs a (Jecided success. Wl:h a voice, of richness, power, remarkabje Ti>Dg9 and very considerable dramatic tol- ent as well. . . ” Ne^Tport, r<. J. ’Ncvffi.” “Miss Webb bi-oug'-,t to iho coinbiMalion d' a \;eh aopram* "oico uiid r^.h underiUa'iding ot h-.i- d.ual role, both in i‘s serious mom5:>''Ta and Its comedy.” Providence, If. I., Evening RUTH WEBB SCORER HlT IN ‘KISS ME KATE’ AT KEWPOF'k “Ruth Webb, the dark-haired bea i- ty, scored another hit as stai in tlie musical comedy, ‘Kiss .Me Kat«? . . . tempestuous and appcaliPU ‘Kate’ created by Miss Webr wri.i lusty and pleasing soprano vr^c^ , . . tribute to the pu.-pose and >%vrii of the Summer theotie.” StandardrTimes, New Bedford Mass., “Excellent Perform.'iuce m f ortlcu* lar by Ruth Webb. ” . • New Haven Register, “Lovely voice of Ruth Wenh. cal hit .sets a pace that ir.;> be fisrdl to foiJGW.” . , Kartfoid Conrant* “Ruth V^ebb has excellent voice and degree oif acting ski'.l sei»n ftJi tco seldom, in inus/cal is'iiavs.” Guilford, Conn., Time*. “Miss Webb a^ the 'icvy female shJjif* as well as me a< ts—If not Vetter. She’s beaut'lul, toO; a tight conibl- nation.” Blnghamtort Sun. “Ruth W.ibb hendlss- singing assign- ment like veteran she hast liKCcl- leni vfixie and coinadic SoiBJh r'lJ- qulred foy ;ole . . . Albany Tlia{i-.^s-Vnl<tiin. “Bright jrnd forcible performance by stat Ruth Webb siirpa-^slng Pa- tricia ;<torl.von, the original star, m both beauty and voice.” Schenectady Gazette. Webb exploits role with exu- bRvance«w-interpiets with fire and fury which convulses the audience. Worcester Telegram. “Ruth Webb Is an actress who ^owo .-and reads-'-lier lines excellently ,., h«r mobile features, roving eye and pout kept a large audience happy.” Worcester, Mxss., Gazette. '“Ruth Webb was a standout with a I Jmf "KISS ME, KATE" Sommer Tour thank Yo« . . . MltTON LYON. LUCIA VICTOR, CAST, CREW. STOCK MANAGERS and Nt« PRiSS! fine singing voice and ability to act. She resembles Patricia Morlson, her portrayal last night wav. h\i- perior to Miss Wlo-rtSoii’s interpre- tation as we remember H ” Fitthhuyg, Mass., Sentinel. “Ruth Webb Is charming whenever Shrewish ‘Kate* allows her to be, and ainga well.” Bostoh Traveler. “Ruth Webb is excellent in role, handling singing and acting with ability and —is as good «•? the onghi/d " Villager, Bedford ViJlage, N. Y “In v:.lce, personality and .•itjge pi-eseiicfc Ruth proven mort.- than a worthy successor to Pa- tricia Morison.” XJUlIalo Evening Newt. “Ruth Webb wa.s extremely happy In lead demanding most In both .slng- tng and acting abiliiy.” Niaicxra Fv.llfi Evening Review. •PreViout Cr«dils- On Broodway . . . "ON THE TOWN", "MARIHKA", "SATlY TO BEO "WALKING GENTLEMEN", "GENTLEMEN PREFER BLONDE?." Ovor Thr«* Kunidred Dramatic end Musical ProducHons, ih Sfock and on Tour —ShoH on VI and More Thaw a Doxtn Leading} New York Sapper Clubs 1 n 108-33. fiSrJ Briv*. Forest Hills, N. Y. Phone lUinois ‘/-2S78