Variety (April 1953)

76 LEGITIMATE Variety Wednesday, April 15, 1953 Hillard Elkins r of the William Morris legit - TV departments, leaves today (Wed.) for a 10-day Coast visit to line up stars for strawhat' dates this summer . . . Margaret Gner.veur will guest in "Be Your Age" and “Nina" at the Rochester (N. Y.) Arena Theatre . . . Pressagent BiFl Doll will make his managerial debut with the lall production of "S'nenock Ho.me;\, a new dramatization by Ouida (Mrs. Basil) Rathbonc of the Conan Doyle stories, to star Rathbone m the title role . . . Samuel Liff will be general production supervisor for MKhael Todd's ‘’Night in Venice” spectacle this summer at Jones Beach, N. Y. Ralph T. Kettering has succeed- ed Carletone Miles as pressagent of “Mrs. McThing,” starring Helen Hayes . . . Marijane Maricle has withdrawn from "Can-Can” be- cause her part was cut down dur- ing revisions in the Current Philly tryout, and Mary Ann Cohan has succeeded her in the featured role of Gabrieile . . . Cornelia - Otis Skinner, who just completed a sea- son’s tour in her "Paris '90” solo musical, will take a rest before de- ciding about playing the Continent 13/mqmq qmi rnmu it te UbfieklfliduMit. THIS WEEK at the r inier Theatre this summer and going out on the road again next fall.. . Kay Swift, who penned the music and lyrics i for "Paris '90,” has composed a group of children’s songs which will be performed by the Phila- delphia Orchestra in Philly Friday (18) at the final progfam of the Children's Concert series. Louise Carlyle will Sing ... . Frederick Brisson interested in Ken Eng- lund’s thriller, "Nightshade, which recently tried out , at the Pasadena Playhouse. Bethel Leslie has withdrawn from the touring "Mrs. McThing” to take over as ingenue in “Time of the Cuckoo," succeeding Geral- dine Brooks, who is leaving for a film commitment in Italy . . . Her- man Bernstein, general manager lor producer Leland Hayward, is due for discharge this week from Harkness Pavilion, N. Y., where he underwent a hernia operation kst week . . . League of N. Y. Theatres has been getting com- plaints about the swarm of "charity" panhandlers that has re- cently invaded the Times Square area to pester legit patrons. Cocktail party will be given next Sunday (19) at Rosoff’s restaurant, N. Y., to benefit the Equity Library Theatre,. . . "Samson and Lila Dee,” an all-Negro musical, is an- nounced for fall production by Oscar S. Lerman and Martin B. Cohen . . . The Theatre Guild will offer a free exhibit of memorabilia of its 35 years of productions, next Tuesday 121) through May 10, at the Guild headquarters in N. Y. . . . Blevins Davis, co-producer of the current "Porgy and Bess" re- vival, is in London, having re- covered from an attack of flu in p ar i s The Virginia Card & George Houston English version of Bizet’s "Carmen" has been set for four performances this summer, by the _ _ . _ __ • i , An Evening With Will Shakespeare (COLONIAL, BOSTON) Boston, April 7. The masterly hand of Margaret Webster stands out in this exceed distinguished, and 2 ROBBINS PREEMS FOR N.Y. CITY BALLET SEASON Jerome Robbins, associate artis- tic director of the N. Y. City Ballet as well as a Broadway dance di- rector, is choreographer of two of the four new works • which will highlight the forthcoming spring season of the NYCB at City Center, N. Y., May 5 to June 14. Troupe will preem Robbins’ ’Fan- fare," to music by Benjamin Brit- ten, May 26. Todd Bolender, one of the troupe’s lead dancers, has created a new work in "The Filly," set to music by John Colman, which will bow May 19. Fourth work, new to the Center, is a revival of Bal THE ROYAL WINNIPEG BALLET Duluth, April 21 Hihbing, April 22 Virginia, April 23 ADVANCE AGENTS! COMPANY MANAGERS ! We have been serving theatrical shows for over 42 years. Ours is the oldest, most reliable and ex- perienced transfer company on the West Coast! • Railroad privileges for handling shows and theatrical luggage. • Completo warehouse facilities! • Authorized in California. Equipped to transfer and hauf anywhere in U. 5.1 • RATES ON REQUEST I Atlantic Transfer Company GEORGE CONANT 601 East 5th Street Los Angeles 12, Calif. MUtual 8121 or Oxford 9-4764 ingly distinguished, and even “eneTfrom ShTkeSpefre °as ™ r *^ on totteSZ- C3ndle SendS . ,tS |bussy soore° £ May a i4, Surrounded with two brilliant Shakespearean veterans and a half dozen less experienced but no less valiant players, Miss "Webster has singled out entirely unhackneyed scenes and staged them without scenery or props in a way to make them as powerful as full-dress pro- ductions. In some instances, not- ably the scene between Brutus and Cassius, even more so, since such scenes might pass "all but un- noticed without the special spot- light she provides. This quality of spotlighting a given scene is, in fact, one of the things that makes this so uniquely satisfying an affair. Each scene, gracefully and often humorously introduced by Miss Webster her- self, emerges as a highly polished gem in its own right and, due to the contrast, startlingly emphasizes the incredible range of the au- thor’s genius. « Basil Rathbone, Eva LeGallienne and Miss Webster are old hands in this style, and their work is a joy to see and hear. Mr, Rathbone’s Brutus is superb, while Miss Le- Gallienne reaches her peak as Lady Macbeth. Though tneir tra- dition as well as their ennunci- ation is hardly Shakespearean, John Lund, Faye Emerson and Viveca Lindfors manage nonethe- less to capture much of the special atmosphere required. let Caravan’s 1938 hit, "Filling Sta-Mention of pitching it for strawhat tio*\” choreographed by Lew Chris tensen (now NYCB’s administrative director) to music by Virgil Thom- son. This will preem May 12. Troupe will have some personnel changes among its leads. Nora Kaye is returning after her stint in the closed legiter, "Two’s Com- pany." Marie-Jeanne comes back to the troupe after several seasons with the Cuevas Ballet in Europe. Brit. Equity Tough Continued from page 71 John Lund overcomes a frankly American approach and gets away North Shore Community Opera with it, once over the hurdle of his Assn., Highland Park, Chi, June 22 first speech Ann Faye Emerson, week; St. Louis Muny, week of July overcomes the barrier (to Shake- 27: Lewis & Young Music Circus, speare) of her Americanism by Sacramento, Aug: 17 week, and means of combined technique and Green Lake Acqua Theatre, Seattle, ability to understand the direction. Aug. 20-22. Boosey & Hawkes is Viveca Lindfors, meantime, with publishing the libretto next month, or without a slight accent, scores . . . B. Iden Payne is directing heavily as the boyish Viola and "Cymbeline” for the U. of Texas wows as the object of Henry s drama department at Austin, April suit. 21-25 . . . Jerome Robbins to be ^ No costumes are used, save for guest speaker at next Sunday’s the role of Viola, though capes or (19) meeting of the N. Y. Ballet wraps are occasionally employed. Cj u b 6 The carpeted stage is set merely "Some Little Honor,” by Johseph- with four chairs, a carved table ine Bentham, has been optioned by and two wooden lecterns before a Abraham L. Sainer and William deep blue curtain, these^P r °P 5 Weisman for pre-Broadway tryout are < unobtrusively ^ moved around this summer at their Woodstock as occasion demands ^y losser (N V1 Plavhousp Resident direc- members of the cast, which /in or PhilioSiBeit eludes Paul Ballantyne, Lily Lodge tor Philip Kobinson will stage it. Frederick R 0 lf and Del Horstman who accompanies himself in old English ballads on the guitar. . Show captures complete audi- ence attention from the outset and holds it throughout. Elie . New Faces of 1952 (SHUBERT, BOSTON) Boston, April 6. There are plenty of stars Surprise TPackag© (Originals Only, N. Y.) priginals Only, which has been producing off-Broadway shows for a number years, fails to strike a responsive chord with "Surprise Package," musical currently being offered at its Greenwich Village, N.Y., showcase. Hackneyed plot and dialog are made additionally tiresome via a string of feeble at- tempts at comedy lines. Musically it’s difficult to determine the full value of the score as singing, ex- cept in one instance, isn’t of a ranking quality. Tom Hill, Originals* producer, has put the show together with in- SUMMER THEATRE EQUIPMENT Includes 2 switchboards, lights, scenery, 150 chairs, furniture, cos- tumes, office and advertising equip- ment, etc. Priced right for quick sale. Box V-12753, Variety: 154 W. 46th St., New York 36. N. Yv ‘Wife’15G, Portland Portland, Ore., April 14. Katharine Cornell, in “The Con- stant Wife, grossed a mild $15,000 in four evening performances and two matinees at the Mayfair The- J*® Wednesday-Saturday J8- There are plenty Qf stars in ID. The show also held over for Faces," but the leading star a sin sl e performance last night i s the pace and speed it maintains (Mon.). Usual booking here is for f rom beginning to end. a split-week. Show opened at the Shubert with The production previously gar- a ll the verve and high spirits of a nered $2,900 for a one-nighter brand new outing rather than a Sunday (5) at the Civic Audi- year-old hit, and clicked with the torium, San Jose. This'gave it a first nighters from the outset. Cast total of $17,900 for the seven-per- as well as producers and stagers formance string. It opens tomor- deserve plenty of kudos for sus- row night (Wed.) at the Metropoli- taming such esprit de corps on the tan, Seattle, and continues there ro fS:.. ... ■ n through next Tuesday (21). Then it jumps to St. Paul for three per- a face Uke an ’ eIastic band scores formances April 24-25 at the Audi- throughout, the supporting princi- torium. pals are by no means lost. On the contrary, so perfectly integrated is KURTZ TO LIBIDINS the staging and direction that no Edmund Kurtz, concert cellist, one personality dominates, all com- has signed with David Libidins, in- bming to convey an atmosphere of die impresario, for next season. happy equality. Each principal has his own crack at the heavy mitts and each wows. Alice Ghostley’s "Boston Beguine,” a satire that strikes home in these parts with a wallop, was matched with Paul Lynde’s travesty on the ladies’ club explorer, and that in turn was matched by Eartha Kitt’s sultry "Monotonous." This number alone was given the privilege of an encore, though .most of the numbers rated one. Meantime, the vocals Qf June Carroll and Virginia de Luce (who neatly paced the between- curtain lines) as well as the-num- bers by the sextet of young and handsome dancers, served as ad- mirable contrast to the comedy numbers. . Music, if boasting no hits, was at least attractive and utilitarian, and served to hold the show together in robust style. Sets and costume?, all looking as fresh as the cast itself, lent additional visual attraction to the show, which came as a breath of spring- time to a town that’s had a pretty gloomy season in the musical the- atre. Elie. working on the following scale: Productions of eight performers or less, one American artist; produc- tions of nine to 16 performers, two American artists; and so on. Thesp- ers earning less than $168 a week would qualify for automatic rejec- tion. Despite some local opposition, tentative agreement has been reached to permit a modest inflow of Yank performers to play in British repertory (stock) compa- nies. It has been agreed that a maximum of 12 Americans should be admitted each year under this category, six of whom should have completed courses at approved British dramatic schools. An age limit of 30 has been fixed, and it was decided not to engage more than one American in any one company. Consideration will be given to upping this figure to 15 a year. A toughening of the British at- titude is believed to be due to the fact that the local union feels it is able to negotiate from strength. This conception is partly contrib- utable from employment figures given by Alfred Harding on his ar- rival, which revealed a shrinkage of employment in America. It is known that the British spokesmen -challenged the argu- ment that theirs was a restrictive policy and thought it could be argued that American Equity had been more difficult than they in the matter of alien entry. The op- eration of the American six^months rule, it was claimed, had probably denied more employment to British artists than the operation of Brit- ish Equity’s normal procedure. Assurance was given, however, that even in the event of a break- down of the negotiations, British Equity would not impose any re- taliatory measures, even if the new restrictions were imposed in Amer- ica. In such “Circumstances, appli- cations would be considered, as they have been in the past, on their merits. * / ^ As the negotiations are aimed towards a reciprocal pact, British Equity have proposed that the six- months’ rule should be enforced either on both sides of the Atlantic or on neither. circuit presentation. Chances of produfction going over with the warm-weather audiences are slight. Three-acter, offbeat for a musical, has a book by Hill and Donald Stuart with music and lyrics by Frances JZiffer, Hortense Belson and Harry Wilder. Of the performers, Larry Mitchell Is standout with his solid piping. Nancy Quint is proficient in her handling of a comedy role, showing to best advantage in a specialty number. "The Apple of My Mother’s Eye.” Tune registers in a comedy vein and would be a fair bet in a sturdier production. Yve Gumbelle’s choreography, though basic, holds up in this semi- pro atmosphere. Jess. -SAM SCHWARTZ- Starring as NATHAN DETROIT in the National Company of “GUYS. AND DOLLS” Currently AUDITORIUM Oklahoma City, Oklahoma Thanks to FEUER A MARTIN WALTER "Dora" WAHL Featured in Comedy Hit "TOP BANANA" Currently 81st Week PARAMOUNT. OMAHA (Apr. 13 - Apr. 15) KRNT THEATRE, Des Moines (Apr, 16-Apr. 18) Direction JOSH MEYER JACK DAVIES Summer Stock and Movie Theatre Operators The Stanley Woolf Production KISS ME KATE (Equity Co. of 16—Hammond Organ in Pit $2.50 Top at Boxoffice) — Will Complete a National 30 Week Tour on June 15. Now BOOKING JULY AND AUGUST Week Stands or Consecutive One Nighters Anywhere!! Contact STANLEY WOOLF, 1697 Broadway, New York City Circle 7-6772 for Terms m ‘Sheba’ 11G, St. Louis St. Louis, April 14. Joan Blundell was visiting lead “Come Back, Little Sheba” last week at the Empress. After near! SRO on teeoff night, biz dropped off and piece wound up with an estimated $11,000. Stuart Erwin, in top role of "Three Men on a Horse," opens a week’s frame at the Empress to- night (Tues.). FAIRFAX BURGHER Closing 1 Year Tour With “Call Me Madam” Available April 20th 103 East 75th Street New York 21 MUrray Hill 8-6600 TENT FOR SALE 60 x 100', 1,000 people, used two sea- sons for summer stock, complete, $950. Also have used folding chairs and stage curtains. H. E. SKINNER, 1949 Kenmore Ave. Chicago 14, 111. LI 9-6*44 CAB CALLOWAY Sportin’ Life “Porgy and Bess” Currently ZIEGFELD, NEW YORK "Cab Calloway for whom the part of 'Sportin' Life' was originally written . . . greater fidelity to the personality . . . streaked with humor . . . Interlarded with vocal and rhythmic banter which only he can Inject."—Thomas R. Dashr Women's Wear Daily. fAgtx BILL MlTTLER, 1419 Broadway, New York