Variety (June 1954)

58 LEGITIMATE VednegJ<yv June 30 , 1954 Gay Paris Paris, June 29. Henri Verde presentation of revue in two ecte (40 ecenes) by Verne, Merc Ceb. Stars Monlce Ford, Mex Amyl. Suzy * Conover; features Jean Rigody, Simone Claris, Joe & Joe. Moreos Bros., Arielle Zembo. Roger Stephand, Jonny-Mary, Helenne Levolsier. BMchele Donat, Mar- beline Meyer. Staged by Varna; ‘decor and costumes by Jose De Zamora; music, Vincent Scotto. Guy Lafarge. Ray Em. merichis, Jean 1 Mercadler, Claude Plj’ gault; book, vama. Gab, Rene Richsrd; choreography, Maud Mansfield. At Chsino De Paris, Paris; $3 top. For all practical purposes this Is the same show that has been housed in this theatre for the last four years. Headliners have changed, some numbers have been added, but the main production aspect of the revue, plus its body of dancers and comedians, is still the same. Thus this is version No; 3 of the “Gay Paris” revue, and is not much gayer than its preceding entries. , Three acts have replaced the ro- tund June Richmond in the. top spot—Monica Ford, U.S. singer; Suzy & Conover, a knife-throwing act, and Max Amyl, a Gallic charm singer. None has the stuff for a revue topper, and the main appeal' of this show is its nudey and bur- ley aspects, which will still bring in the tourist, and provincial vis- itors as one of the staples on the Paris scene. Main production numbers, such as “The Conquest of- Space,” in which Martians cavort; “Spark Plugs,” in which the Mansfield Girls (22) come out of a gigantic car hood to act as spark plugs and spark dance on hot rails for a neat in the dark effect; “Persian Hug,” in which Arielle Zambo shows off her lithe nude body; “The After- noon of a Faun,” in which a faun hops off a painting to make love to a visiting beauty, are of the previ- ous shows. Salted into this girl concoction are some neat acts which leaven this into an acceptable review though playing second-fiddle to the Folies-Bergere productionwise. Joe Sc Joe create good interludes with aero stints, a bullfight and other clever gimmick doll presentations. Marceline Mayer adds a soprano to the carryings-on and Simone Claris is the head nude with an excellent body and a. sultry presence that makes her sex interludes the bast- ing of this show. Burley skits smack of Minsky vintage. Miss Ford brings a good husky voice and neat gams to her role of topliner but doesn’t have enough to do to make her presence felt in this bludgeoning show. She scores on blues. Suzy Sc Conover add a musichall spark in their nervy knife-throwing stint that winds with flaming knives being hurled in the dark, for big applause. Amyl is an okay charm singer. Choreography, music and book are standard, with some fine pro- duction value piped in via a swing- ing mirror number and a burley takeoff on the amorous exploits of Francois I. Gals look all right and nudity is above par here. Windup is a hep balancing act by the muscled Moreos Bros. (2). Show looks to do the usual fine biz here during the tourist season, though there were empty seats when caught. Mosk. star whose eleptric guitar keeps blowing out at every turn. A clev- erly-conceived society ball benefits from Dhery’s timing, inventiveness and human touches, as all types cavort at this ball before the segue into, a bit with a singer on horse- back. A real horse. . Dance numbers are clever and unusual in conception rather than in actual choreographic, but are in the spirit of this show, Emerg- ing as a fine dance bet is U.S. danseuse Mary-Jo Weldon, whose plastic movements and intense gyrations do much to put these ensembles over.. Rest of the gals are good and immersed in. dance khowhow with added fillips, such as phosphorescent numbers, and one in which only the legs show, making for good offbeat interest. Charles Holland, American oper- atic tenor, shows a decided versa- tility in easily adapting himself to the requirements of musical com- edy. His dignity becomes bonhom- mie here as his big voice socks over his numbers that help cement this bowling show. Dhery, Chris- tian Duvaleix, Michel Roux, Miss Brosset, Pierre Olat and the rest all work together with a team spirit and enjoyment that makes this a lark. Spoofing of nudie shows is also droll in this, and the young nudes involved are the most pi- quant tp be seen on Paris boards. Music is adequate, if not topnotch, and fills this out without giving it too much emphasis. Show still needs a little technical polishing, but is sure to be a lave with local and tourist visitors. A pic will be made of this during the run. Mosk. ners Rudolf Forster, her former leading man in some of ‘her earlier screen hits, and Ernst Deutsch, an- other onetime top star of the Ger- man stage. The role of Hester Collyer in “Deep Blue Sea” naturally proves a meaty one for Miss Bergner as well as a highly. effective vehicle to display the entire string of emo- tions she masters. Nevertheless, a certain uniformity of expressions cannot be overlooked, and man- nerisms are" not always avoided. Of the three male leads, Wolfgang Lukschy, as Fred Page, has the most expansive one. He. gives a; competent performance in the play’s second half, but is so pro- nouncedly Prussian in his opening scenes as to make his British char- acter completely unbelievable. Deutsch, cast as the immigrant doctor, gives an excellent, well- balanced portrayal,, and easily carries away top male honors. Forster, once Germany’s number 1 “gentleman” of stage and screen, does not fare too well as Hester’s husband. His acting style of yesteryear lacks naturalness. Featured roles are not too hap- pily cast. Jochen Blume, as Fred's RAF pal, is probably the only one giving his role some personal pro- file. O.ther members of the cast are just average. Direction by Leo Mittler, an- other oldtimer, is uneven and has an episodic quality at times. It is clearly aiming at giving Miss Bergner maximum- prominence df which, fortunately, she does not take advantage. . With the possible exception of Deutsch, she is by far the strongest personality in this production. blezo. Rosenthal, Bader Out •lapon Vole (Flying Skirt) Paris, June 29. Maurey Bros, presentation of revue in two acts (25 tableaus) by Robert Dhery. Stager by Dhery; lyrics. Francis Blanche; music, Gerard Calvi; choreography, Col- ette Brosset. With Charles . Holland, Jacques Jouanneau, Dhery, Bb-osset, Christian Duvaleix, Michel Roux, Pierre Olaf, Mary-Jo Weldon, Jean Lefebvre, Vole Ballet (5), Laurence Soupault. Roger Saget, Luce Aubertin, Jacques Bauvais, Nicole Parent. At Theatre Varieties, Paris; $3 top. Robert Dhery has finally gotten a chance to. mount an intimate revue with the needed resources and the $60,000 poured into this should pay off in a longrun en- gagement here. Dhery brings a humane, pixalated comic,quality to this series of sketches that are neatly welded together by sure comic touches,. and a series of characters who give the diversified sketches a cohesive quality. Its good humor, inventive simplicity and tongue-in-cheek adhesion to girl show requirements make this a show that will appeal to all seg- ments, with word-of-mouth a big factor. Tone and idea might serve as a basis for An intime U.S. revue. Scene is set with an elevator on one side of the stage and a revolv- ing door on the other. Elevator operator, warmly and engagingly played by Jacques Jouanneau, plays Greek chorus to the pellmell sketches that tumble over each other in exuberance and inventive- ness. Colorful beginning has a take- off in a balloon and the attempts at a commentary by a stagefright bitten m.c. Then Into a running gag about a simpering Brazilian Toaliouse of the August Moon Vienna. June 1; Josefstadt production of comedy In three acts by Johtf Patrick, from novel of Vern Sneider. German adaptation by Oscar Karlweis. Stars Karlweis; features Hans Jaray, Dolores Ling, Hans Unter- kircher. Directed by Jaray.. Settings bv Otto Niedermoser; costumes, Inge Fied- ler; music. Dai-Keong Lee. under direc- tion of Gustav Zelibor. . At Josepfstadt Theatre, Vienna; top $1.80. Sakini . .Oscar Karlweis Captain Fisby ....Hans Jaray Lotus Blossom ..: Dolores Ling Colonel Purdy Hans Unterkircher Dr. McLean Manfred Inger Sergeant Aldrich ...Franz Messner Old woman Toni Bukovics Her daughter Elisabeth Ettl Old man Eduard Setter Mr. Seiko Helmuth Lohner Mr. Oshira Martin Berliner Miss Higa Jaga Susanna Engelhard* Strawhals Continued from page 56 “Teahouse” has found, and will find, wjierever a European theatre takes the chance, a welcome re- sponse. It has a definitely senti- mental, humorous appeal to “liber- ated" countries, mainly . Austria , and Germany. Okinawa or Vienna, f* what’s the difference. anyway? Be- sides, one of the few (very few) things people like about the Ami (Americans) is their unhesitating self persiflage. Oscar * Karlweis knew this, of course. Years ago he imported “HarvCy.” This time he did adapta- tion and translation himself and it turned out to be a good job. His performance as the interpreter, Sakini, is the brightest spot of the production. He makes full use of alUpotentialities. Dolores Ling, Austro-Chinese beauty and ballet star, lends na- tural charm and good acting to her role. Hans Jaray as Captain Fisby is a charmer himself on and off- stag. Hans Unterkircher’s thesping as Colonel Purdy-* is impressive. Minor parts are capably filled by the experienced Josefsdat ensem- ble. t Under Jaray’s guidance, aided by Otto Niedermoser’s settings and Inge Fiedler’s costumes, the three- acter, telling the story of plan B of the Pentagon to promote de- mocracy in Okinawa, moves on fluently. Gustav Zelibor’s orchestra, too far offstage, underscores vari- ous scenes with the music by Kai- Keong Lee. Maas. Tlefe Blaue See (The Deep Blue Sea) Zurich, June 15. Theater-Tourneegesellschaft (Kurt Col- lien) production of drama In three acts by Terence Rattlgan. German adaptation, Alfred H. Unger; directed by Leo Mittler; set, Viktoria von Schack. At Schausplel- haus. Zurich. With Elisabeth Bergner; Carets Loeck. Lutz Moik. Danlela Fischer. Ernst Deutsch. Rudolf Forster, Wolfgang Lukschy, Jochen Blume. corral members of the original company appearing in the play un- der his aegis on Broadway about 10 years ago, has received accept- ances from Winfield Hoeny and Agnes Scott Yost. Niagara’s Year-Round Basis Hamilton, Ont., June 29. Niagara Barn Theatre, at nearby Stoney Creek, now in its .seventh season as a stock company, will continue operation on a year- around basis. Group is currently in the 11th week of its regular 30- week spring-summer schedule, but will continue through next winter New theatre, constructed last spring at a cost of $60,000, has a seating capacity of 420; Producers Jack Blacklock and Mark Saunders head a non-Equity company. Jean Rosenthal, noted Broadway and longhair lighting expert, Isn’t having her contract renewed with the N.Y, City Opera Co., at City Center, this fall. John Butler, opera company’s choreographer, also won't be back. There have been rumors of friction within the opera troupe’s administrative set- up, with the above items not being too sufl»rising, Miss Rosenthal, who’s done light- ing for the opera company for six years, will continue her work with the N.Y. City Ballet Co., also at the City Center. She’s been with the terp troupe a long time, Lombardo Continued from page 37 Fire Islan<|, Jericho Turnpike, etc., seemed more suited to a Broadway gossip column than to the script. There Isn’t too much of it, how- ever, and it never gets in the way of the production. Carmen Lombardo and John Jacob Loeb have fashioned a work- manlike score for the show. It’s doubtful if . any of the numbers will make much noise in the pop- disk market (an original cast album already has been cut by Decca and Lombardo has. cut several single sides as well as an album for the same label). There’s an adequate Arabian Nights Guy Lombardo presentation of musical extravaganza in two acts, with book by George Marlon Jr. and score by Carmen Lombardo and John Jacob Loeb. . Stars Lauritz. Melchior; features Helena. Scott, William Chapman, Ralph Herbert, Hope Holiday, Mia Slavenska. Production di- rector, Allan Zee. Directed by Robert Gordoh. Sets and costumes, Richard Rychtarik; lighting, Paul Morrison; chore- ography. Yurek Lazowski, water se- quences, Lottie Mayer; musical direction and vocal arrangements, Pembroke Davenport. At Marine Theatre, Jones Beach, L.I., June 24, '54; *4.40 top. Genie .......; Jack Dabdoub Na-eel-ah Hope Holiday Prlma Ballerina ......... Mia Slavenska Premier Danseur Adriano Vitale Grand Vizier Ralph Herbert Trumpeter Ralph Lowe Scheherazade Helena Scott Prince Atnhed William Chapman All Harding Dorn Slave Girl Winifred Ainslee Sultan Lauritz Melchior Acrobats The Moroccans Snake and Charmer... .Janick & Arnauf Kanshee Gloria Van Dorpe Major Domo ^ Herbert Estrow New Hampshire’s Lineup Manchester, N. H., June 29. An even dozen summer stock theatres will be in operation in New Hampshire when the vacation season gets into full swing early in July. The strawhatters will be so located that each major vacation center will have at least one such establishment. In the White Mountains region, the Chase Bam Theatre in White- field will launch its 16th season. Other groups in the area will In- clude the Barnstormers in Tam- worth, Eastern Slope Theatre in North Conway and No Name The- atre in Pike. The Lakes Region, comprising vacation colonies on Winnepesau-'f kee, Newfoundland, Winnisquam, Ossipee and other lakes, wilbagain have the Lakes Region Playhouse in Gilford. Serving play enthusiasts in the Monadnock area will be the Peter- borough Players in Peterborough and Keene Players in Keene, while the New London Players will hold sway in New London, in the center of the Dartmouth-Lake Sunapee section. In the Merrimack Valley, the Windham Playhouse will be oper- ated in Windham and the Hutchin- son Theatre in Raymond. The Meadow Hearth in Hopkinton has only one production scheduled, on July 30 and 31. As the first postwar stage ap- pearance of Elisabeth Bergner in Europe, this German road company production is rating top interest here, and has been a complete sellout loqg in advance, a rare thing in this country. Miss Berg- ner, who teed off her fabulous career several decades back from the stage of the Zurich Schau- spielhaus, still is a favorite here among the older generation. Young theatregoers definitely were in the minority. Public attention was further stimulated by the fact that Miss Bergner chose as her part- Current Road Shows (June 28-July 10) * Caine Mutiny Court Martial (Paul Douglas, Wendell Corey, Steve Brodie)—Alcazar, S. F. (5-10). King and I (Yul Brynner, Patri- cia Morison)—Philharmonic Aud., L. A. (28-10). Picnic (Ralph Meeker) — Geary, S. F. (28-10). Porgjr & Bess — Curran, S. F. (28-10). Seven Year Itch (Eddie Bracken) ^Biltmore, L. A. (28-10). South Pacific (Jeanne Bal, Webb Tilton)—National, Wash. (28-10). Time Out for Ginger (Melvyn Douglas)—Harris, Chi (28-10). Wonderful Town (Carol Chan- nlng)—Shubert, Chi (7-10). mixture of ballads, rhythm and specialty, though; to keep the show moving at a tuneful pace. Lauritz Melchior, ex-Met and Metro tenor, is in the starring berth, but he gets comparatively few singing opportunities. What he does is done well and the big voice resounds across the moat, separating performers and spec- tators. He also strikes an imposing figure in the Arabian and Chinese getups. Helena Scott, as Sche- herazade and the Chinese Princess, is vocally effective, especially on -“A Thousand and One Nights” and “How Long Has It Been.” William Chapman is okay, too, as her vis-a- vis, and Ralph Herbert, as the vis-a-Vizier, plays the comedy broad and low. Hope Holiday gives a breezy account of herself, in a style reminiscent of Betty Hutton, delivering “It’s Great to Be Alive’ and “Teeny-Weenie-Genie.” Balle rina Mia. Slavenska is spotted in two terp sequences that leave much to be desired choreographi- cally. The two show-stoppers in' the production w.ere culled from vaude and niteries. Initial standout bit is delivered by The Moroccans. This aero team goes through its stunts and twirls with an irresistible abandon that won the firstnighters The first act closes with a bang as Janick Sc Arnaut go through their snake dance routine. The gal car- bons the reptilian movement via amazing body contortions. She bends and winds around the floor and her partner as though she were made of rubber. It’s a topgrade turn, socko anywhere. The “Disappearing Water Ballet” is another eyecatcher. The 16 chlorines submerge several times during their sequence and each time come back to the surface in a different costume. It’s an effective bit that Appeals-to the pewholders, During the underwater sequence two lifeguards are posted near the water’s edge to make sure that if 16 gals go down, 16 come up. The ' tough musical direction chore is expertly handled -by Pem- broke Davenport. Gros. Alicia Markova, ill in England with a serious sinus infection, has asked to be replaced on the surii- mer schedule of the Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival at Lee, Mass. Car- melita Maracci will sub. New attempt to curb designers from doing any work for a legit production before * bond is posted by the producer Is being made by the United States Designers Union. A 22-year-old union, rule pro- hibits any scenic designer or cos- tume designer from making sketches or performing any work whatever In connection with a pro- posed production prior to the fil- ing of a signed contract by the producer, with the full amount of the fee posted. Violations of this regulation last season by several union members prompted the union to reiterate the stipulation in a special letter sent out recentlyv to legit produc- ers. Letter pointed out that designers brought up on charges of violat- ing the rule will be fined heavily if found guilty, and also noted that producers failing to conform with the regulation are “contributing toward the designers’ misfortune and consequent humiliation of hav- ing to face trial for this violation.” Conflict of Names Stirs Westhampton Beach, N.Y., June 29. Residents of this fashionable Long Island resort will have two strawhats to choose between this summer, but the choice may be complicated by a conflict of names. Two spots are the established Westhampton Playhouse and the newcomer, Hampton Star Play- house. Former theatre will be operated by Marjorie Dulin, who acquired it recently from the former owners, Ron and Ruth Rawson. Latter pair are now concentrating on the John Drew. Theatre, in nearby East Hampton. They ran both barns last summer. Hampton Star Play- house, which will occupy the for- mer Star film theatre, will enter the local legit sweepstakes this season. Confusing element in the situa- tion is that when the Rawsons started operations here two seasons ago they leased the Star filmery, renaming it the Westhampton Play- house. Last season they moved to Mechanics Hall, retaining the Westhampton Playhouse tag. . Now Andre Areneaux and John Havens have acquired the .Star and are planning to present little theatre groups for various Long Island towns. Miss Dulin and her general man- ager, Mary Porter, a former actress- manager who was managing direc- tor of the old Empire Theatre, N. Y., until its razing a year ago, are trying to, prevent the new op- erators of the Star from using the confusing Hampton and Playhouse names. The* Westhampton Playhouse opened Monday night (28) with “Bell, Book and Candle,” with Jane Middleton, Clark Williams, Paul Porter Jr., George-Hoxie and Miss Dulin. Revival is being staged by Henry Wienstein, who will also di- rect the second bill, “The Man,” with Frances, Greet. Two unse- lected tryouts are planned for the latter half of the season. Marven Barkleigh is staff designer and Toby Clyde is^handling the local press; Honolulu Amateur Prod. Of ‘Okla.’ Sets Record Honolulu, June 29. Chalk up another alltime, record for “Oklahoma.” Six-week run or Honolulu Community Theatre pro- duction doubled previous attend- ance record, set by “Brigadoon last year. Play drew an average of more thAn 100% normal* capac- ity during its run since the 531- seat Huger Theatre added 50 chairs for eveiy performance. ■ Director Ed Mangura thinks the success of musicals here Indicates that amateur theatre is missing » bet by not producing inore musi- cals. He leaves today (Tues.), af- ter resigning, for tour of Europe r after two years as director or Hawaii’s long-established amateur MnAitVl