Variety (November 1954)

7ft tMtDWATB Wednesday, November 24, 19$4 Shows Abroad Xlie Talk of the Towii London, Nov. 17. George Sc Alfred Black and Jack Hylton production of revue, in two ■ acts- (15 scenes). Stars Jimmy Edwards-, Tony Han- cock, Joan Turner) features Trio Bassi, Page Sc. Bray, Lucfenne Sc Astor, John Tiller GUIs (16), Kathryn Moore. Billy McCormack, Keg O'List, Charles Holfprd. Denver Thornton, Tfd Hyde, Glen Blake, Iris Scott, Murray Graham. Directed by Alec Shanks Sc Joan Davis; choreography, Miss Davis; sketches, Frank Muir ; Sc Denis Norden; music and lyrics, Ross Parker, Phil Park; orchestrations, Billy Ternent «p R onald Hanmer. At Adelphi Theatre, Lon- don, Nov. 17, ’54; »2 top. Having found the proven for- mula for successful twice-nightly revue," the Black brothers and Jack Hylton go from strength to strength, Their latest joint enter- prise, which; comes to town after a prosperous Blackpool summer season, is a big potential .money- maker and certain of a long run. From the point of view of casting, staging and comedy, it is one of the best in the series that has kept the Adelphi humming for years. The star trio of the revue are Jimmy Edwards, Tony Hancock and Joan Turner, and with attrac- tive production embellishments ‘One of the great crit- ical analysts serving the theatre, and' brilliantly at that/' LEONARD BERNSTEIN “I always read Harold Clurman’s su- per! column because; he always writes of the- itself, never con- fused with meaningless wit or erudition; and he has iversal mind that is, quite amazingly so, both sensitive and realistic." WILLIAM INGE weekly column is the most creative writing being done today the theatre." ELIA KAZAN ‘Clurman is a very rare critic. For the seri- ous artist he comas' as a blessing. When I read his reviews I feel ohcfj again that the theatre may yet become the re- ligion with us that it ought to be, and above all, a proper occupation for grown mem” ARTHUR MILLER SPECIAL OFFER: You can road Harold Clurman every weekln Thf : Nation, Amor- lea’*'loading independent lib- oral woolly,: via a now spe- cial Introductory offer which will bring you 31 weeks of The. Nation for only $3.00. (You save. $3.20 under tho newsstand prico.) So sub- scribe today. Don't mist an Issuel NAME. ADDRESS. CITY. plus a full complement of quality specialty acts, they lead the unit with verve and enthusiasm. The two male comedians: collar the top laugh honors. Together they’re socko in a sketch on commercial television and iri another .as iso*, lated lighthouse keepers. On his own, Hancock makes a bold individual click in a com- posite impression of visiting Amer- ican vocalists such ; as Frankie Laine, Guy Mitchell and Billy Dan- iels. Edwards, for his part, has the: audience rolling as the advocate of his new party, “Jibimiinism,” and as the presiding judge at an as- sizes, trying a claim for breach of promise and-revealing ail injudi-. cial partiality for the shapely and attractive plaintiff. Miss Turner, a vocalist of dis- tinction, has a unique range and can do equal justice to pops and classical arias; She has a nice num- ber in “My Strapless Blue Gown, ’ some amusing song snippets to de- scribe her preparations for being “The Belle of the Ball” and just to show how well she can do it, winds with a powerful rendition of “One Fine Day.”; The Trio Bassi, no strangers in these parts, never fail to win ac- claim for the high speed and dex- terity of their foot, juggling. It is one of the best, acts of its km and a sure attraction. Page & Bray, a duo* of Continental; terpers. have a s'eries of immaculate rou- tines, all of. which end with some fast and fancy twirls. Lucierine & Astor (formerly Bob, Lucienne and Astor; one member of the partner- ship was drowned during the Blackpool summer season and his part has been written out) have a colorful apache routine. Comedy sketches by Frank Muir and Denis Norden are up to stand- ard for this ace writing team. Alec Shanks and Joan Davis have done a smash job of direction and the latter has devised the dance rou- tines, The expert line of Tiller Girls do full justice to them. Myro. Siamese Twin Columbus, Nov. 23. Leonard Graves is leading two lives, at least in the pro- gram of “King and I," which played, the Hartman here last week. In the front of the program his billing read, “and co-star- ring Leonard Graves," Toward the back of the book, however, co-star Graves was listed as an , understudy for the King. Current Road Shows (Nov.* 22-Dec. 4> Hayes $22,000, Frisco; ‘Life' Tlie Average Man London, Nov. 3. Warren. Sutton A Welch Ltd, produc- tion dr new comedy in three acts by William Barrow. Directed by Austin Mel-, ford. At Embassy Theatre, .London 1 , Nov. 2, *54; Sl.SO top. Mr. BarWood’ Ann ,. John Smith .. - Michael Dean ..... Roma Dean. ....... Mrs. Barwood Publicity Man Walter "... r... A . Mrs. Beading-Wells Jackie . i.-......... Gillian Mr. Walker ., C. Denier Warren . .... Tessa Clarke. .... Bruce Gordon ...... Jack Melford .... Roberta Huby .. . Doreen Season ....; Laurence Alan Vernon Littlewood Gwen Lewis .... Jackie Collins ..... Anne Sharp Laurence Phillips This is a pleasant comedy with a basically amusing idea that could be developed on broader lines. It is well staged and presented With some popular players and may achieve a moderate success. As a screen vehicle for top ranking artists, it could be turned into a first rate comedy.. An advertising clerk who has been Winning competitions is used as ah unwitting guinea pig by his firm because he has the reaction of the average, man, Busiriess booms on his expressed opinion, but then slumps when the hero loses his heart to the film star Wife of the firm’s junior partner, and pursues her taste instead of his own. It all works out happily, of course. Despite a slow beginning, the story holds interest and. is played with experienced touch by. C. Denier Warren /and Jack Melford as the ad agency partners, Roberta Huby,, a revue and film actress, is suitably attractive as the partner’s wife, while Bruce Gordon, a tv favorite, plays the young clerk with an agreeable air 2nd Tessa Clarke , makes a fbrthright person- ality of the neglected secretary; Flay is well directed by Austin Melford. Clem. s Continued from page 72 not prohibit his name on other of our. collaborative and. yet unpro- duced Works, (e.g., “Natalia” with lyrics by John Latouche and; music by Ernesto Lecuona, based on a story by Gropper and Hammer- stein.) Milton Herbert Gropper. (Ed. Note:. Variety’s story was taken from the, official court record). ZONE STATE- The text to be used at the N. Y. 92d St- YMHA presentation of Stravinsky’s “L’Histoire du Soldat” Dec. 18, will be based on the adap- tation of Stella and Arnold Moss that was presented more than a year ago with the Boston Sym- phony Orchestra. Anastasia (Viveca Lindfors* Eug- enie Leoiitovitch) (tryout)-—Shu- bert, New Hdven (2-4). Bad Seed (Nancy Kelly) (tryout) ^-(Ford’s, Balto (22-4) (Reviewed in Variety, Nov. 17, ’54). Black-Eyed. Susam (Vincent Price) (tryout)*—Plymouth, Boston (22-27); Locust St., Philly (29-4) (Reviewed in Variety, Nov. 17, ’54). Caine Mutiny. Court Martial (Paul Douglas, Wendell Corey, Steve Brodie)—Aud;, Burlington, Vt. (22); Field House, Troy, N. Y. (23); State, Portland, Me. (24-25); Aud;, Worcester, Mass. (26); Court Square; Springfield (27); Colonial, Boston *(29-4)., . . Dartc Is Light Enough (Katha- rine. Cornell, Tyrone Power) (try-, out)—Erlanger, Buffalo. (24-27); Royal Alexandr , Toronto (29-4), Fifth Season (Chester Morris; Joseph Buloff)—Erlanger, Chi (22- 4). Flowering Peach (Menasha. Skul- nik) (try out)—Shubert, Wash (22-. 4) (Reviewed in Variety* Nov. 17, ’54); '■ ■ Getting Gerties’ Garter—Royal Alexandra, Toronto (22-27); Hart- man, Columbus (29-4), Hello Paree (Charles Treriet, June Richmond) (tryout)—Play- house, Wilmington (24-27); Parsons, Hartford (29-4). House of Flowers (Pearl Bailey) (tryout)—Erlanger, Philly : (25-4),: King and I (Leonard Graves, Patricia Morison)-^Shubert, Chi (22-4). Lunatics and Lovers (Dennis King) (tryout)—Walniit, Philly (22- 4) (Reviewed in Variety this week). .Midsummer Night’s Dream (Rob- ert Helpmann, Moira Shearer, Stanley Holloway)—Civic Opera House, Chi (25-4). Moon Is Blue (Jerome Cowan)-— Shubert, Detroit (22-27); Lyceum, Minneapolis (29-4). Mrs. Patterson (Eartha Kittj (tryout)—Harris, Chi (22-4) (Re- viewed in. Variety, Sept. 29; ’54). Naughty Natalie—Lyric; Indian- apolis (29-1). Oh Men, Oh Women (Ralph- Bellamy)—Cass, Detroit: (22-27); Cox, Cincy (29-4). . Oklahoma r-Shea’s, Jamestown, N. Y. (22); Aud., Akron (23-24); Hartman, Columbus (25-27); Aud., Canton (29-1); Jaffa Mosque, Al- toona, Pa. (2-4). On with the Show (Irra Pritiria) (tryout)—Shubert, Boston (22-27) (Reviewed in Variety,,: Nov. 10, ’54). (Production will be retitled “Hit the Trail” for Broadway). Pajama Tops (Diana Barrymore, Robert Wilcox)*—Pabst, Milwau- kee (22-27); .Blackstone, Chi (29-4) (Reviewed in Variety, Nov. 17, ’54). Portrait Of a Lady (Jennifer Jones) ’ (tryout)---National, Wash. (22-4) (Reviewed in Variety, Nov. 17, ’54)., Sailor’s Delight (Eva Gabor) (tryout) —■ Huhtington Hartford, L., A! (22-4) (Reviewed in . Variety this week). School for Brides—-Her Majes- ty’s, Montreal (22-27); . Strand, Syracuse, N. Y. (29-1); Klein Aud., Bridgeport (2-4), Severi Year Itch (Eddie Brack- en)—American, St. L. (22-27); Cass, Detroit (29-4). Silk Stockings (Hildegarde Neff, Don Ameche)-fShubert, Philly (26r 4). , South Pacific (Iva Withers, Webb Tilton)—Forrest, Philly (22-4). "Tea and Sympathy (Deborah Kerr)—Hanna, Cleve. (22-27); Shu bert, Detroit (29-4).. Time Out for Ginger (Melvyn Douglas)—Biltmore, L. A, (22-4). Three for Tonight (Marge & Gower: Champion, Harry Belafonte) (tryout)—U. Aud., Bloomington, Ind. (22); Memorial Hall, Colum- bus (23); Taft, Cincy (24); Murat, Indianapolis (26); Memorial Aud., Louisville (27); American, St. L. (29-4) (Reviewed in Vaudeville sec- tion of VarietV, Nov, 3, ’54). Wliat Every Woman Knows (Helen Hayes)—Aud., Portland (23- 25); Metropolitan, Seattle . (26-4). (Reviewed ' Variety - , Sept. 29, ’54)./ Witness for the Prosecution (tryout)—Shubert, New Haven (25- 27); Plymouth, Boston (29-4). Wonderful Town (Carol Chari- ning)—Nixon, Pitt (22-4). yW Wj San Francisco, Nov. 23. The legit scene parrowed to two shows hete last week with “What. Every Woman Knows” sliding but still profitable in gits fourth week ai .thq Curran,-and the Coast revue, “TJlat's Life” at the Alcazar show- ing a sf>urt«upwards 6ri excellent w.o.m. and f strong plugs, from Examiner! columnist Herb ‘ Caen. Both shows closed Saturday (20), Miss Hayes resuming tour. The Dublin players, in two weeks for repertory, opened. last night (Mon;) at the Geary. “Time Out for Ginger” is due Dec. 6 at the Curran for four weeks, on sub- scription. • Estimates for Last Week That’s Life, Alcazar ($4-$3.50; 1,147). Racked up a $10,500 take after a weak $9,000 opener, but still folded Saturday (20); house is dark* What Every Woman Knows; Curran (4th wk) ($3.85; 1,758) (Helen Hayes), Okay $22,000 after $27,000 previous Week; left town Saturday (20); house is dark. Theatre Shortage ARENA THEATRE, ROCH FOLDS AFTER 4 YEARS Rochester, N. Y., Nov. 23. Six Weeks of offish biz has forced' Dorothy Chernuck and Omar K. Lerman to fold their lo; cal Arena Theatre. Gross of only $3,750 for 17 performances of John Patrick’s “Hasty Heart,” was the straw that broke the b.o.’s back The closing last Saturday (20) ended four years of year-round operation. Launching of their fourth anni production, of “Lady’s Not For Burning” at an invitation, only preem was skedded for to. night (Tues.) The resident Equity . company will scatter, Miss Chermick and Lerman will remain. Current Stock Bills (Nov. 22-Dec. 4) Continued fr.om' page 73 (Mbrdsco), . “Fanny”:, (Majestic), “Kismet” (Ziegfeld) arid, “Pajama (St. James), Also, “Peter Pan” (in a 16-week limited engagement at the Winter Garden, but a prospect to continue: indefinitely) “Quadrille” (Coronet), “Seven Year Itch” (Fulton), “Solid Gold Cadillac” (Music Box), “Tea and: Sympathy”, (tentatively due to close March l£ at the Barrymore), “Teahouse, of the August Moon” (Marti Beck), “Tender Trap” (Longacre) and Victor Borge’s in “Comedy in Music” (Golden). Of the above list, all but “Boy Friend,” “Charles,’ “Fanny." Pan,” “Quadrille” and “Trap” are holdovers from last season. The two. other entries that loom prob- able to last: out the season are “Rainmaker” (Cort) arid “Reclining Figure” (Lyceum), in their respec- tive fifth and eighth weeks. /with status riot yet clearly indicated are “Living Room’’ (Hen- ry Mi.liei'), “Abie’s Irish Rose” (Hol- iday) and “Wedding Breakfast” (48th Street). Other shows on the boards are “By the Beautiful Sea” (closing next Saturday (27) at the Imperial),. “King of Hearts” (also closing this week at the National). “On Your Toes” (closing Dec. 4 at the 46th Street), arid “Fragile Fox” (closing next Saturday at the Be- lascq). Bookings for 1 future shows are as follows; “One Eye Closed,” at the Bijou, tonight (Wed.); “Mrs. Patterson,” National, next.Wednes- day (1); “Hit the Trail,” Hellinger, Dec. 2; “Bad Seed,” 46th Street, Dec, 8; “Lunatics and Lovers,’' Broadhurst, Dec. .13; “Black-Eyed Susan,” Playhouse, Dec. 15;. “Por- trait of a Lady,” ANTA Playhouse, Dec. 21; “Flowering Peach,” Be- lasco, either Dec. 21 or Dec. 28; “House of Flowers,” Alvin, Dec. 23; “Saint of Bleecker Street/’ Broad- way, Dec. 27; “Silk Stockings,” Im- perial, Dec. 30, and “Purple Dust,” Bijou, Jan. 4. Upcoming productions, with no theatres set, include “Hello Paree,” “Witness for the Prosecu tiori,” “Anastasia,” "*■ “Festival,” “Grand Prize,” “Put Them All To- gether,” “Plain and Fancy,” “Run- ning Mate,” “Painted Days” and “Desperate Hours.” Only slightly easier situation ex- ists ih the principal eastern tryout cities. For £xariiple, - the Play- wrights Co; is having’ to extend the tryout tour of Maxwell Ander- son’s “The. Bad Seed” until the 46th Street, normally a .musical house, becomes available with, the Dec. 4 closing of “On Your Toes.” After the show’s- two weeks at the Shubert, Washington, it goes to Ford’s, Baltimore, for another two weeks, one of the infrequent fort- night bookings for that town. Goodbye,. My Fancy (Conrad Nagel, Katherine Meskill)-i—Paper Mill Playhouse, Millbrirn, N. J, (22-28). . Kiqg of Hearts (Franchot Tone) —Music Hall, Houston (23-26). Open House, by Francis Swann and Victor Clement (tryout) (Reg- inald Ovyen) —- Hilltop Theatre- Parkway, Balto (23-28). London, Nov. 23. (Figures denote premiere dates) . After the Ball, Globe (6*10*54).. -. Airs Shoestring, Royal Ct. (4*22*53). All For MSr.Y, Duke York (9-9*54). Bell, .Book, Candle, Phoenix (10*5-54). Book of Month; Cambridge (10-21-54), Both- Ends Meet, Apollo <6-9-54). Boy Friend, Wyndham’s (12-1-33). Can-Cen, Coliseum. (10-14-54). Dark Ll9ht' Enough, Aldwych (4-30-54), D'Oyly Carte Opera, Savoy (9-13-54). Dry Rot, Whitehall (8-31-54). ‘Follss Berger#, Pr. Wales (9-24-53), Hippo DancIng^Lyrlc (4-7-54). I Am i Camera, New (3-12-54). 1 Immoralist, Arts (11-3-54); Intlmajcy At l;30. Criterion (4-29-54). .Joyed Grenfell, St. Mart. (6-2-54). Keep In Cool Place, Saville (8-16-54). King and !,• Drury Lane (10-8-53) Manor of Northstead, Duchess (4-28-51). Matchmaker, Haymarket (11-4-54). Mousetrap, AmbaiS. (11:25-52). Never Too Lata, Strand (6:3-54).. Off The Record, Vic. Pal. (11:2-54). Old Vic Rep, Old Vic (9-9-54). , Party Spirit, Piccadilly (9-23-54). People Wonderful? Embassy (11-10-51) Relations Apart; Garrick (8-3-54). Sabrina Fair, Palace (8-4-54). Salad Days, Vaudeville (8-5-54). Separate Tables, St. James's (9-22-54); Talk 6f Town, Adelphi (11-17-54). Teahouse Aog. Moon, Her Maj. (4-22-54), Wedding In Paris,.Hlpp. (4-3-54). J Witness Prosecution, W. Gard. (10-28-53), SCHEDULED OPENINGS Beatrice. Lllllo, Globe (11-24-54). _ Simon A .Laura, Strand (11-24-54). 1 Hedda Gabier/. Westm'ster (11-29-54), Accounting Love, Saville (12-1-54). Glass- Clock, Aldwych (1-3-54). CLOSED LAST WEEK Duenna, Westminster (7-28-54). Joan of Arc, StoU (10-20-54). COMMON STOCK Thd Company will employ its funds in diversified entertainment enter- prises connected with television/ motion pictures and the theatre! Prlre 50f a share LHOHYWOOD ANGELS, INC. • 29 West 65th St., H.Y. 23, N,Y. Dept. VI t • TRafalssr 4-1815 » | Send Free Offering Circular without cost; | I ****"■* ■■■■■: ' 1 • - I J ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ j TOR SALE Ettablithed ifir and Greeting Cord Shop. In. Tirnea Square area—Exduiivi Items! Exceptional Buy! 136 WEST 44th STREET Phone: CO 5-9594 MAPLEWOOD, NEW HAMPSHIRE "In the Heart of the White.Mountai Now available for . summer rentals, .The Maplewood Playhouse seats 600. The Playhouse is oh the rounds of th# Maplewood Hotel and its, famous 18 hole golf course is surrounded by hundreds °f hotels in the general area. Living quarters can be made’ available t . • playhouse and faciliti opart for inspect! Contact: SAM KAMENS. Owner Piccadilly Hotel, 227 W. 45th Street, New York City JUdsoh 6-0637