Variety (December 1954)

74 lboitkmatv \Vednesday, December 1, 1954 British Ban Continued from page 11 their ending, with the couple fac- ing' a dour, blackmail-dogged future, is hot a happy one. If any- thing, it is truer and less wishful than Gide’s. . ‘Moral Agoraphobia’ V ‘The Immoralist* is the frank- est, most detached play about homosexuality our theatre has yet seen, as free from sentimentality as it is from sensationalism. Its attitude is .that Menalque in the ' book, who says that ‘the most odious cowardice’ is ‘moral agora- phobia.’ The pattern of. despera-' tion, indispensable to good drama, is traced as Michel is forced to acknowledge his abnormality. “Plays like this are always ac- cused of naivete; we scoff nervous- ly, forgetting that Censorship hafe so brusquely retarded the theatri- cal treatment of sex' that it is still, to our shame; in its infancy. ‘The Immoralist’ ' stumble towards maturity. “In America ‘The Immoralist’ ran for 96 performances; here the ex-Governor of Bombay has cele- brated his second anniversary as. Lord Chamberlain by refusing it a licence. The rules governing his curious office lay down the follow- ing reasons for suppressing’ a play: profanity, improper language, in- decency of dress, offensive repre- sentation of living persons, and ything likely to provoke a riot. “Nothing. in ‘The Immoralist’. comes under any of these headings. As when ‘Oedipus’ was banned 45 years ago, the. Lord. Chamberlain seems to „.have overstepped, his brief.” ‘Truly Liberal Narrow-mindedness’ Hunter’s comment on the bail- ing contained the sarcastic sug- gestion that by forcing the play into a private club theatre instead of a regular. West End house, the Lord Chamberlain had protected it from “grosser. Grundyism” and that censorship had thus acted with “truly liberal narrow-minded- ness.” The writer, author of the hit plays, “Waters of the Moon” and the current “A Day by the Sea,” continues. “We know that in a large section of the public. and the press the word ‘homosexual’ Induces froth- ing at the mouth. It is not.difficult to imagine the kind of outcry that would be likely to follow the pub- lic presentation of this play and the less letters to the press signed ‘disgusted,’ the hightoned articles, and questions in Parliament. “I suspect,” he adds; “that the refusal to grant this play a licence has. enabled a .number of people interested in it, to see arid judge it under nojmal conditions. Had it been licensed, would any manager, threatened with the ugly Cry, ‘making money out of dirt,’ have dared to present it in the West End?” Comeli-Power $19$600 For 5 In Buffalo Bow Buffalo, Nov, 30. “Dark Is Light Enough,” costar- ring Katharine Cornell and, Tyrone Power, grossed around $19,600 for five performances in its initial try- put stand at the Erlanger Theatre here last week. Play preemed last Wednesday 124) arid ran through Saturday (27). Production, which will make an extensive tour of 10 key cities, is current at the Royal Alexandra Theatre, Toronto. Current Road Shows (Last season's Broadway produc- tion by Billy Rose drew mixed re- views, includiyig a thoughtful and approving 1 one. from Brooks Atkin- son, of the N. Y. Times. In gen- eral, the notices agreed that the play was d; serious study of abnor- mality, withoiit. trace of sensation- alism. John Chapman, of the Daily News, confessed to being “embar- rassed,” and. there mere a few other- expressions' of disapproval and even shock, notably from Jinx Falkenburg. on her tv series with husband' Tex McCrary. There were no overt attempts at • censorship. Off-Bway Shortage Continued from page 69 COMMOtriTOCK The Company will employ its funds in diversified entertainment enter- ' prises connected with television, motion pictures and the theatre. Price 50f a thorp l Dept. V? 1 I I HOLLYWOOD ANGELS, INC. • 29 Wi«M5th St„ N.Y. 23, N. Y. I TRafilgir 4-1815 J Solid Free Offering Circular without cost. I ■■■■•■ j I City , Tori* I i; i i — . i 1 fhone J Young man, excellent theatrical train- ing, wide experience in all phases theatrical production, also experience a* secretary and office manager, seek* work oii theatrical producer'* etaff or in television at producer'* assistant, stage manager, or assistant stag* manager. Box V-ll2954, VARIETY, 154 W, 46th St., New York 36. theatres include “Glandestine Mar- riage” and ‘‘Threepenny Opera.” Former production shuttered re- cently when it had to exit the Provincetown Playhouse'* during a click run. Theatre had been com- i itted to another production outr fit, and “Glandestine” producers weren’t able to find a moyedver spot. Last season “Threepenny” threw in the towel when it vacated the Theatre, de Lys following the man- agement's disagreement with the owners of the house. A quest for another showcase proved futile. Also caught in the theatre shortage Iflast season was “Girl on the Via Flaminia,” which was doing good biz at the Circle In the Square when house was shuttered ,by the Fire Department. Producers were unable to find another off-the- Stem location and moved the show to Broadway, where it flopped. Only major new off-Broadway theatre this season is the down- town National, Formerly a. show- case for Yiddish productions, the house shifted to English-language presentations with the current run of “A Stone for Danny Fisher.” It's located on Second Avenue, one of several off-Broadway* outlets in that area; Others include the Phoe- nix Theatre, ‘Royal Playhouse and 4th Street Theatre. Better known Greenwich Village sites include the de Lys, Province- town, Cherry Lane Theatre, Origi nals Only Playhouse and the Greenwich Mews Playhouse. In the Times Square area, there’s the President Theatre and further up town, on the eastside, the Jan Hus House. ONLY at the New York Academy of Dance Special Classes for Actors and Singers MODERN BALLET JAZZ Iso Beginners. Carnegie Hsli CO 5-5)19 ‘Town’ NSG $19,600, Pitt; Pittsburgh,. Nov. 30. First stanza of “Wonderful Town” at the Nixon drew a disap- pointing $19,600 last week. Musical got favorable reviews. But even at the moderate $4.80 top, attendance was light, so the balance of the scheduled tour may be in jeopardy. Current week’s, local finale may provide better indications as to the show’s future. Berlin-Fisher Continued from page 1 MAPLEWOOD, NEW HAMPSHIRE "In the Heart of the .White Mountdi NoW available for summer rentals. The Maplewood playhouse seats 600. The Playhoukp Is on the grounds of the Maplewood Hotel, and its famous 18 hole golf course is surrounded by hundreds of hotels in .the. general area. Living quarters can be made available . , • playhouse and facilities open for inspection. Contact: SAM KAMENS, Owner Piccadilly Hdtol, 227 W, 45thStreet, New IPork City JUdson 6-0637 . 29- Dec 1 TV Anastasia (Viveca Lihdfqrs, Eu genie Leontovitch) (tryout)—Shu-, bert* New Haven (2-4); Walnut St., Phiily (6-11). Bad Seed (Nancy Kelly) (tryout) —Ford’s, Balto (29-4) (Reviewed in Variety, Nov, ,17,.’54). Black-Eyed Susan (Vinceht Price) (tryout)—Locust SL, Phiily (29-11) (Reviewed in Variety, Nov. 17 ,; ’54); Caine Mutiny Court Martial (Paul Douglas, Wendell Corey,. Steve Brodie)— Colonial, Boston (29-4); State Aud;, Harrisburg (6 7 7); Ra- jah, Reading (8); Acad. Music, Philiy (9-11). .. \ Dark Is Light Enough (Katharine Cornell, Tyrone Power) (tryout)— Royal Alexandria, Toronto (29-4); Cass, Detroit (6-11) (Reviewed in Variety this week). 1 Fifth Season: (Chester; Morris, Joseph Buloff)-—-Erlanger, Chi (29- 11 ). ' : . Flowering Peach (Menasha Skul- nik). (tryout)—Shubert, Wash. (29r 4); Colonial, Boston (6-11) Reviewed in Variety, Nov, 17, ’54). Getting Gertie’s Garter—Hart- man, Columbus (29?4); Shubert, Wash. (.6-11). : Hello Paree (tryout)—Parsons, Hartford (29-4). (Reviewed in Variety this week). . ’... House of Flowers (Pearl Bailey) (tryout) — Erlanger, Phiily (29.-11) Reviewed in Variety this week). King and I (Yul BrynnCr, Pa- tricia Morison)—Shubert,. Chi (29- 11 ). Lunatics and Lovers (Dennis King) (tryout)—-Walnut, Phiily (29- 4.) (Reviewed in Variety, Nov. 24, ’5.4). Midsummer Night’s DrOam (Rob- ert Helpmann, Moira Shearer, Stanley Holloway) —: Civic Opera House, Chi (29-5); College Aud., E. Lansing (7-8); Masonic Temple, Detroit (9-11). Moon Is Blue (Jerome Cowan)— Lyceum, Minneapolis (29-4); Pabst, Milwaukee (6-11). Mrs. Patterson (Eartha Kitt) (tryout)-i-HaTris, Chi (29-4) (Re- viewed in Variety, Sept. 29, ’54). Naughty Natalie—-Lyric, Indian- apolis (29-1); Nixon, Pitt (6-11 1 . . Oh Men, Oh Women (Ralph Bel- lamy).—Cox, Cincy (29-4); Harris, Chi (6-11). - Oklahoma—Aud., Canton. (29-1); Jaffa Mosque, Altoona, Pr. (2-4); Marshall College, Huntington, W. Va. (6-7); Victory, Dayton (8-9); Shubert, Detroit (10-11). Pajama Tops' (Diana Barrymore) —Blackstone, Chi (29-11) (Re- viewed in Variety, Nov. 17, ’54). Plain and. Fancy (tryout)—Shu- bert, New Haven (6-11). Portrait of a Lady (Jennifer Jones) (tryout) — National, Wash. (29-4); Ford’s, Balto (6-11) Re- viewed in Variety, Nov. 17, ’54). Sailor’s Delight (Eva Gabor) (tryout) —■ Hartford, L.A. (29-11) (Reviewed in Variety, Nov. 24, ’54), School for Brides—Strand; Syra- cuse (29-1); Kiel Aud., Bridge- port (2-4). Seven Year Itch (Eddie Bracken) —Cass, Detroit (29-4); Keith, Grand Rapids (6-8); Palace, South Bend (9); Paramount, Toledo (10- 11). ' Silk Stockings (Hidegarde Neff, Don Ameche) • (tryout) — Shubert, Philiy (29-11) (Reviewed in.V ariety this week). South Pacific (Iva Withers, Alan Gerrard)—-Forrest, Phiily (29-11). Tea and Sympathy (Deborah Kerr)—Shubert, Detroit (29-11). Three for Tonight (Marge add Gower Champion, Harry Belafonte) (tryout)—-American, St. L. (29-4); Center, Norfolk, Va. (6-7); Muni. Aud., Charleston, W. Va. (8>; Orpheum, Spartanburg, S.C- (9); U. Theatre, Chapel Hill, N.C.. (10-. 11) (Reviewed in Vaude section of Variety, Nov, 3, ’54). Time Out for Ginger (Melvyh Douglas) Biltmore, L.A. (29-4); Curran, S.F. (6-11). What Every Woman Knows (Helen Hayes)— Metropolitan, Se- attle (29-4) (Reviewed in Variety, Sept: 29, ’54). Witness for the Prosecution (try- out) •— Plymouth, Boston (29-4); Plymouth, Cleveland (6-11) (Re- viewed in Variety this week). Wonderful Town (Carol Chan- ning)—Nixon, Pitt (29-4); Play- house, Wilmington (6-11). that. To deviate from the parallel, the. Iiish femme will , be a livery stable owner's daughter; although in the era of the musical—the 1890s up to 1911,, when the cap- ping climax is Fisher's headlining at Hammer stein’s Victoria Theatre, N.. Y.—a stable ovwob?, was con- sidered a “rich” man. The . locale and the situations, however, will authentically parall- el Berlin’s own youth on the lower east side of New York.,, The Irish femme lead, naturally, will inspire analogies and parallelisms to the. Irving Berlln-Eliin Mackay romance, but the book will veer away from any “Abie’s Irish Rose” or kindred suggestions. As a sing- ing personality, Fisher's role, might be just, as suggestive of the Al. Jol- son career. It will be completely new score, differing from Berlin’s re- cent filmusical “packages” of old and .hew.-tunes', viz,* “White Christ- mas,” “No Business Like .Show Business,” etc. The- east -side locale was in an era when the streets were flanked on one side by tenements and on the oth by ; “brownstones,” the; latter occupied usually by the more well-to-do livery stable entrepre- neurs and the like.; “East Side” will probably also mark Fisher’s Hollywood debut in the ensuing film version, since the venture is primed on a dual stage and pile basis, with a capital gain objective. No producer has been set. Berlin already has completed some songs which Fisher beard and okayed. Protest ‘Merchant’ Continued from page 69 sss few . performances of “Oedipus Rex” will also be presented; BEA SCORES IN LONDON; ‘SIMON & LAURA’ EVEN London, Nov. 30. “Simon and Laura,” comedy by Alan Melville* which was present- ed by H* M. Tennent at the Strand Theatre last Thursday (25), is a threeracter starring Coral Browne, Roland Culver, Dora Bryan, fan Carmichael and Ernest Thesiriger. Directed by Murray MacDonald, it’s an amusing skit about a Video marital series. A lightweight at- traction, it will depend 6$ its cast names for draw, although it was well received. Its chances re even. “An Evening with Beatrice Lillie,” which H. M. Tbnnent is presenting at the Globe, is a slight variation of the original revue pre- sented . on Broadway two years back. It preemed last Wednesday (24), and gn enthusiastic reception, together with general favorable press,, indicates r a capacity run for its. limited season. Although the star’s personal lure provides the complete and obvious , selling angle, she receives valuable - assistance from a West End new- comer* Leslie Bricusse, whose only previous appearance was in a Cam- bridge U. revue. (AlthoiLgh-“Merchant of Venice" Has been produced several 'times without reported incident in Eng- land in recent years, a revival,af the. N, Y. City Center two seasons ago drew some adverse comment. In that edition, Luther Adler’s “ sympathetic ” . portrayal of (Shy- lock was generally panned as tack- ing vitality. It was argued that despite the softened characterization of Shy- lock, the play's courtroom scene, reflecting, the prevailing ignorance of Jews arid the. intense anti-Send- tisrn in England in Shakespeare’s time, tends to aggravate religious bigotry and the perpetuation of a stereotype. The question isn’t a matter, of .the personality or. good- will. of the actor playing the role or even, the motivation of the pro- duction, it was Claimed. The point is that the character of Shylock represents a false idea of a "typi- cal Jew'L and the widespread ac- ceptance of this stereotype: is pfali naiit.) - ‘Caine $6,800 (1), Troy Troy, Nov. 30. “Caine Mutiny Court-Martial” grossed almost $6*800 at the R.P.I. Field House here last Tuesday night (23). Top was $3.50 for the single per- formance. Bracken’s itch’ $12,500, ‘Murder’ $9,500 in St. L* St. Louis, Nov. 30. It still remains to be seen wheth- er. St. Louis can support touring show for three weeks. Second semester of “Seven Year Itch,” with Eddie Bracken as star; drew a modest $12,500 at $3.92 top at the. American, Previous week’s take was $16,7.00. Finale is current,’ theiv “Three for Tonight” arrives next week. .After getting $9,500 for the. first stanza, “Dial M for Murder” wound up its two-week stock stand at the Empress theatre Sunday (28) with a gross of approximately $9,000. “My 3 s Angels,” with George To- bias, featured, opens t o n i g h t (Tues.) for a fortnight. ‘Brides’ 8G, Folds j Mont’I Montreal, Nov. 30; “Schools for Brides” drew only $8,000 on two-forrones at Her Ma- jesty’s here last Week. That did it, and the brief tour folded here. House is dark this week! Current London Shows London, Nov. 30. (Figures denote premiere dates) After the Ball, Globe (6-10-54). Airs Shoestring, Royal Ct. (4-22-53). All, For Mary, Duke York (9-9-54). Beatrice Lillie, Globe (11-24-54). . Bell, Book, Candle, Phoenix (10-5-54); Book of Month, Cambridge (10-21-54). Both Ends Meet, Apollo <6-9-54). Boy Friend, Wyndham’a (12-1-53), Can-Can, Coliseum (10-14-54). D'Oyly Carte Opera, Savoy .(9-13-54), Dry Rot, Whitehall (8-31-54). Folios, Bern*re, Pr. Wales (9-24-53). Hedda Gabler, Westm’ster (11-29-54). Hippo . Dancing, Lyric (4-7-54). I Am a Camera, New: (3-12-54). Immoralist, Arts (11-3-54). Intimacy At 8:30, Criterion (4-29-54), Joyce Grenfell, St. Mart. (6-2-54). King end I, Drury Lane (10-8-53) . Manor of Northstead, Duchess (4-28-54). Matchmaksir, Haymarkot (11-4-54). Mousetrap; Ambas. (11-25-52). 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 (11-18*54). Relations Apart, Garrick (8 t 3-54). Sabrina Fair, Palace (8-4-54). Salad Days, Vaudeville (8-5-54). Separate Tables, St, James's (9-22-54). Simon A kauri. Strand (11-24-54), Talk Of Town, Adelphi (11-17-54). Teahouse Aug. Moon* Her Maj. (4-22-54). Wedding In Paris, Hlpp. (4-3-54). Witness Prosecution, ^yv. Gard. (10-28-53). SCHEDULED OPENINGS Accounting Love, Savillc (12-1-54). Glass Clock, Aldwych (1-3-54). CLOSED. LAST WEEK Dark Light Enough, Aldwych (4-30-54). Katp In Cool Place, Savillc (8-1C-54). Never Too Late, Strand (8-3-54). ADVANCE AGENTS l COMPANY MANAGERS I iW* Have bsan serving tbeatrlcel shows for Over 42 years. Ours is the oldest, moit reliabl* and ex- perienced .transfer company ori the West Coast 1 • Railroad privilege* for handling •howi and theatrical luggage, f Complete warehouse faciliti • Authorized in Californi Equipped to transfer and haul anywhere in S.l ' .• RATES ON REQUEST I Atlantic Transfer Company GEORGE CONANT 1100 East 5th Street Los AngeleS 13, Calif. MUtual 8121 or OXford f-4764 APPLICATIONS TAKEN NOW! MUSIC THEATRE POSITIONS For Summer 1955 idwest outdoor, i-profes- sional, music thealfe, starling - 6th season, taking applications now for stage, music and dance directors; refer appli*. .. cants 'with combination of tal- ents. Season consists of shows. Starting about June. 1 : thru August 31. Jobe offer wonderful opportunity to gai additional experience in musi- cal comedy-operetta field. Send detailed outline of background, referenced, photo and- state salary expected. ^ Deadline an applicati , 1955 Box V-7146-B, c/o Variety, 154 W. 46th St., New York H SALE OR RENT New Modem Summer Theatre IB Pocono Mountains Resort Arad Seats 500 — For Particulars Writ# Harold Auten, Bushkill, Penna., Phone Bushkill 51.