Variety (March 1956)

LEGITIMATE Shows Out of Town 'fitSIETT Off-B’way Shows Wednesday, March 14, 1956 Shows Abroad Mister Johnson New Haven, March 8. Cheryl Crawford & Robert Lewis pro. duction of drama in three acts, by Nor man Rosten, based on a novel by Joyce olinsoil Glass Clock,” an English importa- Anoon Afrf or Dentil 8. tion by Hugh Mills whi^ suggests T Uober f Lewis pro- that lightning IS Unlikely to Stllke ^ on “Sideshow" production of drama in three acts, by Nor- twicejn the same place. two.acts by Henri de Montherlant._Staged n a novel by'Joyce Thfre’s a Dretense T)f satire in Alan _ Cooke; produced by R'^frd duction of drama in three acts, by Nor- twice Jn the same place. two. acts by Henri de Montneriant.^cagea "it "ffl Wtol'llS S* <S Thfte’s 3 P J et ,l nSe Vf. satlre •!? »rS8!?uin P MiSAoi, Edward tumes, lighting by William and Jean this mixing of the military With Par one. At Phoenix, N.Y., March 12, '56. Eckari; assistant to Lewis, Pearl Primus, l’amour, but the traditions are up- $3^5 top. T m ,__ T mi* TUlia Sv" nod^cr 1 '. held when thc upstage,center door* One Bright Bay Franklyn Scott has little more than •dj- u wt, -n/r * i, n a walkon as the police surgeon. Edinburgh, March 9. Harold French has directed the Peter Saunders Production of draiba p i ay w j[th a deliberate leisureliness Miller. ee Directed Ve by Ce Waliace Douglas; and Stanley Moore’s setting SUg- decor, Michael Weight. Stars Clive Broolc, , gests the shabby attic bedroom Mauntnn Wavn*. AchCl’SOn. Dei'Ck 71 rr Austrin, E. G. Marshall, Paul Clarke, rcnee Fletcher', Thayer* David. Ruth Atta- open to reveal a red plush bed- Louis Edmonds. Barbara* Lester, Philip | way, Rosetta Le Noire. At the Shubert get in a French chateau during Minor, James Lacn'ignola, Danny Dennis, TO«,tre. New Haven. March 0, S4.a0 ^ flf Louis xv , the mllilary S detU. SohasUan B.ook. Lu>n<.l Buiteei .Lawrence Fletcher and church satire blend unpalat- - Adamu . Charles McRae .ably with the inevitable lure of the There’s mordant philosophizing Benizmin .p&S boudoir. in Henri de Monther*ants tragedy, MiSter'Johnson'Earle Hyman On the wedding day of the “Queen After Death,” and the Bamu . Josephine Pumice Count and Countess de Montfort, company of the Phoenix’ “Side- .. J Th 1 a e v S ei- David several influential admirers of the s how No. 5” enunciates it clearly. Auciu Rai Saunders new countess conspire to have her j n fact, it’s necessary to cock a Moma .. Ear i e , Jo B V®i eager husband commissioned for sharp ear lest the playwright’s .:.V Miitin"}. Williams immediate military duty before barbs slip by unnoticed, so fast Brother .La Veme French their marriage can be consumated. they follow. Possibly this is the Uncle .'iwaHnrif e 7umcs Reversing the “Lysistrata” situa- script’s theatrical flaw, for though Mother' Ruth Attaway tion, the bride refuses to remain matters of moment continuously Policeman".’.. dayton Corbin faithful if the husband accepts the threaten, they are nearly always & a i!“ mbi .. . R< Phiii a n Henburn commission. talked out, and a verbally rational- waziri. Jay Riley On top of this comic twist, sec- j ze d conflict can be just as com- isa . WboS ond act complications involve the pelllng on the printed page., gj ia f .;;;;;; Percivai Borde exchange of identities between the Certainly de Montherlant has set Petitioner •... - • • • • • • • • • ■ Curtis James husband and the resourceful priest up a dramatic situation. The King Guards. Samuel phiiis, 9fpi r ®^ se B ^fbei’ who married the couple. Addi- 0 f Portugal’s son, secretly wedded Scribe - ... .curtis James tional detours on the road to bed to a subject, resists his father’s Townspeople, etc. Louise Gjikes. Esther bring the lecherous marshall who blandishments on behalf of tbfe Liburd, Pearl Reynolds, Mary Waithe mas t e rminded the plot to evacuate politically desirable Infanta of mu „ nf an nut- the husband and, for a third act ir- Navarre. When the King learns the Qtainrraft wUh relevancy, the equally wolfish truth he imprisons his son. The &8S*JSSL£ SffiLX ... ___ guileless young wile, however, cuts. Naunton Wayjie, Renee Asherson, Derek Farr, Mary Hinton. At Lyceum Theatre, Edinburgh, March 5, '56; $1.20 top. Julian Prescott . Clive Brook Frederick Newberry . Reginald Long Tom McGowan . Ilamlyn Benson Stanley Archer .Tom Conway The Gay Deceiver Glasgow, March 2. Michael Argy (for, M.F.A. Productions Mister Johnson,” but the assign- fh is is ’ an empty play without herwavthrough^court intrigue in' The locale switches between the 0 us weekends in his bachelor days, nent of bringing “ in . a ! a “ e enuine 1S humor mP TheiVs "not™ w 'XmoTto X* the^ng" When he is confronted by a for- *“‘*1— r , in oc Qn „ 1 H_ JLms is an empty pmy wuimut ner way tnrougn court intrigue ill ment of bringing- it in a:s an u genu i ne humor. There’s not a her attempt to win the King’s mate winner is somewhat akin so ji d gock in the three-act stretch, blessing, but is sacrificed when he the task of walking a tigntrope It alternately fumbles and strains learns of her pregnancy. When the over a chasm there s just no mai- for half-realized comedy. ailing King dies, his son places the gm for error. The com pany plays with little dead wife on the throne as Queen. Still in the formative stage, and imagination. Eva Gabor, though De Montherlant’s point-of-view replete with dramatic potential, alluring in Cecil Beaton’s gasp- i s bitter, and although the legend the Norman Rosten dramatization provoking period gown£, lacks style deals with an era long past, the of Joyce Cary’s novel presents a as ^e countess. Reginald Card- irony has a contemporary note. It’s stiff challenge in the two-week i ner has some pleasant moments hard to think of “Queen” as a pre-Broadway tryout. Followup as fh e priest masquerading, as gen- commercial possibility, however, skill is the key to the situation. era i i an d Bramwell Fletcher is due to its very objectivity. The’ Play has humor, sympathy, trag- forthright as the marshall. Portuguese grandees stay behind edy, novelty, characterization and Lloyd Bochner makes the most the proscenium arch with their action ' in varied allotments. In 0 f fhe straight part nf the husband emotions instead of letting some brief, the ingredients are present, aR d Robert Carroll does well with of it spill over the footlights, and need only expert developing. a fi rs t ac f bit as a pompous lieuten- While Alan Cooke has inhibited The story concerns .a young an f George- Curzon is an ade- swashbuckling, he has provided African (now in British govern- q Ua te Louis XV. Negative contri- color, taste and knowledge. Under ment service in a small bush-coun- buttons-are delivered by John Me- his precise staging, a sense of his- try town), whose ambitious too- Giver as an energetic general and toi^ is given on an almost bare big - for - his - britches philosphy Richard Longman as a not very pi- stage costuming and lighting help- eventually brings about his own ous cardinal. ~ ing background and continuity execution. He’s a character of con- Director Alan Schnqider takes a respectively. E. G. Marshall, as the sid’erable audience sympathy de- conventional approach to a play King, has a long, taxing part, and spite his egotism and petty trick- that might have benefitted from an carries it with dignity and quiet ery. Play sheds absorbing light on antic, burlesque point of view, strength. Anne Mea-ra-'-iS' the what is apparently taking place to- Beaton’s set and costumes main- spurned Infanta, finding herself day in these far reaches of the t a i n his usual opulent quality. some strong moments in trying to George Lawrence . Derek Farr Ltd.) production comc-dy in three acts Louise Gordon . U lllian , 9, we 5 by NeviUe Brian. Staged by Kevin. Barn - Ginny . Margot Boyd decor, Jefferson Strong. Stars Jean Kent! Sheila Prescott .. Mary j 0 j ln Robinson, Avis Scott. At King's Margot Prescott . Renee Asherson xheatre, Glasgow, Feb. 27, ’56; $1.20 top. Arthur Mitchell. N m ntt Charlcs Mortimer .John Robinson Paul LaBarca . Michael Scott Maurice .Rudolf Offenharh JohnHageyty .. ,Tane Mortimer .. .. Jean Kent Dr. Ferguson . Milton ltosiner Louise . Rita Bail Theodore Cahill ..• G eral d Case Henry Watson-Smitli .... Anthony Sharp Paul Rust ( Rusty ).Nicolas Tannai gt e u a Adamson . Avis Scott -=- Hortense . .Eileen Dale • Peter Saunders has given this drama about American big-busi- - ness a strong, well-chosen cast. jg ew comedy marks the third This, together with play s own in- attempt within recent months of terest -quality, augurs for its sue- English actress Jean Kent to find cess when it gets to London. a successful vehicle. ,This light- Three-acter, originally done on some, sunny piece, not over-en- Broadway in spring of 1952 and dowed with wit or originality, has recently broadcast on London a promising opening, but fails to radio, involves a clash between un- hold. Production qualities are not scrupulous big-business and hon- of the best. orable methods, as a patent medi- Central figure is a fortyish Eng- Cine company is sued by a father lish hus band, who takes his wife for death of his cjuld through al- on a vacation to a small French legedly harmful effects of a drug. sea coast hotel where he had amor- The locale switches between the ous weekends in his bachelor days. -£lobe. ! Central character, played by Ea.ie nyman, is an odd mixture of Emperor Jones, Ananias,, and a Billy Graham convert. It calls for Tanorama Los Angeles, Feb. 24. Nick & Eclna Stewart production of re- some strong moments in trying to persuade the young wife to flee. Louis Edmonds is as handsome a young prince as might be wished, while Barbara Lester plays his wife with direct simplicity. The rest, supporting parts only, are competently handled. Geor. the office. Thanks to fine charac- m er mistress, • this time accompa- tenzation, both by author and his «j e d.by a moustachioed bore of an cast, interest is held through the Englishman, there is a series of lengthy to-and-fro arguments farcical mixups. round conference table. rp. 0 . . ,, „ _ . ,_, ., „ , , . , ,, The script lacks consistent wit, CRve Brook has -quiet dignity an( j the central role could use- and depth aa the honorable com- f u n y j, e rewritten to make the pany head. In (he predominantly character less stolid and a gayer, male cast, Naunton Wayne scores m0 re humorous type. Set of a as the gay, casual, interfering but French hotel terrace is conven- always lovable character. tional, but sea-and-sand decor is Renee Asherson has emotional artificial. Dresses, while colorful, moments as'the president’s daugh- need wardrobe attention, tei in love with an unscrupulous j ohn Robinson, stage and tv young executive, Derek Farr is actor> could qu i c ken his style with strong as the company manager better results as the stuffy Eng- and Mary Hinton is suitably dig- Rshman, but turps in a well-pro- mfied and gracious as the presi- portioned, sound performance, dents wife. Jean Kent has little to do but look Other acceptable portrayals are pretty, wifelike and temperamen- given by Reginald Long, Hamlyn tal as the offended femme, and Benson, Tom Conway, Michael Avis Scott has rather too much Scott, Paul LaBarca, Joby Blan- flesh as the blonde distracter. Best shard and Milton Rosmer. portrayal is by* Anthony Sharp as Wallace Douglas, as director, the obnoxious British lover, has avoided the easy mistake of Rudolf Offenbach seems miscast giving leading English actors the as a French hotelier. Eileen Dale cue for false American accents, fails to catch the Gallic accents as and stages the drama with skill, his wife. Acceptable secondary The Michael W ; eight decor is mod- portrayal is by Rita Ball as a viva- ern and tasteful. a wide range of expression as the V u e two acts and 18 scenes with music, rest, supporting pai character oscillates from primitive lyrics and sketches by Nick Stewart, competently handled, amMinno onH Hvmnn I Staged by Jack Pierce; dances and musi- _ to Civilized emotions, ana i cal numbers staged by Jimmy Field;;; mu- does a thoroughly competent job. si, :a i arrangements,, George Wyle and • The C/BiriOllS Tabitlia London, March 9. cious French maid. Play, currently opening British tour prior to hoped-for London run, is by Neville Brian, .who has The furious Savage Equity Library Theatre revival of com- Other fine thesping contribu- Bill Jones; choral director, John iletod; Equity Library Theatre revival of com- tions are turned in bv William Syl- 5, ets ’,J^lY arad ?* M * ® eas i e y* executed by e( jy j n ti iree acts, by John Patrick, liunsj die milieu, in uy y y) 1 Gorold Garnett; costumes, Jennifer Nicn- qtaeed bv Gene Searchinaer- settinc and vester, as a young British officer els; pianists, Herod and Wine*!, Perry- ^ Lenox Hill faced with the task of shooting I man. At Ebony Showcase, Los Angeles, playhouse, N.Y., March 8, '56. faced with the task of shooting | man. At Eb Johnson to save him the disgrace j Feb * 10, 56< of a hanging; Gaby Rodgers, who Althmnrti 01 a nangmg; uaoy itoagers, who AlthmiPh thprp’c talont in Hip <The Curious Savage” .seems an does an excellent about-face from ca cT6f “Tanorama ” Nick^Stewart’s odd choice for Equity Library’s a superficial young wife on her ar- Q fferfnJ it his Ebonv Show- Community series. It didn’t get to rival in Africa to scenes of good Ias e ^s^defea^ bv ITnaiveh many customers (S1 performances) dramatic content as the play pro- £ as d e ci U msffv inserted ^^ blackout when P roduced b y the Theatre gresses; Josephine Premice, who s/ c d tches ^lso Jack Pierce called Guild in October’50, and it doesn’t scores impressively as the native f.7L 3 ‘ t viine J wUl^have to liave seem llkely to be a strong nabe girl whom Johnson marries. Also JJJ r ehearsaf ’time h as indicated vehicle now - That there can be in for good support are Lawrence more tranquility in a nursing home Fletcher, Thayer David, Ruth At- ‘ he rough openlng P«donn- for the insane than outside is a Unluckily, this production doesn’t taway and Rosetta Le Noire. +i,r-nc oo i,-. valid, if trite, idea, but there must “Johnson” makes interesting' be P lays be “ cr “l^ted to pro- and significant use of dialog.; mote theatregoing in. the Bronx chant, ritual and symbolism. A j and Queens. . native marriage ceremony danc « j reo”raoher Jimmv Fklds and a Unluckily, this production doesn’t is an eflcctive curtain piece, and I F ®?^ ra P baF ^™^ y ^®f ds A and a well serve ELT’s other purpose, a ballet-type sequence of a road- i P a ^ r Brothers d Dick Reid 1 a bras^ the showcasin g of talent. When a building episode carries more i voun? comic^’two femme ’warblers Playwright hasn’t provided charac- punch than it would in dialog j u!i!l S a ter in depth, actors are prone to form. A fluid scenic setup that Huehis- ^nn? Wood^ who H has a seiza one facet ' ex P loit ing it for all has numerous overlapping changes | J? 1 Shir’i Bates the y’ re worth, usually with stereo- in audience view adds interest j and Shira Bates > typic results. It happens to the within limitations, but risks dis-| dn T ®^ BU ^ r BaB?er ’, Lenox Hill -“Savage” with a ven- trading Irom the nlay’s moods. i ma J n ob ” t I J^°L?5 d D1 Ynoa at times' « eance - “'a moot whether stager Staging has laid an efficient ■ 1 ' 1 ”' tnward^ OTe^oudness ’ but G™e Searchinger recognized what groundwork and maintains a Pace i ^ eBd ral i® wa a ff fl rd eood sunaort ,was ha PPening, but it’s a cinch he that builds to a ten^e ettmax. I |f Bei * al / y Sli g0 e °l o SU L P o i: didn’t tone it down. Physical setup, which includes r j fg^iceabie The lKhtins is senS- , Th ere’s a nostalgic 10-minutes at “landscape” background around I The 11 ‘=> htmg the end when Mrs. Savage is ad- vvhich scenes revolve, offers a vyide s ailJ ' P oor * _ judged sane and leaves her new- Pitt CLO Will Resume; range of playing areas, and native ““ found friends, and Jane Moultrie, costumes add color. Bone. Pitt CLO Will Resume" as tbe Widow-philanthropist finds - t» JL ttr.ii r\ i /» something genuine here. Other- I -t* u t With Ullly O ohOWS .wise, the play belongs to Marcia Baltimore. M®ch 12. Pittsburgh, March 13. g Bb ^f a ^ the Q fe I f ail J May - ^ iss Richard Aldrich (k Richard Mvers Un Success of latest camnaign to Uubeit has a field day, getting association with Juiiu, SG g k Guarantors for^the ri??e Lisht evei ’y thing from wistful laughs to duchon of remedy in tl'”co acts, bv Hurh I SCCK guarantOlS 101 the UlVlC Lilght yocks Her onlv oomnetittnn i’q Mills: stalled by Al : -n .S”. h nc’der ; %ettin" Opera Assn, has assured Pittsburgh ffom vSeini? « thl and costume supervision, Cecil Beaton. ! ,„ A tu a „ Ifom Vllginia 110naia$0n as the Stars Eva Gabor, Retdnald Gardiner; j an °f be i r ® um J? er series ou ^“ Silent, eye-rolling painter, ' Mrs. features BramwcU Fletcher. George Cur- 1 door musicals. The season Will be Paddv Clenr zon, At Ford's Theatre. Baltimore, March : curtailed to just six SllOWS. how- Abbe Matignon . Reynold Gardiner ever - instead of eight or nine as in ~ - ^ ,1 , rr. , , = Gilsass Clock Balitimore. March 12. Richard Aldrich & R'^hird Myers f! association with Julius Fleischm-mn) nr duction of remedy in th’-ce acts, bv Hur 12 ,' 56 . . . ; cunanea to just six snows, now- Abhe Matignon . Reginald Gardiner 1 ever * instead of eight or nine as in . . Angela Thornton ; the past. Herbert May is the new Gabrieiie 7.7.’.V." ""7... ona Eva S GS ‘ President of the CLO, replacing Ai-mand . Lloyd Bochner : long-time prexy, Irwin D. Wolf, Drummer Boy Ro Fred C Bai;er I bas been niade honorary pres- Hyppoiite . Norman Barrs j ident of the association. William Marcchal de Sevres . Braihwell Fletcher Wvmetal rpflirns ns mnnncn'ncr rli General de Courcelles John McGlver I vv J ineta l returns BS managing 01- Soldier . . Theodore George ' rector. SSHWareTl 6 ".. ; Wym^a has announced “Kis- - . met, King and I” and “South Aldrich & Myers may win the Pacific” (a repeat for the latter) title of sexiest producers on Broad- f° r the schedule, and' is in' New way. After cashing in with “Moon ^’o.k to set the remaining three Is Blue,’ they are offering “Little shows. Couldn't Take It The Broadway set had its own interpretation last week of the news that Walter Kerr had resigned' as Washington bureau chief for the N. Y. Herald Tribune. “Of course,” one of the show biz oracles observed, “it was only a question of time how long he could stand being confused with Trib drama critic Walter F. Kerr.” John Wildberg & Harold French pro- largeIy for English repel- duction of comedy-melodrama in three DOry. LzOJ a. acts, by Arnold Ridley and Mary Cath- - cart Borer. Staged by Harold French; W _ T decor, Stanley Moore. Features Marjorie fV W Oil Fielding, Christine - Silver, Janet Barrow. o At Duchess Theatre. London, March 8, „ ^ EdinbUlgll, March 3. '56; $2.20 top. Gerald Gelberg production of melo* Martin Brentwood . Jack Watling .drama in three acts by Pierre Frochaidc, Janet Bowering . Janet Barrow from the French "Le Loup Qui Sourit.’ Mary Trellington . Anne Leon Staged by Edgar K. Bruce. Stars Frank Mr. Fawcett . Morris Swedeh Leighton, Cliarifllan Innes, Bruce. At Ruth Prendergast.Marjorie Fielding Lyceum Theatre, Edinburgh, Feb. 27, '56; Eleanor Trellington.Gillian Lind 5J- 2 9 to P* . . , Lavinia Goldsworthy.Christine Silver Hugh . Frank Leighton Det, Inspector Bruton.... Philip Stainton Inez . Patricia Haines Dr. Brownlie . Franklyn Scott Stella . Aline Waites Rosina . Vivian Ma>ne Mrs. Ballantyne . Charmian Innes A mild* and innocuous comedy Mr. Flnkelstein.Edgar K. Bruce thriller “Tabitha” emerges as a • -t- gentle piece of entertainment, , New play, “Cry Wolf,” trans- hardly strong enough for much of lated from the French by Pierre a West End run, although because Frochard, is an average melodrama of its modest operating nut it may soundly acted by a cast of six. It come out on the right side finan- pulls out all the stock thriller for- cially. It should have considerable mulas, but remains routine enter- appeal for stock. tainment. Although basically a comedy Subdued lights in a drawing- whodunit, it develops as near room, softly-moving thieves, knock- farce. One main situation is ou t pills in drinks, a murder, nus- stretched to provide most of the taken identity, etc., all are em- laughs, and much of the incident Ployed in conventional style. Lo¬ is clearly obvious. ' The dialog cale is a luxurious villa on the rarely rises above the pedestrian, French Riviera, where a wealthy but the principal players occasion- widow keeps her precious jewels ally work wonders with common- in a drawing-room wall panel. An place lines. assortment of -visitors- keeps drop- The “Tabitha” of the title id a P ing in to steaI the valuables, and pet cat owned by one of three old nle * odrama bocus * ladies living in a smalltown room- P °pVfT 7 e Sf^c‘ roil¬ ing house. When the cat is found w Sf^ff em |„S5J )b fti 0U iSSa r C K dead they plot to poison her and, 7 .%,. «i s o when she is found poisoned, there’s” and be an uneasy time until the case -is dliected capably. Go . cleared up. , The best scene in the piay is Framingham (Mass.) Tent when the three old ladies decide to 1 ft Wnnlr ClAJiQnn test for themselves whether a bob- -^TCpS XU-Week reason tie of whisky left behind in the Framinghaip, Mass., JMarch 13. bedroom cupboard was poisoned, A new music tent, now under of course getting tight in the construction here, has been sked- process. The three aging heroines, ded for June l opening under the £ lay ! d by Marjorie Fielding, auspices of Stanton Shifman m Srhfilfv 6 J ? Ret 2,?i T0 , w ’ association with Benjamin Segal, virtually carry the play. Tlrey’re Among thr chnw* nmrilled for a the essence of impoverished gen- ft^ S n P< Pa - tility and have a perfect sense of 50n „/^ T e »* and' comedy timing. „ cific, ‘ King and I/’ Guys , ■ Tartvl Dolls,” “Kiss Me Kate and Fm Anne Leon is little more than i,,,..,, » adequate as the suspected step- ov* nrnducers daughter and Jack Watling has , Sbl { n1 !^ aBd § e ^ al Jf ® PSSeatre little scope as a family doctor. Gil- at J? e Warwick Music;al. Thealie lian Lind effectively makes the * n Pi evidence, R, I. ® ega ^f h landlady an unpleasant character former manager of the Shuou l and Philip Stainton is a portly, but Theatre, New Haven, and also not too bright cop. Morris Sweden operates the Oakdale Musical The- is a fussy little neighbor and atre, Wallingford, Conn.