Variety (May 1957)

LEGITIMATE 59 We4ir*»d»y, Majr 22 ; 1957 MBagrt Producers Also Read Atkinson A recent New York amateur production of "Tht Sign of Jonah*’-ha* spurred several bids for the legit and/or tv rights to the script. The play, by Guehter Hiitenborn, a Lutheran pastor * in the East Zone of Germany, drew show business attention after ' a rave review by Brooks Atkinson appeared in the-N. Y, Times. Atkinson’s notice cued a rush for tickets to the hour-long presentation, put on by 'students of Union Theological Seminary in Francis BroWa Social Hall, ,N. Y. As a result, the National Lutheran Council in New York, which is handling the script, has received a number of requests for the professional rights. The Council has made no commitments and is currently in the process of communicating with the author behind the Iron Curtain regarding what action should be taken. According to a Council of¬ ficial, a tentative arrangement has been made with CBS-TV, but NBC-TV has also shown interest in the drama, which was trans¬ lated into English by Bernard Ohse ’and Gerhard Elston. ‘Fanny* Survives Deluge; $34'400 for Week, Cleve, | Cleveland, May 21. [ In spite of almost continuous rain, “Fanny” collected fair $34,- 400 last week Ih the first stanza of fortnight run at the Hanna Thea¬ tre. It had a good advance sale. Musical drama headed by Italo Tajo and Billy Gilbert had nearly $40,000 in boxoffice for the engage¬ ment before the opening. Scaled at $6.50 topfrin the 1,515-capacity house, it is expected to pull in around $38,000- for current second semester. “Matchmaker” is set by the Hanna for next week as its final attraction of season. —-■-i- ~3 Shows Abroad Apollo de Bellae and The Chairs . London, May 15. English Stage Co. production of emai¬ ls 111 including '’Apollo de BeUac," one-act comedy.by J«an Giroudoux, adapted by ' jRonald Duncan, .and "The Chairs," one- act comedy-drama by George Ionesco, - adapted, by Donald Watson. Staged by Tony Richardson, At Royal Court Theatre, London, May 14, '57; $1.73 top. CAST FbA "APOUD" ■ Man from BeUac...Richard Pasco Agnes . Heather Sears Commissionaire .John Osborne Principal ....■«». Esmc Percy Secretary .. John Moffatt . Le Cracheton ......Alan Bates Lepedura ... Robert Stephens Kasemutte.Anthony Creighton < Schulze. . Stephen Dartnell Mile. Chevredent.Margaret Ashcroft Therese ..-.Vivienne Drummond CAST FOR "CHAIRS" Old Man .George Devine Old Woman .Joan Plowright Orator . Richard Pasco This modest doublebill comes in rather • tamely, after the hectic SRO period of Laurence Olivier’s recent appearance for a limited en¬ gagement in John-Osborne’s “The Entertainer/’ It will fill in the nor¬ mal stock program, which has been restored after the brief Olivier in¬ terlude. “Apollo of Bellae,” the major item of the twin-bill has a slight theme with an allegorical back¬ ground, giving a satirical tilt at human vanity. It’s about a young girl trying to get a stenographer’s job in a government office and using arrant flattery to get every¬ thing her heart could .possibly desire. Heather Sears is charming as the naive youngster who soon learns her power, Richard Pasco .gives a poetic tinge to the worldly mani¬ festation of Apollo, while John ; Osborne (the author of “The En¬ tertainer” and last season’s “Look Back in Anger”) and Esme Percy share acting honors as the lowest and highest of the Victims. “The Chairs” a moderately com¬ prehensible play about a doddering old couple caretaking in an old house on an island an recalling their *75 years of marriage with memories' of past friends, whom they imagine still call. They await guests to attend a' lecture, and bring in chairs as each supposed visitor arrives until the empty room is full. Death'appears' in-the guise, of the orator, and after he makes an address the old pair’ ' leap through the windows on either side. . ■ - It is no reflection on George Devine that JOdn Plowright tops his performance' as the old crone, with.her impish grin and quaver¬ ing Wifelike promptings, a charac¬ terization being a joy to watch. Credit goes to Tony Richardson for his direction of both pieces, the second of which Would disintegrate without* his skilled supervision. Clem. Tlte Maycrling Affair Pitlochry* Scotland, May 7. Pitlochry Festival Theatre presentation of three-act (five scenes) drama by R. F. Dcldei'fieid', Stated by Jordan Lawrence; settings, Gillian ArmitSge. At Pitlochry Festival Theatre, May 4, '57; SI,30 top. Maurice Sstcps . Johann Loschek Stephanie . Rudolph . Bratflsch . Marie- Larisch ,, Mary Vetsera .. Ajmes .. Johann Salvator Franz Joseph ., Elizabeth . _ James Ottaway .... Richard BurreU Patricia Heneghan . »*.. John Bromley .... William Moore .... Megan Latimer' . Sylvia Kay . Edna Landor ........ Peter Hunt .... Norman Scacc . Sheila Keith The familiar Prince Rudolf-Mary Vetsera story provides fairly grip¬ ping entertainment in its preem at this Summer hilLtheatre, a semi- canvas operation aimed largely at vacationers and passing, tourists. The author keeps to the known facts and turns out a fully believ¬ able account Of events as they may . have happened. Only invented items are the wordy but dramatic conversational / bits. Play's* main fault is its three and a half hours’ length. John Bromley scores as the re¬ bellious 4 Crown Prince, a weak, seml-hysterical dope-fiend who finds character strength in the in¬ fluence of his mistress: Sylvia Kay, a young English actress, shows promise as the femme lead, and Norman Scace offers a top study as the be-whiskered Emperor Franz Joseph. Others making impact in¬ clude Richard BurreU as the but¬ ler and Patricia Heneghan as the Crown Princess. The Gillian Armitage settings on the .wide stage have atmospheric plush aiid dignity, aided by. the moody lighting effects. Gord. ‘Cat’Nice $26,700, ‘Cart’$16,900, Chi Chicago, May 21. “Cat On a Hot Tin Roof” finished its Guild committment in bullish fashion last week, sufficient to fan hopes for a summerlong stand. “Apple Cart” departed Saturday night (18) after its second poor week. If “Cat” eqxlures the summer, it’ll be Chi’s only legiter until August. Estimates for Last Week Apple Cart, Blackstone (C) (2d Wk) ($4.95; 1,450; $36,032) (Maurice Evans). Close to $16,900; previous week, $11,800; left Saturday (18) to.resume tour. Cat On a Hot. Tin Roof, Erlariger (D) (2d wk) ($5; 1,335; $34,495) (Thomas Gomez, Marjorie Steele, Alex Nichol). Over $26,700 in third and final subscription week; previ¬ ous week*$24,900. . Miscellaneous Waiting for Godot, Studebaker. Stock production is in its second week. No. Shore (Mass.) Tent Skeds 11-Week Season Beverly, Mass., May" 21. , The North Shore Music Theatre reopens here June 24 for its third season. The 11-week schedule , in¬ cludes “Boy Friend,” June 24-29; “Teahouse of the August Moon,” July 1-13; “Oklahoma,” July 15-27; “Silk Stockings,” July 29-Aug. 3; “Pajama Game,” Aug. 5-17; “Fin¬ land Rainbow,” Aug. 1 19-24; “and “King and I,” Aug. 26-Sept. 7. Stephen Slane is managing direc¬ tor of the theatre-Iri-the-rotincT; in association with Ruby Newmaii, British Shows (Figures denote opening dates) LONDON At Drop of IJat,-Fortune (1-24-/57). Balcony, Arts (4-22-57). Bolt Damn Ua, Wlnt. Gard. (5-7-57). Boy Frlond, Wyndham's (12-1-53). Brlda A Bachelor, Duchess (12-15-55). Camlno Real, Phoenix (4-8-57). Chalk Garden, Haymarket (4-11-56). Damn Yankees, Coliseum.. (3-28-57)* Dry Ret, Whitehall dS-31-94). . Fanny, Drury Lane (11-15:56). ■ - For Amusement Only, Apollo (6-3-56). Glass Cage, Piccadilly (4-26-97). Grab Me a Gondola, Lyric (12-26-56). Hatful of Rain, Princess (3-7-57). House by Lake, York’s (5-8-56). Iren Duchess, Cambridge (3-14-97). Janus, Aldwych (4-24-57). Lovebirds, Adelphl (4-20-97). Mousetrap,. Ambassadors (11-29-92). New Crazy Gant, Vic. PaT. (12-18-96). No Tims Sots., Her Mtj. (8-23-96). Nude With Violin, Globe (11-7-56). Plaintiff In Hat, St, Mart. (10-11-96). rlalsirs De Paris, Wales (4-20-57). Flume de me Tante, Garrick 11-3-99). Repertory, Old Vlo (8-7-99). Restless Heart, St. James's (B-8-57). tailor Beware, Strand (2-16-95), 9aUd Days, Vaudeville (8-9-64). 'Subway In 5ky* Savoy (2-27). Summer of v 17th. New (4-30-97). Tea A Sympathy> Comedy (4-29-57). Tropical Heat, New Lind. (4-23-97). Waltz of Toreadors, Criterion (3-27-56). tulelka, Savllle (4-11-57). SCHBbULRD OF I WHO* Rome Antics, Palace (5-27-57). Month of Sundays, Cambridge (9-28-57). Deed Secret, Piccadilly (5-30*57). ON TOtJR Deed Secret Doctor In the House D'Oyly Carte Opera Fol De Reis Free As Air Glemeur Girl Men In Ouestlort Mrs. Gibbons' Roys Polenta Game Reluctant Debutante Sliver Wedding Six Month*' Grace Spider's Web Another High, L.A. Los Angeles, May 21. • Local legit picks up this week with the advent of two new shows and the move-over of a longrunner adding to the bustle created by the record business chalked up by “My Fair Lady.” “Fallen Angels” opened at the Huntington Hartford last night (Mon.) and “No Time for Ser¬ geants” rekindles the long-dark Biltmore tomorrow (Wed.).' Civic Playhouse relights Friday (24) with “Pajama Tops,” which last week finished a 30-week run at the Forum, It’s under new manage¬ ment but with virtually, the same cast. Estimates for Last Week My Fair Lady, Philharmonic Aud (MC) (3d wk; 2,670; $5.95; $80,000) (Brian. Aherne, Anne Rogers). Walloping $75,500, another . house record; previous week, $74,800; winds up here. July 6. . Pajama Tops, Forum (C) (30th wk; 1,740; $3.3'0; $20,000). Bounced up to fine $9,000 fon final week; different management takes it over for an opening Friday (24) at the 400-seat Civic Playhouse. ‘SGTS’ STRONG $33,400 DESPITE K.C. WEATHER Kansas City, May *21. “No Time - for Sergeants.” play¬ ing a week at the Victoria Theatre, ptoved one of the bigger draws of the* season. Comedy played eight performances with a $4.50 top to gross almost $33,400. Figure was racked up despite generally unfavorable weather. Rainy conditions and storms per¬ vading the area pounced on the town Thursday (16) with a 3-inch cloudburst that swamped the eve¬ ning boxoffice. Bad weather over the area also . cut t into business from out-of-town. ’Matchmaker’ OK $28,800 Second Week in Wash. Washington, May 21. Second week of “Matchmaker” at the National Theatre was a fat $28,800, biggest the Ruth Gordon- Loring Smith-Patricia Cutts starrer has had on tour. Business looks even better in this third and final week. Theatre, which seats 1,650,. is scaled to .$4.40 weekdays aind $4.95 Friday and Saturday. ' Ca¬ pacity, with- subscription reduce jtions, would be $37*800. A Couple of Goldsteins Play Twin-Cities ‘Caine’ St. Paul, May 21: The local* little-theatre scene was up to here in Goldsteins and “Caine Mutiny Court Martial” last weekend. Two. different actors of that name played the role of Bar¬ ney Greenwald, t.he defense attor¬ ney, in production of the Herman Wouk melodrama in the Twin Cities. The two are not related. Seldon Goldstein, a local radio personality, played Greenwald part in the University Theatre presentation of the play here, While Burton Goldstein had the assignment in the Town & Coun¬ try Players production in the Minneapolis suburb of Richfield. 10 Weeks at Williamstown Williamstdwn, Mass., May 21. The Williamstown Summer The¬ atre, for its third season at Adams M'emOrial on the Williams College campus, is reducing the number of plays from 10 to eight. Nikos Pscharopoylos will again direct. B’way Uneven; ‘Girl’ Record $59,187, “Pajama’ $47,800, ‘Paradiso’ $23,800, ‘Planet’ 26G ‘Yanks’ 26G, ‘Wind’ 24G Broadway was spotty last week. However, the overall picture con¬ tinued to reflect general sluggish¬ ness, which is expected to con¬ tinue throughout the summer. The latest entry to join the parade of closings is “Shinbone Alley,” which folds next Saturday (25), “The Potting Shed” delayed its sched¬ uled shuttering last Saturday (18) for the second consecutive week and is continuing on a week-to- week basis. “New Girl in Town,” which preemed last week, joined “Auntie Mame,” “Bells Are Ringing” and “My Fair Lady” as the only ca¬ pacity grossers, with “Li’l Abner” dropping out of the lineup. Estimates for Last Week Keys: C (Comedy), D (Drama), CD (Comedy-Drama), R (Revue?), MC (Musical-Comedy), MD. (Musi¬ cal-Drama), O (Opera), OP (Op¬ eretta). - Other parenthetic designations refer, respectively, to weeks played, number of performances through last Saturday, top prices, number of seats, capacity gross and stars. Price includes 10% Federal and 5% City tax, but grosses are net; i.e., exclusive of taxes. Auntie Mame, Broadhurst (C) (28th wk; 221; $6.90-$5.75; 1,182; $43,000) (Rosalind Russell). As al¬ ways, $43,500. Lays off following the June 29 evening performance and resumes Aug. 5. Bells Are Ringing, Shubert (MC) (25th wk; 196; $8.05; 1,453; $58,- 101) (Judy Holliday). Usual $58,- 700. Damn Yankees, Adelphi (MC) (107th wk; 851; $7.50; 1,434; $50,- 000). Previous week, $21,000 for seven performances on twofers; last week, almost $26,000 on two¬ fers. 1 Diary of Anne Frank, Ambassa- | dor (D) (85th wk; 677; $5.75; 1,155; 1 $35,000) (Joseph Schildlpraut). i Closes June 22 and lays off until July 29 when it begins touring in Los Angeles. Previous- week, $14,400, on twofers; last week, nearly $15,700 on twofers. Happiest Millionaire, Lyceum (C) (26th wk; 207; $5.75; 995; $26,- 000) (Walter Pidgeon). Pidgeon. will vacation July 1-Aug. 24, with management planning to bring in a substitute.. star .during his ab- sence v Previous week, $21,000; last week, over -$21j800. Happy Hunting, Majestic (MC) (24th* wk; 188; $8.05; 1,625; $69,- 989) (Ethel Merman)/ Previous .week,- $56,400; last week, nearly $55,400.' Hole in the Head, Plymouth (CD) (12th, wk; 92; $6.25-$5.75; 1,062;. $36,625) (Paul Douglas). Previous week, $27,700; last week, almost $26,100. • Hotel Paradiso, Miller (C) (6th wk; 44; $6,90; 946; $34,000) (Bert Lahr, Angela Lansbury, John Emm¬ ery, Vera Pearce, -Douglas Byng). Previous week, $22,600; last week, almost $23,300. Inherit the Wind, National (D) (96th wk; 766; $5.75-$4.60; 1,162; $32,003) (Paul Muni). Ed Begley succeeds Muni Jtfne 3. Previous week, $21,800; last ^ week, • over $24,000. • * ■•*' • ' *• ) - *- '• ^ Li’l Abner,* St. James (MC) (27th- ,wk; . 212r $8:05; 1,028; *. $58 ; 100>. Previous week, $58,300; last week, nearly. $56*,800. Long Day’s Journey Into' Night, Helen Hayes (D) (28th -wk;= 168; $6.90; 1,039; $30,000) (Fredric March, Florence Eldridge). Lays off following the June 29 perform¬ ance, plays July 2-6 at the Paris Festival, and reopens Aug. 19 on Broadway. Previous week, $27,- 200: last week, nearly $27,600. Middle of the Night, ANTA (D) (59th wk; 469; 1,185; $39,116) (Ed¬ ward G. Robinson). Closes May; 25* and lays off until Oct. 7 when it begins touring. Previous week, $25,800; last week, almost $27,800. Moon for the Misbegotten, Biiou (D) (3d wk; 20; $5.75-$5.25; 603; $19,000) (Wendy Hiller, Franchot Tone, Cyril Cusak). Previous week, $13,400; last week, almost $14,200. Most Happy 1 Fella, Imperial* '(MD) (55th wk; 436; $7.50: 1,427; $57,875). Previous week, $43,000; last week, nearly $42,400. My Fair Lady, Hellinger (MC) (62d- wk; 491; $8.05; 1.551; $67,- 696) (Rex Harrison, Julie An¬ drews). As always, $68,70Q. New Girl In Town, 46th St. (MD) (1st wk; 7; $9.20-$8.60; 1,297; $59,- 094) * (Gwen Verdon, Thelma Rit¬ ter). Opened May 14 to four af¬ firmative reviews (Chapman, News; Coleman, Mirror; McClain, Jour- .nal-American; Watts, Post) and three negative (Atkinson, Times; Donnelly, World-Telegram, Kerr, • Herald Tribune); new record for house at $59,187 for first seven per¬ formances and one preview. No Time for Sergeants, Alvin (C) (83d wk; 660; $5.75-$4.60; 1,331; $38,500). Closes Aug. 17 to tour. Previous week, $23,700; last week, over $21,500. ✓ Pajama Game, City Center (MC) (1st wk; 7; $3.80; 3,090; $68,812) (Paul Hartman, Jane Kean, Larry Douglas, Pat Stanley). Fifth and . final City. Center Light Opera Co. revival opened last Wednesday (15) to unanimously favorable reviews (Atkinson, Times; Chapman, News; Coleman, Mirror; Donnelly, World- Telegram, Kerr, Herald Tribune; McClain, Joumal-American; Watts, Post); over $47,800 for first seven performances and one preview. Potting Shed, Golden (D) (16th Wk; 127; $5.75-$5.25; 800; $26*000) (Sybil Thorndike, Robert Flemyng, Leueen McGrath). Continuing on a week-to- week basis. Previous week, $18,100; last week, almost $17,000. Separate Tables, Music Box (D) (30th wk; 236; $5.75; 1,010; $31,021) (Eric Portman, Margaret Leigh¬ ton). Miss Leighton leaves at the expiration of her contract June 29. Previous week, $21,000; last week, over $20,600. Shinbone Alley, Broadway (MC) (5th wk; 41; $7.50; 1,900; $74,297) (Eartha Kitt, Eddie Bracken). Pre¬ vious week, $32,500; last .week, nearly $30,000. -Closes next Satur¬ day (25). Tunnel of Love, Royale (C) (14th wk; 109; $5.75; 994; $34,000) (Toin Ewell). Previous week, $31,700; last week, over $30,600. Visit to a Small Planet, Booth (C) (15th wk; 116; $6.90-$5.75; 766; $27,300) (Cyril Ritchard). Previous week, $23,000; last week, nearly $26,000. Ziegfeld Follies, Winter Garden (R) (12th wk; 91; $8.05; 1,404; $63,- 000) * (Beatrice* Lillie). Previous week, $30,300; last week, almost $29,000, Closed Last Week First Gentleman, Belasco (C) (4th wk; 28; $6.90; 1,037; $34,000)- (Walter Slezak). Previous, week, $18,000; last week, nearly $17,600. Closed last Saturday -(18) at an ap¬ proximate $170,000 loss on a $150,- 000 investment. Livin’ the Life, Phoenix (MC) , (3d wk; 25; $3.85; 1,150; $25,000). Previous week, $8,500; last week, over $7,800. Closed last Sunday (19), winding up the Phoenix Thea¬ tre’s fourtH unsuccessful stock season. Major Barbara, Morosco (C) (29th wk; .231; $6.90; $37,500) (Charles Laughton, Burgess Mere¬ dith, Eli Wallach, Cornelia Otis Skinner). Previous week, $16,400; last week, over $19,100. Closed last Saturday (18) at an approxi¬ mate. $25,000 deficit on an $85,000 investment. A tour is planned for next fall. Orpheus Descending, Beck (D) (9th wk; 68; $6:90; 1,280; $41,500). Previous' week, $16,400; last week, over $25,900. fJlosed last Satur¬ day (18) at an approximate $65,000 loss on .a. $96,000 investment. OFfcVBJtOADWAY Beautiful, -jailer. Actors Play¬ house (5-16-57). ... Career,-7th Aye. South (4-30-57): Gilbert & Sullivan - Repertory, St. Ignatius (4-23-57); closes June 2. Iceman, Cometh, Circle-in-Square (5-8-56); closes Sept.; 8 t .. > :..., In Good King Charles’ Golden i .Days, Downtown (1-24-57). Land Beyond the River,‘ Green¬ wich Mews (3-28-57). Pigeon, Labor Temple (5-l£-57). Purple Dust, Cherry Lane (12- 27-56). Simply Heavenly, 85th St. (5- 21-57).. Synge Trilogy, Theatre East (3- 6-57). Threepenny Opera, de Lys (9- 20-56). Scheduled. Openings Magic Carpet, Jan Hus (5-27-57). Kaleidoscope, Provincetown Play¬ house (6-11-57). ‘Yankees’ So-So $32,400, Ends Tour in Toronto Toronto, May 21. “Damn Yankees,” starring Bobby Clark, grossed a fair $32,400 last week at the l,525*-seat Royal Alex¬ andra Theatre at $6 top. It got $28,000 the previous stanza. Po¬ tential capacity was $44,000. The musical folded here last Saturday (18).