Variety (September 1957)

LEGITIMATE 70 Luben Vichey, Baritone-Impresari, Streamlining National Artists Corp.: ‘Hurok Is Great, But He’s.a Luxury’ By ROBERT J. LANDRY Christott Opening Philly Luben Vichey, the former bari. tone of the Metropolitan Opera! who became proprietor of the Na| Philadelphia, Sept. 24. tional Artists Corp., two years ago | Boris Christoff, Bulgarian -basj so, will tee off ‘the Philadelphia Forum season of nine musical ses next month, has broken his silence ; l to discuss the problems he has met ; and is endeavoring to solve in con| sions at the Academy of Music cert management. He identifies | (Oct. 29). them as requiring: Other events skedded are a cont1) An organizational chart, }cett version of Gluck's “Paris and | now complete, “Our employees, Helen” (Nov. 7), Guiomar Noyaes know where their duties lie, for} !tNov. 21); “The Rivalry” new work whom they work, what we ‘want | by Norman Corwin with Agnes from them and what we.won’t tol-| Moorehead and Brian Donlevy erate from them.” In the latter con| ‘Dec. 13); The Deutchmeister Band nection he frankly includes private | (Jan. 9); ‘Jose Greco Dancers (Jan. gratuities from artists on the ros| 16); Roberta Peters (Feb. 6); Bosfer for “special service.” _Vichey | tom Symphony. (March 204; Ballet insists that this kind of manage-|Russe De Monte Carlo (April 23, ment-talent “intimacy” can, ir 26). no place. (2) Stepped-up. public ete | tions, now organizing via an added ; outside service, Muriel Francis As-/j sociates (Warren Cox continues as publicity chief within the com-| pany}. “We’ re going to be more competitive.” Vichey concédes that National has lagged for some ee Show Reriew — ice Capades “17th edition of ice show in two acts, produced by John H. Harris. Choreography, Ron Fletcher.. Cos years behind Columbia Artists tumes, Billy Livingston, Henry Weiss, Madome Celine Fayr. Set " _j tings, arvey Warren, ntonio one roof,” im reference, to the part Reveles, Floyd Pdrrish; musical nership setup at Columbia. (3) ‘Active recruitment of new concert attractions, which is being Vichey leaves soon score, Jerry Mayhaul; director, Hat Saunders. With Alan Konrad; Sandy Culbertson, Aja Zanova, undertaken. Johnny Lettengarver, Don Bearson, for Europe. “I am now free to} june Norrie, The Henrys (2), Three sign up any Broun of more than Bruises, Terry Hall, Silvia & four persons.” This is a comment} wichel, Arthur Clark & Tony on the exclusive right long held} by Sol Hurok under his cofitract with National. But while intending to scout Europe regularly, Vichey enunciates a conviction that]. much of the best concert talent is now in the U.S. or native to it. Vichey speaks frankly of his. break with Hurok, which will be physicaily complete Oct, 31 when Hurok and his own: staff of seven decamp 711 Fifth Avenue. Paying tribute to Hurok as a great showman and a unique figure without duplicate in the American concert world, Vichey reveals that he had been dead-against renewal of Hurok's long relationiship on the old terms. “Hurok is a great name, but he’ had a contract impossibly favorable to him. I do nof know how it happened in the beginning years ago. I inherited the deal. Hurok paid National no rent. All his telephone and telegraphic expense was charged against us. We booked Hurok attractions for a commission frequently as low as T3°%o, although sometimes higher. “We collected perhaps $100,000 a year from Hurok, but in order to satisfy and-serve him, all-our regular field representatives had to; give Hurok acts precedence. Nor could we compete with him for big ; units. Hurok was one part of a big organization. We have over 100 employees, over $750,000 in annual overhead, but Hurok was the tail that wagged the dog.” Vichey states that the building, now owned by Columbia Pictures, ‘Swift, Patti Cor, Austin, Murphy & Moore, Ice Capets and Ice Cadets. At Municipal Auditorium, Kansas City, Sept, 17-22, °57. The perennial favorite ice show [makes its stand early in the season this year, this one being the 17th edition of the John Harris productions. It shapes .as better than last couple of icers in here,.and is. reflected at the boxoffice where thé take around $75,000 after taxes exceeds some other grosses of recent icers. The edge probably is due to ali-around ‘sharpness and performances. than to any big name value, maling for a very entertaining unit. As always, the established Harris production yalues of gorgeous costumes and handsome settings aré there, and ditto the corps of talented, ‘attractive and youthful performers. A standout in -this unit is the “Hans Brinker and the Silver Skates” musical capsule at the end of the first ‘act. Its original mus‘c and its basic story most suitable to the ice setting combiné with cast, costumes and sets to make for fine. storytelling, something always difficult on ice. Other fine sequences are provided by Bill Henry tossing son Bill dround in . acrobatics, champ Aja Zanova over from | Czechoslovakia, Silvia & Michel in pair routines, fancy skating J ohnny Lettengarver and slapstick by the Three ‘Bruises. Second half builds to the “Rbapsody in Blue” production to, close, beautiful as expected and always a favorite. Earlier the “Seventeen” production with most of the com, pany comes o e shape exis upping National’s rental $32, ou6 | cept for the tired saw of going to and that he had demanded that | the bathroom by Terry Hall, .out of -Hurok assume half, or $16,000, and! place and ‘in bad taste in any ice that the fiscal details be re-nego| extravaganza such as this. tiated. Vichey suggested a Hurok| Management, which he describes as “five high-powered offices vsh, grees fl 0-4 RATE SET FOR POLAND; | CAN'T GET ROYALTIES} “Kiss Me, Kate” is crashing the |. iIron Curtain. The Cole Porter, Sam. split followed. Departure of Hurok, Vichey now asserts, clears the way for Naiional to be revitalized for and within its own staff. A brand-new ‘“‘inceni tive” system for employes is being ! instituted. “We want our people / to feel they can make money here.” Another next move will be the redesigning of the offices. WM. C. WHITE’S NOVEL TO BE MUSICALIZED sess pred te nant The late William Chapman for some time. One drawback to White’s novel, “The Pale Blonde: the venture was the reluctarice of jand Bella Spewack musical version of “Taming of the Shrew”: is scheduled for production early next i year at the Estrada Theatre, Poi land. Arrangements for the presenj tation have been worked out ‘by the | Lams-Witmark, which licenses the Cae of Sands Street,” to be musicalized } the Spewacks to have the tuner and given a Hollywood tryout by; iplay Poland because of the antiDonald Lioyd Young. Helen Sirauss of the William :will be unable to take any royalty Morris, agency handled the deal.{eoin out of Poland, the Spewacks | White’s widow is the former Ruth have arranged for their percentage Morris, daughter of the founder of to be turned over toa Jewish reliét the agency. l organization in that cquntry. es Don | Estrada and Louis Aborn, head of | | he U.S. Information Agency has | i Semitic flareups there. Since they ‘Lost’ Pays $2,000 More; ‘|. Cuts Deficit to $27,546 An additional distribution’ of '$2,| ;000 has. just been madé by the | Playwrights Co. to the backers of ‘its pioduction” of “Lost in the : Stars.” from -stock, foreign and recording rights. It brings to $72,400. the total repaid thus for on the $100,000 investment... An additional balance of $54 is still available, so the deficit is now $27,546. “Lost in the Stars,’"* a musical drama based on the Alan Paton novel, “Cry, the Beloved Country,’’| had ‘book and lyrics by Maxwell tAnderson and score’ by the late Kurt . Weill. formance run on’ Broadway 1949-50. | Off-B'way Review in Tevya ‘And Bis Daughters. . Sanford Friedman, Arnold, Perl, Myron Weinberg) Production of two-act “vomedy, by Arnold Perl, based on stories of Shalom Aleichem. Staged by -Howatd da Silva; music, Serge Hovey: settings, Howard Bay. At the Carnegie Hall Playhouse, N.Y.. Sept. 16, ’57; 33.90 top.. Cast: ‘Biike Kellin, Auna Vita Berger, Joan Harvey, Carroll Conroy, Anne Fielding. Ruth Kaner, Ellen Holly, William Paul E. Ri Although “Tevya and His Daughters” is a talky piece, it probably: Will do reasonably well at the notso-far-off-Broadway Carnegie, Hall Playhouse, due. to an. advance sale in’ excess of $25,000 and the popularity of Sholom: Aleichem’s folk tales. In fact, “The World of .Sholom Aleichem, ” afew seasons back, Tran nine months at the Barbizon |. Plaza Theatre, so.“Tevya” will unquestionably catch some of the healthy stand: Tevya is a pretty interesting fel ward the world, having a eharmingly naive faith, and uttering much commonsense in amusing ways. In the effort to out-talk a wife and seven daughters, however, he occasionally gets too longwinded for theatrical consumption. .Direcior Howard da Silva hasn’t helped the paor fellow’s cause: along: by scurrying the. pace from time to time, so’ the near-actionless play has its moments of ennui. « All that: Tevya does in’ “Arnold Perl’s two hour,-two-act adaptation is marry off two of his: sdven daughters. Four of the daughters are too young for marrying anyway, and are mercifully omitted, from the. dramatization. The. third daughter is singie” at final curtain, but as there’s. no. third act, Tevya is left speculating. . Mike Kellin shaffles cheerfully about as Tevya., In its . early key and depresses the production accordingly, although ‘when, he brighténs. up he makes ° cTevya an. agreeable’ fellow. Anna Vita Berger has a touch’ ‘of querulousness a§ Tevya’s wife, contrasting well. with ‘KelHn’s ruminations.’ Carroll Conroy is attractively fresh as-an ardent daughter, ard Paul E. Richard is eyen more ardent aswhat is presumably an early Russian revolutionary. “Tevya” tends to be digressive has a rich humarity.and kindliness that at least fulfills the Sholom Aleichem spirit. Geor. British Shows (Figures. denote opening dates) LONDON Aft Drop of -Hat, Fortune 124-57, Boy Friend, Wyndham’s (12-1-53). Bride & Bachelor, Duchess (12-19-36). . Chalk Garden, Haymarket (4-11-56), Chinese Theatre, Drury (9-16-57). Damn ‘Yankees, Coliseum s3g8en. Dead Secret, Piccadilly (3-30Dear. Delinquent; Westmincter” 63-80. Dry Ref, WhitehaN es-31-54). Entertainer, Palace (9-10-57). Ever Since Eve, Arts (9-19-57), For Amusement Only. , Apollo 6-5. 56), Free As Air, Savoy, (66-52. Grab Me a Gondola, Lyric (12-26-36), House by Lake, York’s °5-9-56). Lovebirds. Adelphi 4-20-57) Meet By Moonlight, Aldwych (8-1-57), Mousetrap, Ambassadors (11-25-52), Nekrassoy, Royal Ct. (9-17-57). New Crazy Gang, Vic, Pal. (12-18-56). No Time Sgts., Her Maj. (9-23-56). Nude With Violin, Globe (786, Odd Man. In, St. Martin's (7-16-57), Plalstrs De Paris, Wales (4-20-57), Repertsry, Old Vic (918oD . Sallor. Beware, Strand (2-16-53), Salad Days, Vatdeville (8-5-54). Sat. Night at Crown, Garrick (9-9-57). Silver Wedding, Cambridge: (7-9-57). Summer of I?th, New (4-30-57). * Tropical Heat, New Lind. (4-23-37. Waltz of Toreaders, Criterion 027-68 ‘SCHEDULED OPENINGS | Share My Lettuce, Comedy (9-25-57. Roar Like a: Dove, Phoenix (25-57), CLOSED LAST WEEK .$tx Months’ Grace, Phoénix (64-37), Tea .& Sympathy, Comedy (£2557. The coin ineluded revenue Té had a. 273-per| Banner Productions (Howard da’ Silva,: Myers, Gilbert Green, Conrad Bromberg, ' chard. goodwill trade racked ‘up. by that. low, being full of. friendliness to- stretches, his performance is. low| and unconcentrated theatre, but it, * Fitchburg (Mass.) * and was going into another play. the role.” didn’t have a chance, of winning.” ~issued releases about it. revealed that “After Tuesday ‘night’s performance, Morgan, in his: curtain | speech, mentioned that Miss Storrs was leaving the cast ‘that: night I had heard a week ago’ that Miss Storrs already had been cast for ‘Romanoff and Juliet,’ sa-I went * backstage and asked Morgan what her new play was. He didn’t > want to name.it, saying there was a ‘publicity stunt’ involved in it. Other members of the company were not:so mum ‘about it: .Apparently they hadn't been warned. They said Miss Storrs had been chosen as Juliet some time ago and that She was already studying | ‘The payoff to the story, Lee’s column reported, was that Ellen’ ‘Kerry,-a 19-year-old ingenue at ‘theatre -and one: ef: those. selected at ‘preliminary readings f6r. the <‘Romanoff” assignment, had. to pay her own expenses. from. West_ ‘borg to New York “tq attend the phantom audition _.Wwhich she — ‘the Westboro (Mass.) Red Barn Among those connected with. “Romanoff”-who attended the final’ “auditien;” Lee’s column reported, were Peter Ustinov, its author. and star; producer Merrick, casting. director’ David Pelham, and ~ Samuel. J; Friedman,. of the Bill Doll publicity office, which is -pressagenting the show, presumably dreamed qup the: “contest” and Legit Bits | Jack Schlissel is: general manager ; him to be thick-ltped with drunken- for. Dayid Merrick’s incoming pro-: ductions of “Jamaica,” “Romanoff and Juliet” and “Look Back in. Anger.” Signe Hasso and Margaret Ban‘nerman have gone ‘to Houston to rehearse for..costarring engagement in “The Chalk Garden” at the Playhouse there. * Hanya Holm is. going to London to ‘stage the dances for the Briti$h production of “Where's Charley? ‘the musical version ‘of “Charley’ Aunf,” due té open Feb. 2 at t Palace Theatre, in the West End, after a tryout tour. Eugene. Stuckmann, advance di ‘rector for Basil Rathbone’s. recent strawhat tour, has. joined the production staff for the. Gubert Miller Roger L, Stevens presentation of |: Under: ‘Milk Wood.” Moppet actress Ina Beth ‘Cummins has been: signed for the Dy-| 5 lan. Thomas drama, . “Under Milk Wood. ”? -Perry Bruskin, producér-director the last threé summers at the Green Mansions. Theatre, Warrensburg, N.Y., will be stage manager of “Monique. * Celeste Holm, who recently completed‘ a.strawhat tour as star of a condensed ‘edition ‘of Methuselah,” planed Yesterday: (Tues.) to Reno for.a singing engagement at the Riverside’ nitery. She's 's up for‘a film stint to: follow a . ‘ Former Broadway ‘stage. tanager and strawhat manager and director William ‘T.. Schneider, is staging a production of "Malé Animal’ due for presentation at: Fort’ Deyins, Mass., wherg he’s setving as a Pie. in Special Services.” John... Kennedy has sighed to continue. as stage director of the St: Louis Municipal .Opera Co, for} the 1958 and 1959 seasons. : Curt Gonway is directing the pre-tour . rehearsals. of “Middle of the Night,” for which Phil John son will be general stage manager | and Zev Putterman stage manager. Harold Kuselt is company “man ‘ager of. the -touring “Waltz of the Toreadors,’ with John Montagne as advance pressagent; Paul Foley, ‘| stage manager, and Norman Kean | assistant, Arnold Schulman planed ‘to the Coast Jast week to huddle. with Frank Capra about writing the screen treatment of “Hole in the ‘Head,” his Broadway ‘play. of last season, for which Frank Sinatra) owns the film rights, Incidentally, Schulman thas done a first draft: of a-new legit s¢ript. Loyal Lucas went. fo the ‘Coast ‘last week for a role in support of Buster Keaton in “Merton of the Movies,” at the Huntington Hart fort Theatre, Hollywood. John L. Toohey . exits this week as.pressagent for “Bells Are-Ring ing,” with: Dick Weaver slated to}. take .over the assignment. Toohey is set to p.a. the upcoming Jule; Styne ‘musical, “Say, _ Darling,’ based on the. Richard ‘Bissell: j novel, A number of playgoers at “Long Day's Journey Inte Night” have recently been complaining that al‘1 tho men costar Fredric March — audible enougn, his is some, speech. times unintelligible, pogsibly be cause thé characterization calls fort “Back “to. ' tour Oct.-14 in Liverpool, ‘Magon, “Dudy Burnett. y} orchestrations for eart,” ” David -Pelham, ness. Hermas Levin, producer. of My Fair Lady,” planed Monday (23) te England to seek asuccessor for the role of Mr. Doolittle -when Stanley Holleway leaves ta: do the: same part in the fortheomingLondon edition. . Francis Cleveland; producer of the. Barnstormers: strawhat group at: Tamworth, N. H.; and: for mary .years an actor with: the: outfit, has been named to the ‘State Civil De5 | fense Advisory Council by Gev. Lane Dwinell. Trescott Ripley, jast on Broadway in -“Major Barbara,” has joined the cast. of the off-Broadway “Threepenny . Opera,” succeeding Barbara , Sohmers, ~ who went to ‘Europe. ¢ Carol ‘Channing may star in a “miusi¢al version of the Anita Loos comedy, “Happy Birthday,’” to be” pted by. the author, who: has arrived from Europe te. ‘discuss the project. “off-bway showbill,”. a 16-page program: of cast and . production credits “for off-Broadway ° shows, will begin free distribution.-Oct. Margery McCluskey is” pubhah ing and Dick Engnath editing the lower-case-titled bookle Ralph KEichardson and Celis Johnson will play. the leads in “Klowering Cherry," a new play by Robert Bolt, which starts a tryout is ‘dueatthe Haymarket. Theatre; London, “the following ‘month. : The: new play, to be presented by-H: M. Tennent ‘and. Frith Banbury, will’ featuré Frederick Piper. ‘Brewster: Nimmo n “The Chalk arden” currently at the Haymarket, is -diie to fold’ Nov. 9 after a run of 658 _performances. Brian Donlevy has withdrawn from the cast of “Rivalry,” with Martin Gabel taking over his as ‘signment in the production, which is scheduled to begin touring Sept. 23.in Vancouver. As its first Sideshow item of the Season, the Phoenix Theatre, N. Y., “will present’ Cilli Wang,: Viennese mime, in a one-woman program Oct. 14. The Deutsches: Theatre in New | York, which presents twice-yearly German language productions, will do “Die Heilige” Ftamme” (“The Sacred Flame”), by Somerset Maugham, for five performances Oct. 5-6 and 11-13 at the Batbizon Plaza Theatre,N. Y. Barry. "Jones has taken over the role relinquished by Bobby. Clark in the William Saroyan. play, “The Cave Dwellers,’ due Oct. 14 at the Bijou Theatre, N, Y. Film producer “Milton Sperling will have a substantial ‘investment in the Playwrights Co. presentation of “Time Remembered,” and will be billed as‘ co-producer. Peggy Clark is devising the lighfing and Don Walker is doing the “Carefree Clifford Hayman is planning a Broadway production early next spring of Henry Denker’s comedy, “Venus. at Large,’ which was done in «London . last Season. as “Olive js | Ogilvie.” .. . director ‘for Broadway producer David Mer ‘(Continued en page. 72). Wednesday, September. 25,. E957 | "Amusement Ed Disclosed Fake . [SULIET’ WAS STRICTLY ‘NQ CONTEST’] Regarding a report in last week's” issué about a protest by Actors Equity executive-secrtary Angus Duncan to producer David Merrick over a recent “contest” to. select the ingenue lead.for the latter’s presentation of “Romanoff. and’ Juliet,” it’s the. pre-arranged setup was first exposed in a column by amuse: ment editor James Lee in the Worcester (Mass.) -Evening Gazette; The piece, appearing in the Aug. 15 issue of the paper, reported that Suzanne Storrs had won the “contest,” and continued in part, “Suzanne had been touring this summer with Henry Morgan in’ ‘Father of the Bride,’ enacting his daughter. On Monday and Tues” day of this week she appeared with him at the Whalom Playhouse, 4 ~