Variety (October 1958)

Wednesday, October 1, 1958 KXftlETr LEGITIMATE Read OK; Dog 11%G (5), WmBgton openRemm ilB’way Off; ‘Jamaica’41G, ‘Angel’ 23G, Vfc49 1 / 2 G ) Sf.;‘Patate’2(iy 2 G(5),N.H. ‘Husk’ 80^G, LA.; ‘Anger’ 22G, Balto The road, which is bustling with activity, had another good session last week. Business was healthy for most of the pre-Broadway and touring entries, with a number of shows in the sellout or virtual ca¬ pacity groove. Among those were ing next Saturday (4 “Can-Can,” "Girls in 509," “Goldi- - (MC-RS) (6th wk) ($6.40-$5.90; 2,670; $80,000). Nearly $80,500, with the windup -of CLO subscrip¬ tion hiking the capacity mark. Previous week, $75,300. Exited last night (Tues.) for Dallas open¬ ing next Saturday (4). locks,” "Music Man,” “Touch of the Poet 5 ' and “World of Suzie Wong.” There was one tryout fold, "Swim in the Sea,” which wrapped up Saturday (27) after a fortnight In Philadelphia. Estimates for Last Week Parenthetic designations lor out- oj-tovm shows are the same as for Broadway , except that hyphenated IT with show classification indicates tryout and RS indicates road show . Also, prices on touring shows in* elude?10% Federal Tax and local tax, if any, but as on Broadway grosses are net ; ie. exclusive of taxes. Engagements are for single week unless otherwise noted. ATLANTIC CITY Make a Million, Warren (C-T) ($5- $4; 1,470; $33,000) (Sam Levene). Over $27,000 for seven perfor¬ mances on local subscription. Exited Monday (29) for Philadel¬ phia. BALTIMORE Look Back in Anger, Ford's (D- RS) ($4.40; 1,819; $43,000). Over $22,000 on Guild subscription for - first post-Broadway touring week. Exited Saturday (27) for Toronto. BOSTON Drink to Me Only, Wilbur (C-T) (1st wk) ($4-95-$4.40; 1,241; $32,- €99). Opened Sept. 22 to one rave (Maloney, Traveler), two affirma¬ tives (Doyle, American; Hughes, Hfcrald), one semi-affirmative (Dur- gin. Globe), one no-opinion (Mel¬ vin, Monitor) and one yes-no (Nor¬ ton, Record); almost $19,700. Previous week, $26,700 for seven E rformances at the Warren, At- ltic City/ Exits next Saturday (4) for New York. Goldilocks, Shubert (MC-T) (1st wk) ($6.25-$4.95; 1,717; $52,000). Opened last Wednesday (24) to unanimous yes-no reviews (Doyle, American; Durgin, Globe; Hughes,. Herald; Maloney, Traveler; Melvin, Monitor; Norton, Record); over $34,300 for five performances. Previous week; $53,100 at the Er- langer, Philadelphia. Musical, with Don Ameche having replaced Barry Sullivan as Elaine Stritch’s costar, exits for New York next Saturday (4). Tonek of the Poet. Colonial (D- T) (2d wk) ($5.50-$4.95; 1,500; $41,- 000) (Helen Hayes, Eric Portman, Betty Field, Kim Stanley). Over $39,400 on Guild subscription- Previous, week, $39,300. Exited Saturday (27)- for New York. . CHICAGO Auntie Marne,' Erianger (C-RS) (4th wk) ($6.60-$5.50; 1,333; $45,187) (Constance Bennett). Over $39,- 100 on Guild subscription. Pre¬ vious week, $38,800. Continues in¬ definitely. Mask and Gown. Great Northern fR-RS) (1st wk) ($4J95-$4-40; 1^00; $32,000) (T. C. Jones)! Opened last Wednesday (24) to one affirma¬ tive notice (Dettmer, American), two yes-no reviews (Norris, Sun- Times; Harris, Daily News) and one pan (Raven, Tribune); almost $8,600 for five performances. Previous week, $17,000 at the Hartford, Los Angeles. May fold next Satur¬ day (4). My Fair Lady, Shubert (MC-RS) (47th wk) ($7; 2,100; $72,979). Al¬ most $61,800. Previous week, $61,- 200. Continues indefinitely. CLEVELAND Can-Can, Hanna (MC-RS) ($3.50; 1,515; $34,210) (Genevieve). -Al¬ most $33,500 for seven perfor¬ mances. Exited Saturday (27) for Detroit. DETROIT Romanoff and Juliet, Cass (C-RS) (1st wk) ($4.95; 1,482; $41,000) (Peter Ustinoff). Over $35,400. Previous week, $39,600 at the Royal Alexandra, Toronto. Exits next Saturday (4) for Cincinnati. LOS ANGELES Auntie Marne, Biltmore. (C-RS1 (7th wk) ($5.50-94.40; 1,636; $51,- 600) (Eve Arden). Almost $50,006, Previous week, $51,500. Exits next Saturday (4) for Frisco. Mule Man, Philharmonic Aud* NEW HAVEN Patate, Shubert (C-T> (5 perfs) ($4.80; 1,650; $26,000) (Tom Ewell). Over $20,500 for five perfor¬ mances. Exited Saturday (27) for Boston.- PHILADELPHIA Handful of Fire, Locust (D-T) (2d wk) <$5-$L50; 1,418; $35,000) (Roddy MacDowall, James - Daly). Almost $9,100. Previous week, $11,- 600 for seven performances. Exited Saturday (27) for New York. Once More With Feeling, Er¬ ianger (C-T) (1st wk) ($5.50-$4.50; 1,884; $42,000) (Joseph Cotten, Arlene Francis). Opened Sept 22 to one favorable review (Murdock, Inquirer), one so-so (Schier, Bulle¬ tin) and one pan (Gaghan, News); over $32,500. Previous week t $26,- 000 for five performances at the Shubert, New Haven.. Exits next Saturday (4) for Boston. Swim In the Sea, Walnut (D-T) (2d wk) ($4.80; 1,340; $30,000) (Fay Bainter), Almost $20,600. Previous week, $21,400. Folded Saturday (27). World of Susie Wong, Forrest (D-T) (1st wk) ($5A0-$4.80; 1,760; $42,000). Opened Sept 23 to one affirmative notice (Murdock, In¬ quirer) and two pans (Gaghan, News; Schier, Bulletin); almost $33,300 for seven performances on guild subscription. Previous week, $44,500 at tne Shubert. Boston. Exits next Saturday (4) for New York. SAN FRANCISCO j ! Marriage-Go-Reund, Alcazar (C-T). (1st wk) ($5.50; 1,147; $38,000) (Charles Boyer,-Claudette Colbert). Opened last Saturday (27) to two favorable reviews (Mor- : ton. Examiner: Hall, Call-Biilletin), two inconclusive* (Knickerbocker, Chronicle; Hodel, News) and one unfavorable (Cone,* Oakland, Trib¬ une); almost $14^00 for opening nightandtwo previews. Exits Oct. 11 for Philadelphia. Old Vic, Curtan (Rep-RS) (2d wk) ($*$5.50: 1,758; $56,000). About $49,500 lor ^Twelfth Night.”*. Previous week, $35,000 for “Ham¬ let.”:. Mts next Saturday (4) for Los Angeles. TORONTO Shakespeare's Ages - af Man, Royal Alexandra CD-RS) ($443.50; 1,525; $29,000) (John Gielgud). Over $17,200. Previous week, $6,600 toe * one-nlghter at the Shakespeare Festival Theatre, Stratford, Ont Exited Saturday (27) for one-nlghter tour. WASHINGTON Girls in 599, National (C-T) (2d wk) ($4.95-$r,40; 1,677; $36,000) (Peggy Wood, Imogehe Cota). Over $36,800 on Guild subscription. Pre¬ vious week, $33,900. Exited Satur¬ day (27) for Philadelphia. WILMINGTON Man in ike Dog Suit, Playhouse (C-T). ($5.40; W (Jessica Tandy, Hume Cronyn). Over. $11,500 for five performances on Guild sub¬ scription.. Exited, Saturday (27) for 'Washington. SPLIT-WEEK Auntie Marne (C-RS) Sylvia Sid¬ ney). Over $39,700 for seven per¬ formances as follows: two, Suhday- Monday (21-22), Center, Norfolk, Va.; one, Wednesday (24), Munici¬ pal Aud., Spartanburg, S. C.; one, Thursday (25), Township Aud., Columbia, S. C.; one, Friday (26), Roy, Columbus, Ga., and two, Sat¬ urday (27), Lanier High School, Montgomery, Ala. Previous week, $49,000 on a seven-performance split. Medea San Francisco, Sept, 13. San Francisco Opera Co. presentation of three-act opera hy Luigi Cherubini, libretto by F. B. Hoffman, after Euripides; staged hy Paul Hager; conductor, Jean Foumet; settings, Waldemar Jphansen; chorus director.. Gianni Lazzari; choreog¬ rapher, Eugene' Loring. Features Hleen Farrell, Sylri* -Stahlman, Richard Lewis, Giuseppe Modest!. Claramae Turner. At Sail Francisco Opera House, Sept. 12, '58; $12.50 top.- 5 ' Creon ...Giuseppe Modesti. Glauce .. .Sylvia Stahlman Jason .. Richard Lewis Medea Eileen FarreU Nerij .........i.. Claramae Turner Captain of Gvard.....-Harold Enns First Handmaiden.. ..Joan Marie Moynagh Second Handmaiden.. ■ Margot Blum Children. .Bernard Pomeroy, Philiy Kelsey Wbf the Frisco Opera chose to open its 36th season with this 161- year-old opera, never before per¬ formed in the U. S., Is something of a mystery. The only apparent answer is Eileen Farrell, a fine so¬ prano. As the curtain-raiser to an opera season, however, this curi¬ ously static work in the tradition of the 16th Century is unsatisfying. The story is clean and simple, following the classic Greek pat¬ tern. Jason throws over his wife, Medea, for Glauce, daughter of Creon, King of Corinth. Medea gains her revenge by poisoning Glauce and murdering her own two sons by Jason, and in the process goes mad. Even the murky Italian libretto of F. B. Hoffman can’t obscure this plot Cherubini’s music, resembling the immature Mozart in many places and in a few spots rising to the standard of "The Magic Flute,” carries the' story nicely, though it tends to be a tnfle placid at times. Conductor Jean Foumet does not extract all the possible fire he could from the music and seems content to emphasize the mnsic’s grace rather than its sonorities. But the opera's major disap¬ pointment IT Paul Hager’s tedious direction and production, a tedium which settled, on the opening-night audience ami^never really moved this audlence off its hands despite generous Individual applause for Miss Farrell and Sylvia Stahlman, ! (as Glauqel/., ■ . Choreographer Eugene Loring has inserted a couple of extra¬ simple, languid ballet steps and then given up. Waldemar Johan¬ sen's settings reinforce the static quality with huge, Germanic pillars, platforms. and dim pastel lights. Goldstein 8c Co. has cos¬ tumed the corps and chorus in what look like pastel nightgowns and include a few odd touches, like putting Medea’s handmaiden, Neris (Claramae Turner), who has one big second act contralto aria, in a brown monk’s habit and giving the male supernumeraries English Beefeaters' spears to carry. The effect is a series of bloodless tableaux—except for the music and Hi# singing of some principals. Richard lewis, as Jason, proves a rather- hoarse tenor at first, but settles down and Giuseppe Modesti, making his American debut as Creon, has a pleasant basso which just lacks the power and force to be heard In *a big house. . Kurt Herbert Adler, the Frisco Opera’s general director, deserves a nod for trying to introduce new works into the repertoire but, in this case, it’s evident why “Medea’? hasn’t been produced in the U. S. before—itV-better in concert version. It might, in- cidentally^make a fine production for NBC-TV’s opera series, where it wouldn’t have to he spread over a vast stage. , # Stef. Mirier k the Cathedral Aaiirt State Mode Festival, Inc. prea- txtation of 1 tragedy in two act* and an lnterfnoc, based on the play by Thomas leering c XMot; music, Udebrando Pizsettl; Italian version of hook, Moa- signor Alberts CaatelH. Conductor, La silo Hsian; assistant, Millard Altman; stage Holliday $51,100, 'Darling' $38,700, ‘Campobello’ $34,800, Lunts $29,400 Firsc uum .. Hay Utica on Rentals. eSISl Utica, N.Y., Sept. 30. ! "Music With Mary Martin” will play the 2,900-seat Stanley in Utica, Oct. 8, ai one of several traveling shows to be seen at the- first-run film house this season. A two-day engagement of “Li’l Ab¬ ner” in early December, and an English rock 'n* roll show, in Oc¬ tober, have also been set. The legits are playing on rental deals. ager. Gary XuJjhher; orchestra. Symphony of the- Air; Boy's choir from the Little Church Around the Corner, Stuart * Gard¬ ner, organist and choir master. At Car¬ negie HalL N.Y., Sept. 1T> '38; S7 top. Axchbtohop..........Nicola Roaei-Lemeai First CorUea ..Martina Arroyo • Second Corifea ..Margery Mayer Herald ... Hugh Thompson Krst Priest .. Jerome Heller Second Priest.. Philip Macro Third Priest ..Roy Leonard First Tempter... Giulln Gazi Second Tempter...Calvin Marsh Third Tempter .. Michael Bondon Fourth Tempter.Marley Meredith First Knight.John Druary Second Knight ..... Calvin Marsh Third Knight ..Michael Bondon FourfhKnUht.Marley Meredith Chorug of the Women of Canterbury Chorus of the Priests Ildebrando Pizzetti’s musical adaptation of T. S. Eliot's “Murder in the Cathedral” is an interesting musical event On the basis of its reception In Its world jpreem last March at La Scala, Milan,, it has been called ‘^notable,” and that may be true, too. It tends to be a difficult work, however, that does not. enhance 1 (Continued on page 66) Louisville Theatre Train Capacity, Doing Encore Louisville, Sept. 30. Number 24 -of the Louisville Theatre Trains to leave*Louisville Sunday Oct. 19, returning Oct. 25, has been entirely sold out, Boyd Martin, Courier-Journal critic and sponsor of the train, had a wait¬ ing list week? before bis deadline. Sept. 20. He’s now making plans for a December train that is to leave Dec. 7 and return Dec. 13. Both trains go to New York. Martin’s group now has reserved seats for several attractions, which have not opened, but which are potential hits, Deadline for reser¬ vations on the December train is Nov. 10. /Candide' Record $8,157 la Bocks County Close; ‘Crocus’ Sock $9,800, Chi The Bucks County Playhouse, New Hope., and the Drury Lane Theatre, Chicago, registered sock business last Week with respective presentations of a concert version qf- *“Candide” and “Autumn Crocus,” with. Margaret Truman. “Candide,” the windup bill at Mike Ellis* 432-seat Playhouse, broke the house Tecord with a gross of $8,157 for eight perform¬ ances. Another $1,002 was taken in for an extra closing perform¬ ance last Sunday (28). The New ; Hope booking at a $2.50 top was a break-in for the upcoming one- niter tour of the Lester Osterman- Hillard Elkins production. . “Crocus” in Its second week at the 485-seat Drury had another capacity round with the take hit¬ ting nearly $9,800. The previous week’s gross was $9,600, which was sellout less press cuffolas. The show, which is scaled to $3.50 top, continues this frame. Touriag Shows (Sept. 29-Oct. 12) ■ Auntie Mam* . (Ere Arden)—Biltmore, LA.. (28-i); Ctoary, SF. <1-11). Auntie Mmm (Conetance Bennett)— Erianger, Chi (continue! indefinitely). Auntie Memo (Sylvia Sidney)—Alumni, KnexriUe, Team.- <20); Tower, .Atlanta 004 )i Tcmpla. Birmingham <S$); KS^ Tuecalecm. Ala <t); Tenaeuee, 1 NeahyiDe U0-11). Can Caw (Genevieve)— Shubert, Det. ooux w Caa<M^ Iftric, Malta Ol); CongUtutle* * Per (tryout) (Judith Ahdenon). —Playhouae, Wilmington d-4); Forreat, Fhilly (8-11). Crazy Octeher (tryput) (Tallulah Bank- head)—Shubert, Near Haven (8-11). Diary of Anne Frank (Frahda Lederer) —E. C. Glam ELS, Lynchburg; Va. (28); Xeith-Albee. Huntington, W. Va. OQ); Victory, Dayton CD; Indiana 1J.. Blooming¬ ton (2); Paramount, Toledo (3-C; OLaugh- lin. South Bend (5); Orpheum, Springfirid. JU. (6); KRNT, Dea Moines (•); Mute HalL - K. C. (8-11). Drink H Me Only (tryout)—Wilbur. Bos¬ ton (28-4, move to. N.Y.) <Reviaw*d in VARIETY, Sept. 24. '38X. Kdwln Booth (tryout) (Jose Ferfer)— Hartford, LJL. <V-1D. Olrls In Mt (tryout) (Peggy Wood, Imo¬ gens Coca)—Walnut. Philiy (28-11) (Re* viewed in VARIETY, Sept. 17, *38). OoMllocks (tryout) <D6ta Ameche)— Shubert, Boston C28-4, moves to N.YJ (Reviewed fa VARIETY, Sept. l<h *58). Lfl Abner—Bushnell Aud., Hartford (2-4); Nixon, Pitt. (6-11). Leek Sack In Anger-- R oyal Alexandra, Toronto (28-4); Cass, Dot. (6-11). Make a Million (tryout) (Sum Levene) —Locust, Philiy (30-11). Men In the Dog Suit (tryout) (Jesdct .Tandy, Hume Cronyn)—National, Wash, 08-11). ~ » Marrfege-Go-aound (tryout) (Charles Boyer, Claudette Colbert)—Alcazar. SJT. (28-11). Mask and Down (T. C. Jones)—Great Norther*. Chi (29-4). Music Man Od Co.)—Philharmonic Aud., L. A. (29-30); State Fair Music HalL Dallas (4-11). My Fair Lady (2d Co.)—Shubert, Chi (continues Indefinitely). Old Vic—Curran, S.F. (29-4); Philhar¬ monic And., LA. (6-11). One* More With Feeling (tryout) (Joseph Cotten, Arlene Francis)—Erianger. Philiy (28-4);. Shube rt, Boston (7-11) (Reviewed in VARIETY, Sept. 24, '38). Patate (tryout) (Tom EwelD—Colonial, Boston (1-11). Pleasure of His Company (tryout) (Cyril Ritchard, Cornelia Otis Skinner, Charlie Buggies, Walter Abel)—Shubert, New Have* Ot-4); Wilbur, Boston (6-11). Romanoff and Juliet (Peter Ustinoff}— Cass, Det OBdh Shubert, Ciney (6-11). . Shakespeare's Ages of Man (John Giel¬ gud)—Queens U., Kingston, Ont. (29); Capitol, Ottawa OO); Her Majesty's, Mont¬ real (2-4); Memorial Aud., Burlington <5); Collage Aud., Syraeuee <6); AuA, Roch¬ ester (7); Coming (N.YJ Glass Center •>; Chapin Aud^. South Hadley, Mass. (9); Saader* Ca mbridge , Maaa. (10-12). Theatre MsWeiiil Papulalre—St. Dennis, Montreal OS«; (MUL Quebec 08-11). Tu n nel ef LovelEddie Bracken)—Au<L, Columbus, O. (4); Memorial Au<L, L'ville BgfMst M'wkoe »-ll>. ■ Twu for fhu Suasavr (2d Co.) (Ruth Roman, Jeffrey Lynn)—-Ford's, Balto (6-11). World of Suzie Wong (tryout)—Forrest, Phili y <28 4, moves to N.YJ (Reviewed in VARIETY, Sept. 17, *98). • Broadway dropped last week with the slide affecting all but the two steady sellouts, “Music Man” and “My Fair Lady.” There wpre only 11 shows running. The production lineup jumps to 13 this frame with the addition of “Handful of Fire” tonight (Wed.) and “Touch of the Poet” tomorrow. | Estimates for Last Week r Keys: C (Comedy), D (Drama), CD (Comedy-Drama), R (Revue), MC (Musical-Comedy), MD (Musi¬ cal-Drama), O (Opera),.OP (Op¬ eretta), Rep (Repertory). Other parenthetic designations refer, respectively, to weeks played, number of performances through last Saturday, top prices (where two prices are given, the higher is for Friday-Saturday nights and the lower for weeknights), number of septs, capacity gross and stars. Price includes 10% Federal and 5% City tax, but grosses are net i.e., exclusive of taxes. Bells Are Ringing, Shubert (MC) (93d wk; 740 p) ($8.05; 1,453; $58,- 101) (Judy Holliday). Over $51,100. Previous week, $52,800. Dark at the Top of the Stairs, Music Box (D) (43d wk; 340 p) ($5.75-$6.90; 1,010; $33,000). Over $21,200. Previous week, $23,100. Jamaica, Imperial (MC) (42d wk; 332 p) ($8.35; 1,427; $63,000) (Lena Horne, Ricardo Montalban). Near¬ ly $41,000. Previous week, $42,300. Look Homeward, Angel, Barry¬ more (D) (44th wk; 348 p) ($6.90; 1,076; $40,716) (Miriam Hopkins). Over $23,000. Previous week, $24,000. Music Man, Majestic (MC) (41st wk; 324 p) ($8.05; 1,626; $68,358) (Robert Preston). Another $69,400. My Fair Lady, Hellinger (MC) (133d Wk; 1,059 p) ($8.05; 1,551; $68,210). Steady at $69,400. Say Dariin*. ANTA (MD) (26th wk; 204 p) ($7.50; 1,185; $50,460) (David Wayne). Over $38,700. Pre¬ vious week, $39,900. Sunrise rt Campobello, Cart (D) (35th wk; 276 p) ($6.90; 1,155; $37,- 500) (Ralph Bellamy). Nearly $34,- 800. Previous week, $36,600. Two for the Seesaw, Booth <CD> (37th wk; 292 p) ($6-90; 780; $31> 706) (Dana Andrews). Over $28,- 800. Previous week, $29,300. Visit, Morosco (D) (15th wk; 117 P) ($6.90; 946; $37,500) (Alfred Lunt, Lynn Fontanne). Over $20,- 400. Previous week, $30,400. West Side Story, Winter Garden (MD) (53d wk; 420 p) ($8.05; 1,404; $63,203). Almost $43,600. Previous week, $47^00. Opening This Week Handfnl of F|re, Beck (D) ($5.75- $6,90; 1,280; $43,000) (Roddy McDowall, Jaines Daly). David Susskind & Playwrights Co. pres¬ entation of a play by N. Richard Nash. Opens tonight (Wed.). Tench ef the' Poet, Hayes TO < 07 . 50 ; 1,130; $43,067) (Helen Hayes, Eric Portman, Betty Field, Kim Stanley). Producers Theafrt presentation of Robert Whitehead’g production of a play* by Eugene O’Neill. Opens tomorrow night (Thurs.). Off-Eroadway Shows American Mime, Orpheum (0- 23-58); closes Oct 11. Blood Wedding, Actors Play¬ house (3-31-58). Boy Friend, Cherry Lane (1-25- 58), Children of Darkness, Circle In the Square (2-28-58). Craeihle, Martinique (3-11-58). Heloise, Gate (9-24-58). Ionesco Plays, Sullivan St. (6- 3-58). Jackknife, Royal (9-22-58). Lula, 4th St (9-29-58). Playboy of the Western World, Tara (5-8-58). Threepenny Opera, deLys (9-20- 55). Ulysses, Rooftop (6-5-58). Closed Last Week Comic Strip, Barblzon Plaza (5-14-58); closed last Sunday (28). Egg & I, Jan Hus (9-10-58); closed last Sunday (28). Guests of Nation, Marquee (6- 26-58); closed last Sunday (28). Yoany Provincials, Cricket (0- 18-58); closed last Sunday (28). Arnold Goodman, general man¬ ager for attorney David Marshall Holtsmann of the Cape Cod Melody Tent, Hyannii, Mass., and the South Shore Music Circus, Cohas- set. Mass., has joined Boltzmann, as a taw assistant in the firm of Holtzmann & Boltzmann. Goodman is completing law studies at Ford- ham U.