Variety (March 1959)

90 UEGITIMATE PSniETY Wednesday, March 18, 1959 Shows on Broadway Sweet Bird of Youth about to be mutilated by a vengeful Cheryl Crawford presentation of three- posse, act (five scenes) drama by Tennessee But while the Writing is SO ex- Williams. Direction. Elia Kazan; scenery ] • .. . ... . h ' t and lighting. Jo Mielziner; music, Paul pressive tnat _ It S not SnOCK- Bowles; costumes. Anna Hill Johnstone, mg, the subject matter IS a \ 1 northern U. S., the story Involves Yeichi Nimura’s choreography has <ITAQni|75|17 a family in Chicago’s teeming little apparent point except stage Ji UUUtV U.T south side, where the confining, decoration. Dolly Haas, who took ~ industriously maintained quarters over the femme lead when Mary about to be mutilated by a vengeful and the frustrated hopes lead to Martin withdrew from the original posse. taut nerves and domestic bicker- production, is appealing if perhaps But while the writing is so ex- in £- When the sternly moral grand- a bit deliberate as the saintly wife pressive that it’s not shock- mother receives a $16,000 payment who uncomplainingly supports her ing the subject matter is a on her late husbands life, they revered parents-in-law and endures Bowles; costumes, Anna tuu jonnsions. mg, me suujeut matier is a ~ r — stars Paul Newman. Geraldine Page, pinph to ar0 use discussion and P re P are to move to their own small poverty and hunger when her hus- mss' Ma SU’SLt" quest for Logan Bamsey, Martine Bartlett. Charles c j rc ies. Even for a Williams work, and a httle sunli,,nt and space. position and wealth. «5 ne &S pe ThJaS rc VY*^6 90 fop oS the references are salty, including Her restless, impatient son loses Leueen MacGrath is attractive opening) Tneatre * p suc h matters as promiscuity, adul- nearly all the money in a gpt-nch- an d expressive as the nobly un- ^“R^^^heaSfNY’-^lsso the references are salty, including Her restless, impatient son loses Leueen MacGrath is attractive opening) Tneatre * p suc h matters as promiscuity, adul- nearly all the money in a gpt-nch- an d expressive as the nobly un- chance Wayne.Paul Newman ! tery, abortion, venereal disease, quick scheme, and their dream is selfish princess, Clarence Derwent Princess Pazmezogiu . j hysterectomy and emasculation. As apparently shattered. But m the ac t s the dual role of the com- 5°a?d Service /;.V.V.-V. p?tricirRi^iey a sort of bonus for regional or crisis the young man comes of age, me ntator and village elder with Dr. scudder . Logan R^nsey | gr0UD indignation there are also llves U P \° his heritage and, at the distinction, Israeli actor Shai-K- Boss h Fi r mev‘^•••••••;•-.‘ Sidney BiaSmeJ I fearing comments on racial bigotry, curtain the family is moving out, Qphir is somewhat tense in the Tom Junior . Rip Torn j lynch law demagoguery, venal big r f, a(i v.t 0 a ne w atart , m Brynner role of the long-absent Aunt Nonnie .Martine Bartlett , ,ci n pcc and noxious Dolitics all-white neighborhood, despite husband Philip Bouneuf brings a FS"' y -. D eS « i b Tthe mltrer o£ tSque and ‘he certainty W the difficulties ‘hat deft t01 i ch < a £ d uncertain u 8 nes , Stuff . Bruce Dern ; cons truction the dramatist again wU1 mvoive. to the part of the rigid-minded Im- breaks new’ground,-making fluid As the self-pitying son who perial Preceptor, and Estelle Win- of the time element and hav- meets the challenge of manhood in wood and Tonio Selwart are prop- s,, J ‘ . . James Jeter ! mg the Characters speaK Wlin equal - --“ —--J Bar PatronsDuke Farley. Ron Harner. j freedom to each other, themselves detailed and varied performance, parents, ► or directly to the audience. The f^y pensioned, expertly pro- A pei A performer named simply Asia, j characters are fncrinatin? (although jected and notably modest and whose pelvic gyrations created _ iascinaung iaiuiou,u j generous Miss Mc Neil gives a solid stir in the.recent musical, “Whoop- Tennessee Williams has a tre-1 ade S a°iSfely aS exp\ai™e°d iV as ed for r ex- Portrayal of the firm-as-a-rock ma- Up,” turns” out to be out of dancing infnCttr? wSSpr RnS Finlev’s triarch whose moral strength, cour- practice and physical discipline. mendous hit with “Sweet Bird of thp Heckler Boss Finley’s triarch whose moral strength, pour- practice and physical discipline. Vmith ” Thp npw drama onening nr the almost suggestive a S® and self-respect are inspiring, The original Jones scenery and Youth. T he new drama, opening cough m. the’ and Ruby Dee is a shrewd blend of costumes (or in some cases copies) last week at the Martin Beck Thea- relationship!^tween the youth and reticense and spirit as the hero’s are used> under the respective su- tre. is one of the most potent, Aunt with the Author’s finest 2 self-effacing wife. pervision of Watson Barratt and enthralling and explicit the author difficult and complex role Among the supporting players Ruth Morley. his written. It ranks with his smash theidnticmt and comp e o e there are commendable portrayals Although not quite as breath- “Cat on a Hot Tin Roof” and SZ aS\iSa by Diana Sands as the hero’s “mod- taking as remembered, “Lute , . nf nn f pnf Aunt Nannie). Even so, the di enthralling and explicit the author ra ^oJ^ of the youth lawman give® an ‘Cat on a Hot Tin Root ana pl - VP d nn H ,) P f “Cat on a Hot Tin Roof and * lv P ’ onC eived and defined by Dia R a Sands as the hero’s “mod- taking as remembered. Lute “Streetcar Named Desire, and at {JELL—*L ce that CT ows as the play ern Negro” sister, Ivan Dixon and Song” is still visually impressive, least in theatrical impact sur- Penormancetnai grows as tne pi y Louis Gossett as tw0 of her suito rs, but it’s hardly a firecracker climax passes “The Glass Menagerie.” ^folds spanmn the scenes oi Q Turman as ^ liveIy young for the City Center’s musical sea- Paul Newman, Geraldine Page panicTSSgnaS. mIS ^mdson and John Fiedler as the son. Kobe, and Sidney Blackmer are costarrcd • p ge 0 ff ers a glittering and artful jmctmus spokesman for the bigoted in this Pulsating restatement of j S th! richly Colorful part ^Xw^ife community Ra'ph Masquerade the familiar Williams theme of tne : of the truant film star see king Alswang has desimd a^pr^erlv Richard w - Krakeur pre^ntation. to corrupting influence of time on rp f, lgp from realitv in sex liauor Alswan 8 hc.s aesignea a properly ass0C i at i 0 n wtth Louis d'Almeida, of +ho cwppt iriTinrenrp of vouth The ' j j 1 reaiu J 111 sex ’ uquji worn _l 00 fci n g apar tment interior three-act comedy-drama by Sigmund the sweet innocence 01 youui. i ne . and dope Virginia Volland has provided Miller. Direction. Jed Horner (succeed- Play has been eloquently and dy -1 The transformation, when she fDoroorSfe costumes n P ^ Warren Enters); setting and lighting, namically f ) tage( ? m ^ e by ! l eari ?s that her career is not washed incidentally, the play’s title is Stor^DonM^Cook,' Gtonda FarreU, JoMfeWner^ It'w ctachfora j peVoUance marfaanew Wgh to * a n ^ e " H “ ghe5 SS iSSTSSJ^SSL^JS^t 1«ncr T-i,r> n n RrnartwflV and the road ^ i * poem beginning, opened March 16. '59. at the John Golden long run on Broadway ana tne roaa i th€ ac tress, with less of her old “what happens to a dream Theatre. n.y. ; $ 6.90 top. and will make a stunning picture ; mannerisms, but with more assured deferred Chamberlin.Glenda FarreU and be a cleanup for stock and Jie < style> Both parts are terribly long Does it^dry up S m* .! ’' ciSs lSSS^ foreign market. « and both are played with convlc- Like a raisin in the sun?” Mrs. Emily rniburt. Anne ives Although “Sweet Bird” has vari-• tion and finesse. Hobe. oiive? r caMy e '' '.V.bSd ^ook ous loose ends and unexplained Blackmer is excellent in the -- Charles Morreil ........... Jack Cannon threads, its sheer power holds an | third starring role of the corrupt. w ^ _ c on rf - audience spellbound, and there is! sanctimonious political boss and ^ » Probably 30 or 40 years ago, an absolute hush as Newman, as j Uiere are effective supporting por- nS^jg!»S!S5flSftSfV!«2SS ‘'Masquerade” would have been the doomed youth who is the au-1 trayals of Rip Torn as his jackals Q6 scenes) musical drama with book by good enough for Broadway. Tt thor’s obvious spokesman, stands . like son, Diana Hyland in the ill- s ^„^ might even have been considered Lute Song revival of two-act Masquerade Gene Lyons. Jack Cannon. Anne Ives. Opened March 16, '59, at the John Golden Theatre. N.Y.; $6.90 top. Isabel Chamberlin.Glenda Farrell Ralph Grenville . Mark Richman Amy Grenville .. Cloris Leachman Mrs. Emily Hilburt. Anne Ives Jess Grenville .. Gene Lyons Oliver Casey ... Donald Cook Charles MorreU .. Jack Cannon Probably 30 or 40 years ago, “Masquerade” would have been thor’s obvious spokesman, stands . like son, Diana Hyland in the ill- f£ n Fhin?^tv n -T>ivL might even have been considered alone on the forestage to read the ; defined part of his despoiled g* R^ond^ott.iyriw' b? “mart rather daring. It’s a drama about definitive curtain speech, “I don’t. daughter, Madeleine Sherwood as Hani?hen. over^u direction. John Paul; mar riage and in the jargon of tvk to your pity but just for your ; his treacherous mistress, Martinne S cStSS modem psychology it covers pretty understanding—not even that. No, i Bartlett as the cowed aunt, Logan and lighting, Robert-Edmond Jones; art much the usual ground without just for your recognition—of me in Ramsey as a pompous, doctor and d 5or t0 RuTh at MMi?v rr Stors°1fonv Hk« providing any special illumination, you, and the enemy, time, m us Patricia Ripley as a carefully un- Le„4 n MacGrathf' IsteUe winwood! Having»opened last Monday night all.” : seeing hotel maid. Philip Bourneuf. Shai-k-ophir, Tonio Sei- (16) at the John Golden Theatre, The playwright seems equally rp- : Cheryl Crawford is the nominal Dean Cr?ne, ce Donaid en Symington! itoto it’s a doubtful bet for a run, is vealing in the first act, when the j producer (reputedly having a I2vo winsiow. Tom Emijm wunams. Diane dej questionable film material (Hunt- youth, telling his life story to the ! interest in the show), with Wil- ? t re th4 n Y. civ n cen P tI?. e n.yYw.s?' t^.‘ ington Hartford owns the rights), shopworn Hollywood- star who has j hams, his agent Audrey Wood end Manager, also Hon. Tschang* but perhaps is a moderate prospect picked him up and from whom he | Kazan owner of the major share. Gr^v'^vBacI for stock. hopes to obtain a film contract, There’ll be plenty for everybody, -- - ShSk-cSi? The title of the Sigmund MUler ‘ savs of himse'f. “The great differ- ! Hobe. father ..._ Tonio Selwart r>lay refers to the attractive young the forestage to read the ■ defined ’ part of his despoiled R^ond Pl ^ottf 1 *&riS'"*b? t B hopes to obtain a film contract, J ‘ says of himse'f, “The great differ- | ence between people in this world i -— I Wife _ - Doily 7 h^s neroine s me witn ner attractive is not between the rich and the! A Raisin In the Snn -imperial Preceptor’..... Philip Bournauf young doctor-husband. Although poor, or the good and the evil; the ! Philip Bose & David j. C ogan presen- £dTi£ weitto* there’s affection and devotion be- blggest Of all differences m tins , tation of three-aet (six scenes) drama Waiting Women . Maxine Taylor, tween them, the physical aspect of world is between the ones that had ' £-Y Lorraine Hansberry. Direction. Lloyd [ Margaret Sheeh-n their marriage has been a sham on or have pleasure in love and those i Aiswang/ costumes. 311 'virglSS^Voufnd chinere Pia e yers ' ■ ' Isabel Fa^n. Tr^ her part. She’s repelled and puz- tnat haven’t and hadn’t any pleas- : stars Sidney Poitier; features Claudia Gaspartoetti, Sigrid Geiger, zled. nre in love, but just watched it j S“i v ?S b g( steward . fcSPSUSSS “> d^uss such a subject with envy—Sick envy.” ! March ll. '59. at the Ethel Barrymore Marri??e Broker . Dianne de Brett With her prudish, self-sufficient Wtth obvious symbolic intent, i SS*?iSk2-- : . ,5 f 0 . toP ..\ S8 : W lffib?D?e Williams has the action Of the play : Travis Younger .Glynn Turman Food Commissioner Gene Galvin mental . fling With another man, occurring on Easter dav and pvp- I ^ ?lte rx. Le £ Youn ? er •:•••• Sidney Poitier Clerks Anthonv Ewrards. Epy Baca largely to find out whether she s ULiuiiiiig on easier aaj ana eve . Beneatha Younger ...t.... Diana Sands Anphcants . John Darren, Donald Hotton «. n .hip rt f j-^vnal foolincr Rut that mng. As usual, the references are , Lena Younger . Claudia McNeil Beggars .... Mark Fieischman, capaDie of sexual feeling, nut tnat for stock. The title of the Sigmund Miller A Raisin in the Snn PouSTbSSS heroine’s life with her attractive Philip Bournauf young doctor-husband. Although L4u 1Sin*wlnSJrw there’s affection and devotion be- ” Maxine Taylor, tween them, the physical aspect of Miirgaret sheeh-n their marriage has been a sham on rers . Isabel FarreU, ^TruSi her part. She’s repelled and puz- Gasparinetti, Sigrid Geiger, zled. . josepii 3 Daubenas Unable to discuss such a subject ning. As usual, the references are i Lena Younger _V..ciaudia McNeil Beggars Mark Fieischman. capaDie of sexual feeimg, nut tnat brutal but this timp thp anfhor i Joseph Asagai ...... Ivan Dixon Michael de Marco. Alan Kirk has left her feeling empty and seems’to ha“ leS “tomfulSZa To ! ^ r . ge . Kurchison . ,mP ”‘ al ’ A ” ,hony cS'?£!S isolate. When her husband finds inflict cruelty, even agony on the ^ Karl Lindner. John Fiedler Imperial Attendants Bob Daley, Michael °Ut about the affair there IS a VIO- characters. Even SO, it’s indicated ! Moving Men •••■ Ed Hall. Douglas Turner Fesco Amott Mader. lent sqene, but she gets to know at the finale that the young hero I , , -- % Genie . Donald syitolt^ herself largely through the syra- who like the actress is not only 1 would he easy to eiflphasize white Tiger ... . Asia pathy of her wise, gallivanting ex- sensuous and heartless but is ruth- ! the incidental fact that “A Raisin £^ ni - x Birds ’.’.’.’.’.’ ’ ” Asia, Dean cllnl stepfather, and is saved from sui- lassly determined to have the ex-' m the Sun - which opened at the Li w.-ng ... Ted v?h Griethuysen cide by the return of hubby. Hav- ternals of success and nnwer ic = Ethel Barrymore Theatre last Amida Budda Prie^: Tom finlyn Williams ing both matured by the ordeal, success and power, is , wefk the firSt play by a Negr0 Bob,., ... g.b. Galvin. Audr. Omgjr. th |y. re ready for the compromises —■ ■ ■ authoress and the first staged by a Rich Man .wesiev Owen and understanding of a real mar- ___ Negro director to reach Broadway Soinne? ean Crane * Dlck Cola ^° riage, it’s apparent at the curtain. ANNOUNCING : What’s more essential is that “Rai- children 5 . Olivia Johnson. Giori’a Kaye, Although the author has pro- sin” is an excellent play by a high- ■ Coco Ramirez. Tina Ramirez vided a number of mildly amusing Thu l?Qcf 7/1 fl» Cf lyprommins new author, and that Pab “ Gu "* s j.h" lough lines, his dramatic instinct Hie MSI /4in iM. . It is skillfully directed and superb- p.ro. Vo. Van,ro seems to be toward banality, so the 1UH 1IU131 ntu OI. ly played. It Should be a solid hit ^ ^ serious moments are pulp-maggy. ipi-.i,. on Broadway, has the makings of OBe ".■ S hiru Mo rira. Alan Kwk Dona]d Cook bring3 his tj rilUaat lneatre !LSg e n P pu e it[oVaKul b d et b^ t . Sinceoriginal produc- ^ bow available for rentals ““^though the chief characters in tahWhave been remiSiseing aboSt F , a h e ttMkTeS part'of’the pride tr’digS!? and!Mirtiael Se>gTresM Off-Broudway’s best «,.lpp*d- ^eople”with h OTdtaa^ r TumlS fie?! Br“nCT'V^e^New of C «he!!S?!s) ri mfn?Ees“ 01 ^ 0 “b! fcomhomkl-mBn ings and weaknesses and virtues, York stage, was a boxofflee failure Snbeiawl n tte marathnn r^e o? b« As one Negro first-nighter was with a run of 134 performances, }l p L 0f NEW PLAYHOUSE : heard to comment to another, the beauty of the Robert Edmond tprpH^^f ° US * ^ a ^ a ^ lve » self-cen- Air j ,ao _ : “This is so real—it’s as if it were Jones decor and the exotic sweet- . . , U1 Air-coadition*d 299 s«ots— ; happening in my own house.” Such ness of the 600-year-old Chinese „ r 1111 ? 11 I s P^nsible as tne fabulo&s lighting •quipment i is the play’s plausibility and seem- story have^become legendary. ' !«5f£ir u ? a ?,• ^ n v L y ons ac j q P ;ing naturalness, the white eaves- Some dreams are better unreal- ceptable as his jealously wolfish DAY TUTTLE droDper could have said the same, ized, however, and last week’s re- but decan t brother, and Jack Can- «* ki V jl -91 k. v “Raisin” is fairly traditional, in vival of “Lute Song” at the N.Y. non and Anne Ives are competent 334 E. 74tn Sr., N«w York 21, N. Y. form and style, but authoress Lor- City Center is a disappointment. J? respective other man and LEhiah 5-5557 raine Hansberry’s writing has un- Perhaps any modern production of ttle devoted housekeeper. Jed Hor- usual nuality and depth and hon- the Sidney Howard and Will Irwin ne . r ls credited as director, having — esty. The play is Intensely believ- adaptation of the classic “Pi-Pa- J, aken over recently from Warren -—- able and affecting, and is stunning- Ki” would be too gentle and lei- Enters (the change was announced PROFESSIONAL CARDS HONORED ly acted by a company starring surely for popular success on on insert slips in the. opening-night ^? rlea i. ■ nd . tv. m.i» up • All (Sidney Poitier, with Claudia Me- Broadway. In any case, the pres- program). LIlQInQ COSfnftflC Llllftt A ImnArtcd : XT. ti.-i n _ v i a > a __ > -m t. * / « mu - a. n a_ Daughter’s OK Book On Leslie Howard, 'A Quite Remarkable Father’ “A Quite Remarkable Father” by Leslie Ruth Howard (Harcourt, Brace; $4.75) is a daughter’s trib¬ ute to her late actor-father, Leslie Howard, who was shot down in a plane by the Germans over the Bay of Biscay in 1943. Howard had been on a lecture tour of Spain and Portugal for the British gov- renment, and was returning home on the same day Churchill flew from Algiers to London. Obviously, the Germans were ready to bag any Allied plane in the hope they might slay the Prime Minister. Howard left his wife, Ruth, his son, Ronald (since become an ac¬ tor, best-known in tv), and his daughter, the wife of a former Canadian soldier, Robert Dale^ Harris. Howard also left memories of a notable stage and screen career (Continued on page 94) f Off-B’way Review Theatre of Angna Enters (PHOENIX THEATRE, N. Y.) Angna Enters has apparently solved the problem of how to “bill” herself. Being a dancer, mime, actress — and sculptor, her show “The Theatre of Angna her show “The Theatre of Agna Enters” and in that theatre she in¬ corporates dancing, acting, miming, some painting ancT reveals her authorship in the masterfully thought-out sketches. Some of them on this occasion—a single perform¬ ance in New York with proceeds turned over to the ailing subscrip¬ tion fund of the Phoenix Theatre— were old favorites like “Boy Car¬ dinal” and the. unforgettable “Pa- vane” which spells out murder all over the stage. There were new numbers, per “Figures in the Moonlight No. 2,” in which Harlequin is the princi¬ pal figure and which in a sequence to the former Figures No. 1, which had Pierrot as the main character. As for many years now. Miss Enters has produced a delightful evening. This is indeed unusual theatre. Goth. Concert Review Thomas Riehner (Town Hall, N. Y.) Though known as a Mozart spe¬ cialist, this time Thomas Richner let his recital program be shared by Chopin. As a matter of fact Chopin seems eminently more suited to his particular gifts. Tech¬ nique is polished and facile but touch ls weak. The more Intimate works, the better suited they seem to be to Richner’s temperament. The artist’s poetic feeling helped him especially in Chopin’s Etude in C sharp minor and the two ma¬ zurka’s in A and B minor. Mo¬ zart’s sonatas in B flat and C minor were well shaped but Mozart’s strength and virility, mainly in the Fantasia in D minor, was not conveyed and some passages seemed unnecessarily dragged. Goth. ANNOUNCING The East 74th St. Theatre now available for rentals New York’s only completely opes stage Off-Broadway's best equipped— handsomest—most elegant NEW PLAYHOUSE Air-conditioned — 299 seats— fabulois lighting equipment DAY TUTTLE 334 E. 74Hi St., New York 21, N. Y. LEkigh 5-5557 tered wife. Mark Richman is plausible as the obtuse husband, Gene Lyons is ac¬ ceptable as his jealously wolfish PROFESSIONAL CARDS HONORED Theatrical and TV Make Up • All t M Som.5i > c Sn p. tI 4ume n s ,I e # Distorti^ I Neil > ~ Rub y Dee and rhaH^oam ent^“revival,'‘“seemingly'’ expanded . The sumptuous Connecticut man- Fountain service? i or- so others, all responding to the- and sensationalized to fill the City s 1011 living room is by Paul Morri- delivery open Sundays ! almost unique chance for Negroes Center’s outsize dimensions tend son, and the stunning costumes "The Drug Store of the Stars" i rr^f _ PL _j ____j ^ _„ "The Drug Store of the Stars" HADLEY REXALL DRUGS mi 4th Ave., Cor. 44 St., NEW YORK Telephone PLaza 7-0022 i to ?et such fully dimensioned to vulgarize the play, and the pag- j pa r ts. ean*ry retards the action. Although the locale could be al- Th^ i?gga~d tempo is emphasized are by Robert Mackintosh. Hobe. (Closed last Monday (16) after most anywhere in contemporary I in John Paul’s direction, and I a single performance.) TEMPORARY NO FEB TO YOU GOOD LOCATIONS INTERESTING JOBS 14 DAYS — FULL DAY* -u.WKS EXCELLENT RATES *«ey» — Typists — Clk$ — Opera* BUSINESS EMERGENCIES SOS Fifth Ave. (at 42d) Rm. 1203 5000 SQ. FEET (APP.) Street Intranet. High Celllhg. Suitable ton Theafra, Rehearsal, Dance, Vocalr Photographic Studios or Private School. HOTEL GREAT NORTHERN 118 West 57 St,. Now York Call Managor Cl 7-1900