Variety (March 1959)

Wednesday^ March 18, 195$ 91 Tuners Hum on Road Plays NSH; Destry’ 57G, Desert’ 8^G, Philly; Dells’ $42^480 (7), DC; ‘Two’ 15G, Chi Business was big on the road for most musicals last week and gen¬ erally poor-to-fair for the straight plays. Philadelphia and Chicago carried the bulk of the out-of-town load with four shows each. There were two folds last Satur¬ day (14), the touring “Romanoff and Juliet,’* starring Bert Lahr, and the pre-Broadway tryout of “Gay Felons,” which called it quits after one week of a scheduled fort¬ night’s stand in Philly. Estimates for Last Week Parenthetic designations for out- of-town shows are the same as for Broadway * except that hyphenated T with show classification indicates tryout and RS indicates road show. Also, prices on touring shows in¬ clude 10% Federal fax and local, fax, if any, but as on Broadway grosses are net; i.e. exclusive of taxes. Engagements are for single week unless otherwise noted. ATLANTIC CITY Garden District, Warren (D-RS) ($4-$5; 1,47a) (Cathleen Nesbitt, Diana Barrymore). Opened last Wednesday (11) to a negative no¬ tice for the play, butaffimative for the performance *(Fink, Press); about $9,600 for five performances, with local subscription. CHICAGO Girls in 509, Civic (C-RS) (3d wk) ($4.95-$5.50; 910; $28,500) (Peggy Wood. Imogene Coca). Al¬ most $13,000. Previous week, $13,000. Music Man, Shubert (MC-RS) (5th wk) ($5.59-$6.60; 2,100; $71,- 458). Over $69,700 with Guild sub¬ scription. Previous week, $68,800. Two for the Seesaw, Todd (CD- RS) (12th Wk) ($5.50; 1,090; $34,461) (Ruth Roman, Jeffrey Lynn). Al¬ most $15,000. Previous week, $16,600. Exits April 11 to con¬ tinue tour. Warm Peninsula, Erlanger (CD- T) (1st wk) ($4.50-$5; 1,333; $37,- 000) (Julie Harris). Opened March 9 to one affirmative review (Dett- mer, American) and three favoring the star but panning the play (Cas¬ sidy, Tribune; Harris. News; Syse, . Sun-Times); over $24,800 with Guild subscription. Previous week, $26,000 for seven perfor¬ mances at the Pabst, Milwaukee. DETROIT My Fair Lady, Riviera (MC-RS) (5th wk) ($5; 2,700; $100,000) (Michael Evans, Diane Todd). Nearly $72,200. Previous week, $69,400. PHILADELPHIA Desert Incident, Walnut (D-T) (1st. wk) ($4.80; 1.340; $32,000). Opened March 10 to three pans (paghan, News: Murdock. Tnouirer; Schier, Bulletin); over 8,500 for seven performances and one pre¬ view. Previous week, $10,000 for five performances at the Shubert, New Haven. Destry Rides Again, Shubert (MC-T) (1st wk) ($6-$7.5Q; 1.884; $65,000) (Andy Griffith, Dolores Gray* Scott Brady). Opened March 9 to one rave (Murdock, In¬ quirer), one okay notice (Gaghan, News) and onp (Schier, Bul¬ letin); almost $57,000. First Impressions, Forrest (MC- T) (5th wk) ($S-$6.60; 1,763; $62,- 511) (Polly Bergen, Farley Gran¬ ger, Hermione Gingold). . Almost $50,600. Previous week, $56,500. Gay Felons, Locust (C-T) ($4.50- $5; 1,418; $35,000) (Denise Darcel, Jacques Francois, George Tobias). Opened March 9 to one favorable review and two pans from second stringers; almost $7,800. Folded last Saturday (14) after playing One week of a scheduled fortnight stand here. Previous week, $12,- 500 at the Ford’s, Baltimore. TORONTO Dark at the Top of the Stairs, Royal Alexandra (D-RS) ($4.50-$5; 1,525; $35,000). Over $20,800. Heavy snow is figured to have dented business. Previous week, $20,000 at the Shubert, Detroit. WASHINGTON Bells Are Ringing, National (MC- RS) (1st wk) ($5.95-$6.60; 1,677: $46,549) (Judy Holliday). Opened Match 1<J to favorable notices (Carmody, Star; Coe, Post; Don¬ nelly, News). Almost $42,400 for seven* performances with Guild subscription. Miss Holliday missed the two Wednesday (14) perfor¬ mances, with understudy Lynne Stuart subbing. SPLIT WEEKS Li’l Abner (MC-RS, bus-and- truck). Totalled $29,1Q0 for seven performances, as follows: Munici¬ pal Aud., Oklahoma City, Monday (9), one, $5,000; Municipal Aud., Tulsa, Tuesday-Wednesday (10-11), three, $15,600 on Broadway Thea¬ tre League subscription; Robinson Aud., Little Rock, Thursday-Friday (12-13), two, $5,800; Shrine Mosque Aud., Springfield, Mo., Saturday (14), one, $2,700. Previous week, $42,000 for six-performance split. Look Back in. Anger (D-RS) (Donald Harron, Pippa Scott). To¬ talled $11,000 for seven perfor¬ mances, as follows: City Aud., Topeka, Monday (9), one; City Aud., Independence, Kan., Tues¬ day (10), one; Music Hall, Kansas City, Wednesday-Thursday (11-12), two; Arcadia, Wichita, Friday- Saturday (13-14), three. Previous week, $15,800 at the American, St. Louis. Romanoff and Juliet (C-RS) (Bert Lahr). Totalled $29,200 for seven performances, as follows: Stanley, Utica, Monday (9), two, $9,400 on Broadway Theatre League subscription. Proctor, Schenectady, 'niesday (10), one, $6,200 on BTL subscription; Aud., Rochester, Thursday-Saturday (12- 14), four, $13,600 on BTL subscrip¬ tion and closed. Previous week, $14,000 for six-performance split. Touring Shows (March 15-29) Bells Are Ringing (Judy Holliday)—Na¬ tional, Wash. (16-28). Dark at the Top of the Stairs —Para¬ mount, Toledo (16-17); Har tman , Col. (18-21); Shubert, Cincy (23-28). ■ Desert Incident (tryout)—Walnut, Philly (16-21, moves to N.Y.) (Reviewed in VARIETY. March 11, ’59). Destry Rides Again (tryout) (Andy Grif¬ fith. Dolores Gray)—Shubert, Philly (16- 28) (Reviewed in VARIETY, March 11, 59). Garden District (Cathleen Nesbitt, Diana Barrymore)—Shubert, New Haven (16-21); Shubert, Det. (23-28). Girls in 509 (Peggy Wood,. Imogene Coca)—Civic, Chi (16-28). LIT Abner (bus-and-truck)—BLackstone. Chi (16-28). . Look Back in Anger (Donald Harron, Pippa Scott)—Murat, Indpls. (16-18); Memorial Aud.. L’ville (19-21); XRNT, Des Moines (23); Paramount, Omaha (24); Aud., Denver (26-28). Music Man (2d Co.>^-Shubert, Chi (16-28). My Fair Lady (2d Co.) (Michael Evans, Diane Todd)—Riviera, Det. (16-21); Aud., Rochester (23-28). Two for the Seesaw (2d Co.) (Ruth Roman, Jeffrey Lynn)—Todd, Chi (16-28). Warm Peninsula (tryout) (Julie Harris) —Erlanger, Chi (16-23) (Reviewed in VARI¬ ETY, Nov. 3. ’58). (Figures denote opening dates ) Boy Friend, Gheny Lane (1-25- 58) . Clearing in the Woods, Sheridan Square (2-12-59>. Crucible, Martinique (3-11-58). - Enemy of the People, Actors Playhouse (2-4-59). Geranium Hat, Orhpeum (3-17- 59) . Golem, St. Mark’s (2-25-59). Hamlet of Stepney Green, Cricket (11-13-58). Heloise, Gate (9-24-58). Many Loves, Living Theatre (1- 13-59). Royal Gambit, Sullivan St. (3-4-59). Threepenny Opera, deLys (9-20- 55). Tis a Pity She’s a Whore, Play¬ ers (12-5-58). Widowers' Houses, Downtown (3-2-59). Closed Ivanov, Renata (10-7-58); closed last Sunday (15). Man Who Never Died. Jan Hus (11-21-58); closed last Sunday (15). On the Town, Carnegie Hall Playhouse (1-15-59); closed last Sunday (15). Quare Fellow, Circle in Square (11-27-58); closed last Sunday (15). She Shall Have Music, 41st St. (1-22-59); closed last Sunday (15). Trip to Bountiful, Theatre East (2-26-59); closed March 8. Buffalo Skinner, Theatre Mar¬ quee (2-19-59); closed last Sun¬ day (15). Stock Bills (March 16-19) Dear Liar (tryout) (Katharine Cornell, Brian Aherne)—Cocoanut Grove Play¬ house, Coral Gables, Fla. (23-28). Last Days of a Young Man (tryout) (Vicki CummingsK-Fred Miller Theatre, Milwaukee (16-21). Mousetrap —Margo Jones Theatre, Dal¬ las (24-29). Not in the Book (tryout) (Edward Everett' Horton, Reginald Owen)—Som¬ brero Playhouse, Phoenix (17-22). The Nervous Set (tryout)—Crystal Pal¬ ace, St. LoUis (16-29). Third Best Sport (Celeste Holm)—Royal Poinciana Playhouse, Palm Beach (16-21). Rainmaker (Meg Mundy)—Fred MiUer Theatre, Milwaukee (23-28). Triple Play (tryout) (Hume Cronyn, Jessica Tandy). Cocoanut Grove Play¬ house, Coral Gables, Fla. (16-21). London Shows (Figures denote opening dates) LONDON At Drop of Hat, Fortune 0-24-57). Auntie Mame, Adelphi (9-10-58). Blue Magic Revue, Wales (2-19-59). Breath of Spring, Duke York’s (3-26-58). Chrysanthemum, Apollo (11-13-58). Cinderella, Coliseum (12-18-58). Clown Jewels, Vic. Palace (3-5-59). Comedie Francaise, Princes (3-16-59). . Day in Life Of, Savoy (10-1-58). Five Finger Exercise, Comedy (7-16-58). Grass Is Greener, St. Mart. (12-2-58). Hook, Line, Sinker, Piccadilly (11-19-58). Irma La Douce, Lyric (7-17-58). Living for Pleasure, Garrick (7-10-58). Long, Short, Tall, Royal Ct. (1-7-59), Repertory, Old Vic (9-17-58). ’ Mousetrap, Ambassadors (11-25-52). My Fair Lady, Drury Lane (4-30-58). Not In the Book, Criterion (4-2-58). Roar LHce * Dove, Phoenix (9-25-57). Rose Tattoo, New (1-15-59). Salad Days, VaudeviUe (8-5-54). Simple Spyman, Whitehall (3-19-58). Taste of Honey, Wyndham’s (2-10-59). Two for Seesaw, Haymarket (12-17-58). Unexpected Guest, Duchess (8-12-58). Valmouth, Saville (1-27-59). West Side Story, Majesty’s (12-12-58). SCHEDULED OPENINGS Wolf's Clothing, Strand (3-17-59). CLOSED D'Oyly Carte, Prince's (12-15-58). For Adults Only, Strand (6-25-58). Traveller Luggage, Arts (1-29-59). SCHEDULED N.Y. OPENINGS (Theatres Set ) BROADWAY Desert Incident, Golden (3-24-59). Katakl, Ambassador (4-9-59). Triple Play, Playhouse (4-15-59). Destry Rides Again, Imperial (4-23-59). Gypsy, Broadway (5-14-59). OFF-BROADWAY Ole, Greenwich Mews (3-18-59). Our Town, Circle id Square (3-23-59). Waltr of Toreadors, Jan Hus (4-6-59). Come Play With Me, York (4-7-59). Ping-Pong, 7 Arts (4-9-59). Season of Choice, Barbizon (4-13-59). Smokeweaver's, 4th St. (4-14-59). Single Man at Party,- Marquee (4-16-59). Onfee Upon a Mattress, Phoenix (5-12-59). Secret Concubine, Renata (wk. 64-59). David. Cogan, co-producer of* “A Raisin in the Sun,” has purchased the two-story taxpayer at the north¬ west corner of Third Avenue and 84th Street* N.Y. He plans replac¬ ing it with a 15-story apartment building. The property is assessed at $235,000. Mark Epstein, a member of Tel Aviv’s Habima Chamber Theatre, will conduct a 10-week improvisa- tional mime course at the Gene Frankel Theatre Workshop, N. Y., beginning next Monday 123). The first of three successive Monday night performances of James Paul Dey’s “The Redemp-r tor” at the Cricket Theatre, N. Y., was presented last Monday even¬ ing (16). . Elia Kazan, currently repre¬ sented on Broadway as stager of “Sweet Bird* of Youth” and “J.B.,” left New York last Friday (13) for a 10-day vacation visit with “J.B,” author Archibald MacLeish in Antigua, B.W.I. i Ruthanna Boris staged the cho¬ reography for “Ole,” opening tonight (Wed.) at the Greenwich Mews Theatre, N ; Y. Karl Nielsen is production stage manager and Jeanette Kamins pro¬ duction associate for “Desert In¬ cident.” Legit pressagent Arthur Cantor and company - general manager Joseph Harris will present “Davy Jones’ Locker,” a full-length- pro¬ duction by the Cora Baird Mario¬ nette Theatre, at the Morosco Theatre, N.Y., from March 28- April 5. Mary Rodgers, daughter of Richard ‘Rodgers, is responsible for the music and lyrics. Oscar Olesen and Lewis Allen, general manager and playreader, respectively, for producer Robert Whitehead, are planning their own Broadway presentation of Henry Denker’s “A Sound of Distant Drums,” formerly titled “Dead¬ lock.” “The Mahoney,” by. Romeo Mul¬ ler, will be presented April 16-18 by The Lambs* at the theatre in the clubhouse in New York. Mara Productions has been formed by Marvin Legunoff and Ralph Roseman to present plays off-Broadway. Milton Geiger, co-author with Max Wylie of “Everywhere a Chick- Chick,” is on the Coast casting the comedy, scheduled for Broadway production next fall by Franchot Productions, which includes Maude and Richard Franchot, Marvin Kline and Lisa Freeman. Anton Walbrook is slated to make his American legit debut in “Masterpiece,” which Christopher JB. Mahos and Arnold Margolin plan presenting on Broadway next November. The play by magazine writer Gordon Russell and actor Larry Ward, who’s currently ap¬ pearing on Broadway in “The Dis¬ enchanted,” will be directed, by Michael Howard. A double-bill comprising Jean Anouilh's one-act plays, “Medea” and.“Ceeile,” is planned for Broad¬ way presentation by Durran Pro¬ ductions, a new producing $rm. Bill Butler is to direct. “Caprice,” adapted by Lucienne Hill from Armans Salacrou's coin- continued on page 94) J B way Up: Urf 45}£G (7), ‘Juno’ 43G, ‘Raisin’ $29,100 in 7, ‘Lute’ $24,400, Disenchanted’ $20,000, lulu’ $16,700 Business Improved for most Broadway shows last week. Pros¬ pects for this frame aren’t too promising and a cave-in is antici¬ pated xor the next stanza (Holy Week). Sellouts and virtual capacity en¬ tries last week included “Flower Drum Song,” “La Plume de Ma Tante,” “Majority of One” “Mar- riage-Go-Round,” “Music Man,” and newcomer, “Sweet Bird of Youth.” There were no closings last week, but “Masquerade,” which opened last Monday night (16), tossed in the towel after the preem performance. 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 (where two prices are given, the higher is for Friday-Saturday nights and the lower for weeknights), number of seats, capacity gross and stars. Price includes 10% Federal and 5% City tax, but grosses are net; i.e., exclusive of taxes. Cold Wind and the Warm, Mor¬ osco (D) (14th wk; 112 p) ($6.90; 946; $35,300) (Eli Wallach, Mau¬ reen Stapleton). Over $19,100 on twofers. : Previous week, $14,800 on twofers. Closes next Saturday (211. Disenchanted, Coronet (D) (15th wk; 117 p) ($6.90; 1,101; $36,131) (Jason Robards. Jr., Rosemary Harris). Almost $20,000 on twofers. Previous week, $19,200 on twofers. Flower Drum Song, St. James (MC) (15th wk; 120 p) ($8.05; 1,- 615; $62,632). Over $62,600 again with parties. Gazebo, Lyceum (C) (14th wk; 106 p) ($6.90; 995; $29,600) (Walter Slezak, Jayne Meadows'. Almost $20,100; Previous week, $17,700. Jamaica, Imperial (MC) (66th wk; 523 p) ($8.35; 1.427; $64,000) (Lena Horne, Ricardo Montalban). Over $41,100 on twofers. Previous week, $37,400 on twofers. Closes April 11, J. B., ANTA (D) (14th wk; 108 p) ($6.95; 1.185; $46,745) (Chris¬ topher Plummer, Raymond Mas¬ sey, James Daly'. Nearly $29,100. Previous week, $26,800. Juno, Winter Garden (MD) (1st wk; 8 p) ($8.05; 1,404; $64,213) (Shirley Booth, Melvyn Douglas). Almost $45,000 for first eight per¬ formances. Scheduled to c ose next Saturday (21). La Plume de Ma Tante, Royale (R) (18th wk; 143 p) ($7.50; 1,050; $41,800) (Robert Dhery). Almost $42,900. Previous week, same. Look After Lulu, Miller’s (C) (2d wk; 15 p) ($6.90; 946; $31,600) (Roddy McDowall, Tammy Grimes, George Baker). Nearly $16,700. Previous week, $23,100 for first seven performances and one pre¬ view. Look Homeward, Angel, 54th St. (D) (68th wk: 540 p) ($6 90; 1,037; $46,384) (Miriam Hopkirs, Ed Begley). Almost $14,000 on two¬ fers. Previous week, S15.400 on twofers at the Barrymore Theatre. Majority of One, Shubert (C) (4th wk; 32 p) ($6.90; 1,453; $53,- 000) (Cedric Hardwicke, Gertrude Berg). Nearly $52,400 with Guild subscription. Previous week $48,- 000 with Guild subscription. Make A Million, Playhouse (C) (21st wk; 164 p) ($6.90; 994; $36,- 700) (Sam Levene). Over $16,300. Previous week, $13,800. Moves April 13 to the Morosco. Marriage-Go-Round, Plymouth (C) (20th'wk; 157 p) ($6.90; 1.062; $43,000) (Charles Boyer, Claudette Colbert). Over $43,300. Previous week, $43,100. Music Man, Majestic (MC) (65th wk; 516 p) ($8.05; 1,626; $70,200). Over $71,000. Previous week, $70,000. My Fair Lady, Hellinger (MC) (157th wk; 1,251 p) ($8.05; 1,551; $69,100). (Edward Mulhare, Pamela Charles). Over $70,000. Previous week, $68,100. Once More With Feeling, Na¬ tional (C) (21st wk; 167 p) ($6.80; 1,162. $43,800) (Joseph Cotton, Arlene Francis). Nearly $22,700. Previous week, $21,000. Pleasure of His Company, Long- acre (C) (21st wk. 165 p) ($6.90; 1,101; $37,600) (Cyril Ritchard, Cornelia Otis Skinner, Charlie Ruggles, Walter Abel). Almost $35,000. Previous week, $32,100. Raisin in the Sun, Barrymore (D) (1st wk; 6 p) ($6:90; 1,076; $41,- 569) (Sidney Poiter). Opened last Wednesday (11) to unanimous ap¬ proval (Aston, World-Telegram; Atkinson, Times; Chapman, News; Coleman, Mirror; Kerr, Herald Tribune; McClain, Journal-Ameri- can; Watts, Post); over $29,100 for first six performances and one preview. Rashomon, Music Box (D) (7th wk; 55 p) ($6.90-$7.50; 1.010; $38,- 500) (Claire Bloom, Rod Steiger, Oscar Horaolka, Akim Tamiroff). Almost $33,000. Previous week, $32,600. Redhead, 46{h St. (MO <6th wk; 44 p) ($9.20; 1,297; $62,410) (Gwen Verdon). Nearly $61,900 * with parties. Previous week, $62,000 with parties. Rivalry, Bijou (D) (5th w r k; 41 p) ($6.90; 599; $22,500) (Richard Boone, Nancy Kelly, Martin Gabel). Almost $12,600. Previous week, $13,000. Sunrise at Campobello, Cort (D) (59th wk; 468 p) ($6.90; 1.155; $38,300) (Ralph Bellamy). Nearly $27,600. Previous week, $25,000. Sweet Bird of Youth, Beck (D) (1st wk; 7 p) ($6.90; 1,280; $47,963) (Paul Newman, Geraldine Page, Sidney Blackmer). Opened March .10 to unanimously affirmative re¬ views (Aston, World-Telegram; Atkinson, Times; Chapman, News; Coleman, Mirror; Kerr, Herald Tribune; McClain, Journal-Ameri- can; Watts. Post); almost $45,500 for first seven performances and one preview. * Tall Story, Belasco <C) (7th wk; 52 p) ($6.90; 1,037; $37,127) (Hans Conreid, Marc Connelly, Marian Winters). Almost $22,500. Previous week, S18.1C0. Touch of the Poet, Haves (D) (24th wk; 188 p) ($7.50; 1.139; $43,- 887) (Helen Hayes, Eric Portman, Kim Stanley, Betty Field). Nearly $24,300. Previous week, $24,800. Lays off next week. Two for the Seesaw, Booth (CD) | «61st wk; 484 p) ($6.90; 780; $32,- ' 300) (Dana Andrews, Anne Ban¬ croft). Over $20,000. Previous week, $22,200. West Side Story, Broadway (MD) (77th wk; 612 p) ($8; 1,900; $76,- 417). Over $53,500 on twofers. Previous week, $42,900 on twofers. Has to vacate theatre May 9. World of Suzie Wong, Broad- hurst (D) (22d wk: 175 p) ($6.90; 1,214; $47,400). Nearly $44,900. Previous week, $41,300. . Miscellaneous Lute Song, City Center (MD) (1st wk; 6 p) ($3.80; 3,030; $61,812) (Dolly Haas, Leueen MacGrath, Estelle Winwood, Philip Bourneuf, Shai-K-Ophir, Tonio Selwart, Clar¬ ence Derwent). Opened last Thurs¬ day (12) to four affirmative notices (Aston, World-Telegram; Atkinson, Times; Coleman, Mirror; Crist, Herald Tribune), one yes-no (Watts, Post) and two negative (Chapman, News; McClain, Journal-American); Almost $24,400 for first six per¬ formances ard two previews. Opening This Week Masquerade, Golden (D) ($6.90; _ 800; $30,000) (Donald Cook. Glenda j Farrell, C’oris Leachman). Richard V/. Krakeur (in association with j Louis d’Almeida) presentation of j play by Sigmund Miller; opened : Monday night <16) to unanimous j pans (Aston, World-Telegram; 1 Atkinson, Times; Chapman, News; j Coleman,* Mirror; Kerr, Herald 1 Tribune; McClain, Journal-Ameri- 1 can; Watts, Post) and closed the same night. First Impressions, Alvin (MC) , <$8.35-$9.20; 1,453; $61,568) (Polly Bergen, Farley Granger, Hermione j Gingold). George Gilbert and Ed¬ ward Specter Productions, Inc., ' presentation of musical based on i Jane Austen’s novel, “Pride and ‘ Prejudice,” and the dramatization of the same title by Helen Jerome, with book by Abe Burrows and music and lyrics by Robert Gold¬ man, Glenn Paxton and George Weiss; opens tomorrow night (Thurs.). 'RENAISSANCE' BOOK “Studies in English Renaissance Drama” edited by Josephine W. Bennett, Oscar Cargill and Vernon HaR, Jr. (N.Y.U. Press; $6), is published in memory of Karl Jul¬ ius Holzknecht, expert in the field who, at his death in 1956, headed Graduate English Dept, at N.Y.U. This scholarly tome, principally uesful as a reference work, has entries by several writers on Shakespeare, Marlowe, Jonson, Heywood, Middleton and others of the period; also covering such sub¬ jects as Elizabethan punctuation, stage directions, acting, plot and character development. Rodo.