Variety (October 1923)

20 VARIETY LEGITIMATE Thursday, October 11, 1928 nea at the end of the third act com- pares favorably with any atase ef- fect ever produced In New York or liondon. Among other effects is the crashing of an automobile into a road obstruction Bupposed to be at midnlirht, with the headlights full on. This was a relatively simple affair that would seem to be capable of elaboration. In the last act wc are shown the horse race wUh the aid of the treadmill as was di)ne with "Ben Hur" but with many more horses, and on what appeared to be a much larger scale. Instead of the former method of engaging one or two prominent players for the leads, Collins s«ems to have gone after an all-star cast of principals. With Julian Royce as the chief villain. Ellis Jeffreys as the titled racing woman; I;anghorne Burton as leading man; Joyce Carey as the heroine, and, most im- portant of all, Edmund Gwenn for a. comedy character role, not to mention Claude Rains as a perse- cuted nobleman very much in the clutches of the villain. Rains gave every promise at the opening of the piece of scoring a tremendous hit, but tapered off to a point where It looked as if he was giving a con- ventional imitation of David War- Jield in "The Music Master." If this review were concluded without mentioning the piece was written by Seymour Hicks and Ian Hay, the reader would feel the omission was a deliberate one. They are entitled to special mention for dialog and cumulative progression of a plot utilized at that bouse for at least a generation. There seems to be no question of the success of the venture, and this opinion is strengthened by the fact that the libraries purchased £22,- 000 worth of seats after the dress rehearsal. The management alrvtdy announces seats arc on sale for Boxing Day (Dec. 26). JoJo, HASSAN Ijonrtcn. Sml. SI. Hauan, • ConlMtloacr H«nry AInley Peliro Bi-m* Prri y Yanmln C«thl»en Ncubltt A Porter Sidney Bland TiM Cftlll'li. Haruun Al iUKhUL Malcolm K«n iBhak. Minstrel l*on Quartermaine Jafar. V iiltr .'.. Krank Cochmne marnur, Execuliuner Eidmund Wlllnrd Ran. King of tha Bcrgara Basil Gill Alder ni<a I'nBe Willow Kitty McCoy Juniper Maureen Dilon ■ramarltk Eileen Kavcn bcccai Leaders, Nicholas Nadegin and St. Barb* West All Ivor Barnard Abdd Andrew I^lgh Chlot nt Police Alfred Clark captain ot Military ....Tarver Peniia Herald .Douglaa Burlildge I'crvaneh Ijiwra Cowie Characlera at th« Caliph'« Court Pilnce of Basra Frank Vesper t'rince of Damascus Claude Dela\al >rin'eof Konlah Oslorn Adair (iovernor of Ktioraran.... Harrison Ijiwson Vallfrnphiat Thomas Waters WrcBtler B. B. Kvremonde Abu Nowar, Jester Sidney Bland The Rajah C. R. Stone Oblnese Piiilosopher Ivor Barnard Dcn-ish ....caton-WoodviUe AmbaseaJor Vivian Carew as more Eautcrn than seductive. Another eminent critic says that neither "Chu Chin Chow" nor "Colro," lavishly decorative as they were, could comp.ore for artistic taste with the scenery of "Hassan." Still another says, "It is a fine prose poem made into a fine play, and in- to the bargain the Jincst spectacle that even His Majesty's has ceen," adding that the spectacular side no- where hinders the action of the play. Practically all of the d»ily press Is equally fulsome. This should have the effect of drawing vast crowds to His Majesty's for a pro- tracted period. There are but two female princi- pals, Cathleen Nesbitt and Laura Cowie. One Is comely and the other can act. One has bren in America and the other hasn't. I'lactieally all the men aro brilliantly compe- tent, ai!?)ther confiimation of the oft-repeated statement that England is long on good actoi-s and short on good actresses. The critic who said "It Is a good spectacle, confusing to witness, with intermittent rather than cumulative dramatic interest," roincidcs in a general way with ihe opijiicii of Variety's reviewer. Ji/lo. Far and away the most important production of the London theatrical year is "Ha.ssan," presented by Ciospmlth & Malone at His Majes- ty's last night. It bcijan at 7:30 and ran until 11. It is in five acts, by James Elroy Flcckei-, nrr.inccd for stage production by Basil Dean. The story is woven round the ad- ventures of Hasi<an, a poet by phil- c.uopliy but a confectioner by prof<■.•<- mon, in the heart of old Baghdad. Through his love for a worthless widow anil a sciics of romantic happenings he fintls his fale linl<cd with that of the Caliph himself, and i.s instrumental in saving his life while the royal personage is on one of his nocturnal wanderings. In return for this, llaroun Al K.ischid raises the humble vendor to a position of honor second only to the Grand Vizier, and through the eyes of Hassan one witnesses a strange kaleidoscope of love, pas- sion and revolting cruelty, stretch- ing like a panorama through a gor geous backpi'ound breathing the at mosphere of the Arabian Nights. One of tho tragedies to which llascan is an unwilling spectator Is that of Rati and Parveneh. Ravi, the prisoner, having twned conspir- ator because of the abduction of his lady to the Caliph's harem, is of fered the choice between a day's restoration to his beloved followed by a hideous, lingering deiyh for both, or banishment for yimstlf. while Parveneh remains in I^aroun's linrem. Tho lovers decide to die to- gether. Ill spite of Hassan's Impas- sioned plca<ling for thrm the Caliph carries out his threat, and. to pun- ish Haswin for his temerity i.i in- terfering, compels him to witness their agonizing end. Sick to the soul wiih the sights and nearly out of his mind with the horrors he has witnessed, IIass.Tn departs with a wnndorinK rnravati, _ wetting forth on n mystical jouriioy— anywhere—to find peace. This reviewer is more or Ici-- ' biased against this type of enter- tainment. Rather than do .an injus- licc to the m.-inagcment It is prefer- able to take the cAnseiisiis of opinion from the London dailies. Jn one it is described as a blood- curdling drama; in another as a "spectacle more or loss confusing to witness, with intermittent rather than cumulative dramatic interest." The weird and wailing Eastern nuBlc is referred to in one review WHAT MOHEY CAN BUY London, Sept. 27. The brothers Walter and Fred- erick Melville produced at the Lyceum, Sept. 26, another of their long series of popular priced melo- dramas which has made them a for- tune estimated in many quarters to run into seven flgurcs in iiounds. This one is entitled "What iMoney Can Buy," and was written by Arthur Shirley and Ben Landeck, who have contributed many of the Lyceum productions in the past. "What Money Can Buy" is the crudest kind of old-fashioned "ten, twenty and thirty" story, and would not be tolerated for a moment in America, but continues to be pop- ular here, es)>ecially at the Lyceum. It contains a number of "asides," and the villains are so obviously vil- lainous, and the hero and heroine and their loyal friends so palpably virtuous there is nothing left for them but to suffer for three hours from I he machinations of their antagonists, witii the absolute cer- tainty they will triumph in the end. Resort is had to pizzic.ito music while carrying out the "dirty work," and a fair example of tho drama- turgy may be had from the state- ment that the first of tho four acts concludes with the.heroine striking a tragic pose and uttering the tag: "I wouldn't be that m.an's niistress for all the money in the world"; the curtain descending with the vehe- ment music chord. The heroine, Rhoda Pe.irron, through being brought up in a den of thieves, naturally takes after her surroundings and follows the pro- fession carried on around^ler, which ends in her "doing time,'' and it is in the prison chapel that the play opens. We see the poor victim of environment touched at the sermon delivered by the youthful parson, and realizing her wickedness in the past, detenu incs to follow the straight road. On leaving the prison, in other words a "tiokct-nf-le.ave," Khod.a becomes n domestic in the house of .a millionaire, cynic and arch-vij- lain; he of course wants to annex her, and tries to dazzle her with his we.illh, but is thwarted by the timely appearance of Denzil Nor- ton, none other than the modest young cleric of the first scene. Realizing the girl i" in earnest in her desire to lead an honest life, he gets a place for her in a hotel as book-keeper, but there another shock awaits her. In her crlme- niled youth she has allied hei-welf matrimonially with one of the gang, and it is only natural, therefore, they ijhould have picked on this hotel wherein to commit a Jewel robbery. While engaged in this pursuit, the leader of the crooks, her husband, kills one of the guests, and out of spite for his wife's turn- ing "good" so arranges matters, the blame falls on her. In her rush to eecape, she taken refuge In one of the bedroom.s—only to find it Is the virtuous chamber of the Rev, Densll Norton, her benefactor. Everything looks so black against the perse- cuted girl, that the only way of clearing her Is to establish an nlibi, which the parson proves, by saying she has been In his room all ninVit. All <lear, so far. Villain eluded, had man husband Ihwarteil, and the heriiine flies to llie arms of a hlutf pood-na;iired l<iiiiilo boo'K- maker for protcitKin. Tliis genial soul, who started lile .a« .a llov;er- glrl, tried her hand at liio racc- couiFe. and finally set up as a modiste, takes the girl on as a modil. Millinnaire-vUlaiii still pur- sues Rhnda and endcavui.s to lure her on to a yachting tup in Ihe iicdilerrajieaD.' The sorely-tried heroine, in love with pai son, still spurns his hatred overtiircM. .Hut wliin tlie riihteoiis younjr Rev. flen- zil derlnres his love ii.v lier. and bigs her to fly Willi liiir.. she ilelor- mines not to tie outilone by him in self-sjirriliie. and refiisiiig to drag him down, plans (o h<^ off on the yaehfinp eviuse. As a preliinin.iry she goes to a notoriou.-, night-club to Join the millionalrr, wliero the p.ir.son on ."ome good mission bent discovers her. apparently quite at home. The husband .'.rrives on the scene, and later the placfl la raided. Rhoda Is carried off by her devoted spouse, but la followed by parson- lover, and a scrap ensues. The mil- lionaire having been "done In" dur- ing the raid at the club, tbe police have followed the crook, and In en- deavoring to keep off bis pursuers by aid of infernal machines, he manages to blow himself up, thus leaving the way clear for the re- union of the young couple. Thus virtue triumphs in the good old Lyceum way, and proves to the world at large that money cannot •buy everything. The Lyceum company is prac- tically a stock organization, most ot tbe players appearing in these an- nual productions. Dennis Neilson- Terry is the hero, and is a fairly good actor, albeit a tendency to "sing" his Ifnes pretty much the same as do the other members of the Terry family. Jessie Belmore docs well with her emotional scenes, outside of which she can be classed as mediocre. Jefferson Gore is quite competent as the leadling vil- lain, Fred Morgan perpetrates an atrocious Italian dialect as one of the subsillary heavies, and Bertie Wright is a splendid character comedian who makes the most of an unsatisfactory role. Sybil Arundale reveals an attractive personality as second le.ad, and Ethel Warwick, as one of the critics describes her "un- dulated magnificently as a ser- pentine va.vfv." Prom the standpoint of a play for the states, "W^hat Money Can Buy" is nil, but judging it by a Lyceum first-night audience, where the virtuous characters were violently applauded, and the villainous ones vehemently hissed, the theatre is in for ahother successful season. Jolo. urns. THEATRES M LONDON CALLING London, Sept. 24. Andre Chariot's new revue, with the topical title "London Calling," produced at the Duke of York's proved witty, tuneful and original, handicapped principally by its un- due length and the presence of un- necessary details in the various sketches and numbers. With more than his usual elabora- tion ot dress and scenery, this new venture, written by Ronald Jeans and Noel Coward is a worthy fol- lower of its successful predecessors, and reflects credit on all concerned. In 26 "calls," which comprise t' e program, the honors go chiefly to Malsle Gay, Gertrude Lawrence and Tubby Bdlin, the former playing In all grades of character acting—from peerage to pavement. No»I Coward Is of the cast, besides part-author, and appears in many of tho num- bers. While his dancing is quite an asset and his personality alto- gether pleasing, the role of auther suits him better. "Rain Before Seven" Is a delicate little honeymoon episode and "Little Boggy Maggy" a noisy burle.'jque of "Little Nelly Kelly." When most of the surplus business has been deleted from the revue, and the cast settled down it should prove a pop- ular entertainment for some time to come. Chariot revues are almost ahvavs good, and in this last production he Is perhaps at his best. Jolo. A SO week season of popular, light operas, under the direction of Barry McCormlA, who promoted the plan, seems assured. The Junior League, a strong social organlca- tlon, at a meeting this week form- ally decided to sponsor the affair, and elaborate plans for the finan- cing have been commenced. Ten Or more teams, consisting ot 12 workers each,.will canvass the city on a ticket selling campaign, and the entire support and backing of the organization will be available towards making the season a suc- cess. Charles Gano, one of the best known veteran minstrels, will have charge of the producing of the Elks Minstrels at Marysville, O. Gano, a former comedian with the Coburn show, has signed to produce the' show, which will be offered about the middle of November. He plans to makp it one of the best amateur shows this lodge has presented In recent years. The Little Theatre Society of In- dianapolis, has completed Aiming of a two-reel comedy, the first such movie venture by an amateur or- g.anization in this section. Locations are all in the city and Marion county and the cftst is solely .of members of the society, directed by Arthur J, Beriault. Earl D. Munyan. another member, wrote the scenario. Proceeds of public showing will go toward the fund for the society's proposed theatre. The society's reg- ular dramatic sea.son opens Oct. 17. they had only one, that of th» Augusta Girls' Community ClubL Oct 29-SO the club will present "Springtime," a Rogers production. The Augusta Lodge ot Elks plan will give one ot the Rogers' new shows, "Bliflbo," and the Knights of Columbus win present "All Aboard" by the same company. For several years the Elks have given an annual minstrel show under the direction of the Miller Co. ot New York. Bath, N, Th home talent will pro- duce "Princess Bonnie" Oct. 16-17 «s a benefit for Bath Chapter ot the Order of the Eastern Star. There is a chorus of 80. Jay Florian Mitchell, ei-.gyracuse University student, was married at Tyler Hill, Pa., to Roxie King. Mit- chell vfas prominent last year in Syracuse University dramatics, and may again return to the local in- stitution ot learning. FOIN-FOIN Paris, Sept. 20. We are accustomed to a clever show at the Deux Ancs cabaret, whore wo aro only given food for the mind. Another witty revue fills tho new bill by Paul Collins, Georges Merry and Roger Ferreol. The title, a sort of street call, is of no consequence. This revue Is accompanied by a first part wherein the chansonniers of the establishments are heard In their own doggerel, political .so f.ar as the benevolent censor will tol- erate. Thus we have ditties con- cerning the authenticity of the Belle Fcrronniere picture, the occupation of the Ruhr, sensational events for Journalists' consumption and topi- cal subjects of no interest except- ing to people living within the walls of Paris. But the Deux Anes has a smart little show for Its habitues. Kciidmt'. THE BEAUTY PRIZE lyondon, Sept. 24. The latest of the series of Wintir Garden shows presented by Gro"- sinlth & Malone is "The Pcauly Prize." The book and lyrics arc liy George Gro.ssmith and V. G. 'VVodi-- house. mu.-ilc by Jerome Kern. It was designed to fit Leslie Hen.'ion, Grossmlth and Uorothy Dkkson as reaturcd players, with a large fiup- portlng cast of competent arti.sts. Everything that money, practical experience end Intelligence could supply was fiirnl.-hed for lliis pro- duction, yet somehow it seemfrt to miss, through no ono's r,niilr. Thr show began at 8:10 and thi lini! curtain descended about ]1;30. with the gallery somewhat restless anil appajcntly dissatlslird. A more popular trio of featm-cd player.i could not have been selected, not to mention (Miss) Heather Thatcher as principal support In a low comedy role. Her receiiiiou was equal to that of any ot the other three. There wore mftgnlfleent scenery, artistic .staging, lively dnncing and The Euterpean Choral Society, at iiaston, Md., has organized tor the winter .season, and under the direc- tlo:. of Mrs. Henry Hunt .McKee, of 'Washington, li. C, held it •: first re- hearsal this week. The organization which has been successful for sev- eral years, is compo.sed vt leading vocalists in and around this town and hopes to give at least three concerts during the winter. The officers of tlie olioru . ,-u-e: president, Mrs. Elizabeth Kelley; vice-president, Mrs. Charlei War- burton; secretary, Mrs. Edn.a Killen; ti'casurer. Isabelle Mulllkin; Li- brarian, Mrs. Robert Blaine. The Tampa (Fla.) Board of Trade is fostering community theatricals in a practical way. It has set aside an appropriation which will allow the Community Players, composed of all local talent, to present three comic operas this season. These will be "Priscilla," "The Mi.kado' and "Bonnie Prince.=^s." Local r.niatcur musical comedy is taking the place in popul.ar cnter- tninniert formerly held by the minstrel shows nt Augusta, Me. The John R. Rogers Producing Co., of Fostoria, O., is making a strong bid for supremacy there, having new three productions i'ormerly a reasonaljly good story for a mu- sical comedy, but throughout it all Hen.son was not as funn" as on previous occasions, Grossmith strug- gled with witty remarks and Miss Dickson tried to sing (instead of plenty of dancing, in which she Is more proficient). The mechanism seemed to be al- ways apparent. When Henson made hie first appearance, he stood in the center ot the stage and looked up into the files. There were euch ancient jokes as "When I get to Heaven I'll ask—'' with the protag- onist responding: *Suppo.se he Isn't there," which gives the comedian the opportunity to reply, "Then you ask him." Later, Gro.«flmith feels callid upoi to remark: "I'll he there with my liair in a braid. This sort of humor did not get over very strongly with the auillonce and m.ay account for not having been perpe- tr.ited here before. The press comments are quite diversified, varying from fulsome praise to more nr le;s di.>a|iprovaI. Thfrc will probably be som.^ dr.ostic changes b^forp ninny dnyy, which may maKrially improve tlie entrr- talnincnf. jo,„. MARRIED LOVE / I.^ndon. f".i'i)t. 2). Or;(.iii.illv produced in llio prov- tnr*-!* and hrmifrht to th" E'rphr!.nt ami Ca.'-lle. xhU jilay relies o:i it.« litlo and tlio wlioU.'ale iiniorielv won by .1. book on birtli control with the fame name. Leon I'lplliiek, the producer, has taiiin an ordinary k>x drama and produced it on quiet West End lines. Elephant audiences do not under- stand restraint nur do they appar- ently care for it. They like (o see the villain red hot in pilrsuit of virtue, and they love to see hep • Continued on p.igf 40) The Kansas City theatre, the lo- cal guild organization, started its sea.son with "To the Ladies," which v/ae credited by press and patrons as the best thing the theatre has ever done. The company was com- posed of retired professionals, col- lege students and clever amateurs, there being no salaries paid to any of the cast. Financially, the first presentation was a success, and the' prospects were most encouraging to the promoters for a successful season. The Greek Theatre Players.ot the University of California are now re- hearsing Owen Davis* "The Detour" for production In the university's "Wheeler Hall" for three days open- ing Oct. 31. The cast includes the following playeris: Zella Osborn King, Alberta Scoffleld, Charles B. Welkel, Albert Stern, Robert Ross, John Hcrzog and Eugene Norman. Tfie University of California Lit- tle Theatre is preparing for a new season and will open soon In Booth Tarkington's "Seventeen." An am- bitious program of plays Is sched- uled during the fall and winter months. Richard Ehlers is direct- ing the productions and has as his aKslstant Ingemar Hogbcrg. Most of the students taking piit In th* plays attend cla-ssee under Samuel J. Hume, director of the Greek the- atre. A series of one-act playlets, based on the little theatre idea, ^11 start at Marquette University, Milwau- kee, Oct. 17, when, members of the Marquette theatre, student dramatic organization, will present "The Dust of the Road." Prof. William R. Duffy is director In charge. Arch Ely is president and Helen Brock- man secretary ot the organization. The Wisconsin Players School ot Dramatic Art has opened Its second season In Milwaukee, with Margaret Schmid, known through her work with the German stock company at the Pabet tor two seasons, as In- structor, The school la offering every subject relating to the theatre. The Scarlet Ma.sk Club ot Ohio State Unlver.«lty is getting under way tor the tall sea^n with a new musical piece, to be staged as soon as new material at the university can be tried out and assembled for the cast. Two books have been written tor the 1»23 production, but the one which will probably be ac- cepted is that of James G. Thurtier, a Columbus newspaper man, and graduate of the university, who has written .several successful Scarlet Mask productions. The greater part of the music will be by A. • Hyatt Berry, composer of "Nobody Lied," who h.as evolved a new tune which is expected to eclipse the succe.-s of his first hit. The Mi^-higiin .Stat^ Normal Col- ic; e at Kalamazo is planning a Little Theatre on its campu-. LITTLE THEATRE CIRCUIT Hallen Scott Becking Houses 22 Louis llailett and Ashme.id El- .IridKa H<o(t have organized a LilUc Theatre Circuit, booking 22 bouKCS from .New Vork to the Coast. The fliiii Will send siiecial Little theatre companies on tour, a new company hitting tach hou-o every four weeks. Each company will have a reper- toire of three or more one-act pieces and a lhi<*-act presenlatioo.