Variety (January 1924)

It VARIETY LEGITIMATE r ^ Thursday, January 3, 1924 THE LONDON STAGE By JOLO Liondon, Dec. 20. Though 1923 has not been a great year In the Xx)ndon theatres it has been a year of steady advance and, above ail, a period of hope. The cut- put of rubbish was larec, but the ■upply of good things was bigger than In any year since the war. The British stage Is slowly recovering from the staggrring blow Inflicted upon It by the conflict of nations. Of the well-estiibllshcd dramatl.Hta Plnero, Galsworthy and Barrle gave nothing new, while H. A. Jones was represented only by "The Lie" (first Been in New York nine years ago). W. Somerset Maugham also sought favor with a play long known to American andlencos—the very bitter "Our Betters." The five parts of "Back to Me- thuselah," the gospol of Hernard Sjhaw, were produced through the enterprise of Barry Jackson in Bir- mingham. This pcntateuchal play haa yet to reach London. A. A. Milne supplied two plays— "Success" and "The Great Boxopp," t>otb below his usual stand.ird. R. C Carton's only offering was a foolish farce, "One Too Many." It was. The poet-dramatist, John Drink- iratcr, faced the footlights with "Oliver Cromwell" and "Bobert K. I/ee," biographical discourses dra- matically as dull as ditch water. Younger Set Better But If the old hands disappointed, the young and lesser known men provided compensation. "Hassan," by James Elroy Flecker, achieved the triumph of the year at His Majraty's. It Is a play of color, movement and humor, with lines of exquisite beau- ty. Its success Is significant, a healthy symptom not to bo disre- garded when diagnosing the condi- tion of the drama. Alas! we shall have no new work from the poet- author, for he died 10 years before "Hassan" was produced. "Outward Bound" discovered something only a little below genius In Iho writer, Sutton Vane. The theme of his play Is tremendous. It treats of a voyage into the void—the Journey of dead passengers to re- ceive Judgment according to their deeds on earth. Vane writes simply and effectively, and in every way the work is worth while. Charles McEvoy (of the Manches- ter school of playwrights) arrived with "The Likes of Her," a convinc- ing carol of cockneydom. C. K. Monroe, whoso ambitious war play of last year, "The Rumor," gave hope of very big things, haa his name at- tached to "At Mrs. Be.im'H," a rather aimless comedy, in which character la keenly observed. "T' Marsdens," a play of Yorkshire folk, discovered J. R, Gregson aa an- other playwright with a future. "The Outsider," by Dorothy Bran- don, was an effective study of an outside doctor steeped in love In- terest. "Advertising Ai>rll," by Her- bert Farjcon and Horace Horsnell, was ft bright satire upon publicity methods, the humor of which out- shone the precocious wit of Noel Coward exemplified In "The Young Idea." "Aren't We All?" (Frederick Lons- dale), "The Lilies of the Field" (J. Hastings Turner), and "Send for Dr. O'tirady" (George Birmingham) were all amusing comedies along ap- proved lines. The run of this last play was cut short by the lamented death of Sir Charles Hawtrey, one of the best of England's comedians. Halcott Glover in "The Second Round" gave the point of view of a man at war with the force of life. It was too "haranguetul" to succeed, as was "Our Ostriihos," by Dr. Marie Slopes, dealiBg with the subject of birth control. Edward Percy unexpectedly achieved nothing In 'Trespassers" and "Ancient Lights." and Laurence ninyon's "Arthur" added little to our sforo of poetic drama. John Masefleld's "Melloney Holt- spur" and George Moore's "The Com- ing of Gabrlellu" were each given for a few performances only. Flotsam and Jetsam The flotsam and Jetsam of the year's record includes "Love In Pawn." a Jew versus'Gentile play by Roy Horniman: "A Roof and Four Walls." badly built by E. Temple Thurston; "It Winter Comea" (from the novel) "Plus Fours" (Vachell and Simpson), "Three Birds," by H. E. Maltby, who has a pretty wit. sometimes; "Isabel, Edward and Anne,'" another Gertrude Jennings dressing up of a frowsy female; "The Alternative." 'The Morals of Vanda" and "The Rising Genera- tion." During all of 1923 the slap-stick slap-dash farce "Tons of Money," left over from the previous year, filled the Aldwych and looks as If it will do the same for another year. Many better farces have fared much worse. Melodramatic holglhts had been reached in "The Green Goddess," where the action occurs in the Him- alayas. Critic William Archer's play serves as a line vehicle for ac- tor George Arliss, who had pre- viously produced It in the U. S. A. Descending the melodramatic scale there was "The Dancers," a drooling drama pressed into service for 10 months by Sir Gerald du Maurier, the most popular actor In London. (Continued on page 161) BARRYMORE'S TOUR IN "HAMLET" ENDS IN JAN. No Explanation Except He's Tired of Role—Was Cleanup John Barrymore'a tour in "Ham- let" la dated for an abrupt ending Iat» this month. The star has been drawing astounding business ever since opening at the Manhattan for a three-week repeat date and get- ting nearly $76,000 for the engage- ment. Following his departure Barry- more'a business was Just as big, his gross last week at the Boston Opera House being nearly t3'l,000. This week In Philadelphia Is expected to return aa big a figure. "Hamlet" will be presented In Baltimore, Washington, and Cleve- land, but the booking dated to be- gin at the Garrlcjt. Chicago, Febru- ary 4, has been cancelled. No explanation has been ^ven for Barrymore'a withdrawal with "Ham- let" other than he Is tired of the role. The road was expected to be a clean-up for blm and Arthur Hop- kins. Last winter the star ended his season at the Harris after a sensational run of 101 performances. JULES MUBRT'S NO INTEBEST Julets Murry denies having had any Interest in "The Wasp." which closed out of town two weeks ago after a hectic career. He says the report that he had a on»-fourth In- terest is untruo GEORGIA SANDS From the Golden West sends Greet- ings to all, and the Season's Best. Thla Week, Pantagea Theatre, Tacoma, Wash. 1 am coming over to America to give my best wihIips in-rsonally to all the numerous friends I made In maC out of the ProfoKSion (luring my first visit in 1919, after an absence of seventeen years. HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL tWi. COHR(\t) • SEASON'S GREETINGS W1.C. EDDIE CONRAD of EDDIE and BIRDIE CONRAD v With Charlotte in "L'Episode Peculiars" Direction: LEWIS A GORDON Now playing Pantages Circuit. Direction JOE MICHAELS. sprinting home with the evening's honors—the comedy And of the season." . i NEW PLAYS PRODUCED WITHIN WEEK ON B'WAY MARY JANE McKANE Mualcfll play In three acts, a ecptiic pro- log and nina acentv, presented Dec. »> aa the Inaufiur&l attract ton ait the new im- pr-fiaJ, Now York. Mary Hay and Hal Skeliy arn thd f«n.txjrpd players whUe the produoiion la made by Arthur Hammer- vteln. Th(* book aitd lyrics are credited to WUIlam Cary Duncan and Oa^ar liannmer- steln 2d, with the music by Vlncont You- mans and ITerbert Stothart. Joe McCinioudy Hal STi.lly MarirlA Murphy Kitty K'>>lly Mary Jane McKane Hary Hay Caah I Carrie s Keene Twinn Martin Frost D«»«las W»-lford Andrew Dunn. Jr Stanley Hidgps Dorla Dunn Laura De Cardl I..oulse Dryar Eva Clark Oeoriro Sherwln Ix>ui« MorrNl Andrew l>uiin. Sr Jame« Heenan EUA SHIELDS 'Mary Jane McKane" looks like It Is going to have the Imperial ous Ite address probably until the middle of spring. A great deal of this is going to be due to Its scale of $2.50 top. Notwithstanding reports of big business In Its tryout weeks on the road. It doeen't look like a knock- out. But being a show which isn't topheavy with stars and which can live on a little less than some of the 42nd street musicals, it will probably stick. In it Mary Hay comes back to the «tage, her first appearance since "Marjolalne." This little actress, whose stage roles are the embodi- ment of wholesome girlhood, proves herself again to be mightily at- tractive. Hal Skelly is the same nut come- dian with fast chatter and smart young man stuff. Here he Is the Jack of all trades, and his comedy scenes are ably foiled by both Miss Hay and Kitty Kelly, who plays his sweetheart. The opening plants the story In three minutes without the ueual ex- planatory dialog. The flrot scene title Is fl^shed above a small false proscenium 'arch — "Mary Jane Leaves Slab City. Mass." The cur- talnn part and a lighted silhouette of that burg Is shown on the banks of a river. Another subtitle, "Her First Sight of New York City." and the lower skyline is shown with the same arrangement. Then another. "View from Her Bedroom Window," .and a clotheslin, stretched between fences of tenement backyarde is dls- c!.r*ed. The Idea Is plante<l that Mary Jane has left the small town for the big city and that luck hasn't t>e»»n with her, hence the living location. It Isn't much of a phot. The music Is well scored, ospe- fially the Incidental stuff, but It fall« flat in providing an outatand- Ing number. D.illas Welford has another Pallas Wflford role and he Is quite at home, while Ml»3 Kelly and Loui." Morrell also made a nice impres.'^ion. The chorus of girls, and boye danced and Bi^ng well and looked as well as usual. "Mary Jane' will do business, but "Mary Jane" Is a disappolritment. It's book Isn't anything much and. while the production Is adequate, it Isn't overpowering, and the Idea of having a hero who wears silk smoking Jackets In a boudolr-llke oftlce isn't any too pleaalnf. NEIGHBORS Oimfyjy in three nt-tn Pro«lucti,»n by Equity {layers at the IKth stroM theatre. PrBtniere I>«c. ao. RLa«i>U by rrli-stly Mor- rison. Mr. }JirM» Fredcrlclj Burton Mra Hicks Josephine Hull f>hofl>« HIcka nulh Nugent Johnny KIcka Tom Itrown Mr. 8tone .Sidney Miicy Or.iwfnril Stone Wnrrvn I..yona I.llMan Slonc Helen Mncka Mm. Ulackmore G<>orKle Drew Mendum Nettie niachnivn- Allon Ooodrlch The Bev. Mr. Tulliver Ilrufe BImore Aunt >.:arrlo Jewle l'r>iinint>tl<> Equity Players' second production of Its second season was opened at the 48th Street the evening after i Chri.Htmas. "Neighl)ors" is the second flop for Equity since "Zeno" was forced to stop guaranteeing the house $4,000 weekly in order that "Queen Vic- toria" could emulate •Mr. Brodie. That makes Equity Players even ur» with last year to date, so far as flivvers are concerned. . So far as a subscription production organization Is concerned, if its plays ' are not acceptable for the oumnier- clal theatre they can hardly be rated 8ucc6.sses. As yet Equity has deliv- ered no such attraction in seven straight regular production tries. "Neighbors" has no more chance than the others. The Impression left the second performance when only mediocre attendance was in. it was less. The selection of "Neiglibor.s" by Equity Players Is perhaps odd. It was written by Leon Cunningham, . who contributed one of last year's attempts, called "Hospitality." That .was a drab sort of drama. Probably somebody on 47th or 48th street fig- ured the same author would be bet- ter In comedy. The selection "Vic- toria" was highbrow, while "Neigh- > bors" cannot have that charged against It. The tale la about odorless onions and a rooster, and is told in one set, the scene picturing the living rooms of two adjoining homes. The son of the Stones Is to wed the daughter of the Hicks, next-door neighbors, the following day. A deaf old aunt drops a atlch In her knitting, and predicts that something awful is going to happen. The thing that happens Is a squab- ble between the families. Mrs. Stone's prize rooster gets Into the garden of Mr. Hicks, principal of the high school, who Is experimenting on the accomplishment of odorless onions. Pa Hicks captures the bird and locks him In the cellar. That portion of both houses Is constantly mentioned, for the gas pipes for the Hicks home pass through the cellar of the Stone house, and Ma Stone turns off the Hiekses' gns. _ In retaliation Pa Hicks shuts off the Stones' water supply, as those pipes pass through his basement. Hicks, senior and his son have been piling shingles down cellar. They are dirty, but can't take a Bath. Finally the ancient aunt Hicks is discovered knitting a bootle for the child that , might come of the young people's marriage. That dissipates the ran- cor of Ma Stone, and on top of that j Pa Hicks promises to return th« 1 rooster. 1 t CContinued on page 141!)