Variety (June 1924)

18 VARIETY LEGITIMATE Wednesday, June 11. 1924 UTHE THEATRES TBIANGLE ART PLATEBS The current bill given by the Tri- angle Art Players at their tiny play- house In Greenwich Village keeps pace with the high standards of dramatic artistry set by this ac- complished group during the past few seasons. June 6 a new program was in- augurated by the director, Kathleen Kirkwood, containing two ^ rather serious efforts, produced on a com- paratively large scale, and one de- lightful little comic playlet, provid- ing the necessary relief in the way of laughs. 'H'h* Laughter of the Gods" Kinff Karnoi Richard Abbott Volce-of-the-Oods Josepli L.. BattI* Ictatharlon Charlea Penman LudUirma J. Warren Sterling Han>a«&s Charlea Rdgcomb Tbarmla, wife of Ichtharlon..Marion Barte Arolind, wife of Ludlbraa Sara Haden Carolyx, wife of Uarpacaa ISditb Broder Tha Executioner liUlaa Brucker The Camel Driver I>eah Dofllo Iktra, the Kln»'a Attendant Mlml Ro.'e The Queen Delia Muunta This Dunsany classic was well worth producing, but at the second performance (Friday night) it sagged a bit In spots, as some of th6 cas^ were not quite up in their lines. Neither this nor the general heaviness of the play could drown the beauty of the lines or the poetic appeal of the whole. The destruction ecene at the fin- ish was astonishingly well done, considering the Umltatlons of the small stage and mechanical effects. Another feature was the lighting, ai>d also the colorful and rich coe- tumea of the Babylonian period. Joseph Ik Battle a« the prophet, Richard Abt>ott as King Karnoa and Charles Penman aa Ichtharlon were outstanding. The piece was pre- sented in three short acts, but, with all due reverence to Lord Dunaany, it would have been more appeal- ing had it been somewhat con- densed. "The Coming of Jim* • Mr*. O'dormui..., Dell« Monnta Mrs. Balnea Celeata llaoAithur Nan Eldkb Broder Beaaie Hannah Hyman Kay Enia Houtbton I»o Minnie Maud Jamea Crippa Charlea Penman Bd Balna Edward Ifarchant Dr. Gray Rlobard At>bott Tad , Mlml Reae Clarence Derwent, co-author and director of "The Coming of Jim," has appeared aa a legitimate actor on Broadway. His playlet la a stark and gripping character etudy of the London LImehouse slums, with a bestial drunkard and wife-beater aa the central figure. Handicapped by Its unrelieved In- tensity and razor-Uke incisiveness, it managed to be almost completely convincing. There is a tortured child-birth just off-stage, with the woman's piercing shrieks clearly heard, and a brutal murder in eight, while three of the slayer's children also look on. This was the best acted of the evening. Charles Penman won the thespian laurels as the cockney beast. Edith Broder did well in the difficult part of an adolescent grirl, and two children added noteworthy bits. The piece was particularly well set and staged. "Renovated" The Woman.... T.«ah Doffle The Man Charlea Penman The Conductor Arthur Leroy With Just the proper satire at some of our more ridiculous divorcp and marriage conventions, birt with enough laughs to keep it defi- nitely from ever becoming serious, this playlet proved the highlight as entertainment. John Milton Hagen has poked subtle fun at the Idiosynerasies of those who regard Ueno as more of a plearure resort than a harbor of refuge from matrimonial woes. A few slight changpt. would make this piece a likely bit of vaudeville material. The running tin^s is short, the scene Is a simple Pullman set, the cast has only two people (except for u voice off-stage) and the material is of the sort that, with a little hoke, gets under the akin of tw>o-a-day patrons. At present some of the lines are a little above their heads. Charles Penman, appearing for the third time, added another ca- pable performance; but Lieah Dof- fle appeared more or less miscast. Perhaps the fault is not entirely hers. Any woman who might nfforU to travel to Reno for her divorce and bftthe her pet poodle in milk Is not likely to chew gum and in- dulge in other shopgirl characteris- tlca, as this particular young lady is incongruously forced to do. However, there are a bu.shel of laughs in the playlet, and at one or two points they turn into howls. John Milton Hagen, the author, is the well-known publleity exi)ert ■who has written several other dra- Biatlc works. GOLDEN BOUGH Edward Q. Kuatar Open* Carmel - By - the - Sea It At BRONCO BILLY JUDGMENT Shapiro-Bernateln'a Given Verdict for Moneys Advanced NEW PLAYS PRESENTED San Francisco, June 10. Edward G. Kuster who has spent a year abroad absorbing the newest ideas in theatre construction has completed his Theatre of the Golden Bough In Carmel-By-the-Sea, the literary colony near Monterey and last week formally opened It with "The Mother of Gregory," a play In verse founded on the old ballad "Annie of Lochroyan" and also Edna St. Vincent Millay's "Renascence" which was staged by Hedwiga Reicher. The Theatre of the Golden Bough, according to Kuster, is an experi- mental one, a sort of labaratory where new ideas in lighting and di- rection, staging and construction, are to be given close attention. Kuster says of it: "It has a huge plaster sky dome, a very large stage leading down to a forestage, which projects well into the audience and is connected with the auditorium by steps. The or- chestra is entirely hidden, the music room being lopated immediately be- low the forestage and the sound projected through specially con- trived risers of the steps leading from the forestage to the auditori- um." The Initial performance was en- tirely sold out. Parties from San Francisco and the bay cities jour- neyed to Carmel to attend. San Francisco, June 10. Judgment of $2,025 was awarded to Shapiro, Bernstein & Co. in the courts here against Gilbert M. (Bronco Billy) Anderson ae a result of the suit filed by the music pub- lishing firm for return of royalties and costs. According to the action, Shaptro- Ber.^stein alleged that in 1919 they entered into a contract with Ander- son, whereby the latter gave them unlimited rights to the mueic to be used in his musical adaptation of "I Love You." The contract called for a slx- njonths' minimum production In a reputable Kew York house and the publishers say they advanced An- derson 11,600 royalties. The show, It was alleged, passed away without ever leaving Cali- fornia. The Judgment of $2,025 covered royalty advanced plus in- terest and costs. CAMBRIDGE OFF WOMEN OUTSIDE NEW YORK CITY Only Personators of Feminine Roles in "Henry IV UTTLE THEATRES Patterned along the lines of the Moscow Art theatre, and the The- atre Guild, for the purpose of de- veloping performers in the seven arts, with a careful avoidance of commercialism, the new headquar- ters of the Seven Arts Playhouse, Los Angeles, has opened. "The Last Supper" and an episode from Schnitzler's "Anatol" were presented as the opening program in conjunc- tion with a bal masque. The following are officers: Dr. John W. TIeman, president; L. A. Parker, treasurer; John Gay ton, director of miscellany and housing; E^va Ettleson, secretary; Kenneth Chamberlain, art director; Alice Lawrence, dance director; Egbert Pettey, drama director, and Bertha Kaisley, music director. "Fifty Miles From Boston** was recently given for two performances by the St. Bridget players at Watervllet, N. Y. The principals included Eugene O'Hare, Charles U. McOmber, Mrs. W. J. Inglis, Clarence Leonard, Mrs. A. L. Kelly, James J. Gaynor, Mrs. Thomas Haynes, Great McOmber and Thomas Haynes. The Fisher Kids, well-known juvenile entertainers of Albany, amused between the acts on the first night, and Mike Mc- Tlgue, light heavyweight champion, gave a talk on boxing, the second night. Frank Trenor, a former profes^t sional actor, and "William Cox staged the musical comedy. London, June 10. Unlike Oxford, which loves to en- gage leading ladies for its univer- sity productions. Cambridge will have none of the fair sex on Its University Amateur Dramatic Club st^e. This being the case all the female parts in the forthcoming production' of Pirandello's "Henry IV" will be played by men. The production opens June 7. This Is the first time this play has been done in English and a previous production of the same author's "Six Characters in Search of an Au- thor" was banned to the general public. CHI MUSICIANS' DEMAND Want 20 Per Cent Increase and Pay During Layoff f Chicago, June 10. The musicians of Chi are asking for a 20 per cent increase in sala- ries In all theatres. They also demand that when a show brings in its own orchestra, the house orchestra must receive full pay during the layoff instead of half pay as they are now getting. This demand also goea^ when shows bring in special men for cer- tain Instruments when those instru- ments are being used in the house orchestra. MERSEREAU'S DIVORCE Husband, Geo. McCormick, Threat- ened Her with Butcher Knife Booth Tarklngton's "Seventeen" was given by the senior class of Hope HiKh School, Providence. last Frid.iy evening in the school hall be- fore a. capacity audience. Florence H. Slack directed the play, while A. Woodbury Calder, Jr., acted as stage directer. Prop- erties were in charge of Miss Helen E. Butts, assisted by Elizabeth H. Orme. Dancing to music of the Boylan Orchentra followed the play. San Francisco, June 10. Vema Mersereau, Pacific coast dancer and stock actress, obtained a divorce from her husband, George McCormick, here last week on the grounds of cruelty. In her complaint, Mrs. Mersereau charged that during a drinking party her husband wielded a butcher knife and threatened to decapitate her. .She also chargeiLjthat he left her after writing a note announcing his intention to remain away for all time. THE DEPTHS Boston, June 10. The Americai> premiere of Hans Mueller's sordid drama of the red- light section, translated into "The Depths," occurred last night at the Selwyn, with Jane Cowl and Roilo Peters, supported by six players from her repertoire company. The end-of-the-scason production was made solely to hold the Ameri- can rights under an option guaran- teeing a first-class production before June 10. The option was held by Dr. Adolph Klauber and the Selwyns. Miss Cowl has been on ^he hunt for a strong modem drama that would be exclusive to her and which could be added to her Shakespearean repertoire to add a measure of nov- elty. She's found it. • "The Depths" is probably as sordid a dramatization of the perils of pros- titution as ever hurried mother and daughter out of a Boston playhouse. As a medium for emotional acting it Is a personal triumph for Jane Cowl, and will make an Ideal extra matinee offering for her. Playing with a supporting cast of only seven and in two tenement bed- room InterIors,nt Is a relatively sim- ple show to add to her present Shakespearean repertoire. The story concerns a real dyed-in- the wool lady of the underworld who falls In love with a youthful com- poser (Mr. Peters). He finds what she Is, heroically takes her to his attic and hides her for a few months. His mother lives on the street floor of the lodging house, delightfully in- different to the experiment. Nature unexpectedly takes its course. The young composer's cyn- ical male friend tries to prove he can break down the barriers of her re- form, and almost succeeds at the second act curtain. She is angry at being hidden, and finally wanders in late one evening with some loose and Illicit change. After he gets a bit fretful about her casual liaison and after his mother philosophizes with her, she ends the show by Jumping from either a fourth or a fifth story window to a late curtain. Last night's opening was a ca- pacity turnaway, and the week will probably gross around $14,000, with one of the sweetest profits of the season. Mi6s Cowl does not plan a second week, fearing a bad weather break and because of plans for Europe. Marion Evenson, Edith Van Cleve, Jennie Eustace, Vernon Kelso and Jessie Ralph are other players. Miss Eustace scored big in the mother's role. LUib«y. Julio and Romyette San Francisco, June 10. ' Originally scheduled for produce tlon at Wilkes' Majestic, Los An- geles, Mrs. (Catherine Chisholni Cushlng's new comedy, "Julio and Romyette" received its Initial pro- duction at Wilkes' Alacazar her-e last week with Genevieve Tobin starred and her sister Vivian in a prominent role. The piece, which Mrs. Cushing Insists upon styling a comedy, bor- ders more on farce. Unless treated as such It win not pass muster. The plot »s wabbly with illogical Incidents. As farce, and played from that angle. It might be ac- cepted. In Its present shape the opus drags miserably In the first and second acts, where the author permits her bevy of ultra-fiapperish fl&ppers to air their views on things generally, voicing "wise cracks" in- terminably, at the same time imbib- ing liberal "shots" of hard liquor. They down booze as fast and with as little effect as a hardened bar- room lounger of the "good old days." Much pruning is needed, and when tMs is done and "Julio and Romyette" Is offered as sheer farce and nothing but that, it probably will prove a very acceptable even- ing's entertainment. There is much to commend the piece in novelty and laughs and Mrs. Cushing seems to have written funnier dialog than anything this reviewer records In the past from her. The play Is certp.lnly a well-suited vehicle for Miss Tobln and she plays the herone with skill and sympathy. "Julio and Romyette" deserves to have the name of William Shake- spare as co-author, inasmuch as Mrs. Cushing has used his lines liberally, lifting the bard's dialog to fill In entire scenes between her own characters. In several places she has invented blank verse of her own to fit the mood of the incident. The play opens wtth a prolog at the gates of Sing Sing prison. It is past midnight. Two sleepy guards are nodding In booths on either side of the entrance. F'rqfn the inside come voices reciting lines from "Romeo and Juliet." The conversa- tion of the guards Informs us that a bunch of society actors are stag- ing a Shakespearean production for the Inmates. A trusty next appears to tell of how the "Romeo" of the troupe fell down in his lines and one of the "cons" in the audience picked up the cue and finished the scene with Juliet. Finally the actors appear and the (Continued on page 38) 4' .1 A it Is '?5 NEW PLAYS PRODUCED WITHIN WEEK ON BlAY vived the custom of giving an an- nual play when they presented "Green Stockings" at the Congress theatre last week. The performance was directed by Elizabeth F. Gorman, instructor in English at the school. CommencinB with the fall term, the Art Iiintitutf! of Chicago, will add a department of dramatic art to its curriculum. Thomas Wood Stovfciis, known as the father of pageantry in this country, will be at the head of the departmerit. Until the Goodman Theatre of Dramatic Art is ready, Stevens' classes will give short plays in the Fullerton Hall. Guild's "Conquering Hero" The Theatre Guild has acquired "The Conquering Hero," by Allan Monkhouse, of the "Manchester Guardian" staff, for production in the United States next season. The play was a success when produced In England. Officers selected In Providence, R. I., at the annual meeting of The Players are president, William C. Dart; vice-presidents, Thomas Cros- by, Jr., and Farrand S. Stranahan; secretary, John Hutchins Cady; treasurer, Herbert L. Dorrance; auditor, Newton P. Hutchison. Total membership reported at 850. The Community Players, Hunt- ington Park, Calif., last week pre- sented "Within the Law'' at the High School auditorium. The cast was composed of members of former graduating classes of the high school, who present four or five plays a year. She Stoops to Conquer Playera* Olub'a third annual classic revival of comedy by Oliver Ooldamltb at the E^m- plre, titv^otk, for one weak, atarllns June 9. ProlosVrltten by Oliver Herford, apoken by Henry B. Dizey In the character of Oeorge Bernhard Shaw, Play In five acta and four acenes. Produced under William Beymour'a direction; Alexander Leftwich, general atage manager. Sir Charlea Marlow Fraier Coulter Toung Marlow Basil Sydney Squire Hardcaatle Dudley Diggea George Hastings Paul McAllister Tony Lumpkin Krnt'st Glcndinning DIggory Henry K. Dizey Roger A. O, Andrews Dick John Daly Murphy Thomas Thoodore Balx;ock Stingo....' Maclyn Arbucklo Siang J. M. Kerrigan Jeremy Frnncia Wilson Mat Muggins Milton Nobles Tom Twist Riil-crt McWade Aminadab Hurry Bereaford A Farmer Auguatin Duncan A Postillion John Davenport Seymour Mrs. Harilcastle Rtlle Shannon Kate Hardcastle Klsle Ferguson Constance Neville Helen Hayes A Msld Pauline lyird A Bar-Maid Selena Royie Thtf play Itself, first produced In 1773, proved a long-winded, obvious entertainment, that has since had its basic idea adapted and adopted In sundry forms in condensed ver- sions and to far more fetching re« turns. The revival is but for one week. The balance of the week's scale is limited by a )5 top, with the doubl* admish again obtaining for Satur- day night. The auspicious cast struggled hard and not wholly in vain, but even they could not forestall that feeling of tiredness. Basil Sydney, Dudley Digges, Ernest Glendinning, Henry E. Dixey, Elsie Ferguson, and Helen Hayes contributed the most. The first nighters filled three- quarters of the lower fioor. Most contributed further to the Players' Club funds at two bits per four- page supplementary program, which consistod of .1 preface by Brander Matthews and a copy of Mr. Her- fords prolog. Ahel, Carillon Players, Morristown, N. J., recently gave three one-act plays, "Columbine," "Suppressed Desires" and "lie." The Mummers of St. Lawrence University will present "The Ri- The senior class of the Saratoga I vals" as the commencement play. Springs (N. Y.) High School re-' June* and T, "v A dlstlncuished audience, -'••in- guished by most paying $11 for first night seats, gave the I'layers' Club's revival of "She Stoops to Conquer" the air of an event Monday evening. The presentation soon dispelled this rare atmosphere, proving rather dis- appointing from every standpoint. The histrionics by a cast that looks like a charity benefit line-up were found wanting, both through lack of rehearsal and on other counts, and the comedy itself would have been put to shame for enter- tainment by almost any other style of comedy. Comparing the admission scales, burlesque at $1 is more entertaining in Inverse radio to the Oliver Gold- smith opus at $10. Henry E. Dixey Introduced the piece with a recitation of Oliver Herford's prolog that really required a Dixey to make it sound a' pealing, audibly. FLOSSIE A musical comedy in two acts produced by Charles Muiilgan at the I.yric June :t; score and l)ook by Armand RoW; lyrics by Ralph Murphy; dancea ataged by Jack Connors. Bessie .Alice Cavanaugh Flossie Doris Duncan Marie Jeanne Danjou Mr. Van Cortland Harry McNaughton N<lllc Mildred Kent Mildred Viola Holes Archie Sydney Grant S<-nor Don Ribelro Roljert Mamelurh Ttimmy Jack Wnldron Mrs. Van Cortland Rose Kessper Peggy Jane Van Ke'n Unole Kara Shep Carnp^ Chummy Kdward Fetherifton Filck and Fk>ck Handera and Mlilia Charle.s Mulligan, a new producer, brought the latest musical comedy offering to Broadway last week, the Lyric switching away from its usual picture policy. Armand Rdbl. formerly of Paris but who has hem In New York five years, wrote both (Continued on page 39)