Variety (November 1924)

•V .-^t'":*-'. ,>f' 'A^'. _-.'■■ %. W«dnesd*y, November "•■»?™r^'" LEGITIMATE ,«'*r¥r|-fl-nr«»'»*»-'«Ts.-5OTr"r.'■ ^.ttt VARIETY 1» ^^- A' i la' V ■ ' fcV- IG Wite, has married for a bom* rather tluut ft husband and U b^lnnins to rvanaa th* futility of Dec«rab«r and jrtUr matliMr. she la fond of Eben. •an 5rh*a the •Merly huahand VrMaiaM.tO will bar hla property If tlM uixion la bleaaed with a aoo, ahe tlnally seducea the youth and the li»ir la bom. But out ot the jol- IXflcatlon comes the auapicion to Sfeen that be haa baen tricked Into wnat h« haa done and he threatens to tell averythlnc. Abl^le la really In love with £b«n and on flndlng that the heir stands In her way, commlta matricide in a daaperata hope to regain the boy's loTC. The latter, In frenxy, casts bar off and ruahes to tell the sheriff. Sphralm, awakened by the rumpus, «rna the facts and crumbles from the stern old oak that he has been to a crest-fallen willow, neelitug consolation of his cattle. Eben re- turns and finds that his love for Abbie Is real and accepts part of the blame for hor act in uncon- sciously precipitating It when think- ing he had been tricked. The cur- tain falls upon them vowing devo- tion while being led away^ by the shertir. The dialogue at times sugeests blank vcBse. having a poetic Hwing and motw often than not, epiernm- matla At all tijnes it is a faaiiful portrait of life that has been c:ip- Itally transferred to a script and equally competently directed. , AValter Huston, who recently stepped out of "The Easy Mark." gives one of the most brilliant per- foi^ancea of his career as Ephraim. Charles Ellis contributes an. excel- lent portrayal of Eben, while Mary Morris is capital as Abbie. Every, member ot the cast, even to the' minor roles, contribute commend- able work. A new idea In scenic settings was also launched by Robert Edmund Jones in a completely built cottage set upon the stage with portable trappings which permitted the re- moval of the sidings wherein the action was placed in the various episodes. The setting provided somewhat of the motion picture flashback Idea excepting that the story went forward. **I>e8lre Under the Elms" will have a strong appeal to those who love the artistic side of the the- atre. It Is more -for this class than devotees of the commercial theatra. In this limited capacity house of >00 chairs it should remain for a tun. It may even fool them and move up-town, but that Is doubtful. EdJxt. I- it • r ft. I SHIPWRECKED ■pactaeaUr drama la tour acts, br ZABtdea UcCormtck. atastd by Piieatlr * HorrlaoB. Pr^aented ty Daniel Kuae'.l •t tba Fraiaar Naw Tork. Not. II, Itll. ON THB WHARF Cartar. a barsamaa Palmar Howlatt Jaiisaa. a barcamaa Wllaoa MoUar Bradr. a watebman.. .Howard Patterson Ororan, a riverman..-... .Ifaz Von Illtiel Raffertr. a rtrarman Patrick O'Neill A Kaa i^ .Clar Clemant A Womaa Ollda Laarr - ON BOARD THB ••CORSICAN" CaRtala Irars Edmund Blton ■aeand onoar If cOill.... Joseph R. Oarrr TIUM Offlear Ones Joaaph Selman Qaartarmastatr Harlla...Oordoa Hamilton Steirard Cbumlr Robert WlUtamaoa JImmla FItshath Thomas K. Jaekaon Stare Catvla Clay Clemaat XiOla Austin '. ...ailda Laary AT BABAIiO ISLAND faaa Porter Ethel Stoddart Taylor aha Calrta Walter Law Oaffa William Johnaon Is about to replaco his father as Oovertu»r, when the old man takes • hand Sa the proceedings and wants to iMra the past history of tho girt Ho learns from her own lips th» story of her wanderings, of her discovery of the fact that as far as tlie men of the world are concerned she was not possessed of a soul, but only l>ody, and how finally sho wished to end it all. Then the father asks If she Is will- ing to let the boy work out his own future and leave him. She, out of the fullness of her love, consents, at which point the boy breaks In OS the story and announces that h« is not going to be a party to any such contract. It la the girl that haa given him the will to do. and with her and her only is he going to fight the rest of the way. The story, with the effect, will make a corking picture for Norma Talmadge. Gloria Swanson, or an actress of that type on the screen. It la a corking woman's role, for with a line on her previous life worked out in the screen version, there will be a chance to plant a kick In the script. There are three sets In the four acts. The first act, which only runs 11 minutes, has a wharf in dim light with a water ripple effect as its backing. The next two acts are on board the "S. S. Corslcan," with the stage taken up with the super- structure of an oncoming steamer tUken from that portion of the ship where the bridge and captain's cabin are. The cat>ln is disclosed after the audience has absorbed the spectacle of the whole ship, and herein the action takes place. The fln^l act Is a tropical Inferior. Clay Clem^t plays the Juvenile lead and does a very business-like bit of work. Thomas E. Jackson, playing a light oomedy role as the chum of the son, was an outstand- ing hit.* He got across wllli considerable force, tmd he is a bet to be watched for the light roles of the type that were the leads In the old George M. Cohan comedies. A comedy bit con- tributed by Rot>ert Williamson as an EngUsfi steward was well liked. The balance of the cast sufficed to (HI in. but that Is about all. Fred. In check and acU la a repressed vein. As a commercial proposition for New York, it doesn't took Ukely. What wUI be taken may eome largely from a limited (and pos- sibly French) clientele. The window sale at the time of the performance was negligible. Gemler may not have been brought over as a commercial proposition, even with the Shubert name attached. But with ."Mer- chant of Venice," "Taming of the Shrew" and "The Marriage of Fi- garo," business may perk up. The schools aiming at having their students look over the French drama will certainly take them to see something with which they are familiar in English. Since Mr. Hackett was Instru- mental In this invasion, it would have been more genteel and becom- ing had his name been employed, whilst it must strike many that such a notable group of players headed by a famous actor should have had a theatre such as the Empire, since the Shuberts ap- peared to have had nothing left for the French but the Jolson, right op- posite Central Park. 8l*k. BLIND ALLEYS Drama in a prolos and four acta pre- sented at the Punch and Judy Nov. IT; written bjr Alice Flrmins Sidman and Victoria Udntsomery; atased by J. Moy liennett. • Hugh Dane Richard Farrell Blahop Blesslns....- John COateilo Brace Cameron Oeorsa Welllnston Dicky BotteriUt J. Carlin Orandet Doctor Kerr Aucuatoa Balfour Michael Oaky ...Chariaa WasenhAln Shirley lice. Jane Meredith Margaret Dane Kate-Pier Roemer Caroline Wintera «.. RIeca Allan The Wayfarer Emilia Montroke Barbara Dane Alberta Darldaon Betty Dorothy Tatea ODEON PLAYERS La Procureur Hallers The famoua French theatrical gronp preaented by I<ee Shubert at Jolaon'a. Nor. 1>. Repertoire of elsht playa uaed. tncludlnc "The Marriase o( FIsaro," "Tba Tarainc of the Shrew" and "The Merchant o( Venice" aa tba claislc places. Othera ol modern wrltlas. Langdon MeCormfck Is back on Broadwajr again with another spec- taeuUr melodrama. Here, as with *^TIie Storm," McCormIck has •Tolved an effect and then written a play to At it. In his former piece forest Are was relied on to carry « play. In this he Is raying upon e spectacle of a burning steamer fea.for the big punch. It Is a _ punch but his play about it 4pes not livtf ilp to the wallop of the final few minutes of the third •ct. The chanoea are that "Ship- wrecked" will remain at the Frazee tor some little time, with the aid of bargain-priced seats, for It Is a •how that Is made to order for the I<eblang audiences. If the show gets anywhere at/all It will be through mass bt^lness and that •puree. . They are the people who will go out and rave about the Are Bcene; but the hard boiled playgoers 'Will And the melodrama Just a lit- tle too crude. In casting the play Is weak. The two people who had to be depended on - to carry the difficult portion of the third act fell down in the task the opening night. They are Gilda Leary as Lois Austin and Ekimund Blton as Captain Ivors. The story Is that of the ne'er-do- well son of a wealthy father. The boy In .New York at college, since has been leading a wild life until the father sent for him to return home. He is about to sail on one of his father's ships when he rescues a woman from the East river. As she is determined to cast herself back lato the water the moment he leaves her, he smuggles her on board the steamer and she Is not discovered by the captain until they are six days at sea. § The captain believes she must be morally loose to b« aboard ship With a young man. She defends herself and her honor to the last wallop with an ivory tusk when locked in the captain's cabin, and ait that point the ship takes Are. In the Anal act the boy has made good on the far-away island, he ' la reality it is Otto Kahn who Is responsible for the three-week visit of Mons. Gemler and his good-alzed troupe from the Theatre National de L'Odeon of Paris, and the line, "Liee Shubert. Announces" merely means that, the Shubert organiza- tion is acting as business manager for the three weeks' season. James K. Hackett's invitation performance in Paris in "Macbeth" Is responsible for the invitation to Oemier to visit these shores and an invitation from the State Depart- ment was sent him. Mr. Kahn is behind the whole thing hnd has acted as hi^ sponsor and host since the arrival of the company. At the Jolson the various shows are drawing but moderately with a IS.50 top. The scaling of the house, however. Is peculiar, as the $5.50 top runs back about 15 rows and then the price drops off to $3.80. Last Wednesday night, the Arst night with the regular press list off, showed a multitude of spotty places where the pluah was covered by human hulks. The balcony scale runs down to $1.65 without getting a heavy play. The play concerns Itself with a celebrated lawyer who Is a Jekyll and Hyde. His dual personality Is unknown to even himself. When he shifts from the role of an ur- bane lawyer to that of a crook, the name changes from Hallers to The Prince., That is what his apache friends' call him In their hangout. Organizing a burglary party, he leads the tough boys to his own home. Once Inside, they are trapped and his companions try to make a getaway, but the lawyer, hearing a whistle, unconsciously changes into his own raiment, astounding his friends. One offers to unveil his dual personality. Music sounds offstage and the attorney again uncon- sciously changes his clothes. Then he Is awakened from what prac- tically amounted to a coma. The conclusion is that a doctor tells him a cure can be effected by a mastery of the will. The play is inordinately long and written as It Is, in four acts, al- most ran until midnight. The Arst act ran 55 minutes and Is talk with little action, consequently very tiresome. Those succeeding pick up nicely, but never does the play hit enough high spots to convince the casual auditor it should have been included In a sample repertoire from the French national theatrical organization—Odeon. Mr. Gemler is a very Ane actor. His cast Is excellent throughout the 2S minor members. Two sets were both good and substantial. It .seems that the Odeon people really brought their equipment with them. Gemler's method la far different from that of the average continental Ho seems to bold himself "Blind Alleys" ie a hopelessly amateurish play in Its writing, act- ing and direction. It Is pitiful that such a venture should have so laud- able a purpose, the piece being un- der the upsptces of the Disabled American "Veterans of the World War. This organization may have par- ticipated In the expense of produc- tion and It is expectant, in any event, of receiving a share of the proAts. Harry D. Nleremberg, New York state commander of the vet- erans, is a casualty and received medals of honor from this and other countries. Is said to have personally invested to a considerable extent. The net result appeal's to be that he has a major casualty on his hands. The writers are unknown, as are most of the players. The wonder Is that a veterans' organization enter- ing theatricals for commercial pur- pones could not secure more promis- ing material. Advice without com- pensation from those In show busi- ness might have been secured. Xhat the futility of offering the play pub- licly after four weeks of rehearsals In the 6*th Regiment Armory, was not recognised. Is also suii>rlslng. It Is possible the theme had Its origin from the book "Simon Called Peter" (also a current play on Broadway), but the only semblance was found In the war background and the effect of the war on a clergryman. In "Blind Alleys" the war chaplain tias been unhappy at home. Over there he is attracted by an American girl ambulance driver. There is no impropriety and not until the end is there the ful- Allment of the love affair. That Is after the wife, an unnatural mother, has secured a Paris divorce. There is a prologue and four acts, one in two scenes. The change of scenes consumed 15 minutes each, while the acts were 20 minutes long, despite the report that plenty of stagehands were on hand. There was enough noise backstage to prove that Jane Meredith emoted all over the stage. Richard Farrell, the opposite lead, appeared too young for a man with a 16-year-old daughter, and mouthed his lines continually. Kate Pier Roemer caught the eye, but was hardly the type for the clergy- man's wife. EmIIle Montrose .played the wayfarer, showing a much idea of character than the others dis- played. Miss Montrose received training In vaudeville, having fol- lowed Charlotte Parry In 'Into the Light." It would be a difficult trick to make real money In so small a the- atre. With the overhead estimated at $4,000 weekly, including $1,500 house rental. "Blind Alleys" has no chance to break even, unless the tickets are widely distributed by those Intprested in reconstruction of disabled war vets. Entering this post chilly Monday night the play hardly got a ripple, though the audience was recruited entirely from friends of the veterans. Lll departed for home after the third stanza, giving the perfect alibi that there ehe could be warm and sleep in peace. Ihee. HAGEH DIYORCE ACnOH Chicago, Nov. 18. Vera Hagen haa Aled suit for divorce in St. Louis against Oliver K. Uagen, charging desertion. The latter was formerly connected with the Boyd &. Llnderman shows, and FOREIOI REVIEWS 1 THE BLUE PETER New play In four acta by Temple Thura- toB. produced by Albaa Limpua and Charica Kanyon at tba Prlnce'a, L,oodon. Oct. 11. CAST Edward Formby... David tlunler Harold Plavin Richard Walmaley. Bra. Hunter Bmma Jamea Callashan.. A Street Olrl Harry. .Charlea Kenyan Oeorge Tully , llrnry Oacar Oeorse Zucoa Uary Barton ...Cathleen Niabitt . .Fred O'Donoran ...Kathleen Ulaka .S. Victor Stanley Roala Callashan Dorothy Itlnlo London, Nov. 1. All the Indications, especially the reception gi.en it by the audience, are that E. Temple Thurston's new play, "The Blue I'eter," is set for a successful run In London. It. how- ever, just ml?scl being a sensation. Much of this would seem to be traceable to inadequate stage direc- tion. The piece is In four acts, two de- voted to a dissertation on domestic relations as applied to man and. wife, while the other two are active "red-blooded" atmosphere scenes. The Arst is located i« the wilds of Central Africa, and the other in a bar-room near the docks at Liver- pool. These latter are both capable of considerably more "action." Like the acts located in the home of the hero, little more thai; talk occurs. Given free rein, an imaginative producer should have placed before the public a couple of acts alive with action. The one In Central Africa touched upon some of the possibilities, w-hlle tho bar-room scene in Liverpool was permitted to lapse Into conventionalism. Two feeble efforts were made to lift It out of the rut by the Intro- duction of a girl of the street and a Chinaman who sold dope. They were just fleeting bits, pantomimic. Immediately forgotten. A dozen more little touches could be added in about as much time as was con- sumed in typing the few lines. In justice to the stage director, most of the placers contributed little. What suggestion of environ- ment created was due not to the principal players or scenery, but to the Introduction of "natives." The Blue Peter Is the Aag Aown by ships to notify early sailing and the wanderlust. In many ways the hero, David Hunter, Is symbolical of it. He is Arst racked by malaria amid cannibals but, despite his 111- y^ess, puts up the unequal Aght ^hlch Britishers always put up in the drama. Having beaten the cannibals, he returns to England and humdrum matrimony. Marrying the girl of his choice, ha had In a few years probed the depths of domesticity and parent- hood and found both wearisome. At this juncturj comes an old comrade from the wilds with a nugget fron a native friend. With the nugget came proposals of con- cessions and fortune. "Blue Peter" and the wanderlust swept every- thing off the board, but the call of dutyacaused their temporary aban- donment. He went to say good- bye to his pal, but In a dockside tavern the spirit of adventure con- quered, and he bookeC passage after sending a curt note to the partner of his joys and sorrows. At the eleventh hour a chance affair with a girl brought . him around to the correct conventional view of life and he returned home to wife and children. According to his protesUtlons "Blue Peter" was hauled down forever, and the future of the adventurer promised to be one of babies, Christmas trees and slippered ease. If the play la ever done In Amer- ica and the stage direction alln- eatea to a producer who knows his business, the author will bo sur prised to And there were so many possibilities In his manuscript Jolo. THE ROYAL VISITOR London, Oct. 2$. In Paris "Le Rol" was « success. In New York "Thd King" was a auc- cess. Therefore why should not "The Uoyal Visitor" be a succass In Lon- don? There are many reasons. The French liked the original play because It was daring and because it was an open satire on the ways of Edward VII, whose appearance was Imitated by the leading actor. Amer- icans liked Ditrichsteln's version (produced In partnership with Cohan and Harris at a cost of $40,000, be cause he invested the story with romance. The English adaptation (anonymous, but rumor says George Grossmith Is responsible) Is neither satire nor romance. It Is nothing. It offends the taste of London audi- ences, who dislike fun that Is poked at royalty, without making them for- get their annoyance In laughter. The stalls wore friendly, but the gallery booed. In spite of Oscar Asche's production, the expensive cast and magnlAcent scenery. "The Royal Visitor" is doomed to failure. It is not merely that Malcolm K«'eri Is not like a king and Diana Wilson utterly unlike a king's mlstross. , , .t 1 .. . "The Royal Visitor' Is fit only tn is at present playing the lots In i^ t^s groundwork of a musical Chtcag), lcome«ir. Jolo Rmnmage Sale to Help Cofflmnnity Players Denver. .N'ov. IS The Community I'layera. un- der the direction (if Mrs. Frank A. Stone, will hold a lummnge sale next week in oi-der to raise the diff^rcnfo for th-i season between receipts and expenses. At Arst mcnibe.'s of the Community Players rebelled at the idea, but 'he novelty of it Anally appealed. Numerous articles are to be donated und sold to the highest Olddera LITTLE THEATRES Booth Tarklngton's "Seventeen* will be presented by the Lawrence - Community Players of Lawrence, Mass, a« the initial play of the sea- son. The group is newly .formed. A series of one-act plays that will very shortly be produced have at-|| tracted considerable attention. Among the plays are "Beauty and the Jacobin," "The Trysting Place,' "The Monkey's Paw," and "Tlie Bishop's Candlesticks." "Seventeen" will be given on De- cember 6, while In the Interval some of the smaller plays will be produced. Each of the presentations will be staged with a different cast, no one player being allowed to act ' twice during the Arst half of the season. Charles E. Clifford, former col- lege dramatic director, has been chosen as director. Mrs. Louis 8. Cox, wife of Superior Court Judge Louis 8. Cox, Is president John Galsworthy's "The Little Man" and Essex Dane's "The Wasp" were presented last Wednesday night by the Players* Club of Worcester, Mass., marking the eighth public performance of this organization. Dr. Lorlng Holmes Dodd, of CUrk University, and Chester D. Hey wood directed the plays. The scenery was prepared by one of the players, Frederick N. Bergah. Those taking part in 'The Little Man" were: Cr4lghton P. Morton, (title role), Robert I. Smith, Frank Armltage, Mrs. Webster Thayer,. Chandler Bullock, P. Kendall Bruce, Mrs. George U. Ladd, Thomas J. O'Connell, Jr., Fordyce T. Blake, Eben F. Thompson, W. 8. B. Hop- kins, Paul Buckingham. "The Wasp," cast Included, Charles P. Rugg, Bulkeley BmHii and Mrs. W. Irving Clark, Jr. » ♦ The Ben-Arden PUyers of Shaw< sheen Village, Mass., will pfesent several plays this season in and around Greater Lawrence. "The Valiant," by Holworthy Hall and Robert MIddlemass, will be the.ilrst of the plays to be produced Th* presentitlon will take place on No« vember 29 at tho Winter Garden. Two comedies are now being re- hearsed. "Coats and Petttcot.U" will be given early In Decembeiv while "Lend Me Fo' Bits" will be presented the latter part of Decem-^ ber. The Ben Arden Players carry with them their own orchestra and also special curtains. John J. Clarlr and Mrs. Fred W. McCra^y are di- recting the Players this season. TJie Dramatic Association of Sim- mons College, Boston, gave its an- nual play, Bernard Shaw's "Arms and the Man," Nov. 14. The cast follows: MUs 'targaret Oilman. '2$, Cambridge: Miss Mary Richard, '16, Newton Center: Miss Eleanor Oalllnger. '21, Johnstown, Peon.; Miss lCary« Lou Utsensperger, 'ZT. WlUoughby. C: Miss Dorothy Cleaveland.' '2t, Lancaster, N. H.«^ and Eileen Houser, '26, Sharon. Much credit for the production of the play is due to Miss Miriam Franc, instructor of English at Sim- mons and coach and faculty advisor of dramatics. The will of William O. Bates, au- thor, playwright and Indianapolis LltUe Theatre Society founder. w6* died Oct. 29, bequeathed bis eolleca tlon of books relating to dram^ < plays and programs to the Uttle the« ; atre as long as It maintains a plac* for exhibition. '' The total estate was valued «• $45,000. With completion of the dramatl* laboratory in the classroom In th« Rlnghamton (N. Y.) Centra: Hlgk^ School, members of the class In dra- matics are planning for seroral pl.iyij nutslde of class work. (Continued on pacs it) Mti ; u.h ^^■■k^i^i^ *rt%kf ^aa•^*i» iVrti«i»>'v n '1* »••».»,• •»> >J9-i':-''.^».1a(;.»i(«s«:fi*%. .-•J liflit'■.';!■ v?i <t4 rt" r\Vfm ilfV*.!