Variety (February 1925)

VARIETY LEGITIMATE Wednesday. February 18, 1985 NEW PLAYS PRODUCED OUTSIDE OF NEW YORK WHEN SUMMER COMES Washington. Feb. 17. n«o<Ioi« J. HuamtnitlD and Jerome Qnlnn offer Jamea Barton In "When Siun- ■ter Comea," a ronalcal play of today with .Saiwlla Gear. Book and lyrlca by Jack . Araold. Muaic by A. Baldwin Sloane. Bt»mt^ by Walter Wliaon. Dancea ar- nnaed by Haymond Mldclay. At PoU'a tb««trc, Wasblncton, D. C.. Sunday, F«b. Xasdy Bddl* DatMtameld VlHle Ctilpepper ' .Anninlas Z. LoncMrMt.. r^Jfatt Tollivcr Ray RajrBond •>. Walllnrton B. Hoover Jamea B. Barton '; |>*I«nnla Croaabr Helen Carrlngton * Tlrtinla Clay Irma Mannlck JwijtK Clay Frank Andrews Mr. Davis Joe Smith Itarba Oao. F. MlIllkM William Lemuels "l«dy of the Mop" Jane Barley Charlea Coates Raymond Cullen J«a, Dell (AuctUmaer) Royal C. Stout Masneto and Fannie (in person) Two Stable Artclles .Nellie Plllmorv .Jack Mc<iowan Luella Qear Jamea Barton ''^' It's heartbreaking to see anything <.flop as did this one Sunday night. An-attempt was made to build up a ■outhern atmosphere, with a regular plot to boot, around Jim Barton in black face. When proceedings Anal- ly lialted, •oraewhere around 11:30, th« whole aflalr couldn't even be classed as an "attempt." The only bit of real showmanship demon- strated was by Barton himself, and when he danced the slim gathering of "guests'* ohitched at this bit of •ntertainment as a drowning man would at a straw. The result was that Barton got numerous well- earned encores on ererythlng he did. One man, though, can't make a iikow. In this It is evident that the Messrs. Hammarstein and Quinn •gre* with this reviewer. They've cot the people, bat tbey're not used. Jack McOowan struggles manfully with two or three numbers and a lot ot bunk lines. Luella Qear, the feat- ured player, it given half a chance, would land, but here they've put a wiae-cracking miss 4nto gingham and then doled out two or three soenes and a number, and let it go at that. Helen Carrington is snowed Under with a high-brown make-up. Otbers are treated equally as care- lesslr- And then that awful book! {Arnold's Ijrrlcs also take a "grand ■kid." A. Baldwin Sloane has written rather a pleasing score. "Lonesome" Js phigged throughout the show, as Is "When Bummer Comes." but neither pass the "pleasing" stage. There are 18 numbers. Reverting again to what has been lost, this show has without doubt the prettiest bunch of gjrls in its chorus that has visited this town in tnany a moon. But they are forgot- ten for long stretches. However, when they do work they really dance and sing. They are an asset that ahould be realized upon. Hammerstein and Quinn should |iot be blan>ed for this. Their pro- ducing "doclors" in every depart- ment have flopped. The producers will do well to keep the cast to- j^ether, close this up, set Sloan to work to bolster the score and call in a real book with lyrics. It's well worth another try. Of the cast Frank Andrews par- ticularly stood out as Judge Clay. Be was the southern gentleman in his every intonation. A corking ]>erformance to l|uery, where has Andrews been all these years? Meakin. divorce. He hurries back with a bachelor fellow officer in tow who "knows all about women" and doesn't hesitate, when numerous pictures of a "male person," other than the husband, are found scat- tered throughout the living room of the apartment. The original of those pictures ad- mits himself to the apartment with a latchkey. I<ater the wife arrives and very pblitely rubs the situation In on hubby. The always-present lawyer arrives, and Instructs the wife and hubby as to what is neces- 'sary in the form of letters to com- ply with his interpretation of the English divorce laws. Hubby is to be asked to come back, but in his desire to still itt as she would have him, he is not to do so within a stipulated time, and she'll get the divorce on the grounds of desertion. Hubby waits.until the very night the time set is about to expire, gets stewed and with this "moral sup- port" ceases to be the "dove" and becomes an "eagle." Making his ad- vent on the scene just prior to mid- night on the last day of the deser- tion period, he Axes things so that there'll be no lunch for the wife and "friend." He douses the Are. he opens the window and, after "friend" has departed and hubby and the liquor have declared themselves. .^HE LOUNGE LIZARD if-' Washington, Feb. 17. '!', Jala* Hurtis, in association with L«« and ■' S. J. Sbubert. preauits a farce comedy In three acts by J. B. Harold Terry, produced te London, Bnrland, under the title of "Col- Ittalon," but rearranged for American nren- •ntatlon by John Cumberland. John Cnm- Aerlaad and HXtelle WInwood co-featured. At the Belasco theatre, WaablDgton, D. C, Feb. 1«, 1»26. Heatley .'Nellie Kent ..Commander RIdrewell Jobo Cumberland j'JKUJor "Wlbley Corlliis Ollee !>'Aatoiilo La Costa Jose Alessandro ;^SUo» Rtdcawell Kstella WInwood t7'Mr. Arcber Amo'.d Lucy This is an amusing but unassum- ing little tale exceptionally well played. The cast, which numbers but six. Is a corker. As for the piece, it is styled a "farce," but it is anything but that. It is amusing, with numerous 43iuckles throughout its two hours' playing time, but there are very few "belly" laughs of the kind that usu- Sj<<^y go with farce. These very few are those that were palpably inject- ed into the proceedings of this Eng- lish farce in the course of Its "Amer- Jcanlzation" by John Cumberland. It is rather well told and interest Is held throughout. True, it often gklds, but never to such an extent that things cannot be righted again. The Idea is no.?, new by any means. A brave and gallant o01cer of the Sngllsh flying corp£i doublfS as a ■ap husband. Hie owa wife dubs hJm a "dove." He's been away at ■bme foreign post for two years, be- cause she wanted him to go there, St has harried back beoaiise she I'ntfttw vaa 'Aih' M%r ve«ft" & aiw'. . - ' , ■ ^ ^ ♦ * '■' wife Anally flnds herseU drawn by the powers of the es«ie, ooupled with the driving powers of the shivers of the oold air Into the same bed with hubby—off stage. The final act. when things are straightened out, is best of the three. Hubby again skids back to his natu- ral self In the morning, when the liquor support is withdrawn, but wifey is "set," and when all sorts of charges against her are handed out by the "friend" and the lawyer, hubby does the grandstand and she sails back with him. Cumberland Is Cumberland. There Is no one who can handle a quiet comedy point quit like him. This role is much along his usual lines, and though promises by the dis- penser of publicity in advance that the comedian would be "without pa- jamas," Cumberland appeared In a woman's silk nightie, robe and cap. The remaining Ave died their al- lotted portions exceedingly well. Jose Alessandro, an Argentinian, has done much in mastering English since Arst "caught" here, and gave a remarkable performance. His "lounge lizard" is it. Corliss Qiles as the "bach" friend scored, as did Nellie Kent as the maid and Arnold Lucy as the English solicitor. Estelle WInwood has another part just to her liking. As with Mr. Cum- berland, she doesn't overlook a trick, and brings to the Aighty wife, who wanted to be tamed, just the right touch. As the piAce stands it isn't there wtth the stuff that makes farce. It is now a fairly good light comedy. The question is, does such a classi- flcation as "fairly good" constitute enough to make It stand up against the competition in New York? Jfeolcln. NEW PLAYS PRODUCED WITHIN WEEK ON BlAY NATJA An operetta in tbrea acts with acore sup- plied from the worka of Tscbalkowsky and adapted ky Karl Hajoa. Book'and lyrics by Harry B. Snlth. Presented at th« Knicker- bocker Feb. IS by P. C. and B. C. Whitney. Stas«d fey Bdrar MacOrecor. CatharlD* U.. the Csarina Mlaa Man Melllah Prince Potamkln, Oovemor of the Crimea Oeorse Relmherr Count Panin, a courtier...Alexander Clark Liaut. Vladimir Strosonotf, of the Royvl Ooards Warren Proctor Nat;a NarUhkIn Miaa Madalina Collna Madame Mellin, Colonel of Huaaars Mtas^CUIra Qrenvllle Prlnceas Lublna, Major of Artillery Mlas Marsuerlte Austin Baron Wnmalty, Manaser of th« Imperial Opara Mattbaw Hanley All. a Crlnsaan Peaaant John Willard Tba Caarlna'a Maid Mlaa Jamie Zncca A Crimean Peaaant t«on Kartavin ▲ Paaaaot Qlrl Mlaa Tbereaa Fellesi iMiaa Betty Archer Mlaa Anne Tunney aa Laura Saunders Ladles te Waiting. .> Mlae TbeoU Vincent It was tVed C. Whitney who brought out "The Chocolate Soldier" a good many years ago and who had quite a few companies operating at one time. It was this operetta which really started the great vogue for that style of work in America, and so, in his joint production with his brother, B. C. Whitney, it was expected that something of a his.- tory-making nature would occur. For the score was from thOyWorks of Tschaikowsky, a storehouse of rare melodies. And on Monday night there were 44 musicians in the pit. A score of violins and other stringed instru- ments, backed by oboes and French horns. Max Hirschfleld held the baton. For about 10 minutes before the curtain arose the overture was played, an overture rich in- music and holding a great promise for the evening. Then up went the curtain and after a few words had been spoken it was apparent that the evening might be rich musically, but as far as book and acting went, it was ail off. True, the Ifessrs. Whitney have a show which is, primarily, a sing- ing show and which, therefore, needs voices. The voices are there but misplaced in a couple of spots. For instance, there isn't a basso of prominence in the show, most of the singing being done in either tenor or soprano and but seldom against the background of the large chorus, which brought the total company up to about 60. And the book, furnished by Harry B. Smith, Ij based on the life of Catherine the Great, her amours and political affairs, but it misses all the humor which a hundred other dramatlstn, from Bernard Shuw down to Mel- chlor Lengyel, have brought out in their theatrical considerations of this celebrated lady who liked her gentlemen frequently changed. After the opening, the Arst scene, which is an interior set, opens with a comedy song, "Ups and Downs," which was out of place as an atmos- pheric starter. The first real one of the evening came near the end of the first act, and was called "Love Calls Me," and was sung by Mad- eleine Collins, as "Natja," and War- ren Proctor," as "Lieut. Strogonoff," her wooer. In the second act a magnificent solo was sung by Miss Ufllilbh," Who playe<d the Csarina, "Moonligbt and Love," while the second act finale was preluded by another cerker. "Shall I TeU Him?' a tune sung by "Natja," and rem- iniscent in that its haunting rising strain is much like that of "Am I in Love," from the Jacobi-Krelsler "Apple Blossoms," of late Dilling- ham production. The finale Itself was a magnificent quartet and set as it was against the counterplot involving the Em- press, a plot stewed by "Prince Pot- emkin." ber ambitious lover, it al- lowed for some dramatics that were In place. This plot, Incldeatally, concerns the Intrigues of "Putem- kin," and of how he deceived the Empress about true Crimean condi- tions by causing city of scenery to be built on the banks of the Dneiper, so that the Express, by looking across, might gain the impression of a metropolis prospering. "Natja" Is mixed up in this plot when she comes to court disguised as a male. The third act holds no great num- ber, although all the music is miles above the average score. Yet for all this great music, and strains of the "Marche Slav" and the "1812" over- ture are occasionally heard, the book gives noting. As a matter of fact, the book is so deadly dull and inept that it detracts seriously. The lyrics, too, either do not At the score or they were badly sung Monday night Often the singers had to race through In order to stop with the music. Of the singers them- selves it is unfair to criticize. The Messrs. Whitney were agai.nst the proposition of finding artists who could thoroughly interpret the score and be passable in their speaking parts. That Oeorge Relmherr. late of the Wagnerian Opera Co.. did not suggest his role Is true, but he sang it will. Madeline Collins as the "Natja" was cute and, for a time, the life of the show. Mary Mellish was a passable Czarina, but none of the characterizations will go down in operetta history as be- ing the perfect blend ,of ;oice ani acting ability. Alexander Clark was the comedian. His material was bad, so when he was Ashing for laughs it was comparable to a fisherman trying to land a whale with a cuttyhunk line. "Natja" will hardly be a duccess, for its book just now weighs it down very badly and the lyrics are neither well sung nor written. On the other hand, the loveliness of the score may carry it for a while with the music lovers, but another Ane score perished this year, "Mme. Pompadour." and the much mal- igned humor In that show Is superior to that in "Natja." The current piece is done In two settings, the Arst a throne room Interior and the second an exterior on the banks of the Dneiper river in Russia. Neither set, however, was ))articulariy lavish and, although the costuming w.is jI- ways tasteful and indicated an ex- penditure, U is on the s^ure that "Natja's" fate rests. For If the brilliance of th-it music outweights the dullness of the lib- retto, then it is suflflclent to give Tschaikowsky a sincere pat on the back from a commercial stindpoini. Just now the chances are against '^'^ THE DOVE Comady-melodraiaa praeaotad fey David Balasco, writ tan by Wtllard Mack, baaad oa tlM story by QeraM Beeumont; Holferook BUna and Judith Anderson featured. Opanad at Umpire theatre Fab. 11, ISSS. Mike Morowicb Sidney Toler Madame Ooublachlii Joaephlna Deffry Madse Ruth Dayton BeHha , Vanlta La NIer Louise ; Helane Handin AnIU Mlgnon Rana«cr Myra Susanna RoasJ Maria • • • *»»•• Cmno\ Dolores Romaro Judith Anderson Flora Ray lUohel Hunter Annabell Floras Julia MeCabe The Bouncer Paul Wliaon Cisarette Qlrl Batty Walah Jos Dlffrey, John Wbeeler, Richard Cubitt Don Tostado Holbrook Bllnn Johnny P'.well William Harrisaji Little Bill William Noirls Other Dealers..Jack CaraM. William Bullas C.'imhler Altjert Hyde Floorman Jamaa Itaane Bartender RfchanlOneitt Fancho Qonaalea John Harrinston Capuin of Military Police... ^..... .^. F. du Challlu-Dalton A Chinaman "•»> **" John Bolae WJIson Reynolds Mayl>elle Boise Beatrice Banyard JuanlU, Oonialaa' awaetheart. .Dorothy D«y Inei Marie Adels Clarlta Betty Brenska A Texas Ranser •'■^» ».??*'J*/ Gartjla ■•rie Mitchell His Wifa laobel del Rey lubell BlIHe Rndell A Servant Marsarat C Sullivan If ever anyone made much of lit- tle, David Belasco has hero made considerable out of almost nothing. Only his divining eye could have foreseen in "The Dove" a potential triumph; only his uncanny hand could have guided this bird to a safe and lofty haven. Perhaps never in his long and un- equaled career has Belasco so de- cisively proven what he means to the theatre. The ufoducer, the di- rector, he is expected to give many things to a play in the process of artistic gestation. But to this one he has given about all It has, and it has Enough to lift and hold it among the outstanding successes of the New York season. He gave to it, first, an inspired cast; second, atmosphere and set- tings which, even in these days, when movie exploits have had every conceivable background of Ood's own designs, made the audience first gasp and then marvel and admire; he gave the intricate action a spar- kle in direction which sustains it against seemingly prohibitive odds, and he gave it, what is far more Impressive and Important, a spirit, his spirit, which cannot be commu- nicated through the written word of one who has breathed it to others who have not. "The Dove" is a Gambling, loqua- cious example of poor writing." deal- ing with obvious theatrical equations and quirks, 20 years post-dated in theme. As a manuscript it is worth whatever the price of scratch paper Is according to the current market. As a play, Belasco-blessed, it is a thrilling, whacking, exhilarating, amusing, memorable adventure in the theatre. Through it breathes the person- ality of a great actor, Holbrook Bllnn. Selecting him for the role of the braggadocio Mexican millionaire was its Arst salvation. A wiseacre once said the test of a star was to make good in a bad play. Bllnn Is a star-plus, for he makes art of hokum and a symphony out of a Jangle. Judith Anderson, the young wom- an whose career in the east has been keenly watched for the compara- tively brief span of her presence, came through as the cabaret girl of hot Mex temperament and broken English. What she lacked in femi- nine allure she all but recovered in the liquid music of her voice and her undoubted talent, if not genius. She seems a young Nethersole. Perhaps a year or two in Belasco's effulgence will fulAll that prophecy. William Harrlgan as a dice deal- er; Sidney Toler as a villainous re- sort owner; William Norrls as a roulette wheel croupier, all shone and did yeoman work toward estab- lishing "The Dove," which fluttered for Just such support. The story is nothing worth the re- telling. The rich swaggerer falls for the cafe virgin, who is attracted by the Irish lad who deals the bones in the joint across the street, in Mexicana. The boy is impulsive and Is framed into a shooting. The girl consents to give herself to save the boy. He gets across the border, but turns back to rescue the girl, and he does. But it isn't as simple as that. It should be, but it wouldn't last the full time, so there is "sus- pense" wedged in every second Ave minutes, and there are many pas- sages which it would be well to delete. Sometlntes it strikes this reviewer that Belasco would be even greater if his iipagic wand were a blue pencil, too. But "The Dove" has a psychologi- cal penetration which It would be more than human to resist. Bret Harte's body turned In his grave, no doubt. But Charles Froh- man's wraith must have applauded. For this was a trashy piece of bor- der writing transformed, moment after moment, into a stage laaster- piece through the necroman^ of a starve wizard. ' . The premiere audience was jnro- foundly Impressed, though It had few illusions about where the values lay. And "The Dove" will be a Broadway money success, though It him. ' Biah- must cost a 'grkkt 'deM tb' tarrjr K with its cast of 40 or so. a heavy backstage crew and prodigal original investment to amortise. But it should 4stabUsb a handsome value for motion picture rights aa . well as have a long and highly pros* v perous tenancy here and In the oth«( 4 populous centers. Lott. THE DARK ANGEL Dramatic play In threa aats and a pro* k>sue by H. B. Trevelyaa. Frodacad fey Robert Ifilton at tha Longacre, New York. ' Feb. 10. 1028. ^V Kitty Fahneatock Patricia ColUnge Hilary Tnnt Reslnald Maaoa Roma. ~ ~" twain • 'J' • Floranoa Bdnajr Sir Bvelyn Fabnaatock, Kitty's Father, Stanley Logaa .John Wiliiama Qerald Shannon Lord Francis Beaumont Claud AOllster "VI" Beaumont, his wife Auriol Lea Madire Wilmerdlns Blsle Mackay Winnie Mltcham Joan Maclean Tom Trowbridge Barry Ocelli Jowett J. II. Brewer Mlaa Smallwood Molly Paaraoa A post war drama of English life portrayed by a splendid cast, but dotted with talky portiona between the interesting prologue and a great •-' third act which has two antl« ' climaxes. The play opens with a prologue. Hilary Trent (Reginal Mason), a captain In the British Army, and Patricia Colllnge (Kitty Fahne- stock). a young aristocrat, were en> gaged to marry. Trent, home from the front on leave, and Kitty take time by the forelock when Trent is suddenly recalled and spend their last night at the Vinery Inn on the English Channel Coast. Tlietr ef- forts to marry were frustrated by the sudden notice. Trent leaves the next morning. He is reported dead, and six years later (act one) Kitty is still mourn- ing and considers herself his widow. Lord Francis Beaumont (Claud Al- lister), a thorough rotter, and who had ^een Trent's name on the Inn register six years before, divulges the scandal to the week-end guests at the home of Kitty's father. Kitty startles the group by acknowledging she was the girl. She had previously refused to marry Gtorald Shannon (John WlUiams). Trent is discovered to be alive, living in seclusion and writing books for boys under an assumed name. He is blind. Kitty's father visits him and explains about Shannon. Trent decides to fool Kitty about his blindness and his portrayal of the part is the high light of the play. Realizing that Kitty loves Shan- non, but considers herself pledged to him. Trent succeeds In completely fooling her. Kitty, however, dis- covers the hoax through an accident and returns with Shannon to make the supreme sacrifice. Trent again convinces her he has learned to live without her and doesn't want sacri- fice or pity. Patricia Coltnge was wistful and likeable. Stanley Logan, aa Kitty's father, was personality personified. Joan Maclean, as Winnie Mitchanv one of Kitty's proteges from a bom«'' for wayward girls, turned In a sterling bit of characterization, and Barry O'Neill, as her ex-pugilist sweetheart, was equally convincing; Auriol Lee, as "Vi" Beaumont, scandal-loving society woman, gave the least convincing performance of the group. As regards play construction "Ths| Dark Angel" is-technically perfect^. The types are so thoroughly English It is almost impossible for some of, them to arouse the necessary sym*, pathetic appeal needed to get over before a cosmopolitan metropolitan*^ audience. The blind soldier has an' International appeal, which made^ Mason's task a comparatively easy! one, and by the same token John\i Williams, ardent young Engiishmafisj failed utterly to win his audience^! most of whom left the theatre wish«^ Ing ardently Kitty had chucked him^ and married Trent. . I "The Dark Angel" should enjoy a} prosperous run. Any play with thla' third act, and with Reginald Mason^ in a role so admirably suited to hlta^ cannot help but pull, partlcularl^J from the feminine theatre goers. J Con CAPE SMOKE Drama In thre* acta by Walter Arcb Frost produced at the Martin Beck thaatr by Charles K. Gordon; Jamea Rennie am . Ruth Shepley featured; directed by A. B>a Anson; prvmlere Feb. 16. I Hugh Chadwall Farcy WarMMJ Neal. steward at the club.. .Horace Pollock^ Dtssy. houaeboy at the club.Henry Walters Doctor Hammeratone Frasar Ooaltar Jim Fraeer Qarard Maxwell Wllablra Ann Netherby Alice Donn Sybout Jacobua Zells...Oeorse8 B. Romain Catherine Bradbroke RtHb Sbeplay Gregory Bradbroke, bar brother John D. Saymoar John Ormiiby Jamea Rannle Witch Doctor Francis Gorilla nomba Nathaniel Sack Bank Messenger... ....Chandler Myers Umtata Donald Laahley Kudu Loula Scboolei' Mzponca e Allan Walth } "The Man Between," a novel of. the South African veldt by Walter Archer Frost, was adapted for the < stage under the title of "Capef Smoke," which opened at the Beckl Monday, being the third attraction!^ for that new nouse nlntt its open- • Ing late in the fall. ' It is a weird story of the country ; of diamond mines, Boers *nd KaiArs. < There is a plot twist or expose of , curious events, which comprises the ; last act. The program requests .■ patrons not to divulge thn outcome.;'' '*• '■'•(CtjfltinflM tm-r>84€ VJ'"*''