Variety (Mar 1927)

Wednesday, March 23, 1927 FOREIGN VARIETY I OVERSEXED MAN IS PLAY THEME Bernstein' • Pari* Play About Chasing Husband Paris, March 22. Parts seems to be In line (or still more sex psychology In Its theatres. Henri Bernstein's new play at the Gymnase is an essay on sex from another angle, having; to do with the complacent wife of a husband who constantly chases other women. The other new play of the week is a rollicking farce having to do with a young wife and her husband in their rounds of the Paris gay life. Both plays look like successes. "Lb Venin" "The Venom" (of unrestrained passion, presumably), by Henri Bernstein, was produced at the Qymnase, being disclosed as a direct psychological essay on the subject of the over-sexed mule. A married author is disturbed by violent sex Impulses. His wife, recognizing his mental condition, facilitates his visits to a former mistress who had been divorced on his account. The other woman quits her re- lations with the author upon being reconciled to her former husband, while the author goes back to his wife. She Is about to become a mother, but in spite of himself the writer finds he cannot remain faith- ful. Under the circumstances the wife comes to the realization that he is an Incurable "chaser" and will remain so until advancing age counteracts the "venom," deciding to accept the situation for the sake of her child. In the cast are Charles Boyer, Marcel Andre (replacing Alcover as the family friend), Gaby M°rl a y M the wife and Yvonne de Bray as the mistress. "Antoinette" The complete title la "On ne roule pas Antoinette" (You Can't Get Ahead of Antoinette) by Pierre Veber and the late Maurice Henne- quln. It wa» presented at the Palais Royal successfully by Gus- tave Qulnson. The plot of this gay farce has to do with a husband of a young wife who takes her on rounds of night life gaiety, hoping to make her so bored with frivolity that she will be willing to live thereafter in tranquillity. It doesn't work out that way, for Antoinette finds the revels of the cabarets much to her liking and Is determined that this is the life and she will have no other. She goes In for the primrose path seriously and with every appearance of having compromised herself. The couple are ultimately reconciled and it Is apparent that there was no infidelity in spite of appearances. In \he oast are Le Gallo, Albert Brasseur, Duvalles, Marguerite Templey, Alice Cocea as the wife, and Renee Varvllie. DANCERS CABARET HIT Rosita and Ramon Outstanding in Metropole— Double Into Mayfair London, March 22. The Metropole opened Its new cabaret, called "Midnight Follies," last week, disclosing a splendid pro- duction and fine staging by Carl Hyson. The costuming and scenic effects are Impressive. Rosita and Ramon, American dancers, are outstanding In the performance. The same team has been picked to double Into the new Mayfair hotel, which opens .March 29, the only turn in the show. FRENCH SCREEN STARS TO PRODUCE IN U. S. Paris, March 22. George Monca and Maurice Keroul sailed for New York a day or two ago. They are conducting a com- pany of French screen stars to New York and wilt finish In America their film version of the musical piece, "Miss Helyett," part of which have already been made on this side. In the party are Arlette Genny and Fernand Fabre. The rest of the principals are making the trip, too. ROYE AND MAYE BIG Night Club Dancers Score at Lon- don Embassy—Rebooked For More London, March 22. Harry Roye and Millee Maye. American dancers formerly fea- tured tn Itoger Wolfe Knhn's Per- roquet de Paris, New York, opened to a rloterous hit In the Embassy Club last night (Monday). They make up the remainder of the show for Decourvllle. On the basis of tnelr first showing they ha»e been booked for a return en- gagement Lt a substantial advance over tlu-ir first salary. A DOLLY SISTER MAY London Dept. Store Man Re- ported Purchasing Half In- terest in Casino DeParis WOOLF BROS. SELL OUT Service to Log and Distribute Syndi< London, March 22. The W. Sc F. Service, a British producing and distributing system with headquarters In London, has practically concluded arrangements to dispose of the concern. The Log Syndicate, the extension •f whose operations Into all tranches of the Industry with back- ing of English banks was reported In these cables last week, will ac- quire the property. WILL MAHONEY BOSTON "AMERIOAN," March 1, said: "Will Mahoney — he of nimble feet; loose tongue and disposition far from serious — came back to Keith's yesterday to head a bill sure to send well-entertatned audi- ences from the theatre for the re- mainder of the week. A study in chatter, expression and whirlwind dancing, he scored continually throughout his long act." Direction RALPH G. FARNUM (Edw. S. Keller Office) 'Tanatics" Not for U. S. London, March 22. "The Fanatics," sex play, opened favorably at Saint Martin's last week. The piece will enjoy some meas- ure of success In London, but is not a prospect for America. IBSEN FOR MUSICAL Paris, March 22. The Porte St. Martin is with- drawing Mere's musical piece "Ber- lioz" In favor of a revival of Ibsen's fantasy "Peer Gynt," starting this week. Woods Buying 'Em London, March 22. Ai H. Woods has bought the American rights of "Mr. What's His Name" without waiting to see whether it is a go in London. The piece is now playing In the provinces with Seymour Hicks by way of tryout preceding its London production. DOLLY TREE WITH BROOKS Dolly Tree, English, haa been appointed associate staff designer for the Brooks Costume Company, New York. Charles LeMalre, the Arm's art director, announces the appoint- ment. Miss Tree recently arrived here from London, where she designed the costumes for many of the Im- portant legit and revue produc- tions. "Naked" Valueless London, March 22. Pirandello's new piece, "Naked," Was produced late last week at the Royalty by the Forum Theatre Guild. It Is a neurotic, sordid bit of work, devoid of commercial value. NEW COCHRAN REVUE London, March 22. C. B. Cochran is producing a new revue in May at the Little Theatre here, the cast to Include Morris Harvey, Joan Clarkson and Barrie Oliver, among others. Archie De Bear also will sponsor a revue at the Duke of Yorks', opening April 14. Kartavina Hurt London, March 22. Karsavlna Is out of the Coliseum bill. At' the opening performance yesterday the artist sprained a liga- ment In the leg, necessitating a week's layoff. Connelly-Wenrich Do Well London, March 22. Dolly Connelly and Percy Wen rich In their song cycle familiar In American vaudeville, did splendid ly in t.ieir opening at the Holborn Empire yesterday (Monday). THE TILLER DANCING SCHOOLS N*w CIomm OF AMERICA, Inc. 226 West 72d Street • NEW YORK Bsdleett Mlft-fl MARY READ Carpentier Publicity Paris, March 22. There has been much ado in the papers about Georges Carpentier leaving the new Palace Revue cast during rehearsal. The line of pub- licity also had the former boxing champ lured by attractive offers from the Selwyns. The fact Is that Carpentier Is still rehearsing at the Palace and the stories are circulated for pub- licity. 1150.000 REFUSED FOR EARNINGS OF "CRIME" Leblang Bids by Cable for 15 Weeks of Play's Takings- Woods Says "No" London, March 22. A. H. Woods this week received from Joe Leblang by cable a bid of $150,000 flat for the takings of "Crime" for the next 1-5 weeks. Woods told his associates here of the proposition, but said he would not accept it because he had al- ready made arrangements to move the piece from the Eltinge to the Times Square, New York, In order to get the benefit of the latter house's larger capacity. Woods has contracted to produce the melodrama at the Adeiphl, Lon- don, next September. "Men and Women" Inane London, March 22. "AH the Men and Women," pro- duced last night (Monday) at the (iarrlck, apparently was designed to impress for its dramatic force. In- stead lt strikes one aa Inane twaddle. London, March 22. A private report from Paris sayi that Gordon Selfrldge, department store owner, has purchased a one- half Interest in the Casino de Purls of that city, presenting It as an en- gagement present to one of the Dolly Sisters, whom he will marry in June. Previous reports of the engage- ment have been denied by tha Dollys. Yenczl is in Paris at pres- ent. Rosie Is In London. ROSIE DOLLY IN LONDON London, March 22. While Paris was led to believe that Rosle Dolly waa on the Olym- pic bound for New York, from Cherbourg, the American dancer turned up In London this week. She was observed at the Embassy club last night (Monday) In com- pany with Lord Selfrldge and hla daughter. Rosle looks thin and in 111 health and may have slipped out of the French capital for a reat. Some time ago one of the London reporters asked Selfrldge If it waa true he and Rosle were engaged to marry. The peer said the was without any foundation. IN "Abie" at Apoflo, London London, March 22. "Abie's Irish Rose" will open here at the Apollo. It was origi- nally slated for the Adeiphl, the booking being watched because of the success of "Broadway" at the latter theatre. "Abie" will make Its English de- but at Manchester March 2». - Ed. Lowry in Revue London, March 22. Ed Lowry haa been signed by Lew Leslie for the new revue open- ing at His Majesty's next May. The contract calls for one of three •feature billings with the other two, Josle Collins and Noel Coward. BERLIN NEW PLAYS Berlin, March 10. Komoedie—"Baby Mine," by Mar- garet Mayo. At last this old Ameri- can farce has made its appearance in Germany. Unfortunately so late that all the pep has gone out of lt. The director, Paul Henkels, did well to cut It down from two hours and a half to one and a half and to play it in futuristic scenery with Jazz band accompaniment. It was bril- liantly played by the portly, stutter- ing Otto Wallburg and the Individ- ual Oskar Karlwelsa, though Gretfl Mosheim overdid in the leading fe- male role. Got by only moderately as a midnight performance at pop prices. ' Kommandanten—"The Last Warn- ing," by Thomas F. Fallon. First American mystery play to be pro- duced In Berlin for three years Last was "Thirteenth Chair," which had a very moderate run. The present melodrama Is being given In an out-of-the-way theatre where most of the audience pay only S5c. admission. From a financial angle It Is no more than Just getting by. This and "Baby Mine" are typical of the reception of American plays In Germany. The production was better than could have been expect- ed, although Ernst Raden's direc- tion did not point the comedy enough and seems to be afraid of By C. HOOPER TRA8K Berlin, March It Universal Pictures Is erecting what Is claimed to the largest picture palace In Europe. Under the direction of L. Bernstein they are opening In Neu-Koelln, a suburb of Berlin, the Mercedes Pa- last, which seats 3,000. The excep- tional part of this theatre Is that lt has no steps, no stairs and no bal- cony. The Apollo theatre la in financial difficulties again. Although the pro- duction which they are giving there is called "The Theatre Without Women," and only twelve men are employed, they have received mere- ly a small portion of their weekly salary. Director Klelnmeyer says that back pay will be brought up to date In a few days. Max Reinhardt la planning a new theatre for next season tn Berlin, and Nelson, the revue producer, will probablv also make his own new house. The Reinhardt house will be on Kurfuerstendamm. out on Lehniner Platz. This Is over half a mile be- yond any first-class theatre In that neighborhood. Relnhardt's two old houses, the Deutsches and the Kam- mersplele, are In the north of the city, 'way off from everything. Should they take over the Theatre des Wcstens. for which they are negotiating, that added to the Ko- moedie and the new theatre would give them three houses In the west- ern district, which is now the fash- ionable amusement section. Rudolph Nelson, who has given up his former revue theatre on Kur- fuerstendamm because It waa too small, claims to have backing to erect a new house. Berlin contains 18 first-run ptc ture houses, of which eight are owned by the Ufa. The Phoebus and United Artists have three and the Munich Emelka two. According to statistics of the year 1926 there were 329 pictures brought out. Of these 172 were German and 157 foreign. Dimeter Haller Is taking his suc- cessful revue, "An und Aus," to Vienna the end of March. In Its place MlHtlnguett will bring to the Admirals Palast her latest. "Ca Cost Paris," with the original cos- tuming and cast which played at the Moulin Rouge. The French sing- er was in Berlin last fall looking over the ground, and convinced her- self that lt would be a paying ex- periment. Members of the Comedle Fran- calse of Paris are announced to give a series of performances at the Theatre des Westens In Berlin. The cast will be headed by Le Bargv and Mary Bell, and will be directed by Rerteaux. The bills will include Mollere and modern pieces from the repertory. The performances were first an- nounced as an official undertaking of the Comedle Francalse, but this was denied by the theatre. It turned out to he merely that the leading had decided to performers make use of their vacation In this man- r. At first Madeleine Renaud waa also to have appeared, but the Co- medle FrancalBe refused her per- mission, as only two of their actors are allowed to appear together oa any stage except their own. Ernest Mayer of the International Copyright Bureau of London haa been In Berlin for a short time and obtained the rights for the following plays for England and America: "Stoepsel," "Die Blaue Hawal," 'Der Genie und seln Bruder," "Dover- Calala," "Der Krelderkreis" and 'Der Auto Wlldllng." Also the op- erettas: Yehar'a "Blaue Mazur," Gilbert's "In der Johannlsnacht," Kuennecke's "Lady Hamilton," Robert Stolx's "Maedl" and "Der Hampelmann." Granlchstaedten'a "Das Bchwalbennest." Robert Gil- bert's "Die lelehte Isabel" and Wal- ter Hollo's "Die Frau ohne The German State Which! Include four houses tn lin and one each In Knssel (Continued on page 33) INDEX Foreign 2-1 Pictures 4 ?o Picture Reviews l!-lt Picture Presentations ,. St Film House Reviews .. it Vaudeville 24-12 New Acta 21 Burlesque , 3.1 Burlesque Route St Bills 34-35 Times Square 17 Editorials II Literati 17 Women's Page St Legitimate 40-46 Legit. Reviews 45-46 Music 47-49 Night Cluba 43 Outdoors to Sports %s Obituary 50 Correspondence £1-54 Letter List 54 Inside Vaudeville 30 Inside Pictures , 21 Inside Legit 44 Cabaret Bills 48 R«"o 47 (SSTUMESl 'PRODUCTIONS' PICTURES GOWNS INDIVIDUALS fsCHNEIDER-l I229WJ