Variety (Dec 1927)

VARIETY'S LONDON OFFICE I? P 17 I H N CABLE ADDRESS, VARIETY. LONDON 2 8 St Martin's PUca, Trafalgar Square F W 1% & I \* 1^ 7870-2096-3199 Regent Wednesday. December 21. 192T BERLIN PRODU CTIONS By C HOOPER TRASK Berlin, Dec. 14, THiATiH DE8 We8TEN8 — •Eine Frau von Format" ("A Lady of Quality"), book by Schanxer and Welisoh, musfo by Michael Kraun. An excellent excuse for the reap- pearance of Fritz! Massary, moat •uiMrlor of OMrtHMatal op«r««U prima donnas. She remains as young as ever and her technique of putting? over a chanson is still un- rivalled in its flnlah. Krausz. who is generally considered the coming man of the Viennese opera school, has turned out a satisfactory score, but not particularly individual. The book is in the usual "Merry Widow" mtlieu—it just ffets by. The cast, which includes Hans Wassmann. Max Hanson, Ferry Sikla and Hans Heinz BoIImann, is 'way above that which she formerly got under the Saltenburg regime. Ernst Welisch has made a big sucG4|fS .o| IMf Arst managerial vent^ra. 8TAAT8 THEATRE—'^Fuenf von dtr Jazzband" ("Five of the Jazz Band**). Comedy by Felix Joachim- son. A light little comedy with a few clever ideas. Four jazz mu- sicians take a young girl Into their band as added attraction. But her unmusicality and her coquetry ruin the ensemble and arouse Jealousy, so that they get rid of her and start out fresh again. Several ^of the NEUE8 THEATER-r^The 8hew.'' bir MmS Galsw^rtliy. Ona df the weaker plays of this English drama- tist. It was a flat failure here. This .was undmibtedly partly €«• to the fact that the whole newspaper situ- ation is different In Qermany. The prodaotloB was ofiQr ttttd theme of the moment the todmlaue and style of writing is as out of date as though it had been written before the war. It is kept going here by Ralph Arthur Robert^' smooth acting in the leading role, but even so it will not hold for any itegui dC tteis^ LESSiNG THEATER ~ *'8chin- derhannes," by Karl Zuckmasrr. After the tremendous success of this author's la^t play, "Froehliche Weinberg," the present work was looked forward to with great ex- pectation. It did not in any manner fulfill these and will not have even a small part of the commercial suc- cess of the former. In itself it is a well enough made play following the tradition of Goethe's "Goetz von Berlichingen." and has as its lead- ing figure the robber, Bchinder- hannes. a sort of German Rqbin Hood. There are over SO Speaking parts. H6re Eugen Kloepfer and Kaete Dorsch. both stars^ had the leading roles. QR088E8 8CHAU8P1ELHAU8— ■Tilt Mikado." Erik Charell found *Trhe Mikado" old-f&shioned. so he had the libretto rewritten by Ber- nauer and Oesterreicher. the music jazzed up, and staged the whole as a revue with eight scenes. The re- sult was terrible. What the libret- tists substituted for Gilbert was hu- morless and banal; it was modem, but, oh, how dull! The music, too. lost immtsjiurably by being forced Into modem rhythms; where It had formerly been the best sort of clas- sical operetta, it became the most trivial of jass. Cbarell's revue style of production further detracted from the music bv being too lavish and by Intersperiinr too mvtfh Hm- diocre modern dancing. Max Pal- lenberg, Germany's foremoiit come- dian, was aMa to got Botlifiig ovt bf the role of Koko. and that speaks volumes. Charell may be Sble to keep the Miow toliiv fir somo time by disposing of seats at popular prices to the radio fans, but at reg- War priois H mxmt bs dsMtMy rstodssaflOp. KLEINE8 THEATER — *Mar- thall Ni»l Roses.** by Albert Bern- stein Sabersky. A very sticky drama about a painter who Is being vamped by a married woman. His mother realizes that he is being ruined and uses all her power to break up the affair. The husband is flusplclous and sues the wife for divcM-ce, naming tAe painter co-re- spondent. The woman does not want to be divorced from her hus- band, whom she looks upon as a ^ira meal ticket, and gets the painter to promise to deny their relationship. At the court proceed- ings, influenced by his mother, he tolls tbsirath'and thereby loses the womsa. But he keeps the love of his motbor. Brilliantly played by nasa YsloiU t^ mMiH VwiMn' sky ss BMVliMr and soiu ' mWAtt i A NCE THEATER — Bmma Orammatica. This splendid Italian actress is little known out- side of her native land. This Is too bad, ns »he is the greatest player that Italy has produced since Duse. (n her .repertory, which included a blank verse play by d'Annunzio. "The Old I^ady Shows Her Med- als,** by Barry, and "Cnmllle" she showed that she Is an actrsss of va- riety and power. K0MOEDIENHAU8 — "Hokus- ^okiis," comedy by Kurt Goetz. Probably the best mystery comedy ever turned out by a Qarman author. Distinctly in a class with the best work which Cohan has done in this field. The play has everything for a German audience. It begins with a satirical sop to the highbrow: A manager on the verge of bank- ruptcy calls a conferenes to which he invites the leading dramatic critic, his lawyer and the whole of his staff.. None of them has any* thing to suggest until his playreader brings out a new work by Miran- dello (burlesque- on Pirandello), which is then played for us. The wife of a painter is being tried for tba nbttrder of her huSband who has dietappeared. To the judge the eve- ning before the trial comes a mys- terlees Mit elegant gentleman who tries to influence the judge against conviction by making him unjustly suspicious of hto best friend, ttt the second act trial the same gentleman also appears and con- fesses to being.the murderer. This is not taken seriously, however, as it seems clear that he is merely trying to shield th« wtwmUkf There Is nothing but- circumstantial evi- dence a'gainst her, and after a splendidly Ironical epeoeb by her attorney she is acquitted. In the last act it comes out that the mys- terious stranger Is the eiipposedly dead husband who disappeared in order to get up interest in his paintings, which he had not been able to sell. The whole Is kept in the very lightest of tones and the audience laughs almost continu- ously. If this play is well adapted and produced in America it should bo a big WOODS ACTIVE ABROAD ing on "ehanohei" in London Himsolf—Isolas ie PaHs Paris.. Dee. SO. A. H. Woods is in Paris, having left the Leviathan at Cherbourg to motor to the capital with Irving Marks who wont to SMSt him. The producer's first act was to close for the Paris presentation of "The Shanghai Gesture" here by Isola BrdSl He wUl go to taidon to prodvoo the ploeo thsro htaisolf. RITZY KOMOEDIE — "Widowers' HouMS,** by Bernard Bhaw. ShaW is Btin trump in Germany, and none of his plays is safe from revival. This, his first. Should have been left in peace, for It belongs to the time when he was under the influ- ence of the ear\y Ibsen. Well played here by Albert Stelnrueck, Max Guelstorft, Grete Mosheim and Haiis LU8T8PIELHAU8 » "F 11 m r o- msntik*' ("Romance of the Film"), farce by Ludwig Fulda. Fulda was once Germany's leading writer of farce and he goes on writing, al though he has completely lost touch with the spirit of today. The story of this farce is very modern, con- cerns a little girl selling postcards In the Rocky Mountains who be- comes a star over night. But the teohnlqiiie aii4. langusce Is that of 1901. LESSING THEATER—"Justice," by John Galsworthy. Unfortunate- ly, much too late to win the success which It undoubtedly would have achieved years ago. Now the social tdebs which It promulgates are no longer actual and it all seems out of date and a little tiresome. The Berlin .production was good enouf h, sspoclally Ernst Doutscb. THEATER AM KURFUERSTEN- QAMM—"Hoehentonne" ("Artificial Sunlight"), farce by Ludwig Fulda. A rather feeble attempt to make - wm of the character of Harry. Dc^- mela. who has lately been much written up In the press because people believed him the eldest son of the crown prince in disguise. Here a swindler showls up the clti- sens of a small town, gets money from the leading manufacturer and at the same time makes a conquest of his wire. In the end the swindler's secretary twns out to-be the real prince and marries the manufac- turer's daughter to the tune of a happy ending. Although treating a ADMIRALSPALaST— "Wann und Wo" (When and Where), book by RIdaemus and Wolf, music by Wai- ter Kollo. The only revue in town worth attending, so doing adequate business. But not up to the same management's last year's produc tlon, which still remains the high water mark of German revue. The chief lack is one of humor. I«ast year Haller bought good sketches in tvondon and Paris but this year he decided to fall back on native talent and the result was a catas- trophe. The best part of the show was the dancing whloh dilofly fell to Americans. For Instance Helen Wehrle from George White's *'Scan dais.** the l4orralne Sisters from the Casino de Pari.*). June and John Roper and Thelma de Lores from the Zlegfetd '*Follle8.*' Earl Frank lin from the London Coliseum did not get orer at first but when they did Anally got bim. too StoppOd tbo Broadway has been going Fifth- and-Park with a vengeance the past souple of weeks. Men and women formerly satisfied with back sUge life have been ritsy. and lov- ing it! At the splendid reception glyen by Mrs. Edward F. Hutton for her debutante daughter, Eleanor Post Hutton (rermerly Eleanor Close), hold to the magniflcent apartment house on Fifth avenue built and owned by the hostess. Mrs. Flo Ziegfeld shook iiands with the smart set to which she had merely bowed across the footlights in her old mu- sical comedy days. Mrs. Hutton is the hoiress to the Postiun sad Post Toasties miUlons and dtyorood Ed- ward Close. At a brilliant dinner-party, given at the Baveiay by Mme. Alma Clay- burgh, the singer, her guests in- cluded Lady Patricia Russell, the actress, and the Earl of Amherst, formerly Lord Holmosasls,^a dra- matic critic Along with William Rhlnelander Stewart. Jr., who has paid court to Constihice Talmadge and Marilyn Minor, were BTnost de Weerth. the costume designer; Dan- iel Frohman, veteran msnscer, and Qoorso Gershwin. M tho Gfapotto lall ▲t Hio olabofate Cireus Ball tf io ii by Mr. and Mrs. William May Wright atjthelr home on Madison avenue^. She singing semi-profes- sionally as Mma Cobina (having originally been Esther Cobb), Gershwin again appeared, perhaps contemplating a ''Rhapsody In Blue- Btood,** and, among many others, one noted the following Mayor and Mrs. James J. Walker, the Duchess of Roxburghe. PrlnOesi 0erge Obo- ensky (Alice Muriel Astor), Prince Christopher of Greece, Mrs. Cor- nelius . Vanderbilt. Mrs. William Randolph Hearst nisiibotb ICar- bary, Mrs. John Barrymore (MIe&ael Strange). Ina Claire, Alia Nazimova, Beatrice Llllle, Anita Loos. Lillian OlSh and, of course. George Jean Nathan. Also Edward Knoblock, the -playwright, formerly Knob- lauelh. ■■■-f : At the new Sherry-Ketherland Mrs. Edgar Selwyn gave a luncheon party for Lady Wiseman. Mrs. Sail- ing Barueh, Mrs. Jesse Isudty, Mrs. Henry Miller. Mrs. Frank Hague, Mrs. Joseph Moraii Slid, scata. Anita Loos. ■ Oeettanon may prefer blendes but Bohemia certainly prefers society. What contrasts between past and present! When Edgar Selwyn act- ed in stoek at Rochester and at the Sd Avenue theatre. New York, he never even dreamed of society, nor did his present wlfe^ wkeb, as RSth Wilcox, she was a Showgirl. Some of us remember Mrs. Lasky's husband's vaudo flash acts , Ttoo Rod Reads,' phtonds;**' eto. Name Changss The tale of how Jean Williams, a *ToBleo'* girl, got a good job to the movies through becoming Sonla Karlov, an alleged Russian, recalls the cases of Winifred Shaugnessy. the danoer from Baa Francisco, who developed into Natacha Rambova, and Muriel Harding, an English actress, who became Mme. Olga Petrova, as well as the Dooley girl of New York, who became Nita Naldi, of the stage and screen. Going Bsek Flora Parker DeHaven Is suing Carter DeHaven for a divorce In Los Angeles^ aeeusing him of boing infatoatod with Betty Byrd. moTle actress. The Dellavens were mar- ried In 1906 and have three chil dren. For many years prior to ttieir aaa rrlare Carter had been In vaude DORA'S RECORD BOOKDTQ London. Doc SO. Dora Maughan opens at the Pic- cadilly (hotel) cabaret Jan. 2 for 10 weeks. This Is a roeord booklaf for tfutt site, although Fosrler and Tamara played 18 weeks there. Their original contract was for eight SOUTH AFRICA By H. HANSON CAPE TOWN Cape Town, Nov. 16. Cape ^Wa lias started 'what is termed ' gida sosooik,^ but 'the littlo that slgnldos gala Is ' bolag done by private people, with the Town Council doing hardly anything to encourage enterprise. The mu- nicipality carries a roputatlon Itar a lot of hot air. The late Arthur Bourchier's com- pany put in a short season at the Opera House, staging "Ambrose Ap- plejohn's Adventure." "The Fake" and "Interferenoe,** under direction African Theatres, Ltd., finishing Nov, 12. The musical play, "Tip Toos." opened Nov. 14, under direc- tion African Theatres, Ltd. The Tivoli (African Theatres. Ltd.). has full vaudeville' programs for the gala season. Week Nov. 2: Constance Evans and Monty Wolf, singlhff aad daneing; Sime and Kid. French comedy acrobats; Betty Bruce, character comedienne f Two Dewers, gymnasta; Angela Ckill* berte and Partner, musical act; Twp .Yernons, comedy, act; Zetta MOe, eharaeter Impressionist. The fight fllm. Willie Smith vs. Leddy Baldock. Week Nov. 9: Du Callion in ladder act; Fordham Bros., aero- bats; Bert King, banjoist; Sime and Kid, Zetta Moe, Two Dewers. Con- stance ETvans and Monty Wolf. Boswell Bros.' Circus and Menag- erie and Broncho Bill's Wild West Rodeo is located In town for a sea- soit and doing well. The Wild West Rodeo is advertised as coming from thO Ifl Ranch. Oklahoma, U. 6. A., and Wembley Rodeo, London. The members include Johnny^. Regan. Buck Wliuren, CMe Cooper, girl sharpshooter; Wild Rose, girl rough rider; Tex Merritt, Kitty Douglas. Arlsona Pete, Whirlwind Teas. Tor- nado Jack and Deerfootr Indian. Alhambra (African Theatres. Ltd.)—Business good. Pictures i%- cently shown: "Son of a Sheik." "Winds of Chance." "The Midnight Bun.** Trefle.'^ *«le Feople,^ *The Dark Angel," "The Bat," *Toss of. the Storm Country.*' Qrafid (AiHoan Theatres. lAd.)— Cinema , doing well. Films lately screened: "Graustark." "Matinee Ladles." '"The Untamed Lady." "Sandy," "Cheaper to Marry;*' "The Climbers," "The Unguarded Hour," "SibeHa." Kinemas, Ltd., attempting to put over a strong opposition to the Afri- can Theatres. Ltd., but so far with little sucOess, have been screening "Bohemlian Love" and "Second to None.** The activities of Mr. I. M. Schleslnger, head of the African Theatres, Ltd., in London and his new position as chairman of De Forest Phonofllms, glvos his Inter- est new prestige. The Bloeeope Hall at Barkly East^ Cape Colony, was recently destroyed by flre. • John Dunlop, well known cham- pl«jib tepth AfMcaa swimmer and vdle and musical productions. Later he and his wife were co-starred in 'MoeOa of tha Moalla Rouge," the supporting company containing va rlous Individuals who subsequently figured to front page sensations. Rogflo do VouDe oamo from Paris to appear to this production. A few years ago he got Into trouble with the Ehiropean authorities. He water polo player, met with fi^tal head injuries in a motor aeoident. A Palais de Danae and cabaret hag been opened by a local orchestra. 'HavoOi** the mm adapted fhntf the stage play, is set for Scresalag Nov. 14 at the Alhambra. Ktaem«s;> Ltd., ' announce the screening of the British fllm "Blighty" at the City Hall. JOHANNE8BURQ African Theatres, Ltd., is bringing out to this' country important namw of the theatrical world. The latest is Phyllis Neilson-Terry and her company, including Frank Freeman, D. J. Williams, Eugene Leahy. Ger« aid Pemberton, Altholl Fleming. Andrew Churchman, Louise Regnis, Gladys Dale and Lnmena Bdwardes. The company opened at His Ma* pesty'a theatre Oct. 31 with "Sweet Nell of Old Drury.'* scoring a big hit. Fine actinp and production. The Empire aUracted good busi- ness With vaudeville. Week Oct SI: Rebe Kesslova. violinist; Blake and Hasel Dean, dancers;. StoU and Steward, song and patter; the Lam- pinoa. Americatn comedy illusionists; Jimmy GreyvUle. comedy musical act; Les Augu*stines, barrel jump- ers; ballet. Week Nov. 7: LesUe Elliott, songs at the piano: Four Phillips, acrobatic Jugglers; Magglo Trio, French gymnasts; Rebe Kess- lova. Blake and Hazel Dean. StoU and Steward. Lampinos. ball^ Bijou (African Theatres. Ltd.)— Business, good. Films recently screened: "Carmen.** "The IJagle.'» "Wind of Chaneo.** "Irene." Orpheum (AMcan Theatres. Ltd.) —Bib-vaudeville theatre getting good patronage. Percy Hutchison, English actor, and company, tourlAg aromid 'Rho- desia Fred^, Duprez is doing well over here. Alfred Mirovltch, well-known pt* anist, is touring South Africa. DURBAN (NATAL) Theatre Royal—Closed. Criterion—Popular bio-vaudeville theatre. Week Oct. 81: Leslie El- liott, songs at the piai\o; Four Phil- lips, acrobatic Jugglers; Miniature Marie, comedienne; pictures. Week' Nov. 7: Ronald Frankan*s ''Cabaret'^ Kittoas"; pictures. A Richard Dlx Club to being formed In Durban. Sole Bros.' Australian circus and menagerie located aroufld Durban. The Rodney Girls (3). daughters of Charles Rodni^y, well-known pro- fessional and African Theatres. Ltd.. manager, are reported doing well over in Australia. The girls intend visiting the States, and their show is recommended. The Durban Town Council has de- cided to take steps to have dog rac- ing banned In Natal. The Durban Amusement Syndi- cate put over Charleston and waltz- ing contests In the Town Hall. The attraction carried a lot of interest to local dancers, with two prises of 1150 each. aeeused of being connected with a dop>e ring. In "Queen of the Moulin Rouge" also appeared May Maloney, a show- girl. Bhe had been a Newport shop- girl and married the rich and fash- ionable Raynor Wells, son of Mrs. William Storrs Wells, who has a Newport estate. Rajmor died and his widow has revisited Newport. Still another member of that same musical comedy was Francis X. Bushman, destined for fame aad fortune as a movie star, destined also to be divorced by two wives, hto ehlldren by the first wife now dotog well as Francis X. Bushman, Jr., movie juvenile, and Mrs. Jack Conway, wife of a picture director. ncr. and Mrs. Flraak Vaaee Btorrs and their daughters, the Misses Caroline and Anne, are giving a re- ception and dance tonight^ Dec. 14, to the iPalto Oardon of the RIU for Ruth Elder and Capt Haldeman." The show business ought to be espe- cially interested in that announce- ment, for Mr. Btorra to none other than the former Frank V. Strauss, who accumulated a large fortune publishing theatre programs. He changod his name soma^years ago and later secured possession of a parterre box at the Metropolitan opera house, where his wife's jewels outshine •those of the Vaaderbilts and Astors. In another box one sees Mrs. Cornelius VSadcrbilt Whitney, daughter of Mr. aad Mrs. BhOfldan & Kbrtsn. —— Pknty CoU; Little Heat; No Race for Shows t London, Dec. 20. "Whispering Wires," arriving at the Apollo last night (Monday), was poUtely received, but iU snocsss to doubtfuL Thoro roally Isn't a ebaaea for any show here at preooat booanso of sero woather, with tasafll^snt heat to tbo thoatre*. ; ^ ''Sadie Dupont" on Sun. Ix>ndon, Deo, 20. A spectol performance of "Badto DutK>nt." sploadld melodrama, was given by the Repertory Players Sunday niglit. Reception decideoty enthusiastic. SAILINGS S4 (New Tork to Paris) Kirby and DeOage (Be de France). Doe. II <Now York to Parto), August Janssen. Sr., (Paris). Dec. U (London to New York) Arch Selwyn, Lueille Valenttoe (X^SVtoUMB)* Englisk Royalties Soar London, Doc. 10. Certified accountant's figures of money sent by Clayton & Waller as authors' and compopers' fees for rights to American plays produced in London during the last two and a half years, amount to t750,000. At present they are paying at the rate of $5,000 per week. Lonsdale's Unnamed London, Dec. 20. Frederick Lonsdale's new musical, coming toto Daly's in February, has yet to be named. Princlpal.s Include Evelyn Laye, Albert Mundin and George Gros-