Variety (Dec 1927)

WtdMtdtgr, DABibw 1987 LEGITIMATE VARIBTY FEW PERMANENTS EXPECIED OF 27 FRE SH BROA DWAY PLAYS flo Source Seen for Anticipated Dark Howt W:- Many of Latest Contingent Mutt Move Shortly; NoiioGolBuri Lait W^^^^^^^ »I I- tlons arrlyed on Broadway last week and this (Christmas to New Tsar's) to fill all the dark houses, a I* predicted that untenanted the- ses will aflrain be in evidence and , probably before January is far ad- ' danced. ICany of the new shows ars not there. Of last week's seTsn regular productions, not incluslTe of the Special attra«tl«BSb am >wWi lie- eepted as agency buyA jiiiA Alt Are In cut rates. Current week started with several psoBBlsiBC offerings^ yet not enougli, and house operators are again won- dering where the shows will come Crom to replace certain withdrawals, flkttt soaM premieres will terminate Into abrujyt closings is indicated. I«ast week's grosses were away vader normal, as usual with the elose appron4di of Christmas, and actual grosses do not suiiply a cor- rect line on the business generally. etlek for the hoUday hanrest heweiver, many shows had to take a box office wallop. This week otarted ott faltly well and with f^- Torable theatre i r e al i i er i Hiere are plenty of attractions listed in cut rates but no more than last season. There were 11 openings Monday Blifct ilia the dramntle d e paftm e nt s of the dailies were run ragged, call- ing in aid from the reportorial de- partment. Reviews from the latter ■ouroe dodctf dotelle optalone or aa^BMCter was blue pencQlad. Dress Rehearsals There were several dress rehear- 'Ma eaaii^ fCMetmttil alght frith the «r(Mes invited. The intent was to dodge Monday's flood of pre- mieres, but by forcing the scribes 'to attend on the lnWdey appeared a>ore of a handicap to the attrac- tions than a benefit. It Is doubtful 'If the playera.Qonoemed were at their best either. Ona new show fven picked Christmas eve for de- but, a worse selection than the Prospects Monday's highlights appeared to be topped by "Behold the Bride- toom*' at the Oort aad 'Tho White Xaf^e,** operetta at the Casino. *lBxcees Baggage/' Rits; "Bless Ttfti. ineter.** Forrest, and *X?SeIe- hrity," Lyceum, were regarded pros- pects, although clearer indioatlons wJkil come after New Tear's. •■•»X ) aali ^* *-oaa of laat weelfa en- trants, drew divided opinions at the Mansfleld despite its best seller an- gle; "Lob Angeles" started mildly M tho nadoear aa did ^*Th* lioire Kest" at the Comedy; "Spring fiong," Bayes, went into cut rates, as did those mentioned above and "What Do .We Kaaw," Wallack*s, and "Slaters." Klaw. "Playing the Game" passed out at the Ritz where a wae booked for a lone week. Next week "She's My Baby" comes to the Globe which has been occupied up to now with special pIltltoNi lihowings; *^ightsUck" which went out of town for a week cornea into the Cohan, "The 19th Hole" moving from there to the liittle; «*Tnfg«r,« aarrsai at that house, is expected to move; "Tied Dust" will arrive at Daly's, "The Banshee** claiming removal to an- other berth also; "Oh, Kay" comes back for a two weeks repeat at the Century, the Max Reinhardt com- pany being aiated to more down- town; HPhe Centuries" will close at the New Playwrights downtown, to be followed by "The International;" ''Ramtet" Is slated to alternate with "An Bnemy of the Pe<a>le" at Hamp- den's, In the Agencies In the premium agencies there Were 25 "buys" attractions listed up to Tuesday. Included were several Monday night entrants, but none of last week's new shows were re- garded as of a "buys " quality. The Ust: "Funny Face* (Alvin1P*"Man- hatUn Mary" (Ar>oilo), "Hit the Deck" (Belawo). "Rsrnpe" (Booth), "groadway" (BroadhurHt), "Tli<! White Eagle" (Casino). "Good News" (Chanin'8 46th St.). "Behold the Bridegroom" (Cort), "Interfer- ence" (Bmpire), "The Five O'clock QtrV (44th St), "The Merry Ma- Jonee" (Erlanger), "The Doctor's Dilemma' (Guild), "Golden Dawn" (Hammersteln), "Sidewalks of New Tork" (Knickerbocker) "The Com- mand to Dove" (Longacre), '*Celeb- rttr* (X4re«am), "RIo Rita" (LTric), •^CSowtteP* (Maslne Blliott). Tarts Bound" (Music Box), "The Trial of Mary Dugan" (NaUonal), JfZiegfeld Follies- (New Ameterdam). •bur- lesque" (Plymouth), "The Royal Family" (Selwyn), "^A ConnecUcut fankee;; (Vandeiiot). «*Aitiats and Models'* (Winter Garden), 'lluii Boat" (Ziegfeld. 84 et Cut Ratee It would seem that 34 attractions offered at cut rates was an excep- tional number for the week between CJhrlstmas and New Tear's, but the ■ame nmnber was in the bargain counters during the same week last year. Included are new shows which opened last week and early this week. The list: "Paradise" (48th St.); "Restless Womea" (Meroeeo); "CUuite" (Mans- field); "Venus" (Masque); "The Desert Song** (Imperial); "The Love Cnir (Majeetle): •*Qllbert and Sul- livan's Repertory* (Royale); "My MaryUnd" (JoJson); "Harry Del- mar's ReveleP' fflhuhert); "Happy" (Carroll); "Sidewalks of New York" (Knickerbocker); "Take the Ahr" (WaMorf); "Spring Bong** (Bayee); "Baby (Cyclone" (Henry lllBer); "Jimmie's Women" (Frolic): •'Ths Shannons of Broadway** (Martin Beck); The Ivory Door" (Hopkins); "The ISth Hole" (Cohan's); "Sis- ters" (Klaw); **The Banshee" (Daly's); "And So To Bed" (Bijou); "The Marquise" (Biltmore); "Fallen Angels" (49th St.); "The Road to Rome" (Playhouse): "What Do Wo Know" (Wallack's); "Four Walls" (Golden); "Hamlet" (Davenport): "The Racket" (Ambassador); "Trig- ger" (Lattle); **The Centuries" (Play- wright); "Los Angeles" (Hudson); "Mongolia" (Greenwich Village); "The Love Nest" (Comedy); "Keat- ins*' (Booth). CHICAGO HAS NO SURPRISES Shews in RdMuml '"Salvation* (Arthav Bop- kins). 'H'he immedlau JeweT (Carl Reed). ''Msrea MINIoi^ (neatie Guild). •The First Stone* (Civic Repertory). "Merchent off Veaio^ (Wla- throp Ames). **Mirrore," (Harris. Lewis and Short). •A riaa SomP {Wm. a. Brady). 'flaln or Shins" (Jones and Green). "Girt from Monliaartro»" (Shuberto). Throe Muekeleero* (Florens zieafiM)* PUYS ON RROADWAY ^000 Town's B«sl—7 Openings This V/mA Chicago, Dec. 37. All lesit eyes looked not at the boxolBoeo laat waek, hut to tho fu- ture. And there's a lot of future. Seven openings the last two days. The new entrants are "Two Olrls Wanted." Cort; "Good Bad Wom- an," Central, and "The Squall," Adelphi, on Sunday; "Behold This Dreamer," Blarckstone; "Constant Wife," Harris; "Crisa Cross." Er- langer. and "Merry Wivea of Wind- sor." Illinois, on Monday. On reports, "Criss Cross'* and Miss Barrymore's "Constant Wife" are destined to be the most profita- ble engagements, although "The Squall" and "Behold This Dreamer" seem not far behind. "Merry Wives** win bo limited to three weeks and will thrive mostly on advance subscription and a three- ply starring oast. **Qood Bad Wom- an" is revived for the Central on a stock plan that is practically legit To make way three outflu dosed down. These were "Road to Rome," Adelphi; "Tommy," Cort. ahd 'The Pteya tho Thhw.** Harrlik The- atres occupied anew, excepting the Erlanger. had been dark for a week or morSb Last week the entire list went downward. The top figure in town, $28,000, was shown by "Night in Spain." "Hit the Deck" slipped again, as did "Desert Song." "Broadway" is apparently on its last lap and will iMrobably not re- main after the New Tear's eve cash-in. No practical rea.son f«»r "Murray Hill" remaining unless a desire to keep the house open. ."Mr. Pim Paaees By" lout monoy in its second week as the second ofTering of Mra. Insull, hot la eon- tin uing for the principle of the tiling. Cstimatss for Last Week "Bshold Thie Dreanner^ CDIack- stone. 1st week). Opened Monday; will stand up for a time on Qlenn Hunter's following; after that a q u es t ioni •'■raarfway" (Selwyn. 16th week). Town veteran of non-m\iair.alH and wabbly with age; 15 weeks con- sidered good run here; |l<r^ last week, but will wtlck. "CoiMitsss Msritza** (Olympic. 8th week). Operetta continuing only with aid of speelal pressure; 000. _ 'XHm CiW nSrlaacer. Ut Loe Angeles, Dec. 17. of *x:ocoanuto" at Biltmore vnaooouatalily atow at start, but took a spurt for a re- ported groee of $17,000. "Sunny" at the Mayan, Iharfh week, next with 116.000. "Broadway" completing three months at the Mason, sUU doing splfly hiB hi Ita Itth wMI at ft.ffO. "Laugh, Clown. Laugh.** with Lionel Barrymore. seemed' to be deriving its force from star. Fourth week at Belasco figured IS.MO. 'Tigs." seventh week at El Capi- tan. brought In $4,600 to the Duffy cotters. .."The Morning After." Oliver Moroeco*a re-entry into pro- ducing, not so hot at $4,(00 for its first full week at the UoU^wood Playhoase^ Moroeea apoaei ;*Vlie Four-FIusher" with HHti iat Mi but okay^at prices. "The Vortex," "Kongo." "Under- tow* and "Tha DaMfft floaa^ A* la Mat week. BdioM the Bridegroom Conie<ly drania bjr Georv* Kelly and pr«- Dented by UomOIs StSWMri. At U« OMt JDSS. 38. Juaub Asd we oa atsmd. ftsgidtv \hm authof. A til ulnettS IalS«;. *V.«.. »•. Jslltb Andaraon wards •••.Keassib LawtM Sheppard .Ma^ 01ld«a Mra. Klvanor IUdsaaar***»***Me'r Ssrvoas Spaucar Tfsls.»«.».«,,Jo hs ManasB (MnatMtkC* Paytoa.. Jmui INaoa OehrlM fltlar....;.. LMtar Vsil Mary McQraU. VlrclBla RsmII Robart L.yl«.. ....Tharacoa HaU Dr. Httnungtoo Oarl Hamilton Dr. LoebeU Claraaea BalUUr Kowrltina 'tenatof" Washington, Dec. 27. With his play, ''Senator Besse- mer,** twice scheduled for produc- tlda. Melvla Hlldreth. local attor- ney. Is now working with Sidney Rosenfeld, who has "The Senator" (WUliam H. Crane) and *^he Van- dertaOt (3npP* to hto eraiM^ 4a «|- writing It. Hlldreth's pleee Is a story of mod- em Washington life and politlea. TWO MOBS GLDB8 still they come, those nite clubs! Tonight (Wednesday) Don Dicker- nan opeaa hia 'Volgh-Ho»'' aee the Udo-Venloe, at tS Bast lid atreet with Laoey Toung purveying the danoo music and the Whispering BawaUaaa for aoaoirt handieoi and teaa. Dickennaa Is the night club king of Greenwich Village, controlling three spots downtown. Oa Tharaday night Lew I«eslle opens his Ambassadeurs on the site of the former Le Perroquet de Paria week). Opened Monday; houne re- turned to legit, but will follow Stone show with another flhn. "King of Kings." "Deesrt Sona" (O. N.. Iflto aiM). Not worrying at $24,000. "Good Bad Woman** (Centra). 1st week). Opened Sunday; IooIca like theatre will get break all season: house getting perfectly titled showH for location. '*Hit the Deck" (Woods, Ith week). Has even ehance to pull through; $22,500. ''Merry Wivee of Windeor" (IIU- nole, lat week). Opened Monday for three weeks; Mrs. Flske and Otis Skinner co-starred and Hen- rietta Crosman featured. "Mr. Pim*» (Studebaker, 8d we<^k). Will finish four weeks, audiences or not; house returning to regular legit and aow looking for suitable show. "Murrsy HIN* (Princess. 5th week). Has m right to stay If it wanta to, but no basis for argument at $4,600. ''Night in Spain" (Four C:ohan.<f, 5th week). Led town with $28,000; r€ vuo Will do hettar shortly and must. "Read to Rome* (AdelphI, 10th week). Finished Saturday; »riK''»K' - ment extended twice for three ad- ditional weeks; one af few ahows this season that reeoYered after flopping; $10,000. ' 'The Coneftant Wife* (Harris. Ist week). Opened Monday; Ethol Barrymore will bring out "ClasH" mob; succeeded "Play's the Thing." which ntarted strongly but nlurnped; latt^^r show flnlHhcd six weeks to $14,000. •The Squsir fAdclphl. l«t week) Opened Sunday; reported "hot"; it so wIU have field to Itself. •'Tommy'* (Cort, IMh week) Closed to $5,200 laHt w*. k; never more than moderate money, but al- ways enjoyed flight profit; Cort theatre a bet for frail shows; "Two Gtrlf Waatad** oiMBed Sunday. CJcorif© Kelly, among tlio most brilliant of playwrights, has con- ceived a serious play In "Uehuld the Bridegroom." It is so vastly differ- ent from his earlier hit, "Xhe *5how- Off," that (he same authorship is hsrdly discernible. "While the new play has not the same elements of popular appeal, it should develop a class draw on the strength of its sterling though sub- dued dramatics. The first act is excellently worked out. It is witty in its smart way and enjoyable. Thereafter the play becomes deadly serious—too much so for the casual playgoer. Its quietude is apt to bore. Bven polite flnit-nlghters could not repress coughing. Mr. Kelly, having staged his own play, explains why It waa not cat. Seems to be aboat a a^hit^T of aa hour to long. Tony Lyle. as her friends call her, was one of tho social butterfly set. Deeply romantic, she has dallied on an engagement with one of the boys in her circle. Her man had not oome along. When lEMoenoer Train is introduced, Tony reallsea he Is her ideal. But she also knows her new-bom love is hojMsless. He was the first man to disapprove of her. Though he didn't put it to words, she felt it. When Tony diamissea her fiance and telli hha there la another man. the boy gaes :ta his club and Hhoots himself—one oause of Tony's col- latMii. She had discussed taa mat- ter of Train with her cousin, Eleanor. She confcsues affairs with other men. The realization she can not Ko to Train as wives should go to their husbands becomes an ob- .so.sKion. Only when Train vl.sits the suffering girl Is there hope for their romance to bloom. In a beautif^il scene she tells of her."<elf and the great change. The curtain finds. Train woindering whether the bride- groom has not come too late. Tho author pretends to give a keen slant ah^e ways of the grad- uated debutante. Here Is Tony with all the money she wants, traveling here and' there, trying to get away from herself. Caustic and meanly critical of others, she becomes a real womaa aalST after tha ana>BN» arrives. Tony describee her set air ioelal curiosities who are running all over the world. Eleven out of the 14 girls who *Vame out** the saaie year as she, have already been married and divorced, several having dl- Toreed twioe. Miss Stewart, who produced Kelly's other plays, has handsomely mounted "Behold the Bridegroom^' and supplied it with a corking cast. Judith Anderson fits Tony to a nicety and turned in a perform- ance that leares an Indellhle hn**' pression. Mary Servoss, an Cousin BUeanor, did excellently; while Jean Dixon, as a Ihppant ooektafl haand. was amuslniT- She wan In one act only. So was Lester Vail, as the dismissed suitor, another true type. Thurston Hall, as the middle-aged father, lofjked tho man. and hlH aetlnr was admirable. Clarence Bellair wms another to do well. One of the smaller parts was made to stand out as one of the best, that of Ken- neth Lawton's butler. Heat, nui^t and effleient. "P«hold the Bridegroom" Is a candidate for the Pulitser prise. That dooaiit meaa H Wofi*t da hasl^ ness. Indi'-atlons are not for big attendance, but for a moderate suc- ceaa ani^l^^ ihm, DANTON'S TOD (DANTON'S DSATH) Third produntioS «f tlM Rvlsbardt r«i>«r. lory MaHf>n at th« Ontury, New Tork. under manaireinent Oltt»prt MMler. Kn- tir* n»»lr)hfir'It troupe ♦■xi ejit MoIrhI. Borne '200 fXlruH In mob aon**". Paul Hart- rinnn iil.ivlntr l>anton; Wla'llrnir Fokoloff playlnv itot«i?plerr«, and Arnold Korfl pisytns St. isst. stage and there are many steps. Up from theae steps are the aeata ■ a great circle of them^ta wMh Nit the populace, come to haig da* cisions of great moment The back of the stage la In dark* ness, but the lighting is so gradu- ated from the back to the front. Increasing In Intensity toward thd front, that the moh aeema aai^ tinuous. On the part of the mOb that la revealed, the light shades off into darkness so gradually that the im- pression of a great mob la pm aa the sudience. Much amasement was expressed among theatrical directors in New York that Reinhardt waa able to gather a molo hers and train them MO nicely, for on the opening night they worked one-two-three. Bet- ter mob Bcenea have adrer been staged in New Tork, not even In tho rush for free seats to **The Ladder.'* It's a production of great note on this account. Fellows who wouldn't be caught dead at a performanoe la a foreign language have been drop- ping into the Century to see the Reinhardt mobs. The word got quickly around Timee aquare that this was thrilling stuff—and It waa. Marching hordes, mad, waylng; frantic banda, acreaming Tolcea lulled Into sullen repression by a speaker In the middle of the tribunal—theae are the moat graphic Items of the productloa. "Danton's Tod" was the most eageriy awaited of tho Reinhardt productions. It Waa the Srat flay staged in modernist fashion, so they say, and so far it's the beat. Its mass movements aro Inooat* parable on this side, and praaaBb* ably on the other side. Moissi doesn't play to this one; he had the star role ealled for In his contract In "Jedermann.** Didn't hurt the pIiow any. Hartmann la fine as Danton, Sokoloff runnlns away with the piece as Robespierre and Arnold Korff contributing a thrilling bit as the oil|U aakooth tongued St. Just. THE WHITE EAGLE RuMcII Janney'ii four-a<-t opwetta feat- nrlPK Allan l>rtor. Baaed an "Tb* ttqiiaw Man." with mualc W Rudolf Krlrel. Ikxjk and lyrica by Brian Hookar and W. H. Ptoat; atafced toy HIchard Dola- sluvsfcy; ditnocs credltad to Duaby Bark*- lay: acenaa and co«(uniea by Jainao Rey- noIJii; Anton fletndl dirscUas orokeatrs; nt Casino I^. fjf,, . ■ Hun Watcbar Ralph ICosaa Madiclna Msa...,v*« Jolui Maatay Tatywana k*-»**CtmB. B. OalUclMr .sihemlPff tafirfoa Kaoler IndUn J>anc«r...i»..*«.,; •Ayaa Kas RBKllah liMcni«.Mlsak lJM. Holss OraiMlle Limit. Gaorsf^^'M •»<..ihrllSB Msvllls capt. jan t-s a^ysosaBie llaur Ji m. ^'ArMn) ...>..........,.,,..ailss Pvtcs Captain J^lls Jstfe MtOtsw LsSy Kriutt .•...1 JW*1 VinHBe elebas.essssstaaal BftOl# ••••aasafeeaaeeesse«e*•I _ a ••••••••• sae • s • s s a ••• aPftVlft mUIS MWIK ••• ••••a*aaaa*a«a««« aO^OTf^^ fllftliftft^S Sue Ksrdr OhartM Hmdwiop nis Bill lf*T% Bntim I'sfkpjr Jay Faaaatt Gtoomy E«tl Mayna Oaak Hawkfna t uttit Jisi.>« MaatiT Amm mm. •.....«•• About everybody connected with the technical Hide of the theatre went up to the Century last week to see the Reinhardt production of r.oorgr Hr ur lin<r's historic drama» "Danton's Tod." This Is rated as Reinhardt's Krcatf^Ht sp^'t.i'^;Ic, with the ll>?lit- ing and mob Hcent^a in it nothing short of miraculous. Int<Tior H<"^nf's, playoj hcf«*re a curtain on the fore part of the staKc. :> r tedloiH—Hill fPHFTtT pJayrff. Thf'««' CN rman a«^torH bray loudly wlif-n th<'y tallt; ihf. apolo- glHt.s mylnK that this is "German actirr" Yes? "lianton" Is R^inliardfs hrst tf. date in New YorU The seen'" *>f tho howling French mobs in th** Tribunal are as stirring ns history itself. Great columns are on the Reported to have had only two and a half weeks In which to break in, the most remarkable Item about the premiere of this operetta was the smoothness of the performance. It spoke much for the direetlon^ aupt and stage crew. This latest Russell Janney effort is a big craft which necessitates Kutne deft navigation between the r<'KuIafIon theatre hours. Opening niMht tho show spillsd well over the conventional curtain thho. Af» though it Htarted Into thfrc was a full three-hour performance on t*Pt 15 or more mlQutes of whieh "Win surely como out. The Casino's new musical is not great, but it's good and very apt to liee tho hot weather. It Im- presses an a show that will not stamp<-(lc attendance in the dirsc- Uon of 39th street, but will build ta consistently healthy grosses. It's massive, colorful, has one standout melody and a number of quality voices to make the score pleasing if not unusual. It really appears as though Jan- ney undertook production with one « yf on E>i>fland—Just in case. Fol- lowing "The Squaw Man" brings in the hero as an oflRcer of the Itth I^anoerH who exiles himself In Colorado to save the family name. That English garden second act with its red mess Jack«tcd male chorus, plus the Indians and cow- boys, seems to make It a tempting BrifNh projfff. Tfjo hero is Knj?- lish and IndianN put over "The Covered Wagon" (film) In London. Ro if grosses don't pan out her»>, the \V«.st Krnl vol*- n»ay offFet that and then there's nlways Australia. Roth Txin'lon odM Syln^'v will iin- quesf if>nahly Iof»k 'The White Kntrtn" orrr, Ina.Hmii" Ji as tf»e story of "The Srpjfiw .M.'tn" is f.nnlli ir It's enough to s;tv thnt th" j>r iri' ij»ri| riifive- menfs of the plot hti\t' been re- t«lne<| with dlnlog :iUnur cut to the bone, A f' w cast members are mor*» at home When singing than rai*rylng on the script, one or two climaxes rri.Ty not be all they should