Variety (Jan 1928)

Wednesday, January 25, 1928 L E G I T I M ATE VARIETY 61 PLAYS OUT OF TOWN LOVING DAUGHTERS Chicago, Jan. 14. •Modern" comedy In three acts, by Frits Blockd. Staged by Wm. V. Hull, lYesented by Associate Players, Inc. (Hor- Kce Stetare stock), at tie NatlonaV theatre, Chicago, tor one week, ovcnlos Jan. 6. Instance of a stock company tisinff a hew script, from the pen of ai6well known Ghlcago newspa:per man, for tho purpose of testing the value ot the play, though wholly commCTCial on the part of the stock company. The writer Is Fritz Block!, scri.v.e- ner of ability, employed by the Chi- cago "American." On that publica- tion he serves as dramatic man. He has occupied the role of playwright on the side before, miore or less isuccessfully, but never seemed to hit the idea. Kow he apparently haig it In "Loving Daughters," A shrewd sense of comedy he always had; but never a broad knowledge of situation. The latter he hais dcr veloped, according to his latest' piece of writing. "Loving Daughters" Is a tale of the gin-drinking, slang-tossing, six-, cylihderrnecking younger genera- tion of lads and. lassies. It also em- hraces a cotople of sons. The first act. hits a swift stride and maintains it, the second is only slightly less, speedy, but the third and last falls hard. The. final chap- ter needs rewriting and with the proper sort can be fashioned into as effective an ajc* as the first pair. As now standing the third act has . two endings. The first natural fin- ish, whi<3h would leave the play for the better if curtained on the spot, Is followed by a post-mortem. that Is unnecessary and at the same time l)ad. One might imagine the wtiter touhd an'^extra idea aiid tacked it on, rather than tucked it in. The start is fast and smart, hold- Itvg an Idea In portraying necking parties In thei theatre. Two pairs .of y. g. neckers walk, in for-a line or two under* lights, then the stage darkens for. five minutes or so of . what can be Imagined. • Girls on the boys' laps, stage whispers; oscu latlons and cross-fire gagging. Only the many laugh lines relieve the tentlon and help to cover the risque. Upon exit of the kids, the mother of one of the girls (widow) and the Hather of the other girl and one of the boys (widower), who has been put on some secret, stepping, enter. (Stage Is still dark and the old folks go into a perfect reproduction of the Slds' party. . The parents rag the kids for the necking, and vice versa, until par ents and offspring are brought to their senses. But not before a boy tiakes a phony pistol shot at a girl to make the old man and the. widow repent. In this bit Blockl show^ bis Journalistic sense. With action described from a character looking out the window, he has the news paper photographer arrive on the scene "before the police. An ambu lance gets the girl to the hospital before the docs find out she hasn't been shot at all, to make it fun nler. An entertaining piece of farce comedy, though Just now In need of doctoring. It is limited as played by this stock company, both In ■■' mounting and portrayal, but shows enough to permit a fair estimate of Its true value. If getting the re writing, and the right sort. In would stand as a nice little up-to-date coniedy show for inexpensive legit production. As to Horace Slstare's Stock Co. t is in its 32d week at the South Side theatre. That is its chief vlr- ture, others, beihig a very low op* erating nut and a fairly good weekly subscription list. The com- pany has its many limitations, but looks nice, if nicer than it acts. . Slstare is an excellent istock mah, one of the best in the middle west. If he isn't making a living, he wouldn't stick, for 32 long weeks anyway. - . SIX FEET UNDER AVashirigton, Jan. 18. Hnrrv DcOf prest-'nts a comedy ■written by himself. Stiascd by Ira Hards, At the National theatre week Jan. Ncbhlefredders— Pop ,..Ocorpe Marlon . Ma Jea:slo Crommeito • Herble- .;,,, V Tom Urpwn Aiiut Emma,....... . . .LoUa Llnthicum Cousin Bessie ....MarRaret Hatfield Eva .Leona Hoearlh Elmer < i.Harry Dolt Josle nulh Nugent Al SproUet .Don DlUaWay Mrs. Donahue,..' Rlcca Allen Bin McGorliy ■ Charles H.anna Dr. Parker Herbert Forlier Miss Oladstone ....Jean Hartryce A. hurried opening, to grab this unexpected week at the National in a to^vh that has had so many new ones that it'svsaturated with them gave belf a tough break to start with. His show is very much in the formative stage and he couldn't get a decent isized audience together. It's tough to Judge a comedy In an empty house. It's tougher to fix and build them. Delf tried his "Family Upstairs" In thl» same theatre. Here he has another family "down amongst the people" with the elder son niaking $40 odd peir week as a floor waJker and carrying his father, mother, brother, sister, her beau, two aunts —and a wife. He's the prize worrier of the world. Their troubles are his, and when those troubles, reach the point that brings them all to- gether he. topples over, and is only saved from cashing In because he Is still worrying so about his family that he can't die. There are humorous nossibilities. Delf has gathered them In to the extent of bringing his play to the point where It Just needs a llttfle punch to put it over. It's subtle, too. Sometimes it runs to farce, but Delf constantly sticks to his knit- ting even to the extent of an occa- sionally nearing the border of a do- mestic tragedy. And he makes you laugh at it. All of which Indicates that If he has gone so far he ought to be able to finish the Job. He has three weeks scheduled prior to the Broad- way showing. A good cast. George Marlon Is a delight as the father condescending to go to work as a stagedoor keeper for the sake of his son, and all the time cussing out the actors; Leona Hogarth has a difficult assignment as the wife and does it well, while Ruth Nugent as the sister does exceptionally well. Tom Brown as the boy is decidedly good, as Is Lotta Linthicum, the calamity aunt. Deaf himself, as star, author and producer, doeia right well in all three, particularly as the actor. It will never be a smash, affalrj but with some script building should get some money not only on the main stem but In stock, as did Delf's previous piece. There are picture possibilities, and these may develop to the point of o.ut.shadowIng the stage, end. ilcakin. PLAYS ON BROADWAY (Continued from page iSO) flee his life for her, and yet may play around elsewhere. Very often, as was said in "Help ■"Wanted." "It . ig hard for women to gi-asp it, but all .men know it—the one thing hag nothing to do with the •other." ■ ■ For the finale, after all th.at has happened and aiftor the man has potton. away with murder, with adultery, with perjury; has won back his .-wife, has held his daugh- ter, is about to get the'highest olTioo in the state, we hear him talking to the woman who jammed him In all that riiischiof, grief ai.id porjl, and ho Is- hinting that he will see hor soon again—out of town. "We Never Learn" is right. • The acting in the main Is excel- lent. Elizabeth Risdon as the Avifc shines from every viewpoint. Aus- tin Fairman, the man who is knocked 6ff in Act 2. plays a Krcmbs genteel heavy with notable ■ distinction. Estclle Winwood, who followed Poggy Allonby in the part a few days ago on the road, has so •much personality that no matter what she does or how she does it she is always effective; but if there is a bit of overacting in this exhibit, it may be charged to her, especially in her walk, which is old-time vamp-stuff. Charles Trowbridge jplays the lawyer well enough. While no part of thl.s Is new, put together it makes a iflne evening, and should survive for a consider- able stay, probably for the rest of the season, if it outlives the Lenten period. . . Lait: one hundred years ago,", the heads of the house are fond of repea,ting. The story of the breaking up of what was supposed to have been a financially impregnable household is more interesting than the people concerned. They, face the loss of tlie mills and poverty because of the father's ideal. That is the final curtain. Owen Davis, Jr., ia the light of "Carry On." The young man should bo a favorite juvenile before many seasons.. He has a ploapant face, also personality. Another son, Donald Davi.<?, aimn for the managerial end and was? interested in a. Broadway production last season, ' Berton Churchill stood outstrong- ly a.s the :Stern head of the house. Gop.d actor .'hut in a rolo that is nil In. sympathy, a man . who im- ,?eeingly brings woe onto himself and family to uphold a worn out family tradition. Beatrice . Terry was . good as the undorHtandIng wife, .as w.is Flora ■..ShcffioUl, who declrircd the Marstons h.ard and .•^elfish .after all, Joseph Boll was liked as an attorney, Bon' Smith had no easy time- as the strayin»j Walter, "Carry Oh" is' .a serious play. There .are others on the current li.'!t th.at have landed, among the hits. Not ."^o this one bco.auKo it fn'il.s a.«5 satisfactory entcrtaininont. IVee, CARRY ON Drama In three acts by Owen Davie pre- sented by Carl Reed Jan. 23 at Masque; directed by Clifford Brooke; settlnes by Livingston Piatt. Opened Jan. 23. MARCTOtN FAMILY Horace' .Berton Churchill BUen Beatrice Terry Aunt Mary; Elizabeth Patterson Walter Ben Smith Alice ....Flora Sh-ejfleld Jerry ; Owen Davis, Jr. OUTSIDE FAM1I>'T Paul Jowett Fleming' Ward John' Bartlett..-,> Joseph Bell Benjamin Roble,.Edward ■ H. I/oefflcr Ilm Durk ...Robert Kelly Wanda' Durk..- ; Irene Homer Vlartha Lizzie McCall Lena .....Joan Sudlow •MJairy On" is Carl Reed's second production try within a month and at the same Theatre Masque. Both plays were authored by known pla.ywrlghts. The first, "Venus." was by Rachel Crothers and made a quick exit. "Carry On". Is hy Owen Davis, rated the most prolific of American stage writers. His latest effort did not Impress as very much up to date. There is a suspfcion it might have been lying around his desk for some time. If so, age has not im- proved It and its chances for popu- larity are very' slim. The play tells the story of the disintegration of the proud Marston family of Tonkers. Horace Mars ton is the owner of the Marston mills, as was his father before him and the grandfather who estab- lished the mills in 1927—"more than Merchant of Venice WInthrop Amea presents OoorKO Arll.«a as Shylock. stfirrlnfj In W)Illnm Sh.ikc- spearc's "The Merchant of Venice." PoRgy Wood the Portia, but unfeaturod. Ptaged >y Mr. Ames; FOtllnKa by'Woodmnn Thomp- son. At tho Bro.adhurst, Now York, Jan. 1«. IJ..10 top, Duke of Vpnico............ .Oeorpc Graham Prince of Morocco,... . i... , ,David Leonard Antonio, merchant of Venice Leonard Wllley BMsanIo, hia friend, Murray Kennell Salanlo Hardio Albright Salarlno .Sydney Booth Gratlano ,. .......Hugh Miller Lorenzo .Ouldo Nadzo Shylock. George Arllsa Tubal, hIa frlend....i.......Henry Morrell I>aunrelbt Gobbo... Rorhney Breht Old Oobbo, father to Launcelot . ■ Henry Morrell Stephano .Alan Wllley nalthasar '., ,.Lewla A. Rcaly Portia i........Pegfry Wood 'Nerlssa .'.,, .. .Spring BjingtOH Teacilca , }Iopo Gary Magnlflcocs of Venice, Citizens, Offlcera of the Court of Justice,'Servants and Other Attendants, ' ' Wlnthrop Ames, unable to . secure a suitable play for Oeorge Arllss this season, has turned to a revival of "The Merchant of Venice." "Thus, this sturdy classic may be Mr. Ar- liss' road show too. Hia following is prodlgous outside of New York Ditto In New York. It Is that following which will carry Mr. Ame.s'. carefully done re- vival along In New York for a run counted decent where a classic is concerned. In plainer words, Mr Arllss will he doing wonders If he keeps tho pre.«)ent revival of "The Merchant" hero for eight or ten weeks. As "Merch.ants" go, this ono Is hand.sdmely mounted and directed with that fine skill which is Ame.i'; As great as any other director In our theatre, Mr. Ames Is thi.s time forced to -the expedient of utilizing "The Merchant" as a starring piece for Mr. Arllss. Consequently, the smaller roles are not well played The Antonio and the Bassanlo arc, to be blunt about it. most imdls tlngulshed. Peggy Wood as Portia is lovely to look upon but the open Ing night revealed her far from being in control of her voice; nor was the acting of the rolq what It was—not nearly what It was—a season or no ago when ^ lady n.amed Barrymore played the part up In Hampden's theatre with Walter Hampden as Shylock. Nor was the Arllss performani^e as Shylock to be rated •\vltli otlior. recent portraits of that rolr.- Uo was too ropressctl; too niui li 1)» Id in; the passions of the man only onco won over hlhi, and that in ttio scene before the Duke of Vinlcd when Shylock is told that he'd hot- ter split up his fortune, etc. In the scene that is ustoially one of de.siialr, that scene where ho discovers that his daughter has absconded and shrieks through his house, "Je.<^f<i<^a —Jessica!" Arllss knocked at the door of his horrie thrice, and rocrlv- ing no answer, stood mute, rebuffed, as it were, by the ahsenoo of an an.swer from his homeistead. ThH may have been eloquent, but It seemed that" in achieving thl.'^ <"lo- quc.nce too much else wag Id.st. Yet that this was the w.ay tiie pl.ay must have boon directed. From the adroit editing done'10 tho script—an editing.which pointed evoi-ythliig to Shylock and which left r.a.'jsanlo. and Antonio far be- hind in tho running—it was plain that. Mr, Amos -was .aiming at a more concl.so ah.d swiftic'r pl.-iving "Merchant" than the town has scon before. This is ■was, and the (n«;e with which one scone led Into .an- other was a Joy. Some of the scenes, not.ably tho first of the second act, tvore im- belleveably short, hut tho deadwood was cut out—one thing to the rvor- lastihg credit of this revival. It Is a better play for the. modern .stage than it was; There was hut a single intermission during the flvo act.9, this between three and. four. Youn.g Romney Brent, sprung to fame ^by tho "Garrlek Gaieties," is the Launnelot Gobbo, and ho achieved In this part, and through perhaps some inspirational direc- tion, a triumph all Jils own, Tho Jessica of Hope Gary was a lovHy thing, and the Nerlssa of Spring Bylngton, nice. . Take It, In short, Mr. Arllss' .Shy- lock Is as we've never seen hint play<^d, a repressed, deep-thlnklng old fellow whose sole momenta of vlclousness add to Mr. Arllss* credit ono moment of great, p.athetlc beauty where the old m.an, deserted by his daughter, Jessica, laments the loss of his tourquoise by say-. Ing, with all the pathos at his com- mand, "I had it of Leah when I was a bachelor." Mr. Arllss may tour long In this revival. But there are many who feel that it will be Just a stop-gap between another new play for him, a - play which can carry on the amazing success of both "Tho Green Goddess" and "Old English," both also produced by Ames. First Lady at Show Wa.shington, D. C, J.an. 24.. Mrs. Coolldge attended, the mati- nee performance of "The Shanghai Gesture." at the Eelasco on Satur- day and graciously bowed ackno-w;!-^ edgment when Florence Reed'"'in a curtain speech mentioned that "we have with us this afternoon tho first lady of the land." The President's wife later told the house m.anager she thoroughly en- Joyed the .show and asked him to convey to Miss Reed an invitation to visit her at the White House upon her next visit to Washington. WARNING !! !!! Q ARTISTS,' THEATRE OWNERS, PRODUCERS AND ALL 4 4 Now piaying at Chanin^s 46th Street theatre, New York City, and at Gass Theatre, Detroit, ^ is fully protected hy copyright. The use of "GOOD NEWS^' "LUCKY IN LOVE'* "VARSITY DRAC' "THE BEST THINGS IN LIFE ARE FREE" Or any other number in aaid productibri u^^ as an accompaniment to any dance performed on any stage whatsoever is hereby expressly forbidden Any unauthorized user will prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law for each and every violation ^NER.^. RUBIEN 1440 Broadway, New York ATTORNEY FOR LVA, BROWN & HENDERSON, Inc. LAURENCE SCHWAB & FRANK MANDEL Copyright Proprietor, and Mu.ic PublUher, Producers of "Good New."