Variety (Sep 1928)

Wednesday, September 5, 1928 LEGITIMATE VARIETY 53 Plays Out of Town NIGHT HOSTESS Minneapolis, Aug. 31. A drtiinatlc comedy, in three acts, by Fblllp Dunning. BtafteU by "Wlhchell ■mltb. TTesented by John Golden. Tried out in MlnncapoUe. „ . „ „ 5iBh, .Porter Hall Sen FlBCher....;... Muurloe Freeman Senneiisy. •. • .Finncle O'llelley fUnk Warden...............Harold Woolf Joe .Henry I^xwrencc Buddy' MUefl. •.. • -Ruih Lyons Mennan ..................... J«'-1 hjearncy. Pot. . .Lilian Lym on Bita....... -^^'y" Kret Chump. - J. T. Uofttsinan Second Chump. . .Chester DeWhI.st Sr°8 Miller. .. .Averell. Harris Cyril Keane • Graham Velsey Silla, .Call DeHart vicgy. .......... .■..■ LoulHo Klrtland ■ BaKS Conway. Noi man Faster iSm Haye£.......... •..... ...Charles Laite In "Night Hostess," having a fortnight try-out in the Twin Cities prior to its Martin Beck theatre opening, Phil Dunning, going it alone, seejii-s to have toirned out what is destined to prove a mild hit, but not anywhere near the Bmash of "Broadway." Splendidly produced by John Golden, staged in the highly effcc- . live 'Wincholl Smith fa.shion and ■atisfactorily cast and acted, the play, a moderately fast-moving and thrilling melbdi-ama of New York night life along the roaring forties,; Bhould be good for five or six months in Gothhm. What may put Jt over to fair returns is its vivid and apparently realistic depiction of the night club gambling game. Including an expose of the inner workings of thei hostess ahd. other rackets in connection the;re\yith. "Night Hostess" dranriatiiies por- tions of the Committer of 14;s re- port on New York night club.s and maybe was inspired by that docu- ment. In bringing the "night club hos- tess" to the stage, Dunning, in a measure, rushes to the defense of the yoiing vvonien come-ons branded (en masse by the Committee of 14, The playwright, in this instance, paints at least one of these hos- tesses, thie heroine, as even whiter than the lily. De-spite her environ- ment and occupatiohs a-s model, professional entertainer and night- club come-on, she has suffered no blight upon her virtue. The other hostesses, too, are not shown as en- gaged in the ancient trades. Their activities are along other lines. The three acts are laid in the •TLittle Ca-sino," an exclusive night club where admission is by card only. The establishment provides booze, singing and musical .enter- tainment on a restricted scale and, principally depends for revenue. on Mulotte and- dice games. A considerable number of attrac- tive young women are efmployed by . tlje "Little Casino" as hostesses. Their task consists of' bringing chumps to the place and getting these chumps to spend money at the bar and entertainment room, partitioned off up-stago,, and in the gambling casino, partly visible to the right off-stage. The hostesses receive, a portion of their victims' losses at. gambling. They,dress like Christmas trees. The manager of the place is a crooked, yellow gambler. He and his cohorts gyp the proprietor in ievery conceivable manner. He al.so utilizes one of his sweeties^ the wife 4^' s TKc Merwbcrj^ of tKe F?\c\jlt>' i ' ' o/ bh^c ' —^ ^^yci^ool o/"fbe^7beatre ' Are C\vjrvlified bjy Yea.rj- i oi Profcj.iior\a.l Experience ] toTejvch ir\TKeirRe5pcclivcDcpartiWct\ls ' 39 S^i\l^V^t^>^o\■v^^o^^JC..V.s^^^i«T^a,C^l^^^o^^^\■a " of a detective and a hoistcss, to lure patrons; leaving the club with big rolls to quiet spots in the vicinity where his gang- can rob thorn. Simple, slight, atraightforward and obvious, as that of "Broadway," the plot concerns the efforts of the dastardly club manager, Chris Miller, to "ditch" his jealous ijweetie and "make" her pal, the heroine ho.stess of lily white purity, who is loved honestly by a singing-piahist'- comic, a Bmall-tim^e vaudevillian. The performer this' tlme is hot a .sap, but a quick-witted,, clover young man, who fiets himself to show up the rival In his true yel- low colors. As in "Broadway," the "bad. man", commits a .murder and has a detective on his trail.: The main love affair between the small-time vaudevillian and the hos- tess heroine rouses little intei'Gst, due to the weakness of the char- acterizations, and the ineffective handling. It is very much second- ary to the machinations of the vil- lain, his riiurder of hl$ sweetie when she threatens td spill .the beans about his part in robbing a pa£ron. and his efforts to conceal the kill- ing and get away with the heroine to Chicago. Even the efforts of the club's proprietor to rid himself of the manager and other thieving em- ployes . creates more suspense than the main love affair. There "is no one character in "Night Hostess" anywhere near, the equal of .Roy L^ne, the hoofer, but there ire at least tAvo who command considerable attentiohi One. of these is Chris Miller, the villainous man- ager, excellently acted by Everell Harris, who was leading ilvan in stoclc with the Bainbridge Players hero a few seasons ago. The other is the cliib proprietor, a middle-aged man of Jewish extraction, fearless and likable, determined to "run a crooked business straight" and in- tent on ridding himself of the gyps that are "trimming him under his nose." Maurice Freeman, ahso i former stock player here, acts this role to perfection. The only two other characters, that stand out aire the door-tender, Tish, a man of few words but much action, and the villain's jealous sweetie, a dope and hooch fiend. These roles are well playied by Por- ter Hall and Gail DeHart, re.spec-. :tively. The other 40 odd roles are all bits for the most part and satis- factorily done. Charles Laite makes a.s much as possible out of the juv- enile lead. "The one setting is elab- orate. . In the first act) Miller tries to convince Buddy Miles, whom he is trying to "make," that she should not waste herself on her pianist sweetheart, Rags Conway, and tells her that he - has purchased an in- terest in a musical comedy, opening in Chitago, and will develop her into a Broadway star. She falls for this line. Then Conway, a former employe of Ben iFischer, proprietor of the clubj returns from a vaude- ville tour in the west to help Fi.scher get the low-down on what's going on. Fischer suspects his manager. In the meanwhile Miller has in- duced his jealous s-weetie to aid him In his arranged robbery of a pa- tron who has emerged from the gambling casino with twenty grand. During the robbery, iii a nearly chop suey joint, the victim is fatally in- jured, The girl accomplice has left her cigarette case in tlie chop suey cafe booth and sends Conway to get it. A detective nabs hlhi in the place and brings him back to the club. By a coincidence the detective is the husband of Julia, the man- ager's sweetie, and he has recog- nized tlie case. In the second act Conway is on the job trying, to obtain the dope on Miller and Miller, realizing that things are getting hot, is endeavor- ing to persuade Buddy to go with him to Chicago. When Julia, in a fit of drunken jealousy,- threatens to spill the beans. Miller strangles her and places her. body in a trunk. With the boby in' the trunk and Miller trying to got it away to Chi- cago and with Conway and the de- tective becoming interested in the trunk's contents, • real suspense is created, and the ,di-ama proceeds at .a thrilling, pace. This isu-^ponse arid the thrills continue to almost, the very end in the third act, given over to a scramble for -po.ssession of the trunk, tho cleanirig-out of tlio niplit club by Miller's gang of gorillns and ■the efforts of Miller to make his getaway. "Night Hostess" has nearly as much gripping drama and as iiuiny tense situations as "Broadway," but it lacks many of the latter's human interest elemortts, novelty, comedy and amusing lines. AVhat militates most against its success, however, is its trite and hackneyed pkit and situations, its too close re.«cm.1j)anfe to "Broadway," a slow first ar t and dra.qpcd-out anti-Climax (ca.sily .i:finiedJodJ;_and the_ weaknr-PK of the ce n t ral j u v en iTe^^cTiitrJECrcr.'T'^a ml'^th e^i r- love affair. ■ Its authentic picture of nirht gam- bling club life should win tho ap- proval of these New Yorkers who have frequented such establish- ments and, at the same time, .stir the Interest of others whose knowl- edge, of the places Is confin'^d to what they have read about them Light a Murad A press rep for a recent legit arrival nearly crabbed his job through the New York dra- matic desks disregarding his suggestion that the featured femme In the show be given exclusive pictorial space prior to opening. It developed that another femme principal, through the influence of her husband, also a p. a;, figured wifey wasn't getting the proper break, Friend husband, did some missionary work and landed her the major portion ol the displays. It put the producer and his hired boy lii a dilemma as the first actress' hubby bankrolled, the show. " '. in the newspapers or gleaned through the inovies and other plays. "Night Hostess," at a moderate cost, takes the patron without the where- withall or inclination to make a real visit to such a place on a fairly in- teresting excur-slon. Dunning was here all week mak- ing changes. Golden and Smith ar- I'ived Friday and will complete what they consider necessary alterations. THE BIG FFGHT Phlla;delphia, Sept. 4. "The Biff Fight," the ring, melo- drama which brings Jack Dempsey and his wife, Estellie Taylor, to the stage, opened at the Chestnut the- atre here last hlght. As far as the first night iaudierice was concerned, and the same will undoubtedly hold of succeeding audiences,, nothing matters except the stars. Jack's reception was one of the noisiest and most prolonged and most sincere ever heard In a local playhouse,. and every time he caimc on the stage there was a signal for renewed appla.use which culminated in the "fight" scene at. thie end when Jack made his entrance from the rear of the house, -walked down the aisle and entered the squared ring, in that scene every punch was greeted wildly and the final knock- put raised a bedlam. "Plants" in the audience for this finale helped the atmosphere and spirit of the scene, but they were hardly needed. jack's part in "The Big Fight" is by no nieans a big one. It looked as if the authors cut his dialog to the minimum, all of which was prob- ably a wise idea. His stage pres- ence was easy and pleasant, and there was nothing forced about his acting except. in the brief love scenes, but his voice was a subject of much disappointed discussion. Perhaps It was nervousness that caused it, but at any rate, theire were some scenes when Jack sound- ed as if he were about to launch Into a tenor solo. However, that is not likely to hurt a great deal. The point is that the mob is crazy over Jack, and the en- gagement here lookis like a panic. RegTilar theatregoers may fight shy, but "The Big Fight" should be a riot for a few weeks and then be- come a sure bet for the road all. over the country. The shrewdest move of all was to get David Belasco to stage the piece, He has given it legitimacy and vivid effects. Ev^n the extremely trite story by Max Marcin and Milton Herbert Gropper takes on a certain spark through Belasco's direction. In the first act scene, a barber shop, he has provided some of his famous photographically thorough realism. The types are great, the simall de- tails are all there, and the business is all natural ahd convincing. The story concerns Shirley, a manicurist in love with Jack Dillon, better known as "The Tiger." Shir- ley's brother is. the conventional weakling who steals some ,money and , gets embroiled with the law.' Chuck Sloan, ei gambler, crazy over the girl himself, gets a hold over her by protecting the weakling brother. The '*ble fight" comes along and Sloan tries to persuade the "tiger" to lay down for a big split in the. gambling winnings. Of course, the tiger indignantly refuses. Whereupon Sloan, using the broth- er's life as a club, persuades the girl to attempt a scheme to put sleep- ing piowderia In the tiger's drinking water just; before the scrap- Tho effects of the poison are supposed to show in the early rounds, but the scheme doesn't work, and Jack wins his fight In round 2 in a man- ner so thorough and complete as to make 1.1s victory over Jesse WiHard look tame. The brother kills the gambler and turns the gun on him- self and everything is rosy. The first act Is colorful and. full of action. The good types and the Incidental scenes help put It across. The last act has the ring atmosphere an d^is.^of.^.ojirse the c rux^ o f_th(i whole play. It is the 8econ3 acl that is weakest It is drawing room stuff ahd not racy or rowdy enough for this type of .show. Also both Jack and Estelle were seen at their worst In It. It is a distinct let down between the fast moving first act, with Its salvo of .wise cracks and Its clever planting of the melodramatic story, and th<' last acl with its light s,o<'i)o wliioh, pK torially. Is a corker. The best acting of the prod\K'tion is provided by Arthur Vinton luj CliiK-k. Sloan, the heavy, witli A'lctor Kill:in .as a hanger-on eloso behind. Mi.-^s Taylor acted all over the place in the later scenes, although she registered decidedly a.s f{u' as at- tractive personality w.ts concerned at first. Jack's adversary In tho ring was portrayed by RjUph ^^nlith. The .scrap was a bully one Mi)nd:iy night, in fact, it looked as if Jack were trying to forget his nervous- ness of earlier in the play by makr ing his ptmches .a.s real as possible. According to the. pi-ogram here, the last act had six »i-ones, hut .only two were left last night, A lot of cutting had been in . order in . th.at part of the show wiileh is; unfor- tunate because that is the p;irt the mob wants. Better to tj-im the sec- ond act and leave every bit of Demp.soy's own part in the show. He's the only, reason in the \Vorld why "The Big.Fight" may be a suc- cess, and he's such a big rea.son that it is very likely it will be. Waters. ' CROSS MY HEART V Boston, Aug. 31. M-usi.'tii comedy In two ai-ls and ten scenes, lyrics by Joseph Mo(^\rlhy, f:core. by Harry Tlorney. hook by JJanlel Ku.xell, book Htaged by John Uarwood. Kcncrul. .i)roduc- tlon pt.nh'Prt by Sammy fx-p. Mptroiiolitan premloi'p at the Colonial ihoatre, Boston Aug. 27.' ■ ChnrlM Or.aham ....Hobby AVatson Mrs, T. MontKomory Gobble L.uUi M<-Oonnell Klsie Oobble . .Doris 15aton Sally . Ulake . Mary lAwlor The Maharajah of Jdah-ha Eddy - Conrad .Tommy Fitzgerald.... Kranklyn Ardell Klc-hard Toddi. .Claronfe NordWrom, Deatrloe .Elizalipth Camp.inole Kddle Tucker...,, ..Hdfjar li^lrchild Maxie Squeeze...-. .,.Harry :Evans Cigarette Girl .' > Kdl'th' Martin Specialty. ..SiTinolt' and Diinlels S^ppoialty. .Gilbert anil Avery .Specialty. ;.. .Ulalto Trio Speoialiy.-............Fairchlld. and Hanger Sammy Lee, as a musical comedy producer, is going to. make the grade with, his. first show, even though at this writing he, is a bit groggy and punch drunk. The book is rather rough right now, and the comedy needs build- ing, but In production features it is a snappy and clean musical com- edy which ought to make a $4.40 hit in New York and a $3 clean<-iip on the road. The public expected a dancing show from Sanmiy Lee. The ishow opens flat-footed and at no tirhe does Lee give them any stunt en- sembles or trick numbers. The num- bers are merely staged admirably with a chorus of 40 (four sets of ten) that is a credit to Lee as a picker and a production man. Sammy was wise in this, as he has opened with a routine that is within the capabilities .of a chorus that must also sing and rest your eyes. Joe McCarthy, and Harry Tierney have done their cu.stomary good job on building the score to the book. Several of the numbers have al- ready clicked, the outstanding prob- ability of popular published 8a,le being "Kiivht Out of Heaven Into My Anns," Others arc '-tJiiiiil Days ■ and liatl Days." "I,(;uly Whiiip'cior- wiU" and "J^ream S\ve<-t heiirt." There is no "Cro.ss .My llcan" niini- bcr for obvimis reasons d.itiiv; li.nek to "Queen Mi.uh." .MusiiMlly, tlio show is .ill .'^et .riglit now. yeenieally, the iirodinHlnn is ade- quately done, althouuMi Diere has Ix^cn no squandoriiif;- of fiiiuls. .Toscph H. (ilick.is general inanaqt'r. The costuming is snappy, Init off the nude It is naiiu'aJly pleasing-, and does-not build up into ;iiiy Hash . effCets or riotous displays, Mary Lawler, . loaned by I')iliing- hatn, ciirries. the show by storm, having a bettor range of opportun- ity than '.'.(."rood X.cws" offered her. , She is at, her host and the. jiart will build .steadily. Bobby Watson, is. getting: niore . ■ Cohaneseque . every day,-and in t)iis show it is: over- done a bit. Franklyn Ardell's role is lean at pi-esont, but ho will oe rolling; in hif^h before the show reaches the Kniekcrboekor In a Cou- ple. of woeUs, even if-, he has to write his own niate.rial. The com- , edy burden falls on Lulu Mi-Coims-'U and Kddy Conrad. Miss MoConncU ihanagos to get some of her stuff over, biit Conrad does not click, and the character probably will have to •be remade. Otto 1-Iarbach has already been sun'inioncd iti haste .and with fa- miliar, niateriar and a familiar plot he should find-it.easy doctoring. The story involves a rich old widow who wants to marry her daughter to an Indian rajah. The daughter loves mother's .social secretary. A poor niece lives witli themi and she falls in love with a Jad she meets on a park bench. He is in reality the son of a millionaire,, but is doing a Roger" Kahn Incognito In a^ night club. Niece tolls cock-and-bull story to boy about how she -vvas expected to marry,rajah by switch- ing veils during. an .Ea.st Indian marriage ceremonial with her aunt's daughter. Later in the night club the lad sees the'raj.ah and socks him with his violin, only to find that the girl's story on the park bench was imaginary. Ultimately tho rajah turn.s'out to be a crook, the social secretary marries the daugh- ter and the wealthy younsr jazz king marries the niece and all ends as .always. The f.antastic portion of the plot where the yarn of the girl on. the park bench is depicted behind scrim does not click as travesty at pres- ent. The end of the story appar- ently has lost the original Intention of h.aving the rajah Instead Of being a crook turn out to be .in actor hired to cure the old k'-dy of her desire to have her daughter marry a title. ' Lihhoy, COLORED CHI STOCKS Chicago, Sept. 4. Colored musical comedy stock la on the increase. Latest houses to adopt the 'policy are H. B. Miller's Grand at^ 31 at and State streets, and the Frank- lin at -31st and Calumet. A^OVE—Effect of partpiro' lion on ordinary make-up oj greato-point and powder, (Magnified.) ABOVE—LEtCnSER'S "EVENCLO"Make-up as U appeart after one hour fatt worfc under Klieg Ughu, (Magnified.) Tested and approved by German Government Inspectors, It is a healthier make-up for your skin. THE greatest make-up of all iime ... perspiratioii ca:n- not affect it... no gutters nor blotches .. . no repipwderiiig, every time you go off-stage..* holds perfectly on the hottest day and for the hottest act... completely applied in 43 sec- onds in one quick operation . . . no separate grease slick nor powder required . . . it is both in one.. . so pure you can eat it., i when first applied its healthful astringent produces a smart glow .. . your face; is protected ... cool... comfort-* able . .. available in all stand- ard shades. The first shipment of LEICHNER'S "Evenglo** to be offered for sale in tlic United States arrives in New York about Sept. 15. ^:.^^JI^rUs.y.Qur jMmejaj^^ for the tbcek Sept. 24—30 on this advertisement, send to iwfm^S2S'^GVdyUdf"^Bttildingi^ New York, and we'll tell you trliere to pet d sample or a demonstration. DO THAT NOW! KNOiT WUATS NEfH 99