Variety (Nov 1928)

52 VARIETY L E G IT I MATE Wednesday, November 21, 1928 Revue as Seen and Reviewed by Am. Painter, J. F. Parker : (John F, Parker is a %cell-known ^'ev> York artist, He has been Piiinting of recent years in Paris and is equally established over there. How tfie alleged "artistic" of the stage revue appeals to the artistic ..eye of a pdintcr is seldorn disclosed in print. Mr; Parker ckZwiVcs ii, t« "Tout Paris,'.' at the Casino de Paris,.as he here relates, by .request of Varicty'siParis correspondent, E. G. KefidreiJo.y By JOHN F. PARKER . ■ Paris, Nov. 8. Invited by Thy gooa mend Kien drew, known to so many of us here as ''that Variety man," I attended the press show, with him of the new-' reveue "Tout Paris" at the Casino de Pai-ia A number ;of lonff-haired artists who paint pictures present.; They came over from the Latin Quarter for thie so-called "x-epetitlon gen erale" at. the famous resort of the Rue de/Clichy and for once stayed to the last curtain.. This does not indicate, however, the 3ht)-w Is high-brow in any way. Simply that thje Casino manaigCT ment, -with. Leon yolterra at the wheel, has injected good taste and an unusual kick Into the new reviiie : which Jean:JLe Sayeux produced. This show is artistic and popular at the same timie. It will be a long while before. the critics will 1)6 Invited' to return. "Tout Paris" ;3 probably' one; of the beat art inoductlons seen at a vaudeville louse,! and so Kendrew;. asked me j. review it from an' American • art .tudent's-standpoint. In the first place I will remark the performers aiid scenic efCectp agree, instead of trying to kill one another. .Colors that should remain up-stage stay there and do. not climb past the principals. The result is the symmetric work of the artist is not. damaged as fre- quently happens by'unskillful com- bining of i>aints and lights. Also the sequence bf acts is arranged with knowledge of the rules of the theatre. A galaxy of local stars and leg shakerf», who know their busi- ness/ wind their way through a long program of beautiful seta and never giVe the jaudience sore eye^. jV proper rhythm and tempo op- erate like the onion In the Irish stow. They convey to this concoc- ilon the necessary third ingredient. Xor the profesTsIpnal lovers >of >eauty there are' some distinctly avish scehes, the Borgia poison set .s probably the most effective. This ilded scene is of the rapid passion . ;uff in historical surroundings at '.vhlch the French are experts, which the entire stn^e crowd carry, nut ofrectively. Down to the green- est chorus girl they can step back here without a wink. It is not aatonishing, however, In these old countries where one comes oiit of his hotel, looks down the street and .sees a building that- was ancient when Columbus was atlU playing marbles. The stage folk, like the rest, know all about it and so act and _wear their ','orgeous Renaissance costumes as to the manner born. Jane Marnac Marnac in black as the jealous and vindictive Lucrezia sails up and.down the high staircase fol- lowed by supers as righly clothed ••ourtiers bearing candles with re- iiukiible grace and i>oise. The lithing white and nearly nude I nchantress in a r(^d wig (ICuga .lagoul), followed by a green dance . ,f doath (by Mitty and: Tillio) givo •\ big kick- to this sumptm)u.s scone' r the Uorgia lady, and licr famous . pisoned cup. . The s<^nse of real illu.slon riiade somfe of the painters feel they were once more at the old time Bel des Qiiat'z Arts watching the spectacle about 3 a. nV. There la a football dance, probably not an entirely new idea, but Mitty-TlUio-Ri.caud and a _ team of Tiller girla. g ive a fine in terprolation, un a sm'air's'ta'ge~aTra not far from the footlights they cause tlu! audience to travel in ' Imagination all over the field. The climax comes when the lady (Tillio) Is substituted for the plgsliin and continues the illusion. Edith Govey's Hit An American girl0 Edith Co^'cy (not on the bill at the premiere), lloata on to soft music with a Pav- ■ lovii charm, ■ makos- us gasp as sue trips and falls, and then provokos liilarity as she obviously, hits th<j ilopr on her jaw. Her clever and unoxpocted tri.in.'>itions from the -y .scriou.s and poollc (o low comotij' "''^nUt-tm5--'TlfTr-"0ypr^with=a^bairgi------ The breaking of ai dam, with . _ wator di.-^iilay be.iting records, and .' a back dr-i)p that is. the" only ai'Hstio crime in the show, eurn3. the .usual applause, Jufft as in the days of grandjia. Human nature in some things MOonis to chanfje little. But tho main Interest of the artistically Inclined in this latest revue of Jean Le Sayoux (rocognlzod here as a -\, true artist) ig not so much In an- •"-. ticipating original scenic offocts' as in the smooth and yet lavish man- Jan4 7 Shows Out Seven attractions are on Broad- way'.s outgoing: list, including (our shows suddenly added to Saturday. "Gods of the Lightning," presented by Hamilton McFadden, withdrawn from the Little after playing' four weeks to no bettier than aii even break. Though the; .critics raved over the dranfia, based on the Sacco- 'Vanzettl case, it failed to dcveloi> strength on the lower floor. About J5,500 weekly. GODS OF THE LIGHTNING Opened . Oct. 24. Elicited eulogies fronri the critical fac- ulty. • LitteM. (Post) represen- tative: "sober, ringing, des- perately honest, three capable, devastiatihg iacts." . Variety (Ibee) unpoetically stated: "chances ar« against it landing."' ' NELL KELLY All producing managers should see Miss Kelly Iri. "Ups-a-rDalsy" at the Shubert Theatre. The Post said "The audience rose up and roared at the end of Miss Kelly's turn. It was quite evident a new and re- Tnfurkably energetic- figure was be- ing ofllcially welcomed to the ranlcs of Broadway notables." * "birectioh RALPH G. FARNUM 1560 Broadway jFahire Plays "Olympia," presented by Gilbert Miller at the Empire, was taken off Saturday, playing five weeks/' A disappointnrient. OLYMPIA Opened Oct. 16. Anderson (Journal) heralded ''deep dis- appointment." Gist of reviews. Variety (Abel) said: "can't last." "Hotbed," presented by Brock Pemberton. at the Klaw, will be taken off Saturday,' playing a bit over two weeks.. FirSt full week around. |3,000. .HOTBED Opened - Nov. 9. Lockridge (Sun) found it: "cluttered and uncertain." Mantle (News) praised, ^'thoughtful, intelli- gent, adult, and generaUy in- teresting drama." • Variety (Ibee) thought: *?pop-. ulation will probably not be much attracted^" 'Machinal," presented by Arthur Hopkins at the Plymiouth, will close Saturday, completing 12-week en- gagement. A much longer stay had been anticipated. Business Increased after tho premiere, going to as high as $15,000, but lately down around J10,000. MACHINAL Opened Sept. 7. First of season's unusually large crop of serious plays warmly-^en- dorsed on artistic grounds. Hammond (Herald Tribune) called it: "one of the best of the unusual dramas." "Relations," presented by Eddie Clark, clpsecliati^ .Saturday after playing for. 13 .weeks,' "The? show opened at the. Masque, moving liore. T> ade was light. ; May road tour. . "These pays," offered at the Cort last week by Arthur Hopkins, was withdrawn Saturday, l^roducer took the cut from the adverse notices. ^ THESE DAYS——: Opened Nov. 12. Panned on a wholesale scale with Win- chell (Graphic) voicing com- mon idea, "destined for an un- happy future." Variety (Ibee) said: "will probably not register among the successes." "Luckoe Girl," presented by the Sliubert.s, will loav* tlie Harris this week. It started at the Casino, playing 10 wcoU.s in all. Averaged arc.md $15,000 weekly, moderate for a^JUUSiCAl^sjj, SfiiOed.JL$-1.40, Jop) ._: ncx in which the. perforuiancc spins out. Things .are done tiiiictly, so to speak. A rirh display of color ia kopt in proper control and not hurled on to us In the haphazard way that has marred, artistically, more than one reVue with plenty of good stuff in it but wrongly used. There is "quality" in "Tout Paris" and it dcsorvea it» aiiccess. ''The. Final Flinfl," produced and tried but. on the road^" by Rosalie Stewart, has been postponed until after Christmas. Cast has been .changed and postponement is at- tributed tp the Equity ruling that there shoiald be at least ah eight- w^ek layoff after change of cast. Ben Berhie's Seville Orchestra 's featured in "Cafe dei Danse," French melodramia, which the dance ma- estro and hia one time partner, Phil Baker, are prepatring for Broadway presentation. Play opens upstate this week. Received a try-but last spring, but A . taken off for re- writing. "The .Real Thing," produced" by Martin-Conway, a new producing firm, is a murder mystery with the characters bearing the names of New Toirk dramatic critics and well khown Broadway characters. Rob- ert Benchley is a character in the play. Al Woods another, C. William. Morganstern will pro- duce a comedy drama • called "Phoebe" to go Into rehearsal In two weeks. James A. AjIcBride, real estate man. Is tryinfi? his haiid at theatrical production with "The World's Worst Woman" to go Into rehearsal In ten days, directed by Al Rigalli. A second company of "Strange Interlude," which the Theatre Guild win send on tour, has gone into rehearsal and opens at Springfield, Mass., Dec. 3. Cast Includes Pauline Lord, Don-r aid MacDonald, Ralph Morgan, Harry Bannister and others. "A. M. or .S?" a play by A. A. Milne, which was Icnown In Lon- don as"The Fourth Wall," will b^ the next production at the Charles ^Hopkinis Theatre. ^ _ . _ ; _. ^ "She Got What She Wanted," a new play by Geojige Rosener, will be produced by Jules J.. Leventhal. Galena Kopernak will head the cast. "The Money God," a drama by Slmlnon Vushkevitch. wiU be pro- duced by Max Gohel, "Gasoline Gypsies," a corned, by Charles Conger Ste wart, announced for production by Gebrge (Lefty) Miller. "Mousey," a comedy written by A: E. Thomas, will be produced early ncjct year by Crosby Galge. "dark Alley," a-plS.y by Mai-garet M. Medbury, is announced for pro- duction by James S. McBride and William Stbermer, a new firm. Tli© author was a former newspaper woman. "The Actress Body" and "The Jackass," two new plays written by David Sturgis, will be produced -sliox'tIy-by-Kiehard-Her-ndon.—= = = "Poppa," formerly known as "Pin- cus," will mark H. S. Kraft's first solo.prorttictlon. "Poppa" Is a Jewr Ish ihome by Sampel Spewack and Bella Cohen, authors of "The War Song," "The Marriage Bed," recently pre- sented for the first time on the coast, has been accepted by Sam H. Harris in association with Albert Lewis. Immediate production. Clear Insight Into Show Business In Chicago Tribune's Editorial . . —— A (From the Chicago [Sunday] Tribune's editorial page.) SELLING THE SHOW The average well conducted moving picture hotise alma to treat its customers as If they were visiting potentates'from a friendly nation. The. average stage theater keeps several contacts with Its patrons which, would Indicate that they were regarded aa in-laws or poor relations dropping in for a w6ek of: free boarid. The worst run-around the patrons of the spoken drama get Is generally at the box ofllce, as is notorious. It Is the: point .where the sale Is made . which gives the prize for ineptitude to the stage business. The movies were wise. They expected Elder Will Hays to get them something with his political experience. and friendships, but they did not give him ar their eggs. W|th censorship and politics threatening them on every side they set about to capture the public good will, and hardly any detail of management has been Ignored. The theater staff takes Its discipline from West Point and Its manners frpni there and from a somewhat \^xaggerated Chesterfield. A well trained movie usher never points with one finger. That's rude. Tw^ fingers is polite. The deportment Is high, almost high enough to be fantastic. Where the business can afford it the moylie house is made to conform to the popular idea of a royal opera house, ^or thirty-five to fifty cents a citizen can get drama, luxury, splendors, attentiveness, courtesy and deference, It may be plied oh a bit thick In spots; but It has created a good will for the moving picture business that an occasional awftil picture does not ruin... . 'The ideoi of selling what was for .sale in a pleasant way was ordinary good business, but It seems riot to have occurred to the guardians of the older; sister of the drama except here arid there where .theatrical-people have an indomitable and indestructible good nature. This is curious because the older theater also: has sonie- thlng to sell and it alsp has. now and . then a .political problem. In some of its aspects it seems determined to offend the sense of public morals to the full extent of the law and something over It When it has a success It pushes, the advantage on the assumption that the public requires ils arUcle of trade even as It requires a necessity of llf^. There is practical justification for that. Thp populace usually puts on Its long, ears and pays anything to break Into the, theater,. The upshot of the two methods of selling that of the movies and that of the stage, Is that the movies have an asset in popular good will, but that every time a theatrical producer gets Into trouble with the law t»r with his banker the populace Is ready to give-three cheers. $5,000 for inene, Anyway, But She Asked $100,000 Irene Vernon, 26, showgirl, 601 West ISlst street, NeW York, re- ceived a verdict for^5,000 froni a jury before Justice Glehnon in New York Supreme Court, against Rob- ert Royal Longman, 50-year-old broker, of 110 William street, on a breach of promise complaint." Miss Vernon had. asked for $100,000 be- cause of Longman's alleged forget- fulnesa concerning a previous mar- riage and two children. The show, girl' alleged the broker promised marriage in June, 1927, and had given her a $2,000 engage- rnent ring, following which she learned about his wife and children. Neither Lbngnaan nor his attorney appeared In : court .to contest the suit, and the juty decided on $6,000. '*Girl Trouble" Ends •Girl Trouble," which folded at the Belmont, New York, last week, will not go on tour as previbusly reported, but moves' to Cain's. The show had previously figured a week's .layoff and re-opening in Bostpn next week. Decision to srcap was arrived at after confer- ence between Allen Dlnehart, star, and Richard Herndon, producer. Dlnehart Is figured to go into talkers. Mystery "Kid" Closing^ "Undressed Kid," produced 'by Howard Schnebbe and Gerald Ba- con, closed out of town. last week. The cast called the play "the tnys tery show,", as none knew why it closed. The show was supposed to go into the Republic : theatre, and Oliver Bailey was said to demand a_jiumhfic_Qf,changes.;,in " the script Totten Theatre Bkrpt. ISdyth Totten Theatre, Inc., 247 West 48th street, owners of. the Totten theatre, is in voluntary bank- ruptcy. No assets or^liabiHties are Btatedi - The house was recently auctioned off by Joseph P. Day on a fore- closure sale. The company also re- cently satisfied a couple' of but- standing judgments, which makes the voluntary peitltion surprising. Monte Bayley Critical London, Nov. 20. No hope Is held for the recovery of Monte Bayley. He is In, hospital with severe heart attack. ERROL'S PEEGENIAaS Leon Errol has been engaged by Arthur Hanimerstein to be star in "Polly," muaical version of "Polly of the Circus," taken off in Phila;-: delphia last Saturday for recasting. The star is to receive 10 per cent, of the gross with a guarantee of $3,000 weekly. •'OIYMPIA" TAKEN OFF "Olymplia" was suddenly with- drawn from the Empire, New York, Saturday by Gilbert ..Miller. It -was to have continued this week but notice was posted Tuesday. That required the payment of an extra eighth In salaries.. The show was principally sup- ported by ah agency buy which ex- pired the previous week. "='"BEiATIGNS"-GN-SUBWAY - Edward Clark's "Relations," which closed at Wallack's, > New York, last week, will reopen' next week at the Bronx Opera House. Equity sanctioned the layoff of the week when members of the cast signed waivers. "Relations" will play the B. O. H. date, go to Philadelphia and return for the remainder of the subway circuit bookings. PEOF. BAKER'S NEW PLAY New Haven, Nov. 20, The first full legth production of Professor Charles P. Baker's school of drama at Yale will be exhibited before private audiences Wednesday and Thursday. The play Is called "Overlord,'' and is a three-act fifteenth century costume drama written by Talbot JenTilngs- of Moscow, Idaho, a stu* dent at Prof. Baker's; school, ■ , SELWYN, CHIGAGO, DARK Chicago, Nov. 20. The Selwyn will be dark for three weeks after the closing of ''Good News,". Dec. 1. "Coquette," with Helen Hayes, is penciled In for Dec. 24. HUMORING "GIRL" Hajoid Atterldge having taken leave of absence from Broadway, Mallard MacDonald was: shot in to aid- Pred Thompson in revising the Scripts of "Treasure Girl." starring Gertrude Lawrence. The writers will devote their la- bors toward humoring up the com- edy. "SPEAKEASY" FILM LEADS Paul Page and Lola Lane, from regn,~'wer Ofgri Sa't the leads in Fox's "Speakeasy," which will -be shot around. New York with Ben'•,Stt>lofE directing. Miss Lane is at pfesent in "The War Song." Watters Back on Lot Los Angoles, Nov. -0. George Mankor Watters has re- turned to the Paramount lot and is to work on an original story.