Variety (Jan 1930)

Wednesday, January 22, 1930 eaution. She lked to tell of the prices she paid for things, because ghe knew no better. Birdie furnishes ‘a lavish apartment and invites a group of young people of. the community who she thought to be of the “400.” -Among them is Harry. Carter, whom she worshipped and. whose room -she had..cleaned day after day at her former rooming house, _ Pilling to give up all her money. for -him, Carter, however, is in love “with another girl, : ‘money. lures him to ‘the ‘altar with her, and they elope during the party. Carter revolts a week later. and. returns to his old room, because he “yefuses to livé on his: wife's money,. But, with her strategy, Birdie. wins ‘film back, —. Miss Foster unfolds her talent as: a. ¢omedienne of great charm and per-" sonality. The play is clean in every sense and it may with some revision and with the drawing power of. Miss Foster serve on Broadway... '. The direction by John H. “Dilgon was admirable. The wise-cracking Eddie Cain of Clyde Dilson helped a ‘great deal to enliven. the’ evening. . With Miss Foster piece. can be put acy oss. ; ; Retonda, SHE'S. NO LADY . Erie, Jan. 18. Fareoccomedy in ‘three -acts, presented by razee, Jr.,.and authored by Bruce -Bpaulaing (Nellie Stewart), and. Anthony d..(Mary Hay):.E. J. Blunkall staged te. orn cast: ‘Lynne Overman, Walter Greaza,. , Patricla .Chapman, “Bertha Greénhouee, ‘Pauline Mason, Isabel Jewell, Robert Cummings,. Louise White, ° Delores De Monde, George Murdock, Lawrence Tuck, Josephine Deffry, arjorie Murray, Lora Haye, Rob; ccs ‘080. At Park theatre, Brie, Pa., Jan. ; Nothing original about this. They dragged “Charley’s Aunt” of a couple of decades ago and livened it up with some modern kind of sex appeal... FHmsy enough in story to make it, more adapted for a musical comedy. Natives: here liked it and @huckled which doesn’t prove anything because the only two ‘shows . they've had‘ this season were heavy‘Weighte—“Strange. -‘Interlude” and ; “Porgy.” oo. . . Lynne ‘Overman carries the play ‘vith a line of subtle. comedy. Walter .Greaza,. formerly of stock,.““What -Price Glory” and: “Remote Control; 7 fed ‘for. most. of the -wise-cracking lines. Overman’s part is a delicate one which: he does in fine shape. _He’s a: female impersonator who helps out a cheating actor (Greaza). Isabel Jewell plays: a. sweet, simple and girlish lead and does well. Story is about a Broadway leading man, Rex.Gormorant (Greaza), . married and the parent. of three. Wife is always‘on his trail. Instead of: being ‘at the manager's office regarding: an .éngagement, his wife “finds him at.a.swanky Long Island <of course)’ country club where he “Ys on the make for a young Junior. ‘ Leaguer who is also. daffy about him. He tells. her he’s going to Paris for a divorce’ and ‘wants her .to ‘ accompany him. She can’t unless properly 'chaperoned. Gaylord Jor. dan (Lyrine Overman), a female im_personator, is a friend of Gormorant, the latter pressing him into service .ag the chaperon, . Next is a bedroom at the: Ritz in Paris. and: Leonora: (Isabel Jewell) have separate rooms but certain intimacieg result. Leonora 1s deeply disturbed when she~develops affection for her “chaperon.” She thinks she’s _ queer and her lines here bring out a lot of guffaws, Jordan falls for her, too, andGormorant is left to ehill off, Jordan does. a fade-out before the girl finds out that he’s a real artist, @ he-man who doesn’t sing soprano. Then she goes real crazy about him and trails him to the ‘theatre where he is playing. back in New York. They fall in love. Fearing that he'll give her the air like she gave it to Gormorant, she tells Jordan that she anticipates : a blessed event so they speed for the altar and from then on its love in a cottage or apart‘ ment. . Show-is-jumping into Detroit and then Chicago from here. Why Erie was the dog nobody explains: other than it might bring good luck, which the play will néed.. Rose” played’ here once for four ‘weeks. Play needs dressing up and shrinking. Doesn’ t ‘look hot. Mead. -BAMBINA . SanFrancisco, Jan. 21. Operetta in two acts by Myrta Bel Gal . laher. Produced by Daniel C, Blum. Staged by Edward Royce. At the Curran theatre, San Francisco, Jan. 13. * Giot Tink... ove seeveseersseaveeesFred” ‘Walton Picco. Sone ecees ecwcvcccwneszonss .Peter Pope Dr, Balanzonl.cecosceocseesee Hedley Hall PlOrindO. .+e.seccevececceeoncs Ernest Wood Beatrice... cess Nancy Welford Rosaura. «-Laurel Nemeth ilda.. «se Victoria ‘Alden __Planetta.. > + -Lorrayne Du Val , Russell Scott Al St, John Wilbur Bvars ,, So much color that the eyes are dazzled, music that is Viennese in quality, a story so slender and com“monplace you almost wonder why the author, bothered with it, about sums wp “Bambina,” operetta in but .Birdie'’s' -have all the earmarks of hits... that name... -enough.. ‘applies to Laurel Nemeth, who sang 1 brought Widow" if one may -cite that as. aj. ‘Jordan |: ‘out, ‘“Abie’s: ‘Irish. | plot is simple: th two acts by Myrta Bel Gallaher which had its first production. at the Curran theatre here last. week. ‘In all fairness “Bambina” should. be. given a little time to get under | way. | first week it showed raggedness in: a great many of the numbers which: have been worked out with con ‘Even toward the end of -its. siderable skill and originality by ‘Daniel won Blum, Edward Royce. Carter is ‘her quest: ana she: is | The -producer, .has done ‘his part of: the. job well |. and generously, providing. beautli-. ful. costumes and a massive scenic investiture, In the matter of cast he has not been so fortunate... Perhaps’ that isn’t his fault. “He' is ‘said. to be new to’ show business, ‘but: Royce is credited. with having staged some pretty. big stuff. . To this reviewer. it. seemed the ‘material, too “much tor the principals. ‘There are. two ‘numbers especially that One is “Bambina” and the other “Inspiration Waltz.” Marie Wells. played Bambina and sang the number of She quite evidently put: all she“had in it, -but it wasn’t ‘The. same, unfortunately, ‘Inspiration Waltz” in a duet with ‘Wilbur Evans. . Miss. Nemeth’s. so-. prano is too harsh and the number seemed beyond her vocal powers.. “Inspiration Waltz” in: quality. to .mind “The. Merry. standard of excellence, Where the author has excelled as @ composer she has muffed as a ‘writer of.comedy.. ‘The few “funny” scenes in “Bambina,”’ most. of them handled by Al St. John, left. the greater portion of the audience |. stony-faced. St. John probably felt the weakness of his material and worked: overtime.to bolster.it with hokum, pratt falls and ‘every conceivable: sort of low comedy. There was nothing in the intended humorous situations themselves to bring more than a smile. Notwithstanding “Bambina” is a worthwhile effort. There are many spots of genuine beauty and not a flash of vulgarity. For instance, there is a: balcony love scene of deep sincerity, loveliness’ and poetry of language. The carnival scenes, laid in Venice, are exceedingly well done, the dialog is. bright, albeit a bit slow and there is a veritable riot.. of. color. The operetta is in two acts, thefirst being laid in its entirety in a street scene in Venice and the second divided into. three scenes. Lelio, son of Giolini, a merchant of Ven-| ice, is.éxpected home from Rome. He has been betrothed in babyhood to Rosaura, daughter of Dr. Balanzoni, a physician of Venice and close friend of Giolini, Lelio arrives unexpectedly, meets Rosaura without knowing who she is and falls in love with her and she with him. Lelio poses. as a nobleman and presses his suit ardently and clandestinely.. — He is progressing when Bambina arrives, having followed Lélio from Rome. Lelio has been philandering with Bambina and led her to believe that he would marry her. Bambina learns of his infatuation | for Rosaura and proceeds to throw. a monkey wrench in the machinery of his romance, She. succeeds for. a time. but love triumphs and Lelio gets his Rosaura. ; “Bambina” should and probably will get to New York. Before it does a skilled hand should be put to work on. its structure and a few props built into its framework, The music will stand on its own anywhere. There isn't anyone in the present cast with the exception of Nancy Welford deserving of being pointed Skillfully revised and carefully cast “Bambina” should eventually bring a lot of prosperity to its producer and author. Rivers. QUEEN IN PARLOUR (2d Review) Chicago, Jan,.13. Comedy-drama in three acts. Presented by Pauline Frederick at the Garrick, Chi Sablen.ssrcccccccscsecvcsssesesss John Litel ZAND..ccrceeve Franile praymond Gen, Krish. ...06 red Cross Mise Phipps.r...% . Aly Malyon Court. Usher.......06 eons “Dudley Carter ‘Prince Keri of Zalgar.. eccseee William Stack Grand Duchess Emilie......Grace Hampton Produced on the coast by. Belasco. & Curran, and presented here by night ‘to’ a half-filled house. Miss Frederick was here last year at the ‘Cort. in the “Searlet Woman,” in which.she arhieved moderate suc-. ceess, This play is slated for three weekg at the Garrick, It is doubtful whether it will make real money. | The play itself shapes up .as 2 -|-weak-rehash.of-the.old_theme.of the. thwarted love between the highborn lady and the commoner, closing with the supposedly modern: note of the unha appy ending. The self-exiled queen is induced to return to her country: on the very eve of her. marriage to the man she loves. A year later the man she loves, one Sabien, saves her from assassination, and is given an audience before the queen. The old ‘love flames, and she finally gives in to his entreaties to allow him to musically’ at least, «was |* cago,.. Jan. Written by Noel Coward. Staged by Edward Elsner. Starring Pauline Frederick. | N@Gya...crsvvcocccvcees . Pauline Frederick |. -dows. " Pauline Frederick, this play opened |, ‘very quietly, and played the second : | through her window. every thing clear and unimpeded for the marriage, albeit diplomatic, be > 1, ; Troups’ Jump Breakers Phe use of auditoriums for legit road shows is gaining favor in the ‘booking offices, Auditoriums, in fact, | . are a way out in any number of. instances to,-the problem: of spotting road shows and avoiding long jumps... ‘Recently the Erlanger office ‘sent | a representative to a ‘convention of ‘auditorlum managers.in the central west. No special tie-up -was necessarily entéred into, the object being to discover auditoriums which had been overlooked.. Nearly’ all ‘audi toriums. ‘have stages with modern equipment. Auditorium pookings are. , generally for’ one or two performances, .ac cording to size of the. town. A popu-lar priced -attraction is said to have grossed $15,000 in two performances (matinee and night). $9, 000 in a Single performance. Booking franchises are held by “managers “In many. of the. smaller ‘The franchises have either. stands. been turned. in. or the houses: have changed policy—pictures ‘or Stock, Guild Cuts. Some Tours” Two of the Theatre Guild attractions are off the road. Europe” closed last Saturday, ‘it being stated the show * ‘was toured only in subscription spots. be brought in at the . end. of the week, » ‘ “Strange Interlude” ‘and. two. Tepertory companies. . Rennie for. “Escapade”. James Rennie is named to. join “Escapade,” which has been out for several. weeks but which is laying off this week. Lou. Tellegen. was" the star of the show. He was severely burned in an Atlantic City hotel but insisted on appearing there. Tellegen is now ‘under treatment at the Polyclinic hospital. Shows Closing The. eastern company of “Follow Thru” will close at Jamaica, L. I,,. Feb. 1. The attraction is current | at the Windsor, Bronx. Schwab and, Mandel attractions remaining on tour are two companies of “The New Moon” and the midwestern “Pollow Thru.” STONE 0. H. ‘PASSING o . Elmira, Jan... 21. The Stone Opera House, Bing hamton, one of the best-known legitimate houses in New York State, will be razed to make way for an apartment and office building, through. The theatre is now occupied | “by. , the Guy Harrington. Players, dramatic stock. ‘Mr. Harrington announced from the atage that unless .business improved he would surrender his lease. “LADIES OF JURY” WEST _ Hollywood, Jan. 21. “Ladies of the Jury” will open at. Duffy’s El Capitan theatre in Hollywood, Feb. 2, ‘with Mary Boland. Henry Duffy will bring some mem |bers of the New York cast west for his production... te ‘Kolb and Dil, in “Give and Take,” will follow ‘The Cat and the Canary” in the President, down~ town. BELASCOSHELVES PIECE ‘David ‘Belasco.. has . again, side-. tracked production of. “Virgin city” for a third time, due to casting dif= ficulties, and has diverted attention to revising script of “Blind Win lec: was tried out. some: weeks ago and closed for revision.: It will be given another try) in. March, come. to her that night. While together, revolution. breaks out,.which .the queen quells by her bravery. She ‘turns from the: balcony to be told that: a man. had been shot climbing tween the queen and the prince or a‘|" neighboring land. The piece requires two sets, which were overdone here with wild dashes of. color and gold ornamentation. Otherwise the sets showed wear. The. writing is slow, talky, and without any brilliance or sparkle. . The acting is for the most part ordinary, with Miss Frederick seizing too many opportunities ‘for emotional acting in the old-fashioned way: Another got ‘Wings | Over. “Porgy” will cording. to Milton Stiefel, if present ‘plans are ‘carried |: |by -Jesse jing opliongs on 35 for another year. This leaves | LEGITIMATE Use Town Halls as Road YARD TIGHTENS London, Jan, 4B. Latest _ development | in: Lord Byne's. fight against -London. ‘Night life is a big scale ‘combing of the clubs. Scotland Yard has ‘drafted ‘provincial -copyers into . the: ‘pleasure belt to check up on. the. spotters and do a little: investigating of. their own. ; Idea’ is. that the night: clubs ger. tions at the most,-and the clubs’ get that the laws. governing. cjubs are. more strictly enforced. <A ting in crashed the exclusive portals of the ‘swagger men's clubs ‘up: Pall Mall way to remind secretaries that. even a@ posh. private -club,‘plastered all over with . ‘generals and aristocrats, -|\cannot give its members: drinks | ber tween hours. . . ° Number of raids recently made on the night dives is the highest sinée By ng. took. over the police reins. Apart from” tightening on the ting out at the gaming clubs—meaning more raids. Gambling in a pub |lie club is Strictly iegat in’ Eng The ‘colored drama Wos“aue’ for. the’ coast, but cancelled because of. adverse business reports, it is said. |” Guild -shows. remaining: on tour. indefinitely: are’ two companies of} land, [ “Miracle” Tied Up Dallas, Jan. 21. Miracle;” coyered with moth balls and ‘writs of. attachment, will: re -)main ‘in Dallas until Morris Gest can take’ them out of hock, There Is also the matter. of paying off 300 Dallas extras. ‘They: were less fortunate than the they were paid off. Dallas did well by Gest. as $74,000 was grossed -during ‘the stay, acGest’s tight hand. man. Stiefel lingered in “pacifying the more impatient with promises relayed from New “York by Gest. . Stock Goes: Touring ; 2| Stock at. the Westwood, Westwood, N. Ji, Feb. 1, and will go-.on tour playing. one and two week rep engagements in New Jersey. and Pennsylvania, . With. the stock out the. Westwood will revert to forme~ vaudfilm policy... NEW COAST REVUE Los Angeles, Jan. 21. “Gone Hollywood, ” a new revue writen by Roger Gray and Redmond Wells, will be produced in Feb. No theatre has been set for the production as yet. “Gray is leaving the cast of “Oh, Susanna,” at the Mayan, to direct the new production. The music. is ] Greer. Pert . Kelton, Charles’ MacNaughten. and. .Jimmy Morgan will be in the cast. Dances will be staged by Bud Murray. ~ YALE’S UNION JAM ‘Northampton, Mass., Jan.. 21. ithe Yale Dramatic Club (New Haven) ran: into ‘trouble with the local stagehands’ .union (No, 232). through a dispute over. traveling crew with the club. Things reached a head “whereby |. tive for I ‘A., was dispatched there. by the home office to effect a settle‘ment. STILL SHY ON CHORUS BOYS | ‘Hollywood; Jan. 21. Scarcity of chorus boys out here resulted in First National renew-. This keeps the F.N. list of ‘stock ‘line workers up ‘to. 200 girls and 80 boys.” FIXING “FLAPPERS” “llappers,” produced by. Frank Hetherington, will hot. steer into. a schedule, but is being. withdrawn for revision and recasting, It will be sent out again next month. “Little Show” in L. A. Los Angeles, Jan. 21, John Hill plans local. production of “The Little Show” at the Mason theatre, Starts casting middle of, February. , 17 REIN ON CLUBS: “ling completed in Soho,-thé same as. ‘erally come under two or three‘sta. to know the bobbies pr ‘etty well. The: home’ office is taking steps to see’ this direction, they have. even. gate. | with’. the ‘Liberty . mentioned, drink places, the Yard ‘is also hit| Alt the ‘cosily. trappings of “The backstage people, ° who held up the last performance. -80 minutes be| tween the first and second acts until | Dallas.a few days after the crash, | Bond’ Players will close: their Willlam AL Dillon,. field ‘representa| . | Days.” ‘cafe, was driving her into the loop | when his car crashed on the. boule ‘VARIETY | alk of “Sketch: Book” For New London House Negotiations aré pending between (53 interests and Earl Carroll to send. his “Sketch Book” to London, The. house in mind is’ a new, theatre’ be Jreported some. timie. ago. as built to house ‘Ziegfeld shows over there. ‘Conditions under which the -Carroll show: would go across are far from agreed on and it was intimated that the deal might fall through because of guarantees asked by Care « roll; but not conceded by the Eng{lshend, Laurence Steinhart of. ‘the . ‘Samuel “Untermyer office is han ‘dling the matter -for.-the Britishers... -When ‘the new house was. first announced it: was. stated that. Ziegfeld proposed to. occupy the theatre con. tinuously with. his American-made attractions for a term of years:. A bonus’ to. Ziegzy was’ supposed to .‘have. been: paid.. Since then that manager has not been mentioned. “Bitter Sweet” Moves; “Simon” at. Ziegfeld “Bitter Sweet’ is due to > ‘move from the Ziegfeld late next month, ‘al though the latter house gets the reue, vived “Sari” next Monday, The ‘English operetta has been holding ‘up strongly and has not neared the ‘stop | Umit. | ‘The switch was. “agreed. on ‘between Arch Selwyn and Zieg ‘who: has an interest in “Sweet.” : “Simple Simon” ‘is. expected to be the. next attraction at the Ziegfeld, “Subway Express” is due to move. from. the Liberty to the Republic, replacing “Seven,” Sweden. Thumbs Down | On American: ‘Hit Shows | ! Stockholm, Jan,: 21, American dramatic. hits . when translated. into. Scandinavian. and... ‘imported hit to lie down and. roll. | over is “Street ‘Scene” which gota . few weeks of ‘indifferent business, “What Price: Glory” was another. flop, but: “Broadway,” due to exe. cellent presentation, was an excepe tion and ald well here, Boag Doing: Revue Gil Boag, who withdrew from con« ~ trol of. “City Haul” last week,.id not washing up as a producer as.’ reported, ‘but will next produce an. intimate revue. Boag ts lining up material and cast, with production set for Marche. -‘Waukesha, Wis., ‘Jan. 21, Gilda. Gray,. eratwhile Milwau» keean, and Gil Boag were officially’ separated by the divorce court here last week. A son, by a former mar. riage, is now being educated by his mother, ‘Miss Gray made her debut as’@ .. singer and dancer in @ Milwaukee cafe at which time her name was Marianna Michalski. L. A. Negro Novelty Fades Los Angeles, Jan, 21, Tho Lafayette Players, L. A’s | only colored dramatic stock come pany, closed at the Lafayette theatre Jan. 18 after: two months ‘of bad business. Opened two years ago as a. novelty, the company drew heavily: from both the whites and color.¢.. When the novelty wore off, the colored ' “patronage as well as the whites | dwindled. , At the end the house was admit~ ting an entire family to any per| formance ‘for .one buck. Robert Levy. brought the company ‘here from the ‘Lafayette,. New: York... ‘Rosalie Claire Verdict. '. Chicago, Jan, 21, Dorothy Weiner, 7, daughter of the late Rosalie Claire, was awarded $10,000 damages: against Julian Black, for her mother's death. . Rosalie Claire was killed in June, 1928, while appearing here in ‘‘Sunny .Black, owner.of a south side Vv ard, ~Miss “Shelley's a9; ; aa Frances Shelley, who appeared with “Wake Up and Dream,” has switched to Ruth Selwyn’s “9.15 Revue.” Miss Shelley holds: @ run of the play contract for the English revue, Arch Sclwyn. arranged the change of shows. "9.15," which opened in New Haven Monday, ia slated for the Harris, a representative of. English banking: .: done’ by Swedish: actors: seem to: losé their.pep and distinction. Latest *