Variety (May 1930)

Wednesday, May 14, 1930 PLAY REVIEWS VARIETY 69 lactory. When Ada objects the youngsters pretend to run away to Spain. Father gets stewed, strikes a gendarme and is locked up over niglit. Ada and Alonzo scour the section for tlie runaways. Ed had erdered the foreigners from the house and when the kids turn up in the morning, everything is smooth- ed and plans call for a prompt sail- ing. -\Iary Boland is tlie featured player and as Ada she does much to make the play diverting. She is absent Jrom the stage but for a few min- utes. Nydla Westman is Leila, pert and plain, standing for her mother's toollshness, but having her own way ■when she makes up her mind. George Barbler okay as the father. Other good selections are Jules Epallly as Dimitri, Edgar Stehli as the cure. Marcel Rousseau as Alon- xo, and Natalie Schafer as Mrs. "Wentworth. "Ada Beats the Drum" is certainly the best of the spring crop on Broadway but does not figure to buck the heated period. Jtee. THE VIKINGS "Drama In four acts, presentea at the New Yorker (Gallo) May 12 by Bich- arrt Herndon: Ibsen play ("The Warriors of Helpeland"): visualized, directed and ■core In llfht by Thomas AVlKred with the Clavllux. OrnuK Richard Haiu Sigurd Warren William Dagny Margaret Mower Kaare Robert C. Fischer Gunnnr Charles Waldron HJordis Blanche Turka Thorolf Edwin Philips Egil Richard Jack This Ibsen play has never been done here professionally before. The reason was probably no surprise to some of the first-nighters Monday. It is a long play, quite too subdued and somber, with appeal only to a limited class. There is ' a certain novelty In Its presentation, accompanied by Thomas Wilfred's Clavilux, so- called light organ and operated from the pit by him. Regular footlights,. $5,000 FOR $10 A YEAR AUTOMOBILE JtCCIDENT POLICY Here's a 500-to-1 shot—$5,000 with $25 weekly indemnity, cost- ing less than 3c. a day. As an automobilist or pedestrian you live among these daily haz- ards. DON'T GAMBLE WITH FATE GAMBLE WITH US! Mail or Phone for Details Only One Policy to an Applicant JOHN J. KEMP specialist in All Lines of INSURANCE 551 FIFTH AVE., N, Y. C. Phones Murray Hill 7838-9 floods and spots eliminated. Wilfred who staged the play, states he light- scored it. The idea is to have color accompany the drama. If the sys- tem is developed to a point that the average playgoer will appreciate li as the inventor does, there would be- quite a saving in scenic effects. "Tlie Vikings" is the first Broadway production to be so invested. Richard Herndon, who recently took over the New Yorker, renamed from the Gallo, inserted "The Vi- kings" at mid-May because he could not secure the light device later. That probably goes for the cast, too. His presentation is in the way of an experiment, which drew a class first night audience. "The Warriors" is set in northern Norway during the reign of King Eric Blood-Axe in the 10th century. Name of the ruler is significant. The vikings, come hence from Ice- land, are a brave lot but a bloody one. There are slayings galore, though all but one are off-stage events. Ornulf, he of seven sons, had come with his ships. There was enmity between him and Gunnar, wedded to his foster-daughter, Hjordls, whose father Ornulf had slain in fair combat. The woman is bitter. Sigurd, who had wedded Dagny, was the closest friend of Gunnar's and he brings about a re- conciliation. That does not mean much to these fierce people. Sigurd, the mighty warrior, had helped his friend, .Gunnar, five years before. Hjordis, the haughty and passionate one, had demanded the man who wed her must perform a great deed of courage, that of kill- ing the big white bear that guarded her bed chamber with but a hand sword. This Sigurd does, entering her chamber and holding her in em- brace. In the darkness she never doubted but that It was Gunnar, who carried her off the next day only to be rated a wanton by her foster-father. Ornulf's 14-year-old son angers Hjardis and calls her names he heard his father say. The boy is slain by Gunnar when it Is believed Ornulf had gone forth to slay his young son. But the mission of the old man had been to save the lad and his own six other sons had been slain in the fight. Comes the time when Hjardis learns the truth about that first night. Sigurd confesses his love for her but it is to be their last meeting. Then she responds, though even a minute before, she had been plotting Sigurd's death. At the end with no vision of happiness for them, she plans they shall meet in the beyond, sends an arrow into Sigurd's heart and leaps into the angry sea. Certainly not a cheerful evening, nor a diverting one. Interesting in ' some measure. Blanche Turka as the fiery, cruel, unhappy Hjardis, gives a fine performance. A relent- less woman, one of great passions which have been submerged In a dead love with her husband. Warren William was a fine figure as Sigurd, with his resonant voice. Richard Hale was heroic as the old Ornulf, Margaret Mower pleasing as Sigurd's wife. There are perhaps two others in the Icelandic costume of the Vikings but they are not speaking parts. "The Vikings" somehow Imparts the suggestion of the long Arctic nights. Students of the drama will be attracted along with lovers of Ibsen but it is doubtful of lasting more than a few weeks. Ibee. Out-of-Town Reviews Scenery Wanted Producer requires two INTERIOR sets. One representing: livins-room. Park Avenue Apartment. The other »' modern mid-town New Tork flat. Answer Box 301, Variety, N. Y. Scldes Sticks With "Graphic" Gilbert Seldes has renewed his agreement as dramatic critic with the New Tork "Graphic" for another year. Renewal signed before current contract expired. Sydeman Bros. Members New York Stock Exchange announce the opening of a branch office at 1531 BROADWAY, NEW YORK (Entrance on ^oth Street) In the heart of the theatrical district We Solicit Accounts on Conservative Margin Questionable Elaine Hollywood, May T. Oi.mfdy In three acts by Al.Tn B. Moody, starilnp Koy Hammond, Ulreoted by J. Lolgliton Leleh and Josephine Hum, Casi: I'ennis D'Aubum, Grayoe Hampton, Sy- inona Boniface, Elwyn Eaton, I.,ydin Knott, Ernest Murray, Jo-iephine Cluillen, Tlyrtin Alden and Josa M. Melville. At the Vine Street starting May 4. $1.50 top. "Questionable Elaine" is question- able as box office stuff in Holly- wood, even at 11.50 with the cut rates working. In this town's at- tempt to do something about the de- cline of interest In the drama-, "Elaine" Isn't going to promote such inspiration In that direction. Feebly written, badly directed, and with the exception of Miss Hammond and Grayce Hainipton, weakly played, the alibi is that the piece is a play- thing of the author, who is also the producer. Moody 1b a ■wealthy young ar- chitect from Santa Monica, where he is president of the Community Theatre Guild. His present brain child first saw light there. Under- stood Moody has the Vine Street on a straight rental basis, with the first two weeks paid for. How much fur- ther depends on Jloody's bankroll and the cxtont oC his desire to spill it on this production, ratlior than the actual .success of tho i)lay. Evidence* of the town's only out rate agency pulling stroiiKl.v tor tho piece is apparent in a woll tillod house the fourth ni};ht. Holns; tlio only opening of the week also fig- ures in the count. Other than an olemeniary and su- perficial web of psuodo smart com- edy •Questionable Elaine" holds nothing further. Remotely romovod from the English drawing room fanfare it purports itself to he. Ex- tremely mild in face of forcod risque lines and situations; mild while trying to be bold and simply maw- kish when for laughs. For a central and always contei'ed figure there is the bored blue-blooded daughter with a foppishly uncertain wooer on hex*'hands, who is looking for .i thrill In something "different." Mother is modern enough, even to the point of being carelessly profane at times, but still sufficiently con- servative to regard her offspring's fads and fancies as foolish. Acting upon an innocent suggestion of . her boy friend, the e\v\, with the aid of a servant, contrives to invent a ghost lover to excite her friends and start a gossipy, war. Her mother believes her to have gone daffy, with the mystery element working all the time. For further effect, a clergyman and his deaf wife are in- troduced in tho second act in order to provide Miss Hammond with the opiiorlunity (if springing such a' punch line as "I've always wanted to moot the son of a Bishop." That's an example of tlie rest of the com- edy. After a Hat first act and a duller soooiul curtain, tho plot theortim is linally tinfoUh-d five minutes before tho oxii mari'h with as dramatically niiivo a twist as one could wish for. With tho girl suslalt\inK the un- known quantity in hor ephemer.il lover, tlie roaT one gives her a scare and a lesson at the same time by framing hor with a couple of actor.s, and she falls for it. Man with the same name she Invented supposedly turns up as a married Cockney taxi driver with a wife and five children, and wanting to know what the idea is. Confusion and curses reign, all through the final act until the hero, with a slick laugh and a fiick of his • cigaret, coyly explains everything and takes the girl to his arms for the windup. Miss Hammond Is capable enough with a part very much unworthy of her ability. The matronly mother of Grayce Hampton Is always dil- igent. Dennis D'Auburn delivers., stereotyped lines In mechanical' fashion, while the others cari-y along. Span. W Us.il TeiiE AWAY . , , h a V a I I e your mail sent in care o / J. Miller er you re playing out-o <-to-wn or on vacation liave your letters sent to tlie 5liowfolli.s Slioe- skop and -well take care of tliem until you calll^ W^e liope you'll enjoy tliis convenience, for wlietlier it*s pleasing you witL slippers or pleasing you witli service, tliat s wkat we re liere for! S Ji owfolJts' Shoe Shop BROADWAY at AG tlx 5TREET Open till 9 P. M. TRIXIE FRIGANZA WM. MORRIS AGENCY FOR PICTURES 1560 BROADWAY, N. Y. C„ OR HOLLYWOOD OFFICE