St. Louis Post-Dispatch from St. Louis, Missouri • Page 61

I JJ1 7TTTinTITTTnTnTTTTrl' v-r4JIJ4J1 T1T TTI I. MMMMMMSMMMSMBBMSMMIIMMWSSSBMMBiBBMMSWBMMlMMM-TTmi( Experimental Theater STRANGE KINDS OF ROMANCE To Try Out New Plays The Screen Clever Miss Hepburn Surpasses Herself The Philadelphia Story Now at Loew's, Much Improved in Film Form. By Colvin McPherson AS motion pictures go, "The Philadelphia Story" is tremendous. But since those lucky persons who saw the original stage version last December will want to know how the film stacks up against the ttage play and will want to compare, this detail and that, here goes with the comparisons. Writers and Actors Get Together on Plan to Encourage Aspiring Talent Religious Drama and Allegory Latest Broadway Arrivals.

NEW YORK, Feb. 8 (AP). OU could heave a buck out of the window and hit a couple a hundred actors who mieht have done aa well j. OQn( j. they had got the right chance." The remark, made this week by Boris (Frankenstein) Karloff en "The Philadelphia Story," on the screen, at Loew's, follows the stage rently starring in a Broadway play, was timely, because it came at play closely.

It gains by having more elbow room of settings, by a far moment when something finally is being done for aspiring playwright The Week's Shows On the Stags LITTLE THEATER "Love From a Stranger" begins its run Thursday night. Public performances next week. GARRICK Burlesque. On the Screen AMBASSADOR Carole Lombard and Robert Montgomery in "Mr. and Mrs.

Smith," with Gene Raymond; Kay Francis in "Play Girl." with James Ellison and Mildred Coles. FOX "Western Union," featuring Robert Young, Randolph Scott, Dean Jagger and Virginia Gilmore; "March of Time" and four Walt Disney cartoons LOEW'S "The Philadelphia Story," starring Katharine Hepburn, Cary Grant and James Stewart; "Road Show," with Adolphe Men-jou, Carole Landis and John Hubbard. more expensive and glossy cast and by those thousand and one de g. i Mary, who miraculously bouquet from a vase to hi vices the motion picture has for magnifying emotion and making every eeatholder a participant in the inner struggles of Tracy Lord. To sum it up, it licks the stage version by a good, 5280-foot mile.

the night. Instead of bringing about tu Whether its heroine, Tracy Lord, represents Philadelphia society at The Dramatists' Guild and Actors' Equity, the performers' union, have just announced their joint establishment of an Experimental Theater in which writers' and actors' untried efforts can obtain a hearing. This obvious method of uncovering hidden talent, had been union with his wife which h. longed for, the event him to renounce her forever and take religious vows which can be done only with her willing consent, and with her vow of eternal co-chastiw its best or even represents Philadelphia society at all, only the experts can disagree. The setting, nevertheless, is refreshingly new, even after "Kitty Foyle," and in a day in which we have come to look upon all young women of wealth as screwballs who marry the family chauffeur the drop of a speedometer needle, there is some zest in such an aris blocked up to now by the problem of financing: How, with dubious ica tuia Bxcxuice alter gien.1 inner struggle, in the COUrs of which she disclnsea rt vJ tocrat as Tracy, who really has some consciousness of her highborn position and tries to live up to it.

In fact, all Main Line aristocrats test sterling. The Lords, for example, are such nice people that they even experimental productions, to pay the theatrical landlord and meet the actors' and technicians' union wage minimums. band's unbelief) that it was she who eiieciea me miracie. The difficulties have been sur ay "smells" for "stinks." The play's spiritual message mounted by Equity's waiving the "The Philadelphia Story" is about that, how Tracy sets such a high standard that nobody can live up to it Miss Katharine Hepburn, unquestionably laudable, but it doubtful that Broadway audiencn 1 A IV. 1 wage requirements, the projected use of empty theaters gratis, and as Tracy, marries Cary Grant, of her own class, but divorces him be uuuiia iu me inuieriiu rjy Such factors as box-office prices and the staging of shows with no scenery so there will be a minimum cause he drinks too much and is something short of perfect otherwise, chronic desire for entertainment MISSOURI "Kitty Foyle," starring Ginger Rogers with Dennis Morgan and James Craig; "Second Chorus," Paulette Goddard.

ST. LOUIS "Behind the News," with Lloyd Nolan and Doris Davenport; "Lucky 1 Devils," starring Richard Ar- len and Andy Devine. Then she sets about marrying John Howard, self-made from a lump of ratner tnan upnit, are goine to lib of stagehands, who still have to get the union rate. a warm, vibrant, attractive figure coal, who has fine ideals, doesn't drink and generally deplores human IP Dramatists' Guild members can frailty. iiKe jw.argo surrering through i whole evening without getting he: submit their scripts to the Experi Mm Everything, perhaps, could go all right except that one of the big mental Theater's directors, who will man.

select the likeliest ones. An au snoop magazines decides to have pictures and low-down on the wed thor whose script is selected can HELIP BARRY, who scored i stage-movie hit with "The Phil lift Movie Time Table on Page 5, This Section. ding. For the Lords, a real grand-stairway family, to have vulgar photographers and reporters at one of their bride-givings is out of the choose from Equity's roster what ever actors and directors he wants, adelphia Story," has just Mr- question. Or would be, except that Daddy Lord has been tossing peri- to work without pay.

formed a turnabout analogous to Each play will receive a few pro lucid artist embracing cubism or a ductions before special paying or great chef making soup out non-paying audiences. If a play spark plugs and sea-water. nies at a dancing doll and that's a chance for blackmail and Husband No. 1 is quite willing to help in the nefarious business. A reporter and photographer from Spy, playea 0 'achieves commercial production, the Barry's latest opus, "a play wift Experimental Theater will get two music," entitled "Liberty Jones, per cent of the box-office receipts, came to Broadway this week, with the greatest expectations accorded by James Stewart and Ruth Hus- and the author will get his usual emoluments.

The project figures any show this season. It was stagei eey, move in on the Lords. And it can carry on with an income of on a grand scale by the talented 1 $6000 a year, John Houseman, with gorgeous it's a heck of a mess, a real heck of a mess. Some 60 scripts already nave scenery and costumes by the tal been submitted, ranging from "dif ented Raoul Pene du Bois, and good In its 112 minutes' running ferent" plays by established writers music by the talented Paul Bowk time, "The Philadelphia Story" of to a first effort by a laundress. And It proved the greatest disap An experimental theater of this pointment of the season.

sort in London brought forth "Vic It was intended as an allegories; toria Regina" and "Journey's End." depiction of American democrac LaaAa vfiflf Hifflllrl current plight and her eventual tr? umph over circumstances. THE hurly-burly of musical comedies and murder plays on Democracy was represented by a MARGARET SULLAVAN AS THE CINCINNATI HEROINE, RAY SMITH, IN THE NEW VERSION OF FANNIE HURST'S NOVEL, "BACK STREET," WHICH COMES NEXT AT THE AMBASSADOR. CHARLES BOYER PLAYS OPPOSITE MISS SULLAVAN. Broadway has admitted fers brand-new ideas on the upper classes, brand-new laughs at the expense of everybody, delicately detailed characterizations, full of human warmth and reality, and superb direction. Miss Hepburn takes a hundred hurdles without even touching them.

You can hate her, emjoy her, wonder at her and sympathize with the poor little kid all in strange visitor a religious play, lovely girl (Nancy Coleman), ailir: unto death, who is restored to Vitality through the ministrations laid in Ireland and featuring Barry Fitzgerald, the grizzled little come a sort of dream Prince, in the fonJ Frederick Jagel dian from the Irish Abbey Players, of John Beal garbed in a uniforc vatnialv sutro-PCttVA rf iha TT and Margo, the beautiful, tragic- faced native of Mexico City, who Navy. To Sing at Principia has developed for the occasion a Said ministrations take the passable brogue. ter part of three hours and a sac-: the snace of 10 minutes some REDERICK JAGEL, Brooklyn-born tenor of Metropolitan cession of scenes that are the dof-. times. She really isn't bad when The play, "Tanyard Street," by Louis D' Alton, takes place in the Opera, will give a recital Fri est the theater has come in time to the recherche vaporings ot livine-dinine room of a modest you get to know her, Jthis Tracy Lord, and her purpose really is day evening at Howard Hall, Th home in an Irish midland town.

Gertrude Stein. I Margo's husband, a gaunt, grim Just where the scenes took placeJ rather commendable. She just English Melodrama At Little Theater AN English melodrama, "Love From a Stranger," which has not been presented on the stage in St. Louis, will open Thursday night at the Little Theater, to run through Feb. 25.

Performances for this week have been taken over by special groups of patrons but those of next week will be open to the public Produced with notable success in London and later in New York, "Love From a Stranger" tells of an English girl who has just postponed her marriage to one man when she meets a cosmopolitan young man with a far-away look who the characters in them wer; needs to be taught a thing or two aria, wnat men auuuiia otuvu and she is taught. (played by Arthur Shields), has left soon after their marriage to fight "for the church" with the Franco can best be imagined by trying reconstruct in stage-direction preci Principia, in The Principia's concert and lecture course, and will repeat his program Saturday evening on the college campus at El-sah, 111. Jagel, who sang Rhadames here in the St. Louis Grand Opera Company's production of "Aida" in October, 1939, made his Metropolitan debut in that role in November, Carry Grant puts over more forces in the Spanish civil war, sion the details of your lal Ideas about J. Dexter Haven Welsh-rarebit dream.

i HiiTiiniT 1 Li 1 11 rtirtr than are in the script his atti He returns with a wound that cripples his body and obscures in his mind his love for his wife, but with a burning faith that he will Tnere were unmistasacie iaou les of such well-known figures tudes, his fine breeding, his rea Uncle Sam, Hitler and the u. i. 1927. Although he began his musi sons for doing apparently ungen-tlemanly things, hia loyalty to be cured by the Lord. Margo, Armv.

but their maneuvers we." as blurred as the passes of a thirc- cal career in this country, singing in moving picture theaters, in rate maeician with a hangover. TRIO FROM THE LITTLE THEATER THRILLER, "LOVE FROM A STRANGER." SEATED, HARRY GIBBS, STANDING, ELSIE YEHLING AND GORDON ASHLEY. meanwhile, has been battling with the devil's advocate in the form of tempting advances from her young and charming stranger who sweeps church choirs and at evening musi- WpII. there's an old saying brother-in-law, Broadway that if the theater bffi her off her feet into an elopement. She goes with him to an isolated cottage in the country but very cale3, he had training and experience abroad before he accepted an offer from the Metropolitan.

He Her husband suddenly is cured, ness was easy, everyway Pop Concerts Today by a seeming apparition of the Vir- ing it, Szigeti Soloist With Symphony soon begins to suspect that he is an arch-criminal and that her own life is in danger. was still using his European name of Frederico Jeghelli when he made his Metropolitan debut. And Next Sunday The third popular concert of the In the Little Theater cast are Jagel's program at The Principia: Waft Her, Angels. Through the Skies," from "Jephtha" Handel season by the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra takes place at 4 o'clock this afternoon at the Opera House, JOSEPH SZIGETI, playing the Beethoven violin concerto, will Elsie Tehling, Harry Gibbs, Russell Yaeger, Mathilde Leimkuehler, The Kiss Beethoven be the guest artist of the St Danza.

Danza, Fanclulla Durante Im Abendrot Schubert with the program consisting of the Overture to Von Weber's "Der Gordon Ashley, Dale Douglas, Jean Drewett and Eileen Murphy, all of Louis Symphony Orchestra at its Standchen Brahms Cacllle Strauss the Andante and Fi 'Pourquol Me Kevelller," irom concerts on Friday afternoon and Saturday evening at the Opera House. The program, under the di Massenet "Music and American Youth" Originating in St. Louis Will Be Heard Over whom have played at the Little Theater previously. Gordon Carter is director and scenic designer "Werther" nale from Brahms' Fourth Symphony; Horace Johnson's orchestra rrhn Opllda Manlna." from "La Bohme" i-uccim suite, "Streets of Florence," in for the production. first St Louis performance; Scher rection of Vladimir Golschmann, will repeat the'Shostakovitch Fifth Symphony, which had a sensational Tonight the Little Theater labor zo from the Minor Octet, Opus 20, by Mendelssohn, the Waltzes atory group will present three one- Apres un Reve Faure Les cloches Debussy Mandoline Debussy Oihe Meneche Gianninl Bon Voyage Ernest Charles You Are the Evening Cloud Edward Horsman This Is the House That Jack Built Sidney Homer In the Forest Frank LaForge Love Went Artding Frank Bridge first presentation here in December, and will include Mozart's Overture to "The Marriage of Figaro" as its act plays which are open to the from "Der Rosenkavalier" by Rich ard Strauss and the Polka and public.

These are "The Valiant, only other work. Fugue from Weinberger's "Schwan- a serious drama by Holworthy Hall and Robert Middlemass, seen on the screen last year as "The Man da the Bag-Piper." Szigeti's last appearance with the Next Sunday afternoon at 4 Tracy. You want to applaud him and maybe you do. Stewart, Miss Hussey, Mary Nash as Tracy's mother, John Halliday as her father, Virginia Weidler as the pernicious younger sister and Roland Young as uncle are all very individual. Perhaps John Howard's role was most neglected by the playwright, who shows no sympathy for the self-made man at all.

Philip Barry wrote "The Philadelphia Story" particularly for Miss Hepburn; the picture was made by a company which had to sign with Miss Hepburn and Barry on the dotted line and George Cukor, Miss Hepburn's favorite director, had charge of the filming based on a script by Donald Ogden Stewart, no slouch himself at the craft of writing. The combination of elements was exceedingly fortunate, to say the least. Loew's management warms its customers into a laughing mood, er out of one, as the case may be, with "Road Show," about daffy people and carnival life. The Fun of Stringing 'Em Up ANY mother's son of us who has watched, fascinated, while a crew of brawny workmen set a telegraph or telephone pole in the ground and has wished he had spikes on his boots and could go climbing right up a pole, like a monkey on a stick, will take to "Western Union," at the Fox Theater. This glorification of an American corporation, built around a Zane Gray story and filmed entirely in color, has the freshness of a walk out into the desert air at dawn.

Never lacking in excitement or humor, it keeps the honesty and simplicity of a first-person story. And strange as it may seem, it Is a foreign-born director, Fritz Lang, who tells us of this episode of American history in a manner that only the American-born can fully appreciate. Maybe the kid thrills are the most of it in "Western Union." Maybe the Job of getting the poles up and the line strung from Omaha to Salt Lake is more interesting than anything else could possibly be. The Indians cause a little trouble and white renegades a lot, for this is Civil War times, but putting up a telegraph line is high sport. It's faster than laying track, for one thing, and not such hard work.

A smaller crew is required and the atmosphere is more fraternal. But Lang's accent is on character study and realism. Dean Jag-ger's picture of Edward Creighton, engineer and boss of the job, has St. Louis Symphony took place in 1926, although he has been heard o'clock, the orchestra will give a who woumn Talk a special popular concert in observ here since then in recitaL The Hun costume pantomime written and directed by Dorothy Clerk, with ganan violinist has engagements ance of Paderewski Testimonial Week, which is being celebrated musical accompaniment by Lillian with 15 major orchestras this sea Harlan, and depicting circus life; throughout the country in honor 'Ways and Means, a comedy from of Ignace Jan Paderewski, the great son and at the close of his tour will sail for Australia for appearances under auspices of the Australian the Noel Coward group, "Tonight Polish pianist, composer and Theremin Player With Paul Robeson Clara Rockmore, virtuoso therem-inist, will appear as assisting artist with Paul Robeson, Negro baritone, at Robeson's recital in the Opera House a week from tomorrow night. A former concert violinist and pupil of the late Leopold Auer, Miss Rockmore is considered the foremost thereminist in this country.

The theremin was introduced by its Russian inventor, Leon at 8:30." statesman, now living in America. Broadcasting Commission. A concert artist in this country Performance of 'Heidi' since 1925, Szigeti also is noted for his efforts to popularize works of The last of four plays presented modern composers. Among the by the Children's Theater of New York this season will be seen at many works which have been dedicated to the violinist are Ernest the University City Senior High Bloch's "Nuit Exotique," Bartok's First Rhapsody, Joseph Achron's "Stempenyu" Casella's Concerto, Theremin, to America about 15 years ago. This instrument, a byproduct of modern electrical magic, is not touched by the player.

The sound is obtained through movements of the hands in front of the theremin. Hamilton Harty's Concerto, Fro- School auditorium next Saturday afternoon. It is "Heidi," dramatized story of the little Swiss girl of the title. The plays, produced by Clare Tree Major, are sponsored locally by the Washington University Alumnae Club. 'IIIJ" 11 1,1,1 111 kofieffs "Song Without Words," Tansman's "Cinq Pieces," Temple-ton Strong's "Une vie d'artiste," and Eugene Yzaye's Sonata in Minor.

Szigeti was an early protagonist of Prokofieffs Concerto, playing it in a number of I 5 I i 1 Vs" and the NBC Network Sunday, Feb. 9th at 10:30 A. M. Broadcast from the St. Louis Southwest High School Auditorium Through the Facilities of KSD The All-St.

Louis High School Orchestra, Roosevelt, Blewett, Vashon and Sumner High School Choirs and Boys' Chorus From Southwest High School, Directed by ERNST HARES Superintendent HOMER W. ANDERSON Will Be the Featured Speaker. KEEP TUNED TO KSD FOR THE NEWS AND SPECIAL EVENTS an amiable earnestness about it. Virginia Gilmore, as the girl in the BAD SKIN European cities. story, has the sparkle and common sense she had in "Jenny." Robert The Beethoven violin concerto Young, as Eastern dandy, is kept hand, Slim Summerville and Chill ENROLL NOW FOR CLASSES ST.

LOUIS INST. OF PRACTICAL NURSING Wt Train Practical Nurm HANDICAP SOCIALLY and IN BUSINESS. You Cn Helped SKIN TROUBLES was last played' at symphony con Willis, a real old-timer, provide humor. But it is Randolph Scott, as a. renegade who tries to reform, whose role is especially appealing.

Four Disney cartoons are lumped together in place of a second fea For Particulars Call FO. 6363 BLACKHEADS PIMPLES ACNE LARGE PORES OILV. DRY SKIN. certs here by Jascha Heifetz in January, 1935. The masterpiece was composed late in 1806, and was first played at sight by Franz Clement at a concert in the Theatre an der Wien, Vienna, on Dec.

23 of the ture, with "The Pantry Pirate" as the most inspired of these. An issue 4523 WEST PINE of "The March of Time" presents the not unfamiliar theme of aid to Britain in terms of British and Nazi scenes of war damage and military HaENJOY YOUR SALADS! same year. MOLES. PITS, SCARS CAN BE CLEARED Prottttional Scientific Tmtmtnta That Brim the Quiekert Results In the Short, eat Time by Our Exclusive Dermedio Method Doctor in Char go rnnd in Attendance Hundreds of Setiified Patients Separate Departmente for Mea and Women FREE SERVICE DIVISION might. As for the remainder of the movie bill for the week, the Am In order, the program for Friday and Saturday: Overture to "The Marriage of To Aid Men And Wimm Of Limited Mean.

bassador has had since Thursday "Mr. and Mrs. Smith" and "Play Spread it on Thick For Moll-Mad Low Calorie Count MAYONNAISE IS GENTLE ON THE WAISTLINE MOLL'S Dclmar Do Baliviero Coma In for a Skin Examination and Figaro" Mozart Consultation; NO Charge or Obligation Concerto for violin and orchestra In Major. Opn 61 Beethoven JOSEPH SZIGETI, HUNGARIAN VIOLINIST, WHO IS THE SYMPHONY GUEST ARTIST OF THE WEEK. CLEAR-SKIN FOUNDATION my CthCor.l Phone I Suite 722-724 ni 0 OlivelCE.

005S I Commercial Bldo. symphony No. 5, Opui 47 Girl," both comedies; the Missouri has holdovers of "Kitty Foyle" and "Second the St. Louis, beginning today, will offer "Behind the News" and "Lucky Devils," as yet unrevealed. PAGE 611 Shoitakovltch (Fro Parking in Rtr) Houra 10 to 8:30.

Sat. to 3 r. BHMi EVERYDAY MAGAZINE ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH, FEBRUARY 9, 1941.