The Philadelphia Inquirer from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania • Page 63

THE PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER, SUNDAY MORNING. OCTOBER 7. 1934 a SO 11 The Theatre Marks Time, But New Plays Approach The Call Boy's Chat CONSIDERING some curious quirks of stage superstitions, it appears that circumstances may alter cases. Perhaps It is the circumstance that makes the superstition, not the superstition that makes the case. Could an Infallible formula for assured success be worked out, It would spell heyday of hupplnrss for producers and players.

But evidently that time has not yet arrived. Take, for Instance. Ernest Truex's produrtlou of Patterson Greene's qulrklsh comedy, Mrs. Qulnry in which Irene Rich is currently starring at the Erlanger Theatre. Originally this drama of a rather mad matron's reckless reversion to her original sex obsession was entitled "Anne It was so styled when first announced in The Inquirer.

But before the premiere performance certain somewhat superstitious qualms assailed Mr. Truex. An Idea occurred to him. "Have you ever," he Inquired of Samuel F. E.

Nixon-NlrdlUiger, the enterprising entrepreneur of those busy beehives of the drama, the Broad and the Erlanger, "have you ever known of a play to fail that had the word in the title? No, neverl Well, not even hardly ever, as the Savoyards might say. Just consider the record: 'Mrs. Warren's Profession' (but pray consider the and heaven forbid the 'profession'), or 'The Famous Mrs. Fair, or The Second Mrs. or 'The First Mrs.

Fraser', or "The Last of Mrs. Cheyney', or 'Art and Mrs. Bottle', or 'Mrs. Leffingwell's Boots', or 'Mrs. Dane's or 'Mrs.

Temple's Telegram', or 'Mrs. Black Is Back', or even Mrs. Wlggs of the Cabbage Patch', or stlU more even. If you could include thera In the category, 'Mummy and the Humming Bird', 'Mother Knows Best' and 'Craig's Wife'." "Well, consider them. So what?" asked Mr.

Nlrdllnger. "Why." responded Mr. Truex, while the rehearsal raged, "dont you see? It's as easy as the log rolling off the New Deal, or something. A la better than a miss, or it should mean no miss, when it comes to titling a play." And so "Anne Hollis" blossomed out as "Mrs. Qulncy Hollis" at the lust Monday night! The Stage's Obsession for Superstitions THESE superstitious stage folk! Can you blame them? So much may depend upon this or that detail, it is small wonder they pay the utmost attention to the cat's meow, the phases of the moon, and the ever ready rabbit's foot.

And undeniably many of the sagest stage superstitions have been prompted by, and profit from, purely practical reasons. "Don't whistle in your dressing room" some Impulsive stage rand might "strike" the sot. "Don't smoke in your dressing room" the fire department might eject the cash customers. "Don't hang your shoes higher than your head" somebody might confuse feet with face. "Don't break your dressing room mirror" you might have to go minus your makeup.

"Don't put your hat on the bed" you might follow it there in case of a failure. Theatre people, it Is said, are enormously addicted to folk lore and legends, and so are especially susceptible to superstitions of all sorts. Still, it isn't always true that "a bad rehearsal makes a good performance." and so it does not necessarily follow that some favorite formula in fashioning a play title makes the play Itself an excelling entertainment. Perhaps Mr. TYucx should have concentrated more upon this consideration tn approaching his production than upon the title.

Even If "Mrs. Qulncy Hollis" is not generally held in the highest esteem as a product of the playwright's craft. It does boast of some enlivening lines and some situations that commend themselves for dramatic merit. The most provocative, not to say appalling, of ihese Mary Mason She's the little girl who makes so fetching an impression in a bathing suit and other' wise as the daughter of "Mrs. Quincy Hollis" at the F.rlanger.

Virginia Venable Who plays the role of Prudence, but ts really a bit otherwise as the girlV'ho makes "bundling" so popular a pastime In "The Pursuit of Happiness" at the Hi and. The New York Theatre Plays Current and Coming Two Continuing Comedies at Theatres This Week; Four Openings Scheduled a Week Hence Colorful Ladies Are Specialties of Leona Maricle George S. Kaufmans Protege Got Start in 'Trial of Mary Dugan is according to the best Freudian philosophy of abandoning Inhibitions and restraints. That is what MrR. Hollis, wife of a staid New Englsnd banker, does, when, alter putting up a bluff in public most of the evening, she dumbfounds the family by flinging her arms around the nock, and madly kissing the Hps of the Austrian who became the father of her war baby In France, and who has now appeared in America after all these years to arrange a railway loan from the banker husband of Mrs.

Hollis. Nobody suspected this spicy bit of background until Mrs. Hollis Love of Footlights Won Alma Kruger from Real Estate Business Activity Ended When Playwright Per suaded Her to Return RS. QIINCY MOLLIS," starring Irene Rich, enters Its sec ond and final week at the Erlanger tomorrow. The comedy.

produced by Ernest Truex. was written by Patterson Oreen. The cast Includes Ahna Kruger, Stalno Braggiottl. Franklin Fox. Mary Mason, Frances McHugh and Robert Lowe.

Frank McCoy Is directing. Miss Rich plays the part of Anne Hollis, a Canadian girl twice married and three times loved. Leon Maricle, who will appear In leading character role in Lee Shubert'i production of the London nd Paris hit, "Sexes and The character of Aunt Sarah in "Mrs. Qulncy Hollis." which stars Irene Rich at the Theatre, that of a stlff-laced spinster with a shrewd insight into modern problems, rnsultunt of the belief that life has cheated her of Its best opening at the Chestnut Monday, By I'KRCY HtMMOMI NEW YORK, Oct. THE confused young woman who Is undiriilid whether to be liberal or reactionary In the matter of her personal chastity may get suggestions from two of the more respectable dramas now on exhibition on Broadway.

One, "The Distaff Side," comes fom Imdnn. a study by Mr. Van Druten, a sympathetic sophisticate; the other. "Dream Child," from Canal Dover. Ohio, where its author and star, Mr.

Nugent, was cradled In an atmosphere of rural virtue. I am not qualified to commend either of them as a substitute for mother's knee at the hour of counsel to bewildered girlhood. Both of them, perhaps, are an Improvement on that holy If somewhat obsolete Institution the Drama being notable for Its honest examples and good advice. But the comparatively new deal In the leg and administration of today's sex affairs demands Investigation by tliohc most Intimately concerned. The maiden, standing hesitant at gender's crossroads, should hour all the evidence before determining which route Is the nd to happiness.

"Dream Child" and "The Distaff Side" point definitely to the Left. The Inquiring virgin will learn from them that two of the nicest phis In the Drama can succumb, unmarried, to the Urge and yet ulfer none of the penalties put by tradition upon their outlaw enjoyment. The heroine In "The Distaff Side" is a youthful, wholesome, thoroughbred English beauty (the new and welcome Miss Viola Keats), the daughter of a dignified, well-to-do upper middle class family. Although she goes gayly to dinners, theatres snd night clubs with amorous and acquisitive young Londoners, no trace of woman's weakness is visible to the audience's naked eye. Until, that is, she tells her naughty Riviera aunt lEstelle Wmwond) that she, too.

has sinned and is not ashamed of it; why not, she says to the shocked old nymph; can you give me a reason for not doing so? October 15. has a reputation for bn distinctive characterizations of colorful ladles. From her first BP prarance on Broadway as the wise-cracking Follies" girl In "The Trial of Mary Dugan" to last season's The Dark Tower," In which she played Basil Sydney's showgirl lady "The Pursuit of Happiness" continues at the Broad for the fourth week of its run. This comedy by Mr. and Mrs.

Lawrence Langner deals with the romance of a Hessian deserter and a Puritan maid during the Revolution. The cast Includes Virginia Venable, Rudolph Hoyer, Seth Arnold, Alexander Campbell, Genevieve Frizzel Ricnard S. Bishop, Howard Hall and Taylor Gordon. Four Plays Due Next Week Noel Coward's comedy, "Home Chat," will have Its American premiere at the Erlanger Monday, October 15, with Rollo Peters and Edith Taliaferro heading the cast. Other players will be Sherllr.g Oliver, Daisy Belmore, Katherine Standing, Rosalind Ivan, Wendy Atkin.

Philip Tonge, Stapleton Kent and Jill Stern. The of "Home Chat," which had successful runs in London and Paris, Is Janet, wife of Paul Ebony, who is both a novelist and a prig that never allows himself to become angry, but "understands" everyone and is gently tolerant of all rash human impulses. thrills, Is well placed in the hands of Anna Kruuer. who by way of her varied experience and years of service In the theatre, is eminently qualified to enact, the principal comedy role in the play. Miss Kruger lays claim to Pitts, burgh as a birthplace and gradu ated from the Curry University there.

Her first role of any Imp r-tance was as leading woman for louts James. She has played in "Elfctra" with Margaret Anglln; supported Fritz abor In "limn Tides" and Is well-remembered as the Queen In "Hamlet" and Olivia in "Twelfth Night" with E. 8othern. than that she confides toi More her ladv mother ithe gracious and I Dome eipni years airo ivnss rkruger was thua overwhelmed by her emotions. The playwright evidently felt that so sensational a scene would be enough to put punch into any play.

Yet, oddly enough, Instead of capitalizing the ep.sixle effectively, he Is apparently attacked by qualms, and thereafter sets out to convince the ninny of a husband that It never happened, and sends the romantic Austrian out again into the night. Qualities of a Cuckold Comedy THERE is no denying that Mr. Greene, the playwright, has turned out some deft and delightful dialogue In "Mrs. Qulncy Hollis" even if his cuckold comedy Is far from being the perfect play. There is.

for instance, a quality of vagrant whimsy and engagingly errant observation which is quite beyond the reach of Eugene O'Neill In the prodigious and ponderous plots of some of his plays that have raised the question whether they were more potbolled than parboiled. Yet O'Neill undeniably possesses a sound sense of construction ana progression of plot which eludes Mr. Greene, Unfortunately, all too often the man who can devise powerful plot is unable to present it persuasively, while on the other hand some playwrights can tell a tale with felicity of effect without ability to fashion the framework effectively. The combination of the two, of course, is t'utt all-too-unfamlllar phenomenon: the perfect playwright. So far as the performance Is concerned, the Interest and emphasis are not exactly what might be expected.

Irene Rich, of film, footlight and radio fame, is accorded stellar type and title. Yet It is Alma Kruger, formerly associated with Eva Le Gallienne, who calmly walks off with the real acting honors as the somewhat acidly observant aunt of Qulncy Hollis, .1 Doughty Defender of the Drama ANSWERING the observations of Mr. Mullln, who last Sunday In this place declared that If the Theatre could not survive of itself It deserved to file. Dr. Reginald Throckmorton writes.

"I am amazed that a professed lover of the drama could take so sordid and materialistic a view of the present state of the Theatre. Thot It should be Hghtly dismissed because a piny performance cannot be reeled off as economically as a movie is unthinkable and ahows a disordered state of mind. "But, fortunately, It does not seriously matter what outraRcous remarks are made by any 111-ndvised detractor of the drama. A love of the Theatre, and by that I mean a love of the human and immediate performance of plays and pngeants. Is one of the oldest Instincts of mankind, going back almost to prehistoric periods, and not easily to be eradicated.

"So long as we have the universal Instinct for self-expression, we shall have the Theatre. It has served a mighty and significant place as a means of uplifting entertainment and as mnldei of opinion, and it will continue to do so. To deny that is to deny the record of history. And let us not forget that history repeats Itself, and that mechanical contraptions must always remain subservient to the arts." L. pleasantly pontifical Dame Sybil Thorndike) that she has been trans must to his better self be true, and that It is futile for one to gain the world at the cost of one's soul.

Their hero 'Kenneth MacKenna) is a playwright who at heart desires formed from a child into a woman, and that, so far as she can see, no harm has been done. Her under standing parent understands her point of view; and the play ends on The first American performance of "Sexes and Sevens" will be given at the Chestnut on Monday, October 15. This comedy by the French playwrights, Anthony Pnnsep and Alfred Savolr, and translated by Arthur Wimperls, was successful in London and Paris. It will be directed by Harry Wagstall Orlbble. Margot Grahame and Weldon Hcyburn.

heading the cast, will be supported by Leona Maricle, Albert Van Dekker, Katherine Stewart, Lloyd Gough and A. a. Andrews. "She Loves Me Not" will open the Walnut on October 15. This hilarious comedy, which played all last season in New York, was adapted by Howard Lindsay from a novel by Edward Hope.

The play deals with "bright college days" extra-curricular activities at Princeton. note of bllssruiness. A line, con scientious comedy, written with keen itlfnd, manager have sought her unices for exotic and "different" feminine roles. A protege of Oeorge S. Kaufman, Mim Maricle was called upon to annoy Mr.

Kaufman in person when be acted the playwright in his and Most Hart's comedy, "Once In a for her part was that of the affected secretary who presided ever the movie producer's office and "fined to let Mr. Kaufman sec jn producer for whom he thought was working. Mr. Kaufman had another part her In "The Dark Tower" last tinter, but in this he appeared only an author. When Veree Tensdule left the of "The Greeks Had a Word It" several seasons ago, Leona Maricle replaced her In the part of noUier caustic lady and appeared It for some time until Ollbert j'Uer called her into service as one charmers in "The Sex starred Mrs.

Patrick Camp-Other plays that she has ap-sred In recently include "Bad winners" witri Murgaret Bulla van, id 'Under Olass" with Ethel Bar-hmore Colt. Is the wife of Louis 5n Heydt, a young actor, who wed his first success in "Strictly Thev spend their Sfnttrs ekowhegan, Maine, ire they Bre among the most we members of the summer professional skill by Mr. Van Drii'en and acted by Its distinguished star and her company In a way that makes you have faith In marly to coinMise complaining Little Theatre tragedies, objecting to the plight of the tollers, although he la not himself either an assiduous or a horny-handed wnrkingman. Lured by money and Times Square's bright lights, he soon abandons his mission and defaults. He becomes the prosperous author of box-oflirc shows, feathery trivialities barren of social or eronomlc significance.

What, Messrs. Kaufman and Hart ask themselves and us, does he gain lorsoon me siaue aim cukiikiu in real estate activities In Greonwien Vlllaite In New York, but hr love for the footlights was too groat and she returned to the theatre to play In "Daisy Mayme That particular engagoment was the result of meeting the author at an afternoon ten. Miss Kruger fitted the playwright's conception of an Important pint and she was persuaded to accept it. The following season Miss Kruger Joined Eva 1,0 Oallionnc's Civio Repertory Compony and remained with that organization for several years. Among the numerous plays In which she appeared In repertory were "The Cradle Song," "The Good Hope," The Master Builder," "The First Stone," "Heddu Gablcr." "The Would-Be Gentlemen." John Oabrlel Borkman" end "Alison's House." a Pulitzer Prize plnv.

"Men Must Finht." "John -own" and "Moon Over the Yellow PJvr'' are the most recent plays in which, she has been seen on Broadway, everything they say and do. Without Sentence mHE girl in "Pieam i-innr is I even more upright man neri inr run, iwn -i- lter of "The Distaff Ride w've, half a pretty mistresses. She (Miss Ruth Nugent) Is of a flP. la ne luxury ana aiscomion rintor iiiKtinsitlfiii. with two ser ous I ban authors, realizing that their ambitions; to be a paint ress, as thev rail her In the play, and to breed.

Eva Le Gallienne and Ethel Barrymore will appear together In Rostand's famous "L'Alglon" at the Forrest on Thursday, October 18. Miss Le Gallienne will fill the title role, while Miss Barrymore will portray the Duchess of Parma. Arch Sclwyn and Harold B. Franklin are the producers of "L'Alglon," which has been adapted for this production by the English playwright, Clemence Dane. A special musical score composed by Richard Addlnsell will be used throughout.

The supporting company Includes Leona Roberts, Walter Beck, Donald Cameron, Sayre Crawley, Marion Evonsen, Paul Leyssac, Harry Pllmmer, Helen Walpole and Ethel Colt. iiKtead of running around with tne theme was hackneyed and over-sen-tlmental. sought a means by which to disguise Its naivete, O'Neill had got awav with It several times hv bad bovs. she stays pensively in her Orernwlrh Village boarding house, mong her easels and her dreams. brawn applications of rouge to the; with Miss Kruger of late restricting commonplace, and his her talents chiefly to radio, being have inspired Mr.

Kaufman and Mr. hoard in various big programs over Hart try to do likewise. the most Important networks. If. she reflects, she could have a babv without the bother of a hus company.

band or a lover, life would be worth viiik It Is her plBn to spend a fer tile moment or two with a male ac- ualntanee arid then banish him from her presence forever. "I never want to see hlin again!" she The Future Calendar "Ja.vhawker," by Sinclair Lewis and Lloyd Lewis, will present Fred Stone in the title role ut the Our-rick, October 22. This will be Fred Stone's first appearance in a drama and his daughter, Carol, will be teen In the leading feminine role, performing for the first time with 1-er father. "Mary of Scotland." with Helen Hnve and Pr'p 3t lnst come to Philadelphia at the Forrest on October 29. quietly exclaims.

In the midst of her wistful fancies one nl(tht a personable lad from the outskirts a pi a is (Alan Huncei.and her wishes are realized speedily and with what has been termed expedition. Years later you mav see her in tne last act at the Vanderbllt still saintly and sweet and a very successful unmarried mother. Meantime, J. C. Nugent, the author and the star, has tottered through the flimsy drama in his guileful way as a rural realtor specializing In castles In the air.

Frustrated by a conventional village wife, he takes pleasure In Imaginary Journeys upon a camel's back to thrilling desert destinations; and also in the memory of an evening of temptation spent timidly with his dream-girl, a concert songstress who had visited the local Chautauqua. Drama in Reverse "ft'- iiwM'j-. ai "it 0 I tl x- In "Bring on the Girls," a farce by George Kaufman and Morne Rys-klnd. will come to the Chestnut, October 29, with a cast headed by Jack Benny. "Stevedore" will come to the Chestnut November 12.

This drama by Paul Peters and Oeorge Sklar will have the original New York cast, Including Milllcent Oreen, Jack Carter and Rex Ingram. Eddie Dowling, popular musical comedy star, will return to the stage in "Thumbs Up," described as "a musical flngerwave," announced to open here sometime in November Staged by John Murray Anderson, "Thumbs Up" is a satirical revue with a cast including Rae Dooly (Mrs. Eddie Dowling), Eddie Oarr, Shlela Barrett, Eleanor Powell, HE week's Big Show, of course, was "Merrily We Roll Along." a lavish attempt by George Kaufman and Moss Hart to excuse themselves from the accusation that they are but clever clowns putt pins Into the Inflated toy balloons They endeavor to prove In their new extravaganza at the Music Box that they, too, can gravely survey the sorry scheme of things and worry about it in a profitable and entertaining fashion. Theirs is one of Broadway's mora virtuous performances, teaching as it docs that one Ethel Barrymore This time she will be associated with Eva he in a liberally revised version of Rostand's "L'Aiglon," due ct the Chestnut Oct. IS.

Leona Maricle This exotic young lady will appear in a leading char acter role when "Sexes and Sevens" opens at the Chestnut Vet. IS. Wendy Atkin V0 'fady favorably known here, who will be seen in UL.mard' "Home Chat" at the Erlanger one week tomorrows Eagene O'Neill's "Ah, Wilderness." with George M. Cohan in his ortginnl role, will be preserted by the Theatre Guild, the date and place to be announced later..