The Brooklyn Daily Eagle from Brooklyn, New York • Page 64

THE BROOKLYN DAILY LAGLE, NEW YORK, SUNDAY, APRIL 28, 1929. News of Theaters in Manhattan and of Plays That Come This Week to Brooklyn Jeanne Greene Adolph Faisnacht Jane Cowl MCQUkV rE-IMAU 2 New Plays of the Week Monday. The Freiburg Passion Play, presented by Morris Oest at the Hippodrome. The six leading roles are played by Adolph and George Fassnacht and others of the Fassnacht family. Princess Matchabelll Is also In the ast.

David Belasco has staged the production. Tuesday. "The Little Show," an intimate revue, presented by Brady and Wyman at the Music Box. Llbby Holman, Clifton Webb, Fred and Romney Brent are In the cast. "Congratulations," a play by Morgan Wallace seen during Ule past week at the Majestic, opens at the National.

Henry Hull has the leading role. Wednesday. The Grand 8treet Follies," seventh edition, at the Booth Theater. Book and lyrics by Agnes Morgan, music by Arthur Schwartz, Max Ewlng, Serge Walter and others. Albert Carroll, Dorothy Sands, Paula Trueman and James Cagney are in the cast.

-XV j- i li I pvvxy iVv ti its, 1 Star of Stephen Phillipe' poetie drama, "Paola and Franceica," which Majestio Theater. -rr tht Royale Theater in Manhattan. Heroine of "Kibitzer," the comedy at Plays and By ARTHUR if r' v' Curing the Young People of Companionate Marriage Resuscitating the Theater by Keeping the Actors Out of Public Places Mr. Mantle Writes Another. COMPANIONATE marriage, if there is such a thing, ought to provide material for a better play than "Marry the Man," which made Its appearance last Monday evening at the Fulton Theater.

"Marry the Man" la by Jean Archibald and Miss Archibald has not even made her play piquant. However, there may be a fine moral lesson in it Miss Archibald shows very clearly in her play that she thinks com-panlonate marriage a delusion and a snare. She has not proven it to be Chrietus in tht Freiburg Pattion Play, which will be pretenttd by Morris Gist at the Hippodrome tomor- row evening. quite that, but she has made it crystal is exceedingly dulL The young and adventurous who visit the Fulton will come away longing to get married in the good old way and have fun. Miss Archibald's heroine had signed a contract with a fond young by the terms of which they were to live together as long as both Attractions in Local Playhouses i Jane Cowl It the Star at the Majestic in "Paolo, and Frahcesca" New Mystery Melodrama, "Th Jade God," Comes to Werba's Brooklyn "Darktown Affairs," Colored Show, Moves to Flatbush "The Night Hawk" to Be Seen at Boulevard Jamaica Has "Night Hawk." nked llvlnk together, to' cease sharing the same roof tree so soon as one grew tired of the other.

The girl's parents, when they learned of this for a week starting Monday night, May fl. "The Front Page" was the first hit of the current season, it opened at the Times Square Theatre in mid-August and closed a run of 35 weeks at that theater three weeks ago. It is generally credited with being the only successful newspaper play ever written. Helen Hayes In "Coquette" Coming to Boulevard. Helen Hayes in "Coquette," from the pen of George Abbott and Ann Preston Brldcers, will come to the Boulevard Theater, Jackson Heights, for a week's engagement opening Monday night, May 0.

Helen Hayes nas oecn a winsome figure on our stage for 18 years, and she is now 28. She started with Lew Fields in "Old Dutch" at the Herald Square Theater, and was first acclaimed by the critics when she appeared with William Gillette In "Dear Brutus." She has since illumed "Penrod," "Clarence." "To the Ladies," the Theater Guilds production of "Caesar and Cleo patra," "Dancing Mothers" and "What Every Woman Knows." The combination of a really fine play with the talents of one oi America's best-loved actresses made "Coquette" a hit last season at the Maxlne Elliott Theater. In the role of Norma Besant, the daughter of a proud Southern father, Miss Hayes presents a warm-hearted girl whose flirtations lead her into a se rious love affair and culminate in a dire catastrophe. Jed Harris, who produced "Broad' way," "The Royal Family" and "The Front Page," has surrounded Miss Hayes with a splendid cast, which includes Charles Waldron, Andrew Lawlor, Jr Bryant Sells, G. Albert Smith, Frederick Burton, Gaylord Pendleton, Una MerkeL Carmen Miller.

Abble Mitchell and Dan Penneu. "Oh Kay" Scheduled For the Jamaica, Musical comedy will reign at Wer ba's Jamaica Theater the week of May 6, when the Imperial Theater success, "Oh Kay," will be presented for the first time in Queens. This musical comedy ran for an entire season on Broadway and was later presented in the leading cit ies from coast to coast. The book is the joint effort of Guy Bolton and P. G.

Woodehouse. The music is George Gershwin's and Ira Gersh win is responsible for the lyrics. "What You Don't Hear Byron Dexter brings a newspaper background to his first play: "What You Donl Hear," which will have its premiere tomorrow night at the Brooklyn Little Theater. This new comedy which Elizabeth B. Grim ball is offering as the sixth and final play of her second subscription season at the St.

Felix Street Play house will have additional perform ances on Tuesday evening, April 30, and Wednesday and Friday nights, May 1 and 3. In the cast will be Kate Bovle. Jean Dexter. Roy Grlf nths, Kemble Knight, Cynthia Dane, Evelyn Eckert, Richard Eweu, Nor man G. Meyers.

Velma Varva. Cyn thla Rogers, Evelyn Bonham and Sheila Nellson, arrangement, were shocked to their very roots. Their daughter was living ih sin. Maybe she was. But if that girl was living in sin, the pleasures of sin have been vastly overrated.

First, she was living In a house she considered beautiful but which was really hideous. A few years' tenancy undoubtedly have driven her crazy. In the second place, her life was about as unromantic as knitting. The life of Camilla was paradise by comparison. On second thought, "Mary the Man" cannot be called moraL It shouldn't be recommended to young people who like being unconventlonaL It will bore them to death.

It will drive them to something worse than Things POLLOCK clear that companionate marriage will drive them to distraction. play I think It was "Jonesy" In public Their problem at the more often and longer on the stage, Miss Westman, Miss Bylngton, Mr these actresses and actors In public habit of seeing them In places not away from? That will do the theater a world will then have taken placet That his press agent to write no more death and companionate marriage. It rpHE Shubert press department has hit upon a means of making the theater more popular. It sending out announcements that the Messrs. Shubert, George Tyler ana Earle Boothe believe that "stage stars are soon in public too frequently, with a resultant loss of the glamour which should hedge about them." tails in love with the brother of the doctor who has made her young.

"Night Hostess" Comet To the Jamaica. "Night Hostess," a drama of Broadways whisper-lows will be presented for the first time in either Brooklyn or Queens, at Werba's Jamaica Theater, tomorrow evening. The piece was produced by John Golden at the Martin Beck Theater early in the fall and continued at that playhouse until the Theater Guild took possession. It was written by Philip Dunning, who won repute by being co-author of "Broadway." The cast that will offer "Night Hostess," includes Shirley Booth, Walter N. Greaza, William Green, Nan Bernard, Hal Munnls, J.

Arthur Young and Cyril Raymond. The piece has been staged by Cyril Ray- mono. Werla to Have Summer Season at Boulevard. Louis F. Werba will inaugurate a spring and summer season of musi cal comedy at the Boulevard Theater, Jackson Heights, on Monday evening, May 13.

Mr. Werba has In the past pro duced such successful musical plays and operettas as "The Spring Maid," "The Rose Maid," "Adrienne" and "Twinkle. Twinkle," and is therefore particularly well qualified to provide the theatergoers Northern Queens wltn musical onerlngs of the highest standards. Only modern musical plays with Broadway reputations will be pres Mr. Boothe the producer of "Jonesy," and this belief of his sounds ented.

The initial attraction will be the Gershwin musical hit, "Oh, Kay," and it will be followed by weekly presentations of other popular song and dance shows, a cast of well-known players and a large singing and dancing chorus will be employed in every production. A low summer scale of prices will prevail at all performances, a dollar being the maximum charge every evening including Saturdays, while on Wednesday and Saturday after noons the best seats will cost fifty cents. Season reservations are now being accepted. The regular sale of F.eats will be opened on Monday, May 6. Irene Bordonl in "Paris" At Majestic, May 6.

Monday evening, May 6th, will launch the Irene Bordoni fclay, "Paris," at the Majestic, Theater. Not only has the Incomparable Bor donl secured the best vehicle she has had In years but she sings songs that were composed for her alone. Irving Aaronson's diverting band, "The Commanders," are part of the show. They contribute many features of their own devising and lend a hand in Miss Bordoni's numbers. Arthur Margetson and Louise Closser Hale are the featured players in the cast Miss Bordonl and her associates recently concluded an all season run in the Music Box.

For Werba's Flatbush. "The Front Page," hard-boiled farce of life among the Chicago reporters, will be at Werba's Theatre Libby Holman Very much like what a character in called "a lot of horse feathers." Stage stars are not seen too often moment Is to discover how to be teen a Mr. Boothe eays he will ask Nydla Westman, Spring Bylngton, Donald Meek and Raymond Guion, all of "Jonesy," to refrain from being seen In public places. The only people who would know Meek and Mr. Guion if they taw places would be those who are in the so public.

Just what places will they stay They will stay away from Sardi's. of good! comet tomorrow to Drinkwater "Man MOST persons called men ox theater" really do not de serve inai uue since tney have earned it not because of general proficiency or interest but rather because they have made some outstanding achievement In one single branch of theatrical endeavor. Obviously there are a few leaders in the dramatlo world who have touched with the wings of genius the field of acting, producing, designing and writing for the stage. One such, an Englishman, is now visiting in America to supervise the production ox a comeay mat is tne latest endeavor from his gifted pen. John Drinkwater, poet, essayist, actor, manager, director and playwright is the man.

and his current play is "Bird in Hand." which is drawing capacity audiences to the Morosco Theater. This Is the second time Mr. Drinkwater has come to America on a like In 1920, he brought over his historic tragedy. "Abraham Lincoln," and attained national renown for his understanding of our Great Eman clpator. Both these plays, the one, a tragedy in serious vein dealing with American life, and the other a light comedy treating a corner of English life In farcical vein, have bad similar histories.

Both were produced first In Birm ingham' at the Repertory Theater witn wnicn Mr. Drinkwater nas been connected since its inception. Both had successful runs in London before being done in America. The entire present company of "Bird In Hand nas acted the play slnca September, 1927, when it made its debut at Birmingham. The names of Drinkwater and Birmingham must always be spoken together in any theatrical discussion.

For the former Is one of England's outstanding dramatists and the latter is the home of one of England's most important theaters wmcn ne neipea to round. The Birmingham Repertory Theater is the outgrowth of a prophetic vision in the minds of six persons who In 1907 organised as the Pilgrim Players In order to uplift the commercial drama of that manufac turing town. The half dozen rebels with an eye to the future Included Sir Barry Jackson, a wealthy in dustrialist, and John Drinkwater. a rising poet whose Job then was to solicit insurance, and four of their When the TIHE final week of Zlegf eld's "Show Boat" begins tomorrow nignt at tne ziegieia Theater. after which the musical comedy will set out for Boston and the Colonial Theater.

Billed originally as the Uncle Tom's Cabin of the musical comedy world," this extraordinary production has lived up to the magnitude of its title. Vi iw When the curtain falls Saturday night, "Show Boat" will have rounded out 573 performances. This Is the longest engagement any Zleg- feld production has ever played at a single playhouse. Many noteworthy events have taken place during this long jun. First sold as a moving picture be fore Ziegfeld bought the fights, it has since been converted into a talkie" and is now on view simul taneously with the stage production.

Many or the players have won pe culiar distinction for themselves during the months that have passed. Charles winninger has tne attendance record of only one absence during the entire run. He has served ten times as master of cere monies for various benefits, his most recent performance being tor the Press Club. Norma Terr la his recently been signed for the "talkies." She learned to play the guitar and wield a drum stick while playing "Magnolia." Sammy White never missed a single performance nor was he ever late for a rehearsal or performance. Eva Puck took time off to go to Palm Beach.

Edna May Oliver effected the first comnanlonate marriage.1 Helen Morgan wins the Magna Cum Laude here for her combined activities as a maker of Vlctrola and talkie records, and exploits as a night club hostess. Her various testimonials, tiffs and legal experiences rival those of a heroine In a picaresque novel. i Aunt Jemima is a model for those wlshlnir to attain stage success. Several of the glorified girl, belonging first to the obscure chorus. won nonular notice by substituting for the stars.

Eleanor Tlerney rtaved the role "Julie" when Helen Moran went to Palm Beach to attend the nrem ere of the mov- lng picture version of "Show Boat," Clementine Rleeau played Norma Terris' role for three weeks when Miss Terris took a brief vacation. Helen Chandler took the nart of "Parthv Ann" when Edna Mav Oliver left tr a two weks' vacation. '-Oscar Hammerstein II has turned out two other libbrettoa since he tht of the Theater" friends. While still in the amateur class, John Drinkwater was general manager of this group, author of many of its productions and an actor in 60 roles. His first play for the organization was, "Cophetua," written and directed by him in 1911.

In 1913, the group bad betomn wholly professional, the work it was doing had brought it International attention and its name had changed to the Birmingham Repertory Theater. 1 Sir Barry generously endowed it so that a new playhouse could bo built to house Its productions. That theater is now considered one of th most beautiful in all England. Mr. Drinkwater gave up his Insurance work to become its official, general manager In which capacity hJ continued until 1919.

A full company of well-known actors was hired and plays by dramatists now well known, who were then still obscure or Just rising on the horizon of the theater, were produced. Among such wer Shaw, Barrle, O'Casey, Yeats, Byngo and Galsworthy. Each of these men has had plays on at Birmingham which were first rejected by London managers who afterwards begged permission to produce- them. To mention only one, Shaw's "Back to Methuselah" the lull cycle bad it premiere at Birmingham. unntwater's uopnetua was ioi lowed in 1914 by "Tne mo "The uoa oi 1917 "A Knight the Trojan War" and Equals 191S "Abraham Lincoln," and in 1919 by "Mary 8tuart "Oliver Cromwell" and "Robert E.

Lee." In several of these Drinkwater acted in mlnoB roles and he -directed all of them. Although no longer connected with the Birmingham Repertory Theater, as soon as he com pleted "Bird In Hand' he sent it to) Sir Barry Jackson, who was glad to have It for his company. Its success was instantaneous and, true tb tradition, this success was repeated at the Royalty Theater, London, where it stayed for a year until Lea Shubert saw it and booked it for, a New York presentation, and arranged for Mr. Drinkwater to coma over with his cast to direct the play at the Morosco Theater. "Bird In Hand" introduced thei dramatist in a new role, that of writer of light comedy dealing with modern youth and its struggle to overthrow the shackles tied by an older and more 'Conservative gen-i Curtam Falls since he wrote the "Show Boat1 book and lyrics.

Bert Chapman, general played the. role of "Cap'U Andy" when Charles Winninger was absent from the cast for one performance; he did some somersaults. "Show Boat" served also as thai occasion of a controversy between) Florenz Ziegfeld and Arthur Hammerstein on orchestra synchronization for stage production. Mr. Ziegfeld seems to have had the last Sammy Lee.

vha stared tha dances, has gone to Hollywood for. tne mcKering garrunues, "Show Boaf furnished' the occasion also for the gaslight melodrama series of revivals with the tabloid "The Parson's Bride' in the first act serving as a model. The sale of Miss Edna Ferber'a book "Show Boat" Increased as at well-earned increment. I London and Paris both produced, the play with the Paris version still going strong, using the title "Missis, slppi." Seventy-six cartoonists mad drawings of their Impressions of th various stars. Mr.

and Mrs. Charles Hunter, the) originals of the "Show Boat" story came here and saw the production) for themselves. Jerome Kern's delightful score was but recently released for the radio. "Cap'n Andy's" "Happy New Year" has became a colloquial slcww connotating "Whoopee." Florens Ziegfeld went to Palrai Beach and sent telegrams at tha rate of six a dav to the varloua stars, managers and directors connected with the production. Still Popular.

The twenty-ftrat week of "Aftef Dark or Neither Maid, Wife not Widow," at Christopher Morley' Old Rlalto Theater, Hoboken, begins on April 29, with enthusiasm unabated and crowds still motoring and tubing Into Hoboken nightly to attend this old melodrama. "BIRD IN HAND" SET FOR SEASON AT MOROSCO THEATER. "Bird In Hand," the English play by John Drinkwater, commences It fifth week In New York at tho Morosco Theater tomorrow, Where it appears to be set for a long run. Tho all English cast which played fot more than a year in London, includes Herbert Lomas. JU1 Esmond Moore.

Amy Venesa and Ivor Bar nard, By remaining away from Sardi's they will not be seen by couple of doze'n press agents, a number of other actors, a couple of managers and Kelcy Allen. After missing them for month or two, these press agents, managers, actors and Mr. Allen will rush to the box offices to buy Ucket to see the Misses Westman and Bylngton and the Messrs. Meek and Guion! The renaissance of the theater be splendid! A LSO, Mr. Boothe has instructed JANE COWL will come to the Majestic Theater, tomorrow evening in Stephen Phillips' "Paolo and Francesca." "Paolo and Francesca" la a romantic drama in verse, telling the age-old story of the lovely convent-bred Francesca, wed by her father's command to the battle-scarred elderly war-lord of Rimini, Giovanni.

His younger brother, Paolo, matches Francesca in youth and comeliness. And unwillingly but inevitably the young lovers are swept into the drama of passion. 1 Jane Cowl, of course, plays Francesca. Paolo and Giovanni will be played by Philip Merivale and Guy Standing. Katherine Emmet has the role of Lucrezla.

Jessie Ralph, Joyce Carey, Lionel Hogarth -and Hale Norcross and twenty others are Included in the cast which is the entire original company recently seen at the Forrest Theater. Messrs. Brady and Wlman, the producers, have mounted the play with richly picturesque Italian settings designed by Eleanor Eustls. "The Jade God" At Werba's Brooklyn. The attraction at Werba's Brooklyn Theater will be the newest of mystery thrillers, "The Jade God," written by William E.

Barry from the novel of the same title by Alan Sullivan. The cast is headed by Margaret Wycherly, who is surf-ported by Lyle Stackpole, Phyllis Joyce, Gwynetb Gordon, Rlcharu Nicholls, Leslie King, Stanley Harrison, H. H. McCullum and Oscar Serlin. The play is produced by Ben Stein and was directed by Walter Greenough.

The scenes of the play are laid in an English country home, where a mysterious murder has been committed which has baffled Scotland Yard detectives for more than a year. The scene opens upon a library where the crime has been committed, and introduces Jack Derrick, a young writer who is in love with the daughter of the mur dered maa The daughter refuses to marry until the mystery surrounding her father's death is cleared. "The Jade God" is replete with STipnlng situations and will cause chills to run up and down the spines of the audience. It is a new type of mystery play and one of sustaining interest. "Darktown Affairs" Moves to Flatbush.

After a successful premiere at Werba's Brooklyn Theater, Jack Strouse'a musical farce comedy, "Darktown Affairs," will move over to Mr. Werba's Flatbush Theater to morrow evenlnit. The large cast, headed by Garland Howard Stuff Mae Brown ana "Speedy" Smith, are out to breas further records in the laughter In Flatbush, and if Hattie Noels keeps up her dancing speed she may dance off some of heT 215 oounds. A young dancing lad, "Red" Lincoln, has some news steps for Flatbush fans. "Darktown Affairs" has a plot with the scenes laid in the Negro section of a Southern city.

The book Is by Garland Hower and J. A. Shipp, who also staged It. The soma Include "Eliza," "Sally Ann." "Wed-dlna Dav." "Your 81ns Will Find You Out," "Telling My Troubles to the Moon" and "Kicking the Mule." Stanley Bennett's orchestra of 16 men play Negro music as it should be payed. Boulevard Has "The Night Hawk." "The Night Hawk" will be the at traction at the Boulevard Theater, Jackson Heights.

Enid Markey rieads the cast. "The Night Hawk" ii a play about a fallen woman who Is given a new lease of life through the marvels of science. On the "racd edc," her harm eone end facing starvation, the great change comes to bet. Siw There is hope for the theater in that, too. For years, in newspapers and fan magazines, movie acton have had their private lives, true and false, spread all over the That is why the movies are dead.

HENRY MYERS, playwright and occasional press agent, sends out a story. He says that Patterson McNutt, producer of "Kibitzer" at the Royale Theater, has bought a new play by Ernst Bollva called "Incidental Murder." But "before producing it he asks that newspapers and members of the public give their opinions of the plot and the majority consider the idea favorably, immediate production will follow." Also the author is willing to accspt as collaborator any one who submits a constructive idea. Mr. Myers include in hla announcement a resume of the plot, but there is no rorm to print it here. I suggest that you write to Mr.

Myers, care of Patterson McNutt, Capitol Theater Building, bx if p'smMmMammM mem lliillllllilg Manhattan, and ask him to send you a copy of the manuscript. He ought to be delighted. BURNS MANTLE, that young has written another book. He had already written nine, each called "The Best Plays of," adding the dates from 1919-1020 to 1928-1929. His new one is called "American Playwrights of Today." A hundred years, two hundred jyears, a thousand years from now posterity will look back upon Mr.

Mantle and bless hlra thoroughly. For he writes complete records of the American theater of today. If ever posterity cares to know what went on in New York from 1919 to 1929, Mr. Mantle will prove its best friend. And that despite the fact that he does not write primarily for posterity.

He writes for you and me. His new book contains facts about and comment upon the life and works of all the American dramatists who have lived and written and attracted a certain amount of attention since 1919, from Channlng Pollock to Eugene O'Neill, David Belasco to John Colton. All American dramatists worth mentioning are included. Mr. Mantle never takes himself seriously and his book in consequence is engaging and readable as well as informative.

I should like, however, by nay of proving that I have traveled and that travel is broadening, to point out a gross error in "American Playwrights of Today." He says that Avery Hopwood "was drowned in the surf at Nice last summer." That's a good one on him. There Is no surf at Nice. And Avery Hopwood was drowned at Juan les Pins, anyhow. Mr. Mantle goes on like that he'll never be a Plutarch, at least not a really one.

For that matter he'll never even be president. Mitt Holman it one of the principal entertainers in "The Little Show," tht Ultimate review opening Tues- day evening at tht Music Bo JAta.