<<

On Wifely Constancy The Passing Show Miss Cornell Poetic Speaks Playwrights Of Those She Go on Plays Right Writing Star of Maugham Revival Sees Lesson in Classic Hits Way Is Hard and Rewards Fewer, By Mark Barron But, Like Anouilh, They Work On NEW YORK. [sake, just because it was a great A veteran from in the * By Jay Carmody trouper coast play past. to coast, Miss “It is just as Maugham writes The is that so sensitive surprise many humans go on writing in ‘The Constant Wife’ when I for the theater. was still traveling the other eve- am fighting to hold my husband The insensitive ones, no. are ning after her They gamblers, betting that their Broadway premiere from a beautiful blond who is al- literal reports on life or their broad jokes about will catch the it, in W. Somerset Maugham’s artful most stealing him from me.’’ she public fancy and make them rich. They know the odds and the comedy, "The Constant Wife.” said. consequences involved in failure and nature armed them with the This “As the wife in Maugham’s toughness to both. These are time, however, Miss Cor- play, accept the addicts and there is I am faced with nell took only a hop-skip-and- the realization little need to give them a second thought. that Jump from National every marriage needs a great It is different with the other, smaller group. They are crea- Broadway’s Theater to her deal more thought than most tive, artistic and idealistic. They write plays because they want long-established home on ’s East wives devote to it. Every time. I to say something which might possibly shed moving light upon a River, a taxicab think, there is a domestic dis- dark corner of human experience. $1.10 ride. Then she moved on for a 60-cent taxicab agreement it is up to the wife to Fry Looks at Good and Evil ride to an apartment she and her give the marriage a second chance. Director Like in the recent “A Sleep of Prisoners.” husband, Guthrie Mc- "I realize that some will disagree Clintic, had borrowed from with that Humans are prisoners of the evil in their natures, Fry was saying, conclusion. but friends for a few and would it not be wise of them to wake and free themselves? days. Maugham expressed it best in ‘The This was a most difficult thing to say with clarity if one wanted— “We are moving from our Man- Constant Wife’ when Constance, also to say it so excitingly that theater-goers would meditate upon hattan apartment to a new house the wife, faced with the truth it and remember. in Sneedens Landing, a rural sub- about her husband’s infidelity, So, for the pains he took to share his feeling about this with urb outside ,” she says nothing is to be gained by be- every one. Pry was accused of being obscure, pretentious, and a said. coming hysterical. Maugham has the great many other things that must have made him feel there is "It keeps me busy getting wife face the unpleasant fact and little one can do about a world of sleeping prisoners. Perhaps, around New York—from my stage says, ‘You can’t make cold after all. they simply do not want their sleep disturbed. entrance in Times Square, to the mutton today into tomorrow's Now comes , another poetic playwright, in I am abandoning on the lambchops.” Lovers.” He is jhome "Legend of not being quite so profound as Fry. 'far side of Manhattan, to this Miss Cornell had a gentle lit- Anouilh is content to reflect—in a paraphrase of the Orpheus I home that we have borrowed here erary comment to make. love can be the of man’s for a legend—that passionate emptiest dreams. I few days, to our eventual “I really believe that Mr. He has not come in the of a discoverer of new spirit truth, but of ‘home in rural Sneedens Landing. Maugham in writing ‘The Con- a man who would merely like to restate an old and often ... forgot- I expect to arrive in Shangri- stant Wife! really loved Constance, ten one. about for a to make this dra- Casting way restatement La any day. I just hope my furni- the wife, as I think Mr. Bernard matic, he wrote a play called “Legend of Lovers.” iture keeps pace with me.” Shaw personally loved his Can- Does All the World Love Lovers? She Keeps Touring. dida,” she said. For several All the world will not share his love for this EVERYBODY S FLEDERMAUS reasons Miss Cornell Husband Agrees. Orpheus and --The Metropolitan Coin- here are William Horne as Brenda as Alfred; Lewis, Rosalinda; has been one of the dozen or so Miss Euridice. played by and Dorothy McGuire. Never- pany s new English version of the Johann Strauss musical and Cornell, being feminine Donald Dane as Eisenstein. The lyrics for the popular stars who and his chances are better than classic which comes to the stage have been troup- having played both roles, cer- theless, Pry's. Lovers are more ar- Gayety Theater on December 25 "Fledermaus” are the work of Howard Dietz and the musical has two ing their plays outside the Broad- tainly speaks with resting to watch than humans wrestling with deep-seated evil. for weeks brings a top-flight cast. The three pictured been staged by Garson Kanin authority. way area into where is Miss Lovers wrestle with each other and together against a common places a Agreeing Cornell's hus- fate. This sort of contest is easier to follow. legitimate play is seldom seen. band, Producer-Director Guthrie Anouilh has not made it too easy, however. On the surface, A few weeks ago when she was McClintic, who has staged this his and Orpheus are commonplace enough lovers. The 1951 trouping “The Constant Wife" to- new production with an elan and in Films which girl played with such mercurially shifting mood by Miss McGuire Busy, Dizzy Happier ward Broadway she stopped off makes it seem an efferves- cent modern is a pretty, minor actress in a touring French repertory company. Everything Happened, Some Good, Some Bad, in the middle of its travels to play, although it was Life has soiled her but it has not destroyed her dream of beauty Including take her leading man. Brian first produced on Broadway 25 and ecstasy in romantic love. That destruction is reserved for Biggest Picture, Biggest Scandal, and Sad Lovers Aherne. and go to Waco, Tex. years ago. her meeting with a wandering accordion a There they dedicated the Robert “The only things we changed,’* Orpheus, player, meeting that begins with exaltation and end^ with tragic awareness that By Browning Library which Dr. A. Miss Cornell said, "were the play's . only death can efface life’s degradation. J. Armstrong had built in honor economics.” We've had some confusing years f Where Anouilh calculatedly risks infuriating a large part of of the famous poet. “For instance, you couldn’t have in Hollywood, but 1951 beats them his audience is in refusing to write a play about a love affair “The Constant Wife” was first Constance or her husband quar- all. Just about everything in the between a little actress and a strolling musician. He makes this produced on Broadway 25 reling about prices of dresses, furs, book happened. Most startling years little romance a symbol of the inescapable errors into which iago. Miss Cornell has done re- diamonds and other such things and space-corraling was the Fran- humans are betrayed by their passions. of classics before, based on their worth at the time chot Tone-Barbara Payton-Tom vivals notably her “Romeo and Juliet” and her when Mr. Maugham first wrote the Death an End to All Neal affair. Betrayals | "Candida.” She lias, she said,' a play. We brought up the finances As of to Barbara is This, he says, will happen to them as long as they live, for going press, very practical viewpoint about re- to meet the prices of today. Other- in Palm with No this is life and the escape from it is death. Springs Neal. of classics. You can’t do wise, there is no changing of the one knows where the once- jvivals In “Legend of Lovers,” he does not want to be a poet talking quite a revival strictly for sentiment’s original script.” : to himself, but one no end anxious to arouse, provoke and, if reserved, gentlemanly Tone is. but _. he could well back necessary, infuriate as many listeners as possible. very be again with Barbara by the time read He has written the sort of play that is difficult for every one, you Coming Attractions ’A WALK IN THE sir for the playwright, the players, the director and the patrons. this—or divorced. Stage. AMOKim now T. S. Eliot did the same thing in “The Cocktail Tennessee The second movie of the ARENA — “Twelfth Night," released as Party,” story noun to with , Williams in “Summer and Smoke.” Arthur Miller in "Death of a year was Rita Hayworth’s flight Angela Paton, starting ««» Salerno Beachhead Salesman” (even the movie does not say what Willie Loman sold), from the non-pursuing Prince Aly December 26. and Pry in “The Lady’s Not for Burning.” Khan. All Rita got out of this NEW GAYETTf — “Fleder. Whether it will be the success of three of these, or the failure deal was a pretty little daughter maus," with Brenda Lewis of “Summer and Smoke.” remains to be seen. In its present and a diamond ring. Well, it and Donald_J3ane, starting BIGGEST EVER—Hollywood's most colossal achievement this condition, there are defects in "Legend of Lovers.” As always in might have been worse. year, or any other, is “Quo Vadis.’’ December 25. r_^ZZ=j Its three top stars pictured here are as plays so rich in what they can be made to say, in their possible "finally made it,“ Lygia, Robert Taylor as Marcus Vincirnus Screen. and as Nero. — effects, director and players are still striving to find just how with , but what he AMBASSADOR “Captain much to say, what effect to reach with all the power they can won on the roundabouts he lost Blood,” with Errol Flynn, muster. on the swings—he lost his popu- Dean was luckier—fathered an- threw George Sanders out of her around for another. He could be starting Thursday. other larity with the newspapermen, baby, bringing his grand home “like a squeezed lemon,” and Fernando Lamas, her leading man CAPITOL—“The Red Badge TONIGHT! Success in and Paris to Play Bright who don't like to be called creeps, total five—four with his first started a good movie and TV in ".” When of Courage," with Audie Washlnrton Premiere wife. •f the New York Store Ploy Anouilh's play was a bright success in Paris and in London. or threatened with death. career. Larry Parks revealed Lana married Bob. they both Murphy, starting Thursday. In each, for its mordant have that he was a and "This COLUMBIA — “Fixed BURNING BRIGHT* acceptance message may been Of Love and Losses. Roy Rogers left Republic after Communist, stated, is for keeps.” Well, Bayo- prepared by the century's skein of catastrophic wars. Or it may 14 years. He starts his own tele- hasn’t landed a movie since. she tried anyway. Errol Flynn nets,” with Richard Base- John Stcinbrck'i passionate Jove story Sve*.. have been that are Shelley Winters and Farley vision was hart, Toes. Thro Son., 8:30 P.M., SI.90 merely European theater-goers more willing show at the end of the Robert and Barbara beaten up twice by Duncan starting Thursday. Sat. threw the Taylor Mat., 2:30 F.M., >1.30—PI. 8002 to listen to a poetically unconventional Grangear up publicity month. Red Skelton a without a DUPONT —“Tales of Hoff- playwright’s interesting began Stanwyck called it a day, and al- McMartin, lifting Hippodrome. Ninth_and New_York Avo, sponge in Europe. wrhen Shelly with Moira way of saying what he has to say. TV career, and every star virtual- most were finger in self-defense. Mary mann,” Shearer, met and fell for Vittorio Gassman, reconciled, but the fire There are enough of the latter type in this country to have ly asked for TV rights in new' refused to Pickford announced that she starting Friday. handsome bum again. Tony supported similar plays such as those mentioned above. Made less Italian actor, the heel contracts. Lucille Ball would return to films in KEITH’S—“Tap Roots,” with 3rd bade Curtis landed atop the fan-mag "The as it is in in "Bitter Rice." Elizabeth Susan and “Brute confusing, being its tryout here, "Legend of Lovers” may pictures farewell for a weekly after Library,” after 19 years away Hayward Taylor started the New Year of heap, his marriage to Janet MONTH well find them. television show.... Ezio Pinza was from the screen. The return was Force,” with , Leigh. Usually, from Valentino 1951 on the wrong divorce foot, done starting The Theater Guild Anouilh in the wrong by at Metro, who put spurred by Gloria Swanson, who Wednesday. k confidently joins risk. her downward, male stars drop in Breaking eliminating Nicky Hilton, the an METROPOLITAN—“Criminal 1 great basso into two mediocre after nearly won Oscar in 1951. All groom of months. popularity their weddings. eight Betty movies. Above all. the last year has Lawyer,” with Jane Wyatt, Record* Hutton starred in the briefest en- and his Rocky Came “The seen a rebirth of optimism in starting Thursday. of the River.” called it a day. but all she has to gagement year—five short, Hollywood. A this ONTARIO—“The Sunny Side •mwui threw Sylvia out get him back is to ask him. year ago city man turn happy days with Norman Krasna. Other- of the with Frankie into the looked like a future ghost town, Street,” Now it bells cold, unloved world, and wise. Coop will fall into the pretty looks like wedding but the that killed Laine, starting Wednesday. put new locks on his Encino door, arms of Pat very thing CUR-TAYLORWINTERS for Betty and her dance direc- Neal. Dan Dailey, PALACE—“Quo Vadis,” with so love could not Hollywood—televsion—has given tor, Charles O'Curran. creep back worried about himself and what Deborah Kerr. so it life again. Every one from Bing through much as a keyhole.. .. makes him tick, tried to find out A PUCE This year saw the release of the to WARNER—“Captain Blood.” Russell Nvpe lasted two weeks at Crosby Republic is making or with six months in Menninger with Errol most expensive picture ever made but planning to make television films. Flynn, starting IN SUN Metro, didn’t mind losing his Clinic. Robert Walker, who THE —"Quo Vadis,” a $6.5 million epic one's working again. Thursday. OPEN 1 P.M. picture, because he got such a went there before Every --1 —and one of the cheapest, "Pick- Dan, never (Released by NANA.) _I 14th AT H N.W. tan. ... A lovely florist, Ken Mc- found out, and died in a coma Up,” which cost a mere $60,000. Eldowney. made a wonderful after Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz an injection to quiet his movie, “The River.” Zsa Zsa nerves. parented a baby after a decade Gabor made a double parlay, —FINAL WEEK BEG. TOMORROW of longing for one. June Ally- The Case of Judy. RKO KEITH’S Z NEW GAYETY OPEH 18:15 *. M. SUN. H;30 P. M. son was so sure that she never , Hollywood- Matt. Wtdt. and Sat. would have children of her own— Today's Schedules reared and starred, made the big- she was on the way to adopt No. TODAYS SCHEDULES. gest success of her or any one IDA "•>-» 2—when she THE THEATRE GUILD learned that she was Stage. else’s life—away from Hollywood. to be a mother. Jane — Powell had ARENA ’’Burning Bright”: First in London, then the Palace her first Ida after LUPiNOjgj baby. Lupino, 8:30 p.m. in New York. I doubt that we four and a half weeks of mar- Screen. see her in Hollywood for any pic- riage with Howard Duff, an- DOROTHY RICHARD AMBASSADOR —"The Wild tures. She's healthier when fat, Robert! 2 days only! nounced that she was to become YnMjmVrvfStKi Blue Yonder”: 1:05, 3:10, and fat doesn’t photograph well. SUNDAY & a mother.... Jane Russell RYAN MONDAY adopted 5:15, 7:25 and 9:35 p.m. Maria Montez, who loved life, McGuire burton a girl, then raised a furor n — CAPITOL “The Light laughter and diamonds, took one ^ Britain by bringing a 15-month- Touch”: 1:45, 4:30, 7:15 hot bath too many, and I still old boy to this country. and 10:00 p.m. Stage: 3:40, can't believe this vivid girl is Lanza Biggest Star. 6:25 and 9:10 p.m. gone. Louis B. Mayer starred COLUMBIA — “Warpath”: in what I was told was the im- Y«u mutt m* In Mario Lanza is the big new star th WEEK! 1:40, 3:45, 5:45, 7:50 and of 1951. One concert tour and one possible. He and Metro-Goldwyn- * JEAN ANOUILH 9:50 p.m. from the french KITTY BLACK picture, “The Great Caruso,” and Mayer called it a day after 25 Adapted by DUPONT—“Salerno Beach- years. Mario is so big that he can afford directed PETER ASHMORE head”: 1:05, 3:10, 5:15, by Hill MoF to go on an eating binge to delay lost husband No. Scenery designed by ELDON ELDER 7:20 and 9:30 p.m. lavender a the start of picture he didn’t 3, Bob Topping, and shopped Costumes MILDRED TREBOR KEITH'S — “On by “TRIPTYCH” want to make. He’ll never do that Dangerous Ground”: 1:45, 3:45, 5:45, Produced und*r th• tupwriiion \ A masterful TECHNICOLOR IHm again. The pounds were easier to I •f painting, music and the 7:50 and 9:50 p.m. 'LAWRENCE LANGNER THERESA HELBURN ef . gain than lose, and he has to, to singing LITTLE — “Scrooge”: 1:15, I continue in the $1 million-a-year 3:15, 5:00, 8:30 an^ 10:05 l l'r i CONTINUOUS I,BO t. M. class. W'j jr HgM ^Ivt^T u-^T on p.m. 2 WEEKS BEG. TUESDAY, DEC. 25 and Jerry Lewis METROPOLITAN— “Passage are the funniest comedians of the M G M’s Drama Packed Romance! West”: 1:50, -3:50, 5:50, k NEW MOTION PICTURE TRIUMPH! year. They made so much money 7:50 and 9:50 p.m. pffnts and worked so hard, mostly on NATIONAL —“Sudan”: 1:05, the umr personal appearances, that Lewis , The HOWARD DIETZ-GARSON KANIN 2:55. 4:40, 6:25, 8:10 and collapsed with a heart ailment. -K New Version 10 p.m. TOUCH "I English jiUastairSI"“*“' ONTARIO — “Journey Into STEWART PIER EE0R6E MAULDIN > Light”: 1:45, 3:45, 5:50, GRANGER'ANGELI* “the red badge 7:55 and 10 p.m. —— OF COURAGE” PALACE — “Westward the yjr/rm Or s»u« • In PirMR Women”: 12:30, 2:50, 5:10, .. "SCROOGE” 7:30 and 9:50 p.m. 000*5 OWN BILLY DeWOLFE Roth’s LITTLE PLAYHOUSE—“The River”: Star *TH «T. AT r — ME Hi* l-00 r- M- Motion Picture Comedy 2:30, 5:30 and 8:30 p.m. PLAZA—"The Lavender Hill "Serious Competition for 'GUYS AND

Mob”: 1:20. 3:05, 4:50, 6:35, , DOLLS' end '/ 8:25 and 10:10 p.m. unapman—n. r. Daily Nem 7thtfee!c! TRANS- —“A Place in SEATS NOW ON the Sun”: 1:05, 3:15, 5:30, SALE TODAY MAT. at Ono Man and 200 u 7:40 and 9:55 p.m. Husband-^ Woman! Sats. Eve. & New Years Eve—Orch. 6.00: Bale. 2:30 P.M. and 5:30 P.M. , WARNER-i-“The Wild Blue Hunting 4.50. 4.00. 3.00 ; 2nd Bale. 2 00 Yonder”: 1:15, 3:20, 5:30, EVENING SHOW at 8:30 P.M. IKfJiMilBAUM n6w"* 7:35 and 9:35 p.m. 'T :^|J :HBM optH 12:30 n. 2 WEEKS ONLY BEG. MONDAY, JAN. T A THEATRE GUILD PRESENTATION Rlders of T||F WILDHel1 Sk* DIRECT FROM EUROPEAN TRIUMPHS! BLUE YONDER |NATIONAL ■■■ — «■ ■■ ^.| r-—"■ --»■ engagement Broadway! WENDELL COREY FORREST TUCKER andJRecord-Breaking VERA RALSTON IR HtfK-WLKMMW 1 IEMIIIC ntllll Also at Ambassador Open 1 p.m.

SEATS AVAILABLE NOW Mats. Daily at 2-.30-$1.20, $1.50 & $1.80 IT.l a I:(«] il*] 11 f V.I OPEN t P.M. 1 FOR ALL PERFORMANCES (tax incl.). Extra Mats. Sats., Suns. I Hols, Bare Fisted Fury! Raw-Knuckled Glory! at 5:30. Eves, at 8:30-$1.20, $1.80 & MAIL ORDERS ACCEPTED $2.40 (tax incl.). PASSAGE WEST A Paramount Prclurt JOHN DENNIS ARLEEN MAIL ORDERS NOW THE ST 8500 PAYNE OKEEFE WHELAN PLAYHOUSE Fust Showint m WishinttOH ■ ■ —— ——■