Indianapolis Times, Volume 40, Number 172, Indianapolis, Marion County, 8 December 1928 — Page 5

DEC. 8, 1928.

GRAY TO HEAD CAST OF “THE DESERT SONG” AT ENGLISH’S

Highly Successful Musical Romance Will Begin Week's Engagement Here Monday Night— Little Theatre to Offer 'At Mrs. Beams/ MONDAY night at English’s, local theatergoers will be given their first view of Schwab and Mandel's delightful musical romance, ‘The Desert Song,’’which finally arrives here after nine months of continuous playing at the Great Northern theater, Chicago, and an all sum-' mer run in Detroit The book is by Otto Harbach, Oscar Hammerstein 11, and Frank Mandel, who have delved deeply into the military archives of the FrancoRiffian squabble, extracting therefrom a series of plausible incidents and action that enable their little drama to stand gloriously upon its own feet, high in the realms of contemporary thrillers.

The theme of “The Desert Song” is one that is rich in dramatic intensities, even achieving at one point the enviable state in which there is executed a well-directed tug at the heartstrings. The intricacies of the play need not here be recounted, but there is an abundant field so the drama in the distant sands of northern Africa. This romantic tale has been set to music by Sigmund Romberg, the ■well-remembered composer of “The Student Prince,” “Blossom Time,” “Aosalie’ ’and “The Show Boat.” The melodies of this master of composition leave nothing to be desired. for they ar ein turn fascinating. bewitching, humorous and include a stirring march number sung b; r an incomparable male chorus. Tne cast is headed by Alexander Gray, Bernard Granville and Bernice Claire and includes Harold Stanton, Edna Torrence, Philip Ryder, Carlotta Miles, Sally Sloan, Ben Hendricks, Donald Davalas, Grace Carroll, Jack Spiegel and 125 others. The settings are by Woodman Thompson, who is said to have created distinctive and artistic backgrounds for the heroics and romance. The ensemble dancing and Marching was directed by Bobby Connolly. Matinees will be given Wednesday and Saturday. tt n * TITTLE THEATRE TO PRESENT ©RAMA A good character comedy Is not easy to find on the legitimate stage, but the fare to be served by the Indianapolis Little Theatre next week, when it presents for the first time in Indianapolis C. K. Munro’s “At Mrs. Beam’s,” may be labeled just that. Munro has collected together in this piece of foolery the range of characters to be expected in an eminently respectable boarding house of London .presided over by the selfsufficient Mrs. Beam, but his pictures of these people and the words which he imagines them saying is capitally done. His talent for the expression of character has never been used more keenly nor for better comedy effect. The cast necessarily contributes a prodigious factor in a character piece, and George Somnes, director of the Indianapolis Little Theatre, nas selected some unusual talent to portray these interesting boarders of Mrs. Beam’s, into whose calm, respectable lives a little excitement arrives—most unexpectedly. A few days after the flaming headlines of the London papers have proclaimed that a modern “Bluebeard”—a reputed murderer of beautiful women—has escaped from Paris and found his way into the English metropolis, there is added to the personnel at Mrs. Beam’s an attractive young man, his wife, and an enormous trunk. Little time is necessary for the curiosity and imagination of the amusing Miss Shoe to develop an interesting state of affairs at Mrs. Beam’s, for she is gloriously sure that the newcomer is the escaping Bluebeard and his supposed wife only his next victim. When Miss Shoe is able to verify the first step of her suspicions, nameely when she has wormed from the young “wife” the impulsive confidence that she is not really married, she involves the entire household in her plan to rid themselves of the handsome young man and to save his beautiful victim. The success of her schemes and the expose of this delightful young couple furnish excitement, as well as rare comedy. Norman Green, who has won wide recognition for his past performances with the Indianapolis Little Theatre, will be seen in the role of Mr. Dennott, the alleged “Bluebeard.” Mr. Green was seen last winter as the burgomaster in “Ibsen’s “Enemy of the People,” and AMUSEMENTS

Starting Startinic Tomorrow 1 Tomorrow FUOLKKINQ—ROLLICKING BUDDY KANE The HOT SHOT DISPENSER of MIRTH In u Play With a Plot “PAYING THE WAGER” “MARRIED BY MAIL” V Tabloid launch Quake Surrounded by the CHORDS OF 12 DANCING GIRLIES The JPlut tiro Is “HONEYMOON FLATS” with IJKYANT WASH HI K N COLONIAL MIDNIT® SHOW TONITK 11 P. .1

COUNT FELIX MON mCKNER HERE SUNDAY DEC. 16, 3 P. M. AT THE AEMORY 711 N. Pennsylvania St. Under the Auspices of the Orchard School See and hear the famous German “Sea Devil,” who ran the triple blockade and captured and sank seventeen allied merchantmen during 11)17-18 without losing a life and fed his prisoners champagne and cake. TICKETS NOW ON SALE W. K. Stewart & Cos. L. S. Ayres Book Shop Meridian Book Shop Prices— $2.00, $1.50, 75C An Electric Amplifier Will Insure Terfect Audition in All Parts of the Armory Auditorium.

Dirigible Paramount will produce the first epic picture of the dirigible. The story is by John Monk Saunders, author of Wings.” “Dirigible” will be the title of the picture.

the preceding season in the leading role of Goldoni’s “The Liar.” Mr. Green is director of the Sutherland Players, which he organized several years ago, and also teaches dramatic art at the Metropolitan School of Music. Opposite him, in the role of, the feminine half of the pair of delightful brigands, will be Evelyn Kingsland Rider, who has had a great deal of professional training, as a member of the Thomas Wilkes stock company, of San Francisco; of the Institute Players, of New York; and as director of the Brooklyn Players and the Jewish Blind Players, of New York. The role of Mrs. Beam will be played by Agnes Horton, who will be remembered by many Indianapolis theater-goers for her splendid performance in Stuart Walker’s original “Seventeen” company. Miss Horton has spent the last eight years, with the exception of some work in motion pictures in New York, with Stuart Walker company, in Cincinnati, Indianapolis, and Huntington, W. Va. Ricca Scott Titus, w r ho gave one of the most brilliant performances of the past season of the Little Theatre as “Signora Frola” in Pirandello's “Right You Are If You Think You Are,” will play the part of Miss Shoe, whose suspicions and proposed schemes serve as a stimulus for the play. Mrs. Titus has appeared professionally since she was 3 years old, when she made her debut at the Academy of Music in New York under Charles Frohman. She studied with McKee Rankin for a number of years, as a member of Nance o’Neill‘s company, during which time she played with the Drews, and Barrymores, and the Rankins. She frequently plays in Stuart Walker company productions, both in Cincinnati and Indianapolis. The rest of the cast of “At Mrs. Beam’s.” which will be presented at the Playhouse, Nineteenth and North Alabama sti'eet, on the evenings of Dec. 12, 13, 14, 15, 21, and 22, and at special Saturday matinees on Dec. 15 and 22, consists of: Mrs. Bebb Betty Bogart Schofield Miss Cheezle Mrs. Stephen M. Bogart Mr. Durrows Louis M. King James Bebb James Dar ,ett Mrs. Stone Sara Thomas Miss Newman Virginia K. Bevers Colin Langford Robert Farraday

Has ‘Fever’

Tiffany-Stahl announces that their production tentatively titled "Applause,” starring Sally O'Neil has been permanently changed to “Broadway Fever.” The production is nearing completion under the direction of Edward Cline with a supporting cast including Roland Drew and Corliss Palmer. New Actress Arrives Here to make her first American motion picture, L’ita Parlo, continental film actress, arrived in Hollywpod last week. The 19-year-old star, whose work in two foreign-made productions, “Homecoming” and “Hungarian Rhapsody,” created much comment, is under contract to make a series of productions for Paramount. Just what the first assignment Miss Parlo would receive in Hollywood is not yet known. * Big Band to Return Warings Pennsylvanians, popular syncopators currently featuring in George Choos’ “Hello Yourself,” are scheduled to return to K-A-O vaudeville upon the conclusion of the run of their present show.

MORAT THEATRE __ , WED., DEC. 12 MAT. 2:3O—NITE 8:30 “NAUGHTY T Cast-—Exceptional . ing and Dancing: Chorus. Gorgeous Railet—Special MariNOW ON AT

MURAT SUNDAY TH A R T EF yKsI AFTERNOON o™ock The. World’s Favorite Artist Greatest of All Violinists Prices: $3.00, $2.50, $2.00, $1.50 SI.OO ' ——ca—-r—ri tP*. i 11 I Box Office Opens Sunday 10 A. M. f Telephone LI ncoin 7951 COMING! SUNDAY AFTERNOON, JAN. 13— RACHMANINOFF

1— Bernard Granville is the funny man *in “The Desert Song,” opening Monday night nt English's. 2 Era Briggs is one, of the chief singers in “Naughty Marietta,” at the Murat next Wednesday night only.

Little Theatre

Norman Green In the Little Theatre production of “At Mrs. Beam’s” which opens Tuesday night at the Playhouse, Norman Green will have one of the chief roles.

“Paying a W ager” Is Due Buddy Kane Will Top the Cast of Show at Colonial. The bill for next week at the Colonial is called "Paying a Wager.” It is somewhat different from the general run of bills so far offered at the Colonial It differs in the respect that it is a script bill. On, with a plot from beginning to end. And the bills so far have been str.ctly of the revue type. . Buddy Kane will do the principal comedy role. This is his second week with the company. “Paying a Wager” is a funny show, with a lot of funny situations- running through the bill. The feature picture is “Honey Moon Flats,” with George Lewis and Dorothy Gulliver, also Bryant Washburn.. Watson Sister? on Tour The Watson sisters, Kitty and Fanny, one of the best known sister acts in vaudeville, begin an engagement in eastern Keith-Albee-Orpheum theaters this coming week.

AMUSEMENTS

THE INDIANAPOLIS TIMES

ROUNDING THEATERS

(pIKCE I visited Ne! .on Trowbridge in Cincinnati. 0., several weeks ago 3 to see George Arliss in “The Merchant of Venice.” I have had many letters asking me when we are going to have some Shakespeare. Ad F. Miller, at English's, tells me that he has Arliss booked in February following the star's engagement in Chicago, in “The Merchant of Venice.”

That is splendid and having sepn the Arliss' production. I am sure that we will at last have a chance to see the most human Shylock on the stage. Have received word from the office of George C. Tyler in New York that he is relying upon the backing cf the Chamber of Commerce and other civic organizations in the cities to where he will send his great revival of “Macbeth” as scon os the New York engagement ends. The spokesman for Mr. Tyler informs me that: Refusin'? to curtail in any way the massive and epoch-making settings from the designs of Gordon Cruig for his p -eduction of "Mrcbeth,” George C. Tyler has :-t;nndoncd his plans for a tour throuah the regular theaters when his production of the Shake.:: v renii tragedy concludes its engagement at the Knickerbocker theater. Instce.d. he Is negotiating vlth Chambers of Commerce and other civic todies for the pri . -oration of "Macbeth" intact, with Lyn Ha'rdlng, Florence Reed. William Fr.rnum and Basil GUI In their original roles, in large public auditoriums after t!u manner of the showng of Max

Keith’s Books Many New Acts

New fa' :s and new acts 'soon to adorn K ith-Albee-Orpheum program.'-) include the following, booked last week: Gus Fay in ”. ncv:-. Inn,” with Elnor Harte and Ray Mack. Owen Davis, Jr., successful Broadway luvenllc In “Riches." by Gilbert Emery. Dilgor and Paris Company, with Hector Icrtez and Zanahrla’s Tlpica Bund. Miller, Edwards and Miller, in "Steps in.d Songs.” Betty Majoney and Boys, in "Dance tlrdnes: Russ : iid Jerry. In "A Twist in Ropes.” Nella Webb, singing and acting songs. Busch and Joy in "The Spirit of Vaudeville." described as a Flight of Syncopation. Cortello's Circus Revue. Yule and Dean In "Ohl Usher.”

Film spii’O ALL NEXT WEEK fi 3 hil 1 \IHB \ MATINEES WE D. AND SAT. fl St 53 "ra fcj Pj HVA cc*i /fn >, i Week of continuous playing since leavtLn 'ill Li ttkJal (PM. § H ■ M jt St* bI New York—The same cast seen in Jsv-< -suee n M w g ytEi Chicago intact.

Music by Sigmund Romberg, Composer of “The New Moon” “The Student Prince” “Blossom Time” “My Maryland” “Rosalie” Book by Frank Mandel, Otto Harbach and Oscar Hammerstein 11, Authors of ‘ .Tose r.Tarie” “Sunny” “No, No. Nanette” “The New Moon”

Chicago Cast Including

ROUND With WALTER D. HICKMAN

Reinhardt’s production of "The Miracle” by Morris Gest from coast to coast. Meanwhile, "Macbeth” enters on Monday, the fourth week of its extended engagement here at the Knickerbocker thater. Originally announced for four weeks. It will be on view here through Saturday. Dec. 29. and seats are on sale now throughout the holiday period. The large scale presentation of "Macbeth” is designed by Mr. Tvlcr to reach the public at a popular scale of prices through the enormous seating capacity of the auditorium in which it will be presented. Negotiations have been under way for several weeks between individuals and civic groups who gained experience from "The Miracle” in Detroit, Cleveland and other cities In the middle-west on tlie one hand and Mr. Tyler’s oilicc here on the other. U like "The Miracle.” In spite of the mas ive and imposing settings inspired by Craig, tiie tour of "Macbeth” will be booked consecutively, with the entire country to be covered ultimately by this production, which has been hailed as the most exciting and thrilling production of Shakespeare within current memory. As an adjunct to the presentation of "Macbeth” at the Knickerbocker. Mr. Tyler has arranged with the Anderson Galleries for public showng of Gordon

"Dance Bits,” introducing Billie and Dolly O'Brien. "Rags and Riches.” with Berrie Earle and Rhea Mae Goodell, Tracey Sisters. Marie Downs. Margaret Sheehan, Alice Laurie and the Seven Stunning Gingercilos. The Floretty Trio, in sensational European Ladder Balancing. Barr. Willys and Schell In "Old Songs Versus New.” Miss Delma Denee, with Helen Cunningham and Edith Waxam in Ted Reily's classy-sassy offering. "Memories of France.” Clorindo and Tinl in a song and musical novelty. Hal Sherman, musical comedy’s silent funster. "The Pirate Queen.” a story in song, with Cecilc Bronson.

AMUSEMENTS

I.AI HENCE SCHWAB \XI FRANK MAVDEL—Producers of “GOOD NEWS” and “THE NEW MOON”—Present Hit GREATEST MUSICAL ROMANCE

ALEXANDER GRAY Red Shadow” "srSS? 1 * BERNARD GRANVILLE The Adorable BERNICE CLAIRE Prima Donna HAROLD STANTON, EDNA TORRENCE, PHILIP RYDER, CARLOTTA MILES, SALLY SLOAN, BEN HENDRICKS, DONALD DOUGLAS, AL BARON AND THE FINEST SINGING ENSEMBLE AND MALE CHORUS IN THE HISTORY OF POPULAR MUSICAL SHOWS. IIMIMIIHIW !■■■!■ I ■ lIIIMI Hill Prices: Nites, SI.OO, $2.00, $2.50, $3.00 Wednesday Matinee, SI.OO, $1.50 and $2.00 It ay Saturday Matinee, SI.OO, $1.50, $2.00 and $2.50 /

3 Katherine Boyle and her boys will be seen as the chief offering at the Lyric, starting Sunday afternoon. 4 Betty Abbott is in the cast of “Social Maids,” opening Sunday matinee at the Mutual.

Craig's original sketches In color for the production. The exhibition, beginning tomorrow with a private showing will be open to the public through Saturday, Dec. 22. In an adjoining room at the Anderson Galleries, a collection of portraits by Gustave Muranyi will be displayed at the same time, including several of .those tcsnonsible for the '‘Macbeth’’ production. This exhibition will be taken on tour in advance of the engagement of "Macbeth'' in other cities. And we have a chance for even more Shakespeare as Miss Genevieve Hamper, the widow of Robert B. Mantell, has decided to go on tour shortly to keep ever alive the great work of her husband, Robert Mantell. Miss Hamper has caused the following statement to be sent me: One of the most famous Shakespearean companies, whose record for years stood with the American public as being of the very highest standard, will continue lts activities early in 1029. Mias Gcnevit e Hamper iMrs. Robert B. Mantell i—the only Shakespearean woman star now appearing before the public—has assembled and will heed this new organization. Miss Hamper during the last eight years has been co-starring with the Robert B. Mantell Company, and during that period endeared herself to hundreds of admirers by her rendition of the splendid gallery of Shakespeare's famous women characters which she presented. The following repertoire will be given: “As You Like It.” 'Macbeth.” "The Merchant of Venice.” which will be interpreted by a large company of twenty-five recognized players. Unusual Interest has been created by the announcement of the engagement of John Alexander in the leading .male roles. This fine Shakespearean player, it will be recalled, during his long regime as leading man for Robert B. Mantell, made himself a popular favorite, and Is recognized as an actor of sterling ability. Ia the present repertoire he will be seen as Macbeth, Marc Antony, Orlando and Romeo. In order to appeal to the thousands of theatergoers who want good entertainment at a reasonable price. Miss H unper has arranged for a large number of reserved orchestra and balcony tickets at one dollar each lor everyone of her perfonnances.

AMUSEMENTS Tngu sh’s TvVHnr

At the Murat

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Robert E. Griffin When “Naughty Marietta,” the Victor Herbert musical play, is presented at the Murat on next Wednesday night, Robert E. Griffin will be seen as Rudolpho.

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15 Months in New York 15 Months' in London 9 Months in Chicago 8 Months in Boston & Phila. 8 Months in California 4 Months in Detroit First and Only Road Tour of the Most Popular Musical Romance of a Decade

Sheiks to Dance at Lyric Katherine Doyle and Her Boy Friends Top New Bill. SYNCHRONIZED feet of Katherine* Boyle and her Six Dancing Sheiks will tap their way simultaneously into headline position on next week's vaudeville bill at the Lyric. Each man of the six-in-line is a solo tap dancer of more than unusual merit who has sunk his in • dividuality into a program of dancing drill, which consists of the synchronization of the difficult routine of intricate steps and taps. For preciseness in their extraordinary deft dances these boys are said not to have a rival. Miss Boy’e fills the gaps between the efforts of the boys with songs and dances. The bill will include: Willie Ritchie—A tramp cyclist, who has mastered the art of panto mime, and who with the aid of a pretty girl and a couple of old wheels create much mirth with ridiculous antics and extraordinary clever feats of bicycle balancing. Edyth Bolilinan —The concert soprano with a sense of humor, billed as “Little Miss Personality,” will ( Tera well chosen repertoire of character studies and songs. Clifton and Brent—Two "rubbernecks with rubber legs,” who offer a ridiculous reotilie of clever steps, songs and humor. Six Speeders—A group of Arabian athletes that is one of the most sensational tumbling troupes of today. They will oiler a very fast and thrilling routine of acrobatic feats which achieve the acme of acrobatic amusement. Lauren and Ladare present a comedy offering entitled 'Fooling with Moosic.” On The Screen—An intriguing mystery drama from the master nen of Louis Joseph Vance entitled "The Lone Wolf's Daughter” will he the feature picture for the week. The famous “Lone Wolf” again slips from under the strong arm of the law and brings to bay two international crooks. Once more Bert Lyt ell is seen in the role of the “Lone Wolf,” a character which he created upon the screen and in which he has appeared once each season for the past several years. It would be difficult to think of ; the “Lone Wolf” without associating him with Lytell. This time the f: .moits cracksman is presented in j an entirely new environment.

AMUSEMENTS

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