Indianapolis Times, Volume 41, Number 120, Indianapolis, Marion County, 28 September 1929 — Page 6
PAGE 6
THE NEW YORK THEATER GUILD WILL OPEN SEASON HERE
Bernard Shaw’s ‘Pygmalion’ and ‘Major Barbara, With Frieda Inescort and Dudley Diggers, to Play a Week at English’s Opera House. THE 1929-30 legitimate drama season in Indianapolis will be given an auspicious opening- Monday 'evening. Oct. 7. at English's opera house when the Theatre Guild of New York Acting Company will present two of Bernard Shaw's comedies. "Pygmalion," the first three evenings, and "Major Barbara” the latter three. The acting company to give these two &i*y>asea contains many of the most popular members of the guild group including Frieda Inescort, who last year played Portia to George Arlis.f Shyiock; Dudley Digges, one of the country's most famous actors and stage directors; Elliot Cabot, Percy Wararn, Phyllis Connard, Winfred Hanley, £dgar Kent and
many others. "Pygmalion,” a sprightly comedy of morality and manners, pokes fun at social differences. Its central ' character. Eliza Doolittle, a ragamuffin who is raised to the status of a lady by a professor of phonetics. exemplifies Shaw's theory that one ran change a woman's accent but not her essential birthplace in the world. Much comedy is injected into the play bv the worldly observations of the girl's father, Alfred Doolittle, a dustman, whose philosophy of the undeserving poor furnished many ol the highlights of the play. “Pygmalion,” which has much sparkling dialogue and highly amusing situations, is one of the most hardy plays of the entire Shaw repertoire. It also gives the company’s players many of the best roles offered in the modern theater. "Major Barbara,” the offering of the latter half of the week, is a satirical comedy, bringing the codes of Idealism and capitalism into direct conflict. Because of its timely theme, the play furnishes much material for after-theater discussion. The Shavian theory that poverty is the most despicable of crimes and .hat the avoidance of It should be the foremost aim of every one, furnishes the central idea of the play. Andrew Undershaft, munition maker, capitalist, uncompromising men-of-the-world type, finds his hard theories in direct conflict with the idealistic ones of his daughter, Barbara, a Salvation Army worker. How their contrasting viewpoints reach an amicable adjustment is brought about by Mr. Shaw in a moat entertaining’ manner.
New Events in Music
The Federation of Indianapolis Public School Teachers will offer three concerts this season. The Barrere Little Symphony will open the season on Nov. 19, followed on Jan. 1 by the Vienna Mastersingers. , .. Giovanni Martinelli will close .he season in a song recital, Feb. 24. a a a T Elmer Marshall of the dramatic art department of the Arthur Jordan Conservatory of Music, read the “Little Mennonite Maid,” before an Interested audience at the conservatory •on Tuesday afternoon The meeting was in the interest of a class course on “Development o. Personality” organized especially for club women and leaders of organizations The next meeting will be held at 1204 North Delaware street, on Monday afternoon, Oct. 21, at 2 p. m. The course will include lectures and practical demonstrations on relation of breathing to personality poise, how to overcome self-con-sciousr.ess and speech making. Further information may be had by inquiring at the school office. b a a On Sunday afternoon. Oct. 6, the Arthur Jordan Conservatory of Music will hold open house to formally present Mr. Boris Rosenfield, artist piano teacher. The reception will be held from 3 to sp. m All friends of the school are cordially invited. a b b The Schubert quartet, whose members are connected with the Jordan Conservatory of Music, are singing at the druggists’ national convention in session at French Lick Springs. B B B Franklin N. 'Mylor of the voice department of the Arthur Jordan Conservatory of Music will conduct all the choral work at Butler university. directing both the men and women glee clubs.
Dancer Has New Plans
Walter Pattridge. following the removal of his dance studio to the entire second floor of the Wulshner building. 229 North Pennsylvania street, states that he has engaged Miss Marjorie Alden from the Arthur Murray school of dancing, to be instructor of his ballroom department. Pattridge Intends to devote his entire time to the teaching of classical and stage dancing.
ryfll ||fc || 9 WEEK OF OCT. 7 B Nll L 1 i a | Wed'.' Mat..'. .5©C to 52.00 ■V ■ M W* ■■ ■ S ■ Sat Mat 50c to $2.50 Lincoln 82 73 seats Thursday Jjk THE THEATRE GUILD OF HEW YORK Presents the jSrin Theatre uuild Acting Company in 'moIT, Tues., Wed. Eves. | Thitrs.. Fri., Sat. Eve*. .Wednesday Matinee Saturday Matinee mitvAnu sm.wy's ' Bernard shavts SparWi*.* -comedy Satiric Comedy “Pygmalion" “Major Barbara” With FRIEDA IN ESCORT DUDLEY DIGGES ELLIOT CABOT PERCY WARAM JANE WHEATLEY PHYLLIS CONNARD And Other* MAIL ORDERS NOW
Orchestra to Open Season Ona B. Talbot Presents Two Very Famous Symphonies. 'T'WO of the world's most famous I orchestras, the Boston sym- ! phony under the leadership of Serge Koussevitzkv, the Chicago symphony, with Frederick Stock conducting, music and beauty as interpreted by the Isadora Duncan Dancers, the reigning sensational Spanish dancer, La Argentia and one performance of the German Grand Opera Company is the splendid program to be presented at the Murat during the coming season under the direction of the B. Talbot Fine Arts Enterprise. The opening conceit on Thursday evening, Oct. 31, will bring the Boston Symphony orchestra to Indianapolis. after an absence of some seventeen years, in other years the Boston symphony has been heard here under the leadership of Dr. Carl Muck and Max Fiedler. This year Serge Koussevitzky, who for the past five years has guided this organization to the highest artistic heights will conduct.
Albert Roussel, the famous French composer, wrote the following article in tribute to Koussevitzky, the conductor of the Boston Symphony orchestra. article, which appeared in “Musique et Theater,” is here translated: M. Serge Koussevitzkv is again in Paris, and the four symphony concerts which he has announced will bring together once more, in the Opera House, his following of musicians and amateurs. They are drawn as much by the constantly renewed interest of his programs as by the undeniable attraction which he holds on his audiences. Important musical events are certainly not lacking in Paris. Among the high priests of this religion which in our country is increasing daily in devotees. M. Serge Koussevitzky is one of those whose ministrations are most punctually attended, even though they take place only at rare intervals. The reason is doubtless in the accent of modernity in these particular rites, and also in the personality of the ministrant and the order of ceremonies, which awaken the curiosity and hold the attention. It will be remembered that M. Koussevitzky gave his first concerts In Paris in 1921. He was then already known as a marvelous virtuoso of the double-bass, since revealed as a conductor of the first order. It was known that he had formed, in 1907. a symphony orchestra with which he had given concerts not only in Moscow and Petrograd, but also in outlying towns where symphony concerts had never been heard. It was thus that he had made all of Russia acquainted with the music of his younger countrymen, as well as the classical repertory, and likewise with such French composers as Debussy. Dukas and Ravel. It was also known that he had founded in Moscow a music publishing house devoted to the publication of most striking and audacious works of contemporary Russian composers.
He came to France, then, preceded bv a reputation which he justified in his first contact with the French public. The three Russian programs which he then save us included certain works already known to us bv Rimskv-Korsakov. Moussorgsky, etc., but further revealed to us compositions such as the Scythian Suite of Prokofieff. the poem of Ecstasy of Scriabin work of Liadov. Aclimaninoff. etc. He also made an impression as one of the most remarkable leaders of men. one of the most magnificent animating spirits who has consecrated to the service of music his sympathetic faculties and his persuasive powers. In fact, it is impossible to see him at the conductor's desk without being struck bv the impression of calm authority, con- j centrated energy, which is an expression j of an imperious and essentially original personality. With his straight figure, his ! dominating eve. he summons with an ir- ■ resistible gesture all that is in the orchestra—unloosed sonorities which never- I theless are shaped by his will into a per- j feet balance. He has recalled to some the ( memory of Nikisch. and surely it can be ■ said of him what has been said of the i great Magyar leader—"he plays on the j orchestra.” But if his gestures are admirable In j clarity and persuasion, thev never in- i vclve exaggeration or superfluity. Every I motion has its definite intention, and at- j tains its goal. His position changes little: ' it is bv means of his arms and'hands, and bv his magnetic glance that M. Koussevitikv obtains the most surprising effects. '.At times bv a total cessation of movement. he underlines and makes more vivid the mechanical and regular rhythm of a Scherzo: Motionless, his hands at his sides, in an attitude of meditative composure. he seems to listen to the beating pulse of the orchestra.
AMUSEMENTS
I—Johnny Burke is the featured comedian in the Indiana’s new stage show% "Over the Top.’*
Here Soon
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Davey Lee When the new A1 Jolson singing and talkenEopens soon at the Apollo, little Davey Lee will be opposite the big star.
New Band
The Nine Varsity Red Hots, an Indianapolis all girls band which during the last year achieved a wide reputation as a musical entertainment unit booked through the Burton theatrical offices, will go to Marietta. 0., Sunday to be the musical feature of the Ohio state convention of Kiw r anis Clubs Monday and Tuesday, and thence to Dayton, 0.. as the musical feature of the' Dayton radio exposition. The .band is under the direction of Geneva Boettcher, the personnel including Thelma Fulkerson, violinist; Sylvia Huffman, pianist; Fern Medkiff, trumpet; Jerry Marks, saxophonist; Helen McCormick, trombone; Dolores Redding, banjo; Geneva Brow'n, accordionist, and Louella Schilly, drums and traps.
Have Good Parts in Big Movie
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Here are the three live ghosts in a pi ”"hree Live Ghosts." You will meet them soon when the r as an all-talker at Loew’s Pa he
'/SEMENTS w "|Sf ▲ sißlsßfl DAINTY DOLLS • WITH Betty June Lee Opal Oakley EXTRA ADDED DANCE FEATURE a A DAINTY DOLL MARIAN jj CHORUS § iWf IT of Fast Stepping Babies MmJI AAL If 1 JCmL Am w on the Rose Tinted Runway
THE INDIANAPOLIS TIMES
2 —A scene from "The Enchanted Forest,” a dance act now at the Lyric.
Colonial Will Stage a Travesty Modern Version of WellKnown Play to Be Given. Generations have cried with Little Eva and laughed at Topsy in "Unclb Tom's Cabin,” and the novel has been transferred to the stage and the screen, but an entirely new and original idea of Uncle Tom has been arranged for the Colonial the coming week and it will not only be a satire upon the play, but also upon one of the film lots of Hollywood. "Filming Uncle Tom's Cabin” is the title and it is a laugh-provoking burlesque upon a company filming the immortal play. Eliza, of course, will cross the icefilled river, pursued by the dogs, and Little Eva will ascend to heaven amid a beautiful transformation scene, but even these have been turned into laughs. In the cast will be found Jimmy Bova, Billy Wilson, Dot Bond, Mildred Wood. "Dutch” Moon, Paul Reno, Bert Wreneck, Irene Jenkins, Art Vernum and Daisy Due. The chorus w’ill be used in the musical numbers introduced between the scenes of the burlesque. ’ Rising to a tremendous climax that will make most fans gasp. “The Flying Fool,” Pathe’s all-talking air drama, starring William Boyd, is said to be one of the most thrilling and entertaining pictures produced this season. Although the story has an aviation background, and ttyiugh it reaches a great dramatic crescendo with a scene in the air, it is not entirely an air story. It is a human drama, w’hich combines pathos and comedy, played by a cast of capable actors and moulded into fine entertainment. “The Flying Fool” will be the Colonial attraction for the week.
ROUNDING THEATERS
THERE is much more importance to the announcement that the New York Theater Guild will open the coming season of English’s because there is a double meaning in it. The Guild has sent us “The Strange Interlude” and of course it did capacity for three performances last season just because it was the “Interlude.”
Now we have the acting company coming here for a week in “Pygmalion” and “Major Barbara.” both Shaw plays. That is important news but beyond it all is this possibility—lndianapolis now has a chance to become a subscription city! I asked William Kane, representative of the Guild, who is now' here in interest of the visit of the organization, what was our chance ot becoming a subscription city. His wire to Warren P. Munsell brought the following answer: “If Indianapolis supports Guild plays it will probably be possible to provide them with three to five plays each year on the subscription basis.” If we become a subscription city, and I know that Ad F. Miller, manager of English’s, welcomes such an idea, then we have the security of at least from three to five Guild plays yearly. If we were a subscription city this season we would have the rare opportunity of seeing “Caprice.” I sincerely do hope that Indianapolis will support the first plays that the Guild brings to us this season. The plays are there. Both have been tested and Shaw himself thinks they are good. I hope that the Guild this season will send us “Wings Over’ Europe,” a play having not a single woman in the cast, as well as “Porgy.” I believe in people buying what they want in the theater. If enough of us want the Guild subscription season then we will get it. So those who are interested should get busy at once. B B B My remarks last Saturday in this department concerning the necessity of making music in this city a civic undertaking in place of one or two people holding the empty pocketbook, has resulted in my receiving many letters and a lot of personal visitors. I have before me an article written by Edward Moore, music critic, in the Chicago Daily Tribune of Friday, in which he states that the loss of Ravinia opera this past summer was the staggering figure of $206,887.86. That loss was shared by about three hundred guarantors of Chicago and the north shore took care of $108,493.59. The balance of this staggering loss
Starting Tuesday, Oct. 1 ROLLER SKATING at Y.W.C.A. 329 N. Pennsylvania St. Gocd Floor Good ic Men, 35c Girls, 25c SKATING EVERY TUESDAY AND SATURDAY EVENING
3 —Frieda Inescort has the lead in "Pygmalion" and “Major Barbara,” which open at English’s. Monday, Oct. 7.
ROUND With WALTER D. HICKMAN
was paid by Mr. and Mrs. Louis Eckstein, amounting to $98,394.27, Think of that loss on a season of ten weeks and three days. So now you probably can understand a little better what it means when Ona B. Talbot brings grand opera to Indianapolis. It is something to think about. *Mr. Moore continues to state in the Tribune: These are eloquent figures. They cover a period of ten weeks and three days, and apply to thirty-three operas presented during that period. Two of them, Puccini's “La Rondine” and Respighi’s “La Campana Sornmersa,” were entirely new to Chicago. Another, De Faila's “La Vida Breve,” classified as a revival, but has been heard only at Ravinia. Mr. Eckstein says little about this con* dition of affairs except to assert vigorously that Ravina will go on. “Art pays dividends in beauty,” he says. “It can not be expected to pay in material things.” “Therefore,” he adds, “ deficits are the unvarying rule of opera and symphony. Nor is it possible to reduce them without drastic change in the policy of Ravinia. The pubiic expects of Ravinia the greatest artists of the lyric stage. Having had them and enjoyed them for many seasons, .its patrons will never be content with less, nor will the management contemplate any sacrifice of the splendid standards that have caused it to be acclaimed as ‘the Bevreuth of America’.” In fact, he adds, in order to maintain those standards, future costs must be increased. “Ail in all.” is his conclusion, “Ravinia has served its purpose as a center of culture and as a force in the spiritual and esthetic development of Chicago. Because of Ravinia, Chicago and the north shore are a better place in which to live and rear your children. Because of Ravinia, the fair name of our city has been enhanced wherever music is known.” And now we in Indianapolis will do well to face the honest cost of great music in this city. By comparison we can understand a little better what the Mendelssohn Choir, Ona B. Talbot and the Civic Theater has gone through in keeping up and increasing a high standard in the arts.
AMUSEMENTS
RADIOIA WEEK LET'S GO/ fflHßl PP (JALA OPENING OF GREATER R.K.O 111 ENTERTAINMENT SEASON // m owt miss this wow of a bjll/ ABSOLUTELY-THE FUNNIEST HORSE m / PLAY THAT EVEQ ASSAULTED THE HUMAN ill/ ftONE---/WU tot* shake and roar *//rn j ■ JBf lujohtsrf! iMaßypiL IZXM jC\ ♦ Mm MCHfMOpX MH MTSY IWITH MILUK tHuSfgW I m&r EDMUND BR6ESE r§gp|§jL^ BHHr ALL SUE WAS CRAZY OVfO HOBSES HE 111 rnua^ I ffi/J lr Jaim MATED'EM TO VIN REP WE HAD IO PlDEfgg ® /a/K Z/l isnir *UOITENTOT* FOuR-tfOOf 0 DYNAMITE lli C 4 UtiH OUT LOUD/ 1 W >A, WHAT HAPPENED rweh A/IU KEEP !NOIA-fSft ly / Y LAUGHS THMILLS AwAPOUS SCPEAMINU *=OR MONTHS TO \ j jJOT . B come SR iSiL' | J _ a ■gfcSgmyi i_ a RANNEn I A cast. Adams AATW A Joe WHITEHEAD F-csenta U A ▼ A and Marie Alverex and the Human Seals Comedy—Song^Danre__ Enchanted Forest j Freddie Craig Jr. ( 1 h t / A SpectaetSar Bevuslcal ! .Mental Diversions \ OH* j SOON-- TOM BROWN wo SIX BROWN BOQTHEDSj—
Has Orchestra
Robert Frietz
Robert Frietz announces that he and his orchestra have been engaged to play at the Claypool hotel this season, beginning Sunday night.
AMUSEMENTS COLONIAL 1 WEEK STARTING SUNDAY The Funniest Show Ever Staged A Delightful Satire on the Immortal “UNCLE TOM’S CABIN” Every Word a Laugh—Every Scene a Riot Eliza Crossing the Ice j T °^;vFR VE TOPSY AND EVA Beautiful Transformation I SEEN MARKS AND UNCLE TOM The Plantation Days | ANYTHINp Chuckles—Laagahs—Yells Staged with Special Scenery and Effects On the Screen the Talking Feature WM, BOYD in “THE FLYING FOOL” MATINEE 15<*—SAT., SI N, MATINEE ANI NIGHTS, 30£
.SEPT. 28,1029
Burlesque Show Has Many Girls ‘‘Dainty Dolls’ to Open Week's Engagement Sunday. “T-VAINTY DOLLS,” a Mutual burlesque show, will come to the Mutual on Sunday afternoon for an engagement of a week. Nita Bernard, a singer of blues, is featured. Right through the company, from Miss Bernard's beauty down to the smallest chorus girl, beauty is one of the outstanding features of this entertaniing show. Seldom has burlesque organization offered so wide a range of talent as does “Dainty Dolls.” Charles Goldie in his famous "boob” comedy impersonations; Leonard Kraner, “straight men” of imposing dignity and charm and a competent comedy feeder as well; Harry K. Fields, gifted with both Dutch and Jewish comedy talent; Eddie Mitchell, juvenile; Tony Curley, in an imposing array of character delineations: Flo Rich, a flashing soubrette, and Dorothy and Betty Real, doubling in dance and song, all do their respective parts to make this show one of the real burlesque treats of the season. Added to all this is one of the flashiest chorus combinations on the Mutual character.
Carillon Program
Following is the program to be played by Anton Brees on the Scottish Rite Carillon, Sunday afternoon at 3 o'clock; "America” "The Little Grey Home in the West",. H. Lohr "The Bells of St. Marys” Adams "The Last Rose of Summer" Irish Tune "Venetian Gondola Song" Mendelssohn "He Leadeth Me, Oh, Blessed Thought” Branribury "Hark, Hark. My Soul" Henry Smart "Consolation” Mendelssohn "Volga Boat Song” Russian Melody "Auld Lang Syne” "God Be With You Till We Meet Again” Oliver Has Big Record Guy Oliver, character actor, who has been in 319 motion pictures and probably has enacted more screen roles than any other individual on the screen, has been cast by Paramount in “Behind the Makeup.” He plays the part of a hard-shelled theater manager on a river boat, where Hal Skelly and William Powell, as Hap Brown and Gardoni, try out their act together. Others featured in the picture are Fay Wray and Kay Francis.