Indianapolis Times, Volume 41, Number 150, Indianapolis, Marion County, 2 November 1929 — Page 8

PAGE 8

PAULINE LORD HEADS CAST OF ‘THE STRANGE INTERLUDE’

.The New' York Theatre Guild Will Send ‘Wings Over Europe,’ the Play That Has Only Men in the Cast, J to English’s for Three Performances. “OTRANGE INTERLUDE." the Eugene O’Neill Pulitzer prize play, which O returns for three days to English's on Thursday, Nov. 7. beyond all Joubt Is the most outstanding dramatic novelty which has been brought to this city In years, if indeed not for all time. In it O'Neill employs anew technique which makes of his play a listinctly original contribution to both the stage and to literature as well, for its success in book form parallels the triumph it has scored as Irama. As brilliant and frank as are many of the lines that the characters address directly to one another, it is the "asides,” by which they jxpress their innermost thoughts, which provide the keenest enjoyment the audiences.

By the use of these “asides,” each character is enabled to utter a thought which ofttlmes is exactly opposite to the meaning conveyed by his direct speech.

These contradictory’ expressions frequently set the audience to laughing heartily, when either one uttered alone would be utterly devoid of anything humorous. But O'Neill clearly has resorted to the "asides” as a more facile means of "getting over” his own philosophies on life in general. "Strange Interlude” is the kind of play that one can not dismiss from memory after seeing it, and everybody seems to get a different conception of it, as is evidenced by the arguments which can be overheard in the lobby of the theater during the dinner Intermission. A strictly New York cast with Pauline Lord at its head and the popular George Gaul portraying Ned Darrell. Others are Ralph Morgan, Blaine Cordner, Maud Durand, Brandon Evans. Sylvia Shear Warber, James Todd and Lester Sheehy. a an ANOTHER GUILD PLAY IS BOOKED The New York Theatre Guild comes to Indianapolis with its fourth production next week*in a completely fascinating play called "Wings Over Europe.” It will be installed in English’s Opera house for three days only, bringing its original cast and production from New York. "Wings Over Europe” is a rare play, and an unusual one on several counts. It has no woman in the cast. All the action occurs in the cabinet room of the British Empire at No. 10 Downing street. It discusses, tempered with wit and humor, a rather technical matter—the atom. It does all these presumably uninteresting things in a manner, which, as one New York dramatic critic puts it, "makes it as engrossing as a detective mystery, as searching and provocative as a telescope, and as interesting as no play has been in this town in many months.” The author, Robert Nichols and Maurice Browne, almost at the outset of the piece, plunge into that fanstastic land of the future, that place peopled by Flammariona and Jules Vemes. who have let their imaginations run fast lest they be overtaken by reality. They lift it, however steadily above the commonplace shocker play, and with the speed and precision of their own young inventor’s formula, shift their story from a melodrama of mechanics to a very subtle one of ethics. They post their arguments patly and pump them powerfully into the dialogue. "Wings Over Europe” is a thoughtful play, though never stilted or monotonous. It probes out remote promises, and has the dramatic distinction of making its thought theatrically effective and profoundly interesting. The cast is the original one, Alexander Kirkland having the part of an idealistic young scientist who brings his all-powerful secret of the British Cabinet. Others in important roles are: Ernest Lawford, Sir John Dunn, Morris Camovsky, Hugh Buckler and Joseph Kilgour. This play comes to English's for three days starting Monday, Nov. 11. a a a GREAT SUCCESS IS BOOKED HERE English's will present for three days beginning, Monday, Nov. 18, the London and New York success, "Journey's End." The company and production to be shown in this city are under the direction of Gilbert Miller who is presenting the play in New York at Henry Miller's theater, where it has been playing to capacity business since March and will continue to play for the entire season. No play in many years has scored the instantaneous success which has been accorded to “Journey’s End.” Pages have been written in praise of this epic of the World war, written by a young English Insurance surveyor. which at once placed him in the same category as Eugene O'Neill as a realistic and powerful playwright. Natural Rain Used The first early autumn rain to be seen in Hollywood in six years arrived on the day that the production schedule for A1 Jolson in "Mammy” called for a rain storm with natural cloud effects.

AMUSEMENTS H Si w [lf A ''&gf| - : >* atul Fj| aartTffißh jfrjjS ■and wL THE ONLY RECOGNIZED BURLESQUE THEATER IN THIS CITY PLAYING ROAD ATTRACTIONS OF THE’SIUTUAL BURLESQUE ASSOCIATION Hey! Hey! 1000 Per Cent Ginger RED HEADED jessie McDonald FIRST APPEARANCE IN TWO YEARS. WITH NITE CLUB GIRLS AND A RED HOT SNAPPY CHORUS

Judges for Contest Announced Local Church to Be Scene ' of Religious Play Event. JUDGES of the first annual reli- " gious drama tournament, to be sponsored by the Sutherland Players on Friday and Saturday evenings, Nov. 8 and 9, at 8:15 o’clock, at the Sutherland Presbyterian church. Twenty-eighth and Bellefontaine streets, have been announced. They are as follows: Mrs. A. Starr Best, Chicago, chairman of the religious drama section of the Drama League of America; Walter D. Hickman, dramatic critic of The Indianapolis Times; Ted Nicholas, of the dramatic department of the Indianapolis News, and Corbin J. Patrick, of the music and dramatic department of the Indianapolis Star. Specified list of grade-points are to be used by the judges, in rendering their opinions of the competing groups, which points include casting, direction, characterization, interpretation, sincerity of the production, scenic effectiveness and inspirational value. Decision of the judges will be announced at the close of the Saturday night performance, and awards will be presented at that time by the Sutherland Players, to the groups, receiving the first and second highest number of grade points, it is announced by Virginia Brackett Green, chairman of the tournament The tourney, which is restricted to local church-centered groups interested in play production, consists of the following entries at this date: Meridian Heights Presbyterian church, Memorial Presbyterian church, the First Reformed church and the “Irvington mummers” of the Irvington Presbyterian church. The exact schedule of the Friday and Saturday night performances will be announced later; both performances are open to the public. Regulations governing the tournament are being kept to the minimum. Entries are limited to oneact plays, embodying a religious or moral idea, produced by local groups. Such groups need not have'previous experience in play producing. As scenic equipment for its play, each group may use only the neutraltoned draperies, that will be provided by the players. Any propetries neded are to be supplied by the producing group, as well as any incidental music. Lighting equipment w’ill be available. Assisting Mrs. Green in the advance arrrangements for the tournament are Fannie K. Fort, chairman of the players’ council; Mildred Clark, Lora Frances Lackey, Mina A. Justus, Irma Ulrich and Norman Green.

At Colonial

.Taking the new company of performers, the latest catchy song numbers. a lot of original comedy bits, tile producer at the Colonial has built "Hotter Than Hot” for the next week’s offering. Ray Cook, the big comedian, assisted by Jimmy Bova, will be the principal fimmaker. Little Egypt, another new member of the company, will feature one of the song hits. Irene Joslin, the soubrette, will be seen in an original runway number. Babe Archer, Florence King, Bert Wrennick, Joe De Lane, Leslie Barry will round out the cast. All new scenery and wardrobe has been prepared for "Hotter Than Hot.” “The College Coquette,” an alltalking feature picture, will be the screen attraction for the week.

1— Gene. Ford and Glenn are among the popular people in the stage show at the Indiana. 2 Pauline Lord again has chief role in “The Strange Interlude,” Thursday at English’s.

Due Soon

Harriett Calloway

The featured entertainer with "Blackbirds,” an all-Negro revue coming to English’s -for three days, starting Thursday, Nov. 14, is Harriett Calloway.

Has Mighty Good Record

Winnie Lightner, who practically stops the show in Warner Bros, allTechnicolor special, “Gold Diggers of Broadway,” has reaped the benefits of a sensational first screen performance. Asa result of it, she has been given a leading role in another Warner Bros, all-singing, all-Technieolor special, "Hold Everything,” which is now in production on the coast. Miss Lightner has scored one of the most decisive personal triurqphs achieved thus far in talking pictures. Coming to Warner Bros, from the vaudeville stage, she has proved the outstanding entertainer in "Gold Diggers of Broadway” and has recently completed a starring picture for the same organization, entitled “She Couldn’t Say No.” Barrymore Finishes Film The initial print of “General Crack,” the first picture in which* the voice of John Barrymore will be heard from the screen, was received this week at Warner Brothers’ New York offices. This Vitaphone special claims attention not only because of the debut of America’s leading actor in talking films, but because it is a dramatic play of pretentious proportions that transpires against the historical background of eighteenth century Austria. “General Grack” has been directed by Alan Crosland who made "Don Juan” with Mr. Barrymore—the first synchronized picture ever to be screened. Featured players in the “General Crack” cast include Marian Nixon, Lowell Sherm*n, Armida, Hobart Bosworth, Julanne Johnston, Jacqueline Logan and Andre de Segurola.

THE INDIANAPOLIS TIMES

ROUNDING ROUND nn-rr With WALTER 1 nLi\ I EjLXO Dt hickman

AMONG the important dates on my theatrical date book is Thanksgiving day, for several reasons besides turkey and the like. George Somnes has just told me that the season of the Indianapolis Civic Theater will open on Thanksgiving night at the enlarged playhouse on North Alabama street. Somnes is considering a number of plays, among them being the much discussed and cussed, "The Man With "Red Hair.” If that one is done, we will have something to talk about and all Will know that the Civic theater, season is under way. Somnes has just returne from Cincinnati where he ha sbeen appear-

ing in the Stuart Walker company.' He tells me that Florence Reed is now guest star with the Walker organization in Cincinnati. It is this season that Somnes intends to present Shakespeare’s “Hamlet” at the Civic theater here. It is an ambitious undertaking to do Shakespeare and now we have only the Civic theater to look to for our Shakespeare with such few stars on tour in the bard’s plays. I am sure that Somnes will be Hamlet. m * e Vincent Burke, manager of English’s, tells me that people from Evansville, Cincinnati and Louisville are buying tickets by mail for “The Strange Interlude” at English’s starting Thursday night. Let me make this suggestion to those who will, rush to me at the last minute begging me to buy them seats on the front row. I can’t do it and I will not be bothered. Go at once and get your tickets. v m The New York Review has this to say of Mrs. Fiske’s new’ play now on view In New York: Mrs. Fiske Is thoroughly herself In “Ladles of : the Jury” at Ehrlanger’s theater, which means that high comedy is flourishing in all its glory in that production, even if the play is not a masterpiece in conception and writing. Fred Ballard, the author, did not hesitate to indulge freely In that old stage commodity known as hokum, but Mrs, Fiske scintillates through it .in a way to make paste look like pure diamond. The comedy, as might be suspected from the title, is concerned for the most part with w r hat happens In a jury room, wherein half of those assembled to determine the gu.lt or innocence of a woman charged with murder are members of the most recently enfranchised sex. As the facts are set forth in the first act, the spectator as well as some of the jurors are not certain which way to vote, do not know whether the young French actress actually shot the New Jersey millionaire to whom she was wed. Nor are the events in the jury room a carefully considered endeavor to serve the ends of abstract justice. Rather they are the farcical attempts of the only juror who holds out from the first for acquittal (Mrs. Fiske, of course) to swing the other eleven over to her side.

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3 Jesse McDonald is in the cast of “Nite Club Girls,” opening Sunday matinee at MutuaL 4 The Fourteen Brick Tops is the headline offering now at the Lyric.

It is an up-hill battle, and in waging it her weapons are diplomacy, flattery, cajolery, trickery and a mild form of bribery. One by one the jurors capitulate until only two remain adamant—two who threaten to deadlock the jury until doomsday rather than declare the defendant not guilty. Then comes the time for decisive aefion, which arrives yb<*ut the middle of the final act, and with it victory is assured. The Jury is a cross*section of the community in which the trial is taking place. Its personnel includes a sptnsterly reformer, a young Greek candy merchant, a Scotch gardener, a flinty grocer, an ex-chorus girl, a clinging young wife, an incipient poet, and, above all, the star, who, although she is always Mrs. Fiske, here devotes herself to impersonating one of the countryside's gentle-folk who, being a friend of the judge, has just dropped in to lend a helping hand in this murder business. And despite the fact that these types are written and played for all the less subtle humors they contain, they have a good foundation In actuality. With a little less tendency to comic caricature, they might conceivably represent a smalltown Jury. In that circumstance is to be found one of the play’s few claims to distinction. The actors are well chosen by type to represent the character chosen by the author. George Farren as the foreman of the jury is particularly well cast. So is Vincent James as the Greek candy seller and George Towde as the close Scotch grocer, not to forget Wilton Lackaye as the presiding judge.

Gloria Sings

“Love,” the song which Gloria Swanson sings during the course of "The Trespasser,” her first all-talk-ing picture, is being published by the Irving Berlin Company. Miss Swanson has recorded it for the Victor Talking Machine Company. She also recorded Toselli’s “Serenade,” which she sings in the picture; and the Boston Music Company is bringing out the sheet music on that standard piece. Edmund Goulding wrote the music of “Love.” Elsie Janis wrote the lyrics.

Lyric to Have Big Program ‘Fourteen Bricktops’ Are Features on Bill. WHAT might be described as the "Ziegfeld Idea” in musical entertaining is to be offered patrons of the Lyric forgone week starting today by the “Fourteen Bricktops.” a group of syncopators which is not only composed entirely of girls, but entirely of red-haired girls. Bobbie Grice, former local girl, brings her combination of auburned haired misses to *er home town, direct from a season’s tour of the major Keith theaters with the RKO Collegiate Unit. The girls are now taking a few 7 weeks of individual engagements prior to sailing for Europe for a six months engagement in London, Berlin and Paris. These fourteen young ladies with real musical talent and looks are to offer a pot pouri of specialties and beauty, which have won for them the reputation of being "America’s greatest girl band.” Besides being accomplished musicians each young fiery-haired girl is a singer and dancer of merit. All in all they offer thirty minutes of first rate entertainment. Three other RKO vaudeville acts complete the program. Joe McGrath and Elsie Travers, are to present a, novel brand of fun and song called “Now and Then.” The Le Grohs, pantomimic contortionists, offer an eccentric novelty quite out of the ordinary. A1 Gordon and his twelve comedy canines, twelve little fox terriers with snapping eyes and oodles of pep have a program of stunts to interest and amuse both young and old. "In the Headlines,” anew talking Vitaphone picture and the first

TONIGHT RCLLER SKATING YeW.C.A. 329 N. Pennsylvania St. Good Floor Good Music Men, 35c G'rls, 25c SKATING EVERY TUESDAY AND SATURDAY EVENING

of newspaper life to reach the audible screen, will be shown at the Lyric in conjunction with the above vaudeville bill. The story which was written by James Starr, one of the greatest newspaper men of the West, concerns the efforts of a star reporter and a girl “cub” reporter to unravel a double murder mystery which is uppermost in the minds of the public. The exciting adventures which befall these two make up the main part of the drama. Grant Wither, rising young scren player, and Marion Nixon have the leading roles. Edmund Breese, Pauline Garon. Hailam Cooley and Clyde Cook are the other principal players in a large and accomplished supporting cast. Temporary Title Given Temporary title of John Barrymore’s Warner Brothers’ starring vehicle, following "General Crack,” is “The Man.”

AMUSEMENTS EDM’S In every city where The Theatre Guild of New York has presented this extraordinary play, all the tickets have been sold far in advance. Evidently, playgoers regard attending It in the light of an adventure, and so they secure their tickets early. Last Spring, those who delayed were forced to take standing room, and many others could not even gain admittance. Eugene O’Neill’s Sensational 9-Act Y)rama “Strange Interlude” Produced and Presented by Theatre Guild, Inc. The Pulitzer Prize play in which the characters voice their innermost thoughts LIMITED RETURN ENGAGEMENT with a brilliant New York cash including Pauline Lord, Ralph Morgan, George Gaul, Blaine Cordner, Maud Durand, Brandon Evans, Sylvia Shear Warner, James Todd, Lester Sheehy. SCALE OF PRICES: Entire Lower Floor, $4.40; First 4 rows Balcony, $3.00; Next 4 rows Balcony, $2.50; Last 5 rows Balcony, $2.00; Gallery, $1.09. Don’t be late for the beginning of the play, which starts promptly at 5:30. Plan for your dinner from 7:40 to 9. The final curtain falls at 11. Late comers will be seated only between the acts. Box Office Will Open Monday, Nov. 4, at 9 A. M. Come, Prepared to Be Enthralled as Never Before!

ENGLISH’S- THREE DAYS ONLY THEATRE NOVEMBER 11, 12,13 Lincoln 8273 Evenings, 8:30; Mat. Wed., 2:30 K. The Theatre Guild tag? of New York htVSPllt ? WINGS OVER EUROPE by ROBERT NICHOLS and MAURICE BROWNE A DRAMA OF TOMORROW THREE ACTS OF TENSE ACTION ORIGINAL NEW YORK PRODUCTION Cast Includes: Ernest Lawford, Alexander Kirkland. Morris Carnovsky, Hugh Buckler, Sir John Dunn and others. Directed by ROUBEN MAMOULIAN Prit*o ■ Nights—sl.oo, $1.50, $2.00, $2.50, $3.00. U|| QPOFRS NOW r rices. W ed. Mat. —50c, SI.OO, $1.50, $2.00. mn,L ,1U " ENGLISH’S 3!.“ Thu., Nov. 14 V EVER J 3 mouths Philadelphia e Ready Monday, Nov. 11 Prices: s£: g 2 gS £5 ~ M £ KAIL ORDERS NOW

NOV. 2, 1929

Nifty Idea Is Used im Burlesque ‘Night,Club Girls’ Will Open Engagement at Mutual. IN this jazz-crazy and step-lively age burlesque has not been slow In taking advantage of all that tends toward ultra-modernism. Judging by what has been advised regarding "Night Club Girls,” which will be the bill at the Mutual next week, starting Sunday, it appears that this show has gone the limit. This is especially noticeable In the manner in which the acts have been arranged with a view to obtaining the best laughing results. The songs and dances, too, have absorbed the same sort of flavor. Nothing that would involve a serious strain Is included in a program that is replete with startling surprises. The "telephone scene” and "rose number” overflow with mirth and beauty, respectively, and effective scenic and costume inventions enhance a colorful production. In the company of smart comedians, trained vocalists and eccentric dancers Bobby Wilson and Jessie McDonald render first aid. They are supported by such burlesquers as Ralph Smith, Walter Wayne, Fred Walker, Rae Allen, Jule Paulson, Lillian Femald and Ed Ryan, the cub hoofer. There is also a well-trained chorus.

Big Names

Jean Hersholt, Ralph Forbes and Francis McDonald have been cast to weave the plot of "Mamba” about Eleanor Boardman, who has been selected to play the leading feminine role. Tire picture goes, into production next Monday. It is to be an all-color, all-dialogue superfeature in ten reels to be released by Tiffany-Stahl exchanges. Al Rogell will direct under the supervision of Curtis F. Nagel and Howard C. Brown.