Indianapolis Times, Volume 47, Number 270, Indianapolis, Marion County, 20 January 1936 — Page 2

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CIVIC'S 'KIND LADY' STANDS ON ITS OWN DRAMATIC MERITS

Whole Action of Mystery Packed Into Single Hour; Slow Start Is Effective As Pace Quickens, Reviewer Is Glad He Remained Beyond First Act —Audience Sees Play Through Mind of Its Central Character. BY JOHN W. THOMPSON That frayed adage, “the play's the thing,” takes on anew” sparkle of veracity when applied to “Kind Lady.” at the Civic Theater this week. For the first time in the course of several productions, Director Frederick Burleigh has chosen a drama that stands on its own feet, depending but little on the acting talents of its cast. The whole action takes place within an hour or so, the time it -takes a wealthy old maid to tell a visiting business man about her strange imprisonment in her own home.

Frankly, we were in the mood o walk out after the first act. We shudder to think of our opinion of ourself had we followed that desire. We would have missed one of the best little plays the Civic has presented in a moon or so. Slowed Down for F-ffect The reason we felt like walking out was that the pace of the play, the movements of the actors, the dialogue itself, has been purposefully playe down, made to sound trite, meaningless, generally causing the audience to suddenly realize just what is happening—thus to achieve a startling effect. In the prologue, Mary Hcrries meets a young business man. Mr. Foster, in the_ living room of her comfortable home. She is old and drawn, eccentric looking. Miss Herries tells him a story. Here it is: Christmas eve several years before, Mary had brought a ragged young man into her home to give him a cup of tea. He w'as good-look-ing, pleasant voiced. Mary tells her friend, Lucy Weston, about the young man. Henry Abbott comes to the living room to thank his benefactress. tells her of nis hungry wife and baby, She sends him away. He goes, after stealing a cigarette case from the table. Has Paintings to Sell In about a month, Henry Abbott comes back. This time he brings several terrible paintings which he says he has painted, to sell to Miss Herries. He insists she take one, t.ells her his wife and baby are waiting out in front of the house, depending on the money he is to get from the painting. He shows her his wife and baby standing in the cold. As they look out the window, they see the wife faint and fall to the street. She is carried into the house. A doctor is summoned. (Henry goes after him.) Doctor orders rest and quiet and plenty of food. The wife, Ada. and baby, are put to bed at the Herries home. Up to this point, we had wondered .lust where the play was trying to go. what it possibly could mean. Then, at the start of the second act. we find out. Mary Herries is still playing hostess to the Abbotts, with Ada r.o better. Henry is walking around with an air of ownership. Rose, the maid, is the only servant left. And she is leaving when this scene starts. Advises Dismissal Lucy Weston drops in again, tries to get Mary to go on a trip with her. Mary refuses. Mary tells her of her problem—the. Abbotts. Lucy advises throwing them out. Then Rose, on her way out. tells Mary what she has feared about the Abbotts. Ada isn’t, sick at all. she says. And the baby, is deaf and dumb, and a much older one than they have said. Then into the Herries home walk sinister-looking Mr. and Mrs. Edwards, two slow-witted individuals, and their daughter. Aggie, a halfwit. Henry welcomes them. When they come downstairs, he introduces them to Miss Herries. By this time she is about fed up with having strange people brought into her home by the domineering Henry. So she tells them to get out. Slowly the group of crooks closes In on the helpless Miss Herries. and she realizes what is up. She tries to run out, but finds that the doctor, also an accomplice of Henry’s, is blocking the way. She faints. Held Prisoner Later we see Mary, a prisoner in body and almost in mind of the criminals in her house. She is asked to sign papers giving over the guardianship of her estate to Henry. She refuses. Thinking they have ner completely cowed, the group allows her to talk to a French art dealer whom they have invited to look over some of Mary's expensive paintings. She slips a note to the art dealer.

4^D^Y^f T ri drHAYILLAND and Hate (ait! M LAST 4 DATS! Jf 1 IRENE DUNNE f \ ROBERT TAYLORX M So* II fro* thn start A I at 11:30.*:05,^: 40, /J#

WHERE, WHAT, WHEN APOLLO "Profession*! Soldier" with Victor McLaglen and Freddie Bartholomew, at 11:33, 1.34. 3:30. 5:3f, 7:40 and 9:36. CIRCLE "The Magnificent Obsession” 'carried over from Indiana for second week*, with Irene, Dunne and Robbert Tavlor at 11:30. 2:05, 4:40. 7:15 and 9:55. CIVIC "Kind Lady” with Clifford Courtney. Horace Hill 111. Marcella Parry and Cecilia Vonneeut. st 8:30. INDIANA Earl Carroll's "Vanities.” on stasre at 12:40. 3:35. 6:35 and 9:20. On the screen. "Her Master’s Voice.” with Edward Everett Horton, at 11:20. 2. 5:10. 7:50 and 10:35. LOEWS "Anri! Blossoms.” world premiere, with Richard Tauber. Jane Baxter, at 11:15, 1:55, 4:35. 7:15. and 10. Also. “The Lone Wolf Returns.” with Melvyn Douglas. Oall Patrick and Ravmond Walburn. at 12:45. 3:26. 6:07 and 8:48. LYRIC Major Bowes’ Amateurs” on staee at 1:04. 3:58 6:52 and 9:37. On screen. 'Freshman Love" with Frank McHugh and Patricia Ellis, at 11:40, 2:34. 5:28. 8:13 and 10:37. OHIO Claudette Colbert in "She Married Her Boss." at 10:30. 1:08. 4:10. 7:04 and 10:06 Also "Chance at Heaven,” at 11:57. 2:59, 5:53 and 8:55.

hoping he will take it with him. read it when outside, and bring her help. But before the art dealer goes, he hands Henry the note. But Mary stands firmly in the middle of her living room and tells Henry that he can not win forever. The play flashes back to where it left off in the prologue, with Mary talking to Foster in her living room. For once the Edwards’ and Aggie had slipped up, left Miss Herries alone. She gives Mr. Foster a note. Henry Abbott comes home, is almost beside himself when he discovers Mary has been alone with this man from the outside world. Before he goes, Henry asks him if Mary gave him a note. Foster runs out. There is the sound of sirens and police whistles after a few minutes. Mary, anew sparkle in her old eyes, laughs at the cringing group of crooks in her room, goes to answer the door. Action Centralized Like Dostveski in “Crime and Punishment,” Edward Chodorov has written in “Kind Lady,” a “trend of consciousness” story, letting the audience view the action through the mind of the central character. In the cast, Horace Hill is outstanding. as the smooth Henry Abbott; Marcella Parry makes a convincing Mary Herries, especially after the first act, with only her emotional scenes below par. Jane Dygert as Rase, the maid, is at ease and shows promise of becoming one of the Civic’s most profitable discoveries. Brownie Miskimen, likewise, shows talent and nice stage presence in the part of Phyllis, Mary's niece. Dean Rice comes close to topnotch honors in his part of Peter Santard; Garrett Olds does his best work at the Civic, in the role of Edwards, as does also Katherine Dalsheimer as Mrs. Edwards. Rosemary White makes a good Aggie and Lillian Wilde plays the hysterical Ada well. The set for “Kind Lady” reminds us that we are wont to show too little gratitude to Mr. Burleigh. This set. designed by him. is a well-nigh perfect frame for the strange goings on throughout the play. The direction, the staging of “Kind Lady” are exceptional, even at the Civic. We can promise that you won’t forget this play. Fred Stone Remembered Fred Stone, stage associate of the late Will Rogers, received the first Took off the press of David Randolph Milsten's “In Appreciation of Will

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Recognize Them? They're in Cast of 'Midsummer Night's Dream'

Soloist Given Concert Role Mr. La Shelle to Appear With Maennerchor. To Edward La Shelle, bass-bari-tone, goes the honor of being the first local musician chosen as assisting artist at an Indianapolis Maennerchor concert. He is to be featured soloist on the society’s next program, Feb. 3. Mr. La Shelle is a Maennerchor member and is well-known as a voice teacher, conductor and soloist. He is a graduate of the Chicago Musical College, and has done graduate study with such teachers as Witherspoon and Hagemann of the Metropolitan Opera Cos., Travison of the Chicago Civic Opera and William F. Brady of New York. His musical instruction has been supplemented by European travel and several summers study and coaching at Ravinia Park, scene of Chicago's summer opera season. Continuing last month’s innovation in program building, the choral portion of the concert again is to contain a group of English songs, as well as the customary German lieder.

Newton Picks English Songs Workers of Old Composers to Feature Recital, Having devoted the first three of his current series of seven recitals to a survey of German song literature. George Newton, bass, turns to the works of Old English composers in a program to be presented tomorrow night at 8:15 in his studio, 319 N. Pennsylvania-st. The evening is to be given over to songs of Henry Purcell (1658-1695) and John Dowland (1563-1626). Ramona Wilson is to be accompanist. Following is the complete program: Henry Purcell Next Winter Comes Slowlv. Arise, ye Subterranean Winds. ,v. At ’ e *PP t From Love’s Sickness to Fly. Wb.n I am Laid to Earth. Nymphs and Shepherds. I’ll Sail Upon the Dog-star. Full Fathom Fve. What Shall I Do? Hence With Your Trifling Deities. John Dowland If My Complaints Could Passion Move. Come Away, Come Sweet Love. I Must Complain. Come Again! Sweet Love. Flow, My Tears. Awake, Sweet Love. Fie on This Feigning. Weep You No More. Away With These Seif-Loving Lads.

nkgaczzEsna^ World Premiere 71 “April Blossoms” Richard Tauber J "LONE WOLF RETURNS” Douglas^^^^^ Musical Laughs! I,r>ve! EDDIE CANTOR "Strike Me Pink” Merman —Sally Eilers Claudette Colbert “She Married Her Boss” Plus: "Chance at Heaven" |L\ w))m\s mutual The One n.._|.._ Theatre and Only B||n6ft(lllft in the Exclusive Middle West Dimpltd Darlings With Ruth Wilson and Nancy Morris

THE INDIANAPOLIS TIMES

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Injury in Rose Bowl Grid Tilt Turned Horace Heidt to Music Favorite of Radio Lanes and Ballrooms Is Bringing His Band to Indiana Roof for Sunday Night Only. “The Heidt of Entertainment” is no idle pun on an orchestra leader’s name, but an identifying phrase that has taken on justified significance in the realm of rhythm. Horace Heidt and his Brigadiers, who are to unfold their repertoire of novelty and versatility to Indianapolis dancers at the Indiana Roof Sunday night, have captivated the radio listeners as one of the ranking sensations of 1535.

Heard several times each night on CBS and Mutual networks, Mr. Heidt has become the favorite of a large contingent of air fans with a new type of syncopation that is distinctive. His last appearance in the Hoosier capital five years ago is remembered by enthusiasts of popular music. At will Mr. Heidt presented a chorus of 15 saxophones, 15 violins or 15 clarinets. The Rose Bowl game of 1923 gave the music world this young maestro. Mr. Heidt was one of the mainstays of the University of California grid team which opposed Washington and Jefferson in the New Year Day classic, a sophomore football hero with a Hoosier background. At Culver Military Academy he won the heavyweight boxing championship and swimming titles, was captain of the football team and pitcher on the baseball nine and

for limited engagement, starting -A AiidsiWitner WEDNESDAY EVENING, JAN. 29TM * Night's Dream' AT 8:30 P.M. MR- BOOTH T ARRINGTON ” Varner Bros present - ct*tT*o MAX REINHARDT S M * !L "^^S' production of SHAKESPEARE’S mrs. eliasc. atkjnk MR. GEORGE M. BAILEY “A MIDSUMMER MRS. FREDERICK BALZ X?MRS. JOHN G. BENSON NIGHT’S DR F,AM I MRS. DEMARGHOS C. BROWN MR. HILTON V. BROWN Music by Mendelssohn. More than a thousand players. MR. FREDERICK '' Directed by Max Reinhardt and Wm. Dieterle REV. HENRY F. DUGAN POST-PREMIERE PERFORMANCES AND PRICES MR. MORTIMER C. FURSQOTT Twice daily at 2:30 and 8:30 MR. REGINALD W. GARSTANG Evenings $1.65, Si .10, 83c and 55c. Matinees sl.lO, 83c and 55 MSS. J. A. GOODMAN B. F. KEITH’S THEATRE ’'BEStST* Box office open daily 10 A.NL, Telephone LI. 9000 MRJL O B. JAMESON MRS, FRfDKhia R KAI TZ Hr MAYOR JOHN V. kfc'KN MRS. LOUIS MARKUN . MRS. NANCYMARTENS Jnaiampolis Prmitrc covernor faul v. mnutt , MRS. FELIX T. McWHIRTKR *, WEDNESDAY EVENINC, LAN. 29TH MR. j. L. MUELLER Thh production * J - DR. JOHN R. NEWCOMB •m not be shown jtuSbiceS of MRS. KURT P. PANTZBR * ■ MR. WILBUR D. PEAT generally for WHITE CROSS MUSIC GUILD D. JAMES W. PUTNAM •D months MRS. KATE M. BABB Headquarters: Clay pool Hotel MR. PAUL V. RICHEY Phone Li. 1789 or Ri. 8371 MRS> D Y VID ROSS , MR. LEONARD STRAUSS V. For Gid Ticket Reservations MR. HA lOLD B. THARP J vt NS 1— —■ ■ I I ‘

held school records in shot put and discus. During the Rose Bowl tilt, Mr. Heidt wes carried from the field with a spine injury which endfd his athletic career. He then tumid to music and with the aid of Mr. Thorsen and Jerry Bowne, two of his classmates who are still with him, organized a band. Following his success on the West Coast, Mr. Heidt turned the United States, landing in New York at the Palace Theater, where he established a box office record that still stands. Next came a contract to play in the Casino at Monte Carlo. The Brigadiers appeared at the Grand Opera House and Las Ambassadeurs in Paris and had a dance engagement at the Kit Kat Club in London. His tw'o-week engagement at the Gold Coast Room of the Drake Ho-

If you don’t happen to recognize him, that’s Joe E. Brown up in the left-hand corner, dressed in a blond wig and the gent who is proposing to him is Jimmy Cagney. It’s a scene from “Midsummer Night’s Dream” w'hich is to open as a road show 7 attraction at Keith’s Jan. 29. When Max Reinhart (right above) staged his production of “Midsummer Night’s Dream” in Hollywood Bowl, picture producers crowded him for a contract to film it. Mr. Reinhardt is shown going over the movie script during the production. You probably recognize these three boys (below). But we never thought of any of them, Frank McHugh, Mr. Cagney nor Hugh Herbert, who seems to be blowing on a watermelon, as Shakespearean actors. They're all in “Midsummer Night’s Dream.”

tel brought the hotel out of the doldrums and opened its doors seven nights a w 7 eek. The fortnight engagement expanded into seven months and he has signed another contract at the highest figure ever paid a hotel band. The band is to be at the Indiana Roof Sunday night only. Actors Visit Playhouse Heather Angel and Ralph Forbes are frequent visitors at the Hollywood legitimate playhouse. Actress Studies German Dancing Frances Farmer spends her spare time studying German expressionistic dancing as an aid to poise.

800 Musicians Enter Festival State Pianists Prepare for Concert May 3. Eight hundred pianists in 33 Indiana cities today are brushing up on their scales and learning new notes in preparation for the 125piano festival to be held in Indianapolis Sunday, May 3. The ranks of entries for the concert, sponsored by Sigma Alpha lota, national professional music sorority, were filled last week, and an emergency list is being formed of players who are to be prepared to fill any vacancies. Four groups of 200 players each are to present the program, the first comprised of children 9 to 11 years old; the second, those of junior high school age; third, senior high school students, and fourth, the adult group. Written for 4 Hands Much of the music was written for four hands, but there are to be some eight-hand arrangements made especially for the concert by Burton Burkette. The manuscripts of these are being planographe i, and are to be distributed to the festival players. Practice centers are to be established in Muncie, Fort Wayne and Indianapolis, where group practice may be held before the final grand rehearsals in Indianapolis on the four Saturdays preceding the performance. Proceeds of the festival are to go to the scholarship and student loan funds, and to other philanthropic, enterprises among musicians conducted by the three departments of the sorority—the active and alumnae chapters and the patronesses. Pianos Being Built The 125 grand pianos to be used are being built by the Wurlitzer Piano Cos., of De Kalb, 111. They are to be brought by truck to Indianapolis and supplied by the Wilking Music Cos. The following are the numbers in preparation: —Group I Marche Militaire. D Major Schubert "Viennese Waltz” Gurlitt . —Group II Knoaora Dcvaux “Swaying Daffodils” Overlade —Group III—"Waltz of the Flowers” from the “Nut- _ „ c r a s* er , Tschaikowsky Ballet Music from Rosamunde” .... „ Schubert 8-hand arrangement by Burton Burkette. —Group IV—"Pomp and Circumstance” Elgar

BSSptaISTATiONS 'NEIGHBORHOOD THEATERS 1

WEST SIDE P T t T P *’* w 10,h st * S I A I H, Double Feature A (1 A jj ick p oweU "THANKS A MILLION” “FLORENTINE DAGGER” BELMONT Double FeatuVe°"* UUIVWIV7II ± The Marx Br()I "A NIGHT AT THE OPERA” "STARS OVER BROADWAY” Da TO \T (Ml W. Mlfti. Kt. A I S Y Double Feature ** * * Margaret Sullivan “SO RED THE ROSE” “THE PAY-OFF” NORTH SIDE RI T 7 Illinois at 34th 1 A £j Marx Bros. “A NIGHT AT THE OPERA” N e ws—C artoon—Comedy UPTOWN ‘&v?fS;:w w Dick PoweU "THANKS A MILLION” “Major Bowes’ Amvt-ur Theater of the Air” GARRICK “I LIVE MY LIFE” "DR. SOCRATES” rrp /""IT a m St. Clair tc Ft. Wayne ST. CLAIR "THE AFFAIRS OF SUSAN" "RENDEZVOUS” nPV Bib at Northwestern IYr,A Double Feature Janet Gaynor "FARMER TAKES A WIFE” “REDHEADS ON PARADE” mil TlATvn Talbot *r 52nd lAJLdOI I Double Feature w a a Di ck Powell “SHIPMATES FOREVER” “RENDEZVOUS” Stratford “SHANGHA ” “MURDER MAN” If r p r> i Nob'r t■ Mass. M£jL C A ®? ob, * 1 Feature Edward Arnold "DIAMOND JIM” “HERE COMES THE BAND” DREAM 1 Charles Laughton “MUTINY ON THE BOUNTY’ Comedy—News—Short Reels EAST SIDE I) I lr a | f Dearborn at IlHh K 1 V l) L 1 Double Feature au. a r udi Margaret Sullivan “SO RED THE ROSE” • “STARS OVER BROADWAY”

JAN. 20, 1939

Errol Flynn Plays, Lives Action Role Adventures Prepare Actor for Screen Part in •Captain Blood.’ In “Captain Blood.” the pirate movie which comes to the Indiana theater Friday, is to be seen anew leading man. Errol Flynn. A close look will reveal that he wears a gold chain around his neck. That chain was placed about his neck by a dying missionary in New Guinea as a reward for Mr. Flynn's faithful service during the last days of the old missionary. It is made of the first gold ever found in New Guinea. It reminds Mr. Flsmn of the adventures he had in the South Seas. If ever a man fitted a part. Mr. Flynn should make the perfect pirate. He was born in North Ireland 28 years ago. is tall, fairly good-looking, reckless at heart. Years in the “bush” of New Guinea, looking for gold, with only two chances to talk to a white man during that time, have made him a quiet man. Now he is writing a book, based on the experiences of himself and a friend when they sailed a small boat from Australia to New Guinea. He has written several short stories and some verse. There is a scar on his shin bone where he was struck by a poison arrow in the New Guinea “bush.” Boxed in Olympics Before going gold hunting ho went to the Olympic games in Amsterdam as a member of the British boxing team when he was 19. He has made two small fortunes, but lost them both. One was made when he sold his forest “spot” of gold for SIO,OOO cash and $40,000 in stock in a syndicate. The syndicate failed. The other was made with a schooner service, operating between small islands. The schooner hit a hidden reef and there was no insurance. He afterwards owned a pearl diving business, but that went by the boards also. And believe it or not. he Is a direct descendant of Fletcher Christian, the “Mutiny on the Bounty” character. Mr. Flynn has been close to gorillas and whales, but has never seen an Eskimo or Aimee Semple McPherson. Is Great Reader Mr. Flynn reads a great deal, including editorials in newspapers. He likes old book stores but has never attended a furniture auction. He is the only actor in the film colony outside of John Barrymore who is interested in the Gobi dessert. He dislikes parades and speeches. He doesn’t believe in dreams or weather forecasts. He has been thrown from a horse and he is afraid of a dentist. He would like to watch a great surgeon operate. He plays a good game of tennis and he keeps in training continuously. He awakens easily, the result of years spent sleeping in the open jungle, and he takes his shoes off first when he gets ready for bed. He hates to hear a clock tick, but he likes the sound of wind and rain and thunder. He dislikes to attend weddings, but he flew to his own when he married Lili Damita, French actress, a few weeks ago in Yuma, Arizona. Own Parties No Fun He has no fun at his own parties, does not enjoy picnics or mountain climbing. Since going to Hollywood, he says, he has developed a special “telephone voice.” He has been lost, many times and for long periods. He has never seen a baseball game. He speaks a little Chinese and many native dialects common in the South Seas. The wanderlust Is still strong in Mr. Flynn and he is planning many future expeditions to the far corners of the earth. Marriage and the role of “Captain Blood” may tie him indefinitely to Hollywood, but he has no intention of settling there for the rest of his natural life.

EAST SIDE Tuxedo ~ o .v£2 =r “MUTINY ON THE BOUNTY” Selected Short Reels TACOMA 2 pie^T Joan Crawford “I LIVE MY LIFE” “HIS NIGHT OUT” IRVIN (j Charles Laughton Clark Gable “MUTINY ON THE BOUNTY” Selected Short Features EMERSON , . _ Marx Bros. “A NIGHT AT THE OPERA “IN PERSON” HAMILTON ;?.U ' , Marx Bros. “A NIGHT AT THE OPERA” “ANNIE OAKLEY” PARKER ST William Powell "RENDEZVOUS” “CAPPY RICKS RETURN” STR A N Charles Laughton Clark Gable—Franchot Tone “MUTINY ON THE BOUNTY” Major Bowes’ Amateur Theater of the Air n /\ V \7 2'-! E Wash StT~ ROXY Db “ b, I*F‘"* 1 * F ‘"* Will Rogers “STEAMBOAT ROUND THE BEND" "POWDER SMOKE RANGE” Paramount “ySTsSir* “THE BIG BROADCAST iw 193*," “WE’RE IN THE MONEY” SOUTH SIDE • FOUNTAIN SQUARE - Double Feature Jack Oakle "THE BIG BrfOADCASi *F 193#” "BARBARY COAST” SANDERS aw Jeanette McDonald -NAUGHTY MARIETTA” “WE’RE IN THE MONEY” Air a g ,1 i Pr-,0 , t-Cburrhman VAL OIN D * ob, r|m y vn Edward Arnold "DIAMOND JIM” “HERE COMES THE BAND” ORIENTAL “~B? r “O’SHAUGHNESSY’S BOY” GARFIELD William PoweU "RENDEZVOUS” “HERE COMES COOKIE”