Indianapolis Times, Indianapolis, Marion County, 23 September 1937 — Page 24

English’ s fo Open Doors For Season's First Night With ‘Tovarich’ on Stage

Curtain This Evening Will Raise on a Star New to

Indianapolis, Cast in Internationally

Successful

Production.

By JAMES THRASHER

Scrubbed, scoured and painted, Indianapolis’ venerable temple of the drama is ready to open its doors tonight to another first-night-of-the-seasofi audience, and raise its curtain on a star new to Indianapolis, Eugenie Leontovich. In its nearly 60 years, English’s has welcomed most of the great names in theatrical history, and watched the shifting dramatic trend away from the villain’s sibilant asides

and the thunder of Hur’s” horses’ hoofs to the less obvious plays of the

- present. Tonight's attraction, “Tovarich,” is definitely of the present, both in subject matter and treatment. An international success, it represents international wit and stagecraft in collaboration. Jacques Deval, 2a Frenchman, wrote it, and the American, Robert Sherwood, adapted it to the English-speaking stage.

Translation and Original Differ

There is a difference between translation and adaptation, as a comparison of “Tovarich’s” original and English versions will show. A brief explanation of Mr. Sherwood’s procedure might stand as a good example of the translator’s generally neglected part in a play’s success. A detailed analysis would be as long as the play itself, but a few examples will show that America’s tallest playwright has neither contented himself with mere translation on one hand, nor “adapted” with ruthless and felonious originality on the other. : For instance, Deval called his principal characters Prince Mikail Alexandrovitch Ouratiev and Grand Duchess Tatiana Petrovna, and Mr. Sherwood left these names as they were. They are not familiar to American audiences, nor pronounced easily, but the characters are “exotic” in the popular as well as literal sense, so the names were all to the good. Ease for Playgoers

To continue with the names—a consideration that proves the point as well as any—there was an important change in the case of the rich French banking family with whom

“Ben

46 up.”

the Ouratievs take refuge as servants. Deval had called the family Arbeziat, which is a perfectly credible French name, but a bit unusual. . : Mr. Sherwood decided that it would confuse American playgoers. They might not be able to visualize it when spoken, or pronounce it with assurance when they saw it on the program. So he called his Frenchmen Dupont, which is as authentically Gallic as O’Brien is Irish. In the same way, when the Prince and Grand Duchess decide to write themselves some fake references in applying for the servants’ jobs, they looked around ‘for a suitable alias. Deval had the Prince suggest that they use Popoff, a name as common in Russia as Smith or Dupont in English or French. Deval has Tatiana say: “Oh, Popoff won’t do—they’ll think we made This is as far as the French author went, for he had Mikail insist .on Popoff, and Popoff it remained. Had Eye to Amity

But Mr. Sherwood scorned the familiar Russian name and had Tatiana recall her St. Petersburg dentist's name, Dubrovsky, as something less synthetic. Another name change in the English script was made in the interest of international amity. Deval had called one character, an aggressive and designing woman agent for vast oil interests, Lady Karrigan. At her the author had thrown many of the subtle digs at imperialistic British designs that delight French audiences. This obviously, wouldn't do, especially for a London audience. So Mr. Sherwood, with the wellknown affinity of the Dutch and oil as an added excuse, changed Lady Karrigan to Mme. van Hemert.

IN NEW YORK —s8y ctoree ross

Lord Chamberlain's Laughter Dispells Coward's

Fears of Censorship.

OEL COWARD, it seems, is the man who has been making the arrangements for the London production of “You Can't Take It With

You.” | a sufficient supply of seripts.

Over here, John C. Wilson has little else to do except send over There might have been some question of

“You Can’t Take It With You” getting by the Lord Chamberlain, but that fear has passed. Mr. Coward wrote in a letter last week that he read the manuscript to the Lord Chamberlain himself and that he never performed to such an enthusiastic audience.

In short, that dignitary who pre-¢-

serves the British stage from censorable topics roared at the comedy that (is entertaining New York. Therels only one little change he'd like the authors to make, and he doesn’t think they'll mind. He gently suggests that, instead of having the Russian Grand Duchess . work as a waitress in a Childs restaurant, they assign her to a more dignified task for the sake of the feelings of the British aristocrats. The authors don’t mind. The Russian Grand Duchess will not be subjected to juggling flapjacks in the London production. She will, however, continue to prepare blintzes fit for the Tsar.

#" 2 ”

T may interest Congress to know that it gave Moss Hart and George S. Kaufman some concern and extra work while they were writing “I'd Rather Be Right” a couple of months ago. Although their trials really began when President Roosevelt proposed the packing plan for the Supreme Court. The events in Washington were interlocked with the. plans of the Messrs. Hart and Kaufman, because in “I'd Rather Be Right” they deal humorously with the Nine Old Men. At frequent intervals in the show the Nine Old Men, in their judicial robes, will bob up in Central Park

to confound the actors and the President. But what if the President had won his point? And what if the ensemble had, then, to be increased to ten, or eleven, or a round dozen? The Messrs. Hart and Kaufman couldn't foretell, while they were at work, what would happen. So they played safe. They wrote an extra scene for a flexible number of Supreme Court judges ...a scene, by the way, which they can now throw out. #2 2 : OLLOWING in his father’s footsteps, Robert Benchley’s son has joined the staff of the Harvard Lampoon. . . . When “Having Wonderful Time” emerges on the screen it will not” be about a Hebraic summer camp. ... The terms James Cagney demanded for his appearance in “Of Mice and Men,” to which Sam H. Harris couldn't agree were: $500 a week, a percentage of the show, and a 16-week guarantee.-. . . Marc Connelly’s di-

Ee NURDER With PICTURES”

LEW AYRES

HOOSIER PETE'S

YORTEX

16’

GAL. TAX PAID

100,000 BOOSTERS In Indiana, Illinois,

Missouri,

Kentucky

g'BlJOU

maker”;

‘Edward Eggleston.

“THE GIRL SAID NO"—

by Andrew L.

personators.

climax and editor gets girl.

Opening Tomorrow

Circle

“VARSITY SHOW”—Dick Powell, Fred Waring and Pennsylvanians, Ted Healy, Sterling Holloway, Walter Catlett, Priscilla and Rosemary Lane, Johnny (Scat) Davis, Buck and Bubbles. Directed by William Keighley; dancing staged by Busby Berkeley. Story—Broadway producer induced by students of his alma mater to return to college to put on show. Producer incurs enmity of professor who originally had show under his direction. Professor tries underhanded work to stop show. Producer finds romance on campus, bows out for good of school. Show goes on.

Keith's VAUDEVILLE (on stage)—Wendell Hall, the “redheaded music Foster Girls, dancers; Johnny Sanna, comedian; Lane and Lane, comedy jugglers; Nixon and Sands, comedians. “HOOSIER SCHOOLBOY” (on screen)—Mickey Rooney, Anne Nagel, Frank Shields, Edward Pawley, William Gould. Directed by William Nigh; screen play by Robert L. Johnson. From novel by

Story—Boy and father, a shell-shocked drunkard, are social outcasts in village. With the assistance of a new school teacher and a wealthy playboy, youngster and father win respect of community.

Loew's

“BIG CITY”—Luise Rainer, Spencer Tracy, Charley Grapewin, Janet Beecher, Eddie Quillan, Victor Varconi. Directed by Frank Borzage; music by Dr. William Axt; screen play by Dore Schary aml Hugo Butler; from story by Norman Krasna. Story—Happily married New York cab driver becomes tivolved in feud with drivers of another company, thugs hired to put competing firm out of business. Brother of hero’s wife is killed acting as spy for hero’s company. Murder is planned to look as if drivers of hero’s company did it. District attorney decides to deport alien wife of hero se he won’t have to prosecute. Hero learns truth of murder and rescues wife with aid of Mayor, William Danforth, Frank Moulan, Vivian Hart, Irene Hervey, Robert Armstrong, Paula Stone. Directed tone; screen play by Betty Laidlaw and Rovert Lively, music by Gilbert and Sullivan, first time on screen. Story—Hardboiled bookie for wealthy theatrical producer ‘bets his partners no one can take him for his roll, but two dime-a-dance | girls do it. To pay bet, bookie hits on idea of staging show, and manages to do it by elaborate hoaxes. He features girls and old-time Gilbert and Sullivan performers. Hoax is discovered, but show con- | tinues. All ends well in burst of Gilbert and Sullivan music,

Lyric MAJ. BOWES’ SECOND ANNIVERSARY REVUE (on stage)— Philharmonica Riots, mouth organ artists; Mildred Maye, singer; Hezekiah Jones, ventriloquist; Eight Big Apples, dancers; Gladys Stewart, toe tap dancer; Three Southern Gentlemen, song-and-dance trio; Jimmy Edmundson, and the Kings of Mimicry, three im=-

“BACK IN CIRCULATION” (on screen)—Joan Blondell, Pat O’Brien, Margaret Lindsay. Directed by Ray Enright; screen play by Warren Duff from story by Adela Rogers St. Johns. Story—Managing editor of tabloid newspaper sends girl star. reporter to investigate death of millionaire. On evidence uncovered by. reporter, widow of millionaire is found guilty of murder. Reporter suddenly realizes defendant’s silence is shield for someone else and goes into action to obtain additional evidence. Film has surprise

Civic Theater Group to Honor Mary and Buddy

Under the direction of Mrs. Rosamond Van Camp Hil], reception committee chairman, and Wallace O. Lee, Civic Theater president, plans are nearing completion for a reception honoring Mr. and Mrs. Charles Buddy Rogers on their arrival here tomorrow. A squad of Boy Scouts and Sea Scouts, directed by Scout Master F. T. Cretors of Troop 21, is to act as a personal bodyguard for Buddy and his wife, the former Mary Pickford. They will meet the famous screen

couple at the Municipal Airport and¢

continue as escorts until they return to the flying field after a series of entertainments. Dr. and Mrs. Robert H. Wisehart of North Salem, and Dr. and Mrs. Jean Black, 5101 Broadway, relatives of Mr. Rogers, are to be guests at a luncheon given by Mr. and Mrs. Lee. They will be meeting their cousin’s new wife for the first time.

version in Hollywood is visiting people’s homes and leading community sings. . . . Sid Solomon, who ran the Central Park Casino in Jimmy Walker's hey-day, plans to open a cafe in Hollywecod.

» ” »

HE Hollywood Reporter quotes a card, filled out by one in the preview audience of “Big City” that was filmed by young Norman Krasna, an associate producer on the MGM lot. “A great story,” the card read, “well written. Perfect direction. Cast splendid. Luise Rainer at her best. Everyone was great. Especially the producer.” The card was signed by Benjamin. Krasna whose only prejudice, it turned out, lay in the fact that he was Norman’s father.

A Civie Theater reception committee of 250 will greet the guests at the Indianapolis Country Club at 3 p. m. At the reception they are to open the Civic’s subscription campaign. Mr. and Mrs. Rogers are to leave at 4:30 o'clock to continue their trip to New York. Arrangements have been made for bus transportation for Givic Theater workers. A bus will leave the Columbia Club at 2:30 p. m. It will reach the Country Club in time for the reception.

NO CROPPER

| eccentric

Ray Milland is one of the few gentlemen riders in England who have raced over the Grand National course at Aintree without being jolted from the saddle,

Bair’ s STRAND Last Times Tonight!

That hundreds of happy eats. oers may laugh and laugh and lau, pet

"TOPPER"

Tonite at 7 p. m. and 10 p, m.

Also ‘SUPER-SLEUTH’

Tonite at 8:50

Tonight's Presentation at Your

Neighborhood Theaters

EAST SIDE P nf CE a aramoun Helen organ “FRANKIE AND JOHNNI ___ Comedy—Screen | Shots—Novelty

"114 E. Washington Double Feature Don Ameche “FIFTY ROADS TO TOWN “SMOKE TREE RANGE” -

RIVOLI 3153 EK. lub st.

Doors Open at Hugh Herbert " “MARRY THE GIRL Pat O’Brien “SAN Ske

TACOMA 2442 E. Wash, St.

Double Feature G Ki bhe ee “DON'T TELL THE WIFE” “MEN IN EXILE”

4020 E.*New York TUXEDO ouble Feature “RIDING ON AIRF oo Warner Baxter “SLAVE SHIP”

E. Wash, St.

IR VING Double Feature

“R on’ SR “IT HAPPENED OUT WEST” 630 E. 10th. Double roth,

EMERSON Francia Langford

“HIT “WINGS OVER 2S ioNoLYLU”

GOLDEN 6116 E. Wash. St.

Double Feature Gene Raymond “THERE GOES MY GIRL’ ; Douglas Fairbanks Jr., «ADCUSED’ Double Peo

HAMILTON Harlow-Gable.

“SARA _ Brian Denlevy, HBORN RECKLESS”

STRAND iE Se P

Car, Grant “p Jack Oakie © “8 TH 3

"WEST SIDE

DAISY ha

Double ¥ “NANCY STEELE IS MISSING” HAPPENED OUT WEST”

2116 E. Bh

eta. H OW A RD Howard & Blaine FIGHT PICTURES BELMONT Westinghouse Also “MARCH OF TIME”

Double Feature vote Vien | Decision Fair? “Double Feature LR Wash. & Belmont Air-Conditioned Clark Gable SOUTH SIDE

Edward Arnold S T A T E Preston Foster FOUNTAIN SQUARE

EERAL AGENT" “You CANT BL LOVE” LARCENY H 0GA”’ ble Fe rge O’Brien -s

| ORIENTAL |

10 W. Mic} Victor Mebagien ;

At pLounialn Square SANDERS“ mestieFalis “HILLS OF OLD WYOMING” “CRIMINALS OF THE AIR” Pros. & Churchman AVALON Double Fon . “WITH LOVE AND KISSE John King, “FIGHTING FURY" 1105 $8. Meridian Double Texture " “BEHIND THE EADLIN ad “AMATEUR AN ABLES S. East at, neo LINCOLN “gihiitist Ricardo FCotien HUSBAND LIES” Kay ER) “ANOTHER DAWN” NORTH SIDE 42nd & College UPTOWN Double Feature «1 PROMISE TG PAT" “CALIFORNIA A RAIGHT AF AHEAD” St. Clair & oo Wayne ST. CLAI Doubls “NEW FACE s of 193% _ Ricardo Cortez, “THE CALIFORNIAN" . ibott & 22d TALBOTT estinghouse r-Conditioned . Double Feature ow Stevens “YOU CAN'T BUY LUCK . Zane Grey's “FORLORN RIVER” N at Northwestern R E X wily Decorated G able-Loy © “PARNELL” Two and One-Half Hours of Migaty: Show Also Selected Short: test & St. 57 Olifton uU D E L L (Ann n Rutherford OWN B HE SEA” Sally , ‘Blond, "rote SWEERS bo ble GARRICK ‘ehirhitin® “SWING “RIVER OF UNREST” (MECCA goiekeaturs . staire-Rogers . SWING I E3 8) o FURES JOE S v FARR Make ke_Your Own Own Dec!

dsion! i Stratford ud an “BEHIND To wi HEABLT Be OFFICIAL NTOHT cr

JOE UIs TO. Mare or a LY. FARR

DREAM 2361 Station St.

Debl ® “IT a ThE our | West

R T Zz Tee VE “ELEPHANT BOY” x + Hollywood Bodie Feature

“NORTH OF me GRANDE’ VE IN A BUNGALO

- Ce at_Fall Oth wn,

Fox Victor

In Bidding For Music

Six-Man Scot ‘Quintet’ Gets Fat Contract For Year.

By PAUL HARRISON

HOLLYWOOD, Sept. 23.— Chances are you will be hearing and seeing quite a lot of the Raymond Scott Quintet. Hearing, anyway. They are not much to look at, and for a

while the movies may hide| them up on the mezzanine

behind the potted palms.

You see, these young men ‘happen to be musicians, and not entertainers given to the frenzied gesticulations and grimaces of the average swing band. They just sit down and do their stuff, tooting their horns and whopping their bullfiddle and drums in a very businesslike way. In seven months the group has

made only one public appearance,

but that was enough to make it the talk of Hollywond and the object of a five-way bidding competition which ended in a fat contract with 20th-Century Fox.

Renames His Players

Mr. Scott has demonstrated some whimsicalities which tickle the movie colony. For one thing, his'is the only six-man quintet in the world. He likes the word “quintet,” so he uses ‘it, just as he likes and uses the name Scott when hiss name really is Warno. His saxophonist is Dave Harris, but the leader calls him “Eric Hoex” because, he says, “nobody who can play like that should have a name like ‘Dave Harris’.”

Mr. Scott, who plays the piano, composes all the music for his “quintet.” But he doesn’t write it. The group will work on a number for weeks, and record it, before a note ever is put on paper.

Goes in for Titles

Two current efforts are called “Dinner Music for a Pack of Hungry Cannibals” and ‘War Dance for Wooden Indians.” There is a suggestion of surrealism in the title, “The Girl With the Light Blu2 Hair,” but the theme is a jazz adap-

tation of an old French melody.

Mr. Scott dislikes abstract music

and wants his to be as graphic as

possible. That's why jazz is ‘his medium. Jazz permits him to build a rhythmic thing like “Power House,” a waddling thing like ‘The Penguin,” a jittery thing like “Dynamite Wagon.” ‘Reckless Night on Board an Ocean Liner” is rough and wild; “New Year's Eve in a Haunted House” is a ghost carnival in swingtime. Balked at Knee Breeches

Mr. Scott, now 28, was a New Yorker from a musical family. He was slated for an education in engineering, but changed his mind and attended the Institute of Musical Art. Next he becamec a staff

TRACY PICKS UP A

Fairest of the fares, Luise Rainer gets on good

morrow.

scene from ‘The Big City,

coming to Loew’s to-

terms with her cab driver, Spencer Tracy, in this

composer for Columbia Broadcasting System. From various radio orchestras he collected five men who liked to practice with him and try out his ideas. They played a few sustaining programs and made some records (“Toy Trumpet,” “Minuet in Jazz”

and “Power House”) which were immediately successful. David Selznick brought them to Hollywood for an appearance in “Nothing Sacred,” but the deal went awry when he proposed costuming them in knee breeches and powdered wigs. They were studying transcontinental timetables’ when an agent persuaded them to appear at the Trocadero. Said Mr. Scott: “I was scared to death, and spent two days learning to take a bow.” There were plenty of bows to be taken, as it turned out. The Trocadero is a show-shop for talent, and

numerous movie big-wigs attended |

that night. Next day the bidding was fast, the competition bitter. Darryl Zanuck got them. He rushed them into a couple of sequences of “Ali Baba Goes to Town,” and has penciled them into future musicals, for a year at least.

Robert McNeely Recital Sunday

Indianapolis’ fall music season will be gpened Sunday night when George J. Marott presents Robert

McNeely, pianist, in recital at 8:15 o'clock in the Marott Hotel. Mr. McNeely, who is a pupil of Marie Zorn, is to play the following

program: Toccata and Fogle D Minor. .Bach-Tausig Sonata Op. No. 2 Beethoven “The Submerged Cathedral” S “Jeux d’ea Nocturne,

Etude, Op. 25 N Shon

WHAT, WHEN, WHERE

APOLLO

“100 Men and a girl,” with Deanna Durbin and "Leopold Stokowski at 11:40, 1:43, 3:46, 5:49, 7:52 and

CIRCLE

“Double or a hing, *” with Bing Crosby and Martha Raye, at 12:38, 3:48. %:56 and 10:18. “Flight from Glory, ” with Chester Joris and Whitriey Bourne, at 11:31, 2:41, 5:51 and 9:

ENGLISH’S

“Tovarich” with Eugenie LeontoJick a and McRay Morris. Curtain at

; KEITH'S N2udeville, ith, Estelle Taylor, at

1:4 RL Ang i. Men,” with

Ralph Forbes, at 1. 2:50, 5:30, 8:10 and 10:50.

LOEW’S

“Broadway Melody of 1938,” with Eleanor Powell and Robert Taylor, at 11:25, 2:05, 4:25, 7:20 and 10.

LYRIC “Broadway and 9.50; on stage at

3:50, 6:40 d ‘ “All Over Town,” with Olsen and Johnson, at 1P.34, 2:24, 5:14, 8:04 and . OHIO Wedding Present, of With Joan Benne nd Grar Also, Murder With Pletares ¥ith Gail Patrick. AMBASSADOR “Road Back,” with John King. Also, “Marry the Girl,” with Mary Boland. ALAMO

§ “Easy Living” with Jean Arthur and dward Arnold. Also, he Hooded Horseman’ with Tex Ritter.

STAR MISS COLLIER

Constance. Collier, one of the most widely known of British stage actresses, comes to the screen again with a prominent part in “A Damsel in Distress,” musical starring Fred Astaire and Burns and Allen.

Carlile Dance Studios

“Indianapolis’ most popular school of the dance.” Free talent for all occasions. Let us arrange your next entertainment. Juvenile Stars in Professional Style. 2 N. Pennsylvania St. Lincoln 2612

Scout’s Salary Enough, Is Claim

HOLLYWOOD, Sept. 23 (U, P.) — Rita Warner, movie talent scout who said she was erititled to a share of Deanna Durhin’s earnings for “discovering” the youthful songbird, met opposition in her. demands today from Miss Durbin’s agent. In an answer filed to Miss Warner’s suit for a share of the fortune being paid Miss Durbin, the girl's agent, Jack Sherrill, said that Miss" Warner was employed by him at the time the singer was “discovered” and that the talent scout received compensation in the form of salary. Sherrill admitted that Miss Warner found the girl and should be given credit for the discovery, but denied that she was entitled to any money other than the $25 a week she was paid at the time for her work. Sherrill said he dismissed Miss Warner shortly after she “discovered” Miss Durbin because the scout failed to report for duty regularly.

EVELYN BRENT'S ROLE

Evelyn Brent, star of the silent picture era, has an important singing role in “City Hall Scandal.” She appears as a night club entertainer,

Fri., Saf. af 8:30 P.M. | Sat. Mat. at 2:30P. M. | LEON ENTE

LEONTOVICH

THE. BROADWAY COMEDY HIT

TOVARICH

=u. Mc KAY MORRIS

75e, $1, $1.50, $2, $2.50

EVES:

|| SAT. MAT.:50c. $1, $1.50, $2 PLUS TAX}

cole ge 22 Ce° *