STAGE AND SCREEN

Dominion, Volume 36, Issue 32, 2 November 1942, Page 2

STAGE AND SCREEN

The New York Programme MANY LONG RUNS (By H.P.) If the world is to lose the stage (in its legitimate sense), New York will be Its last stronghold. For that reason lovers of the theatre, as apart from the cinema, will hope in their hearts that the love of the people of Manhattan for real flesh and blood players —and not mere shadows on a fleeting screen—will continue and they will offer a prayer for the survival of the drama to the gods of 44th Street. That the stage can still exert its magic is proven iby the long-run plays which were still drawing capacity houses when the last mail left (less than eight weeks ago). Among ’these were, of course, “Arsenic and Old I/ace,” that gruesome comedy of the two dear old ladies who find murder a marvellous distraction in the autumn of their days, and yet are so pleasant and amiable in their crime that they place themselves worlds above suspicion—till they are found out. When a play runs for* three years there are necessarily changes of cast, but the last one includes Laura Hope Crewes (a stage star off 30 years ago), Eric von Stroheim (one-time picture producer), and Ettie Shannon. A two years’ run has also been established in New York by the comedy “Life With Father” at the old Empire, with Howard Lindsay and Dorothy 'Stickney. In mid-AngUst the 300th performance of “Angel Street*” was. also announced, and Noel Coward’s “Blithe iSipirit” (to be done in Wellington by the Repertory people next year) was running into its second year without any notable diminution in patronage. The players in the New York performance of this comedy included Peggy Wood, Cliftou Webb, Leonora Corbett and Mildred Ntitiwiek. One tit-bit of information was the recent, re-appearance ou the stage of Dorothy Gish In “Life With Father.” Dorothy and her sister Lilitjn were screen favourites 25 years ago. How time ’Digits along.

Money-Maker. “Tills is the Array,” Irving Berlin’s show, closed down in New York on September 23, after netting about 800.000 dollars for the Army Emergency Relief. The screen rights were purchased by Warner’s for 250,000 dollars, and it is estimated that, by the time the subject is exhausted, it will have netted 3,000,000 dollars. Helen Hayes, America’s No. 1 actress (after the veteran Ethel Barrymore) was announced to :ip|K'ar in a new version of Peggy Lnmson’s play “Reswetfully Yours,’'’ which Iho 'nieatre Guild hud on its schedule. Helen Hayes was .the wonder woman who created the Queen role in “Victoria Regina,” that clever bit of retrospective fuctuul imagining.

Ethel Barrymore was to reappear in “The Corn is Green” (Emilyn Williams) in September. This was the play in which Dame 'Sybil Thorndike was so successful in London four years

ago. Other successes on Broadway or near it are “By Jupiter,” a new Rodger and Hart musical comedy, the comedy “Claudia.” the Cole Porter musical sensation “Let’s Face It,” “My Sister Eileen” (Ilie comic story of two sisters wlin come from Columbus to make their way in Now York). "Porgy and Boss,” a riotous Georue Gershwin musical show that lias beeii running for over seven nionllis, “Uncle IlaiT.v,” witli Eva le Galliene and Joseph Seliild-

kraut, witli revivals of “New Moon” and the Gilliert.-Sullivan operas. Among the latest New York screen releases are “The Pied Piper” (2()tli Century-Fox), “The Pride of the Yankees,” with Gary Cooper; “Yankee Doodle Dandy,” a musical Warner Bros, hit, with James Cagney (Geo. Cohan story) ;. “Tarzan’s New York Adventure”: “Mrs. Minnivcr,” witli (Ireer Garson and AValter Pidgeon: “Maisie Gets Her Mnu,” with Norinn Shearer and Robert Taylor: Wait. Disney’s new technicoloiir triumph, “Bambi,” and “Moscow Strikes Back.”