The Daily Worker Newspaper, April 2, 1927, Page 11

The Revolutionary Motif in “Fiesta” By ABEN KANDEL Virtually all of the material for “Fiesta,” the drama .of Mexico by Michael Gold, which opens at the 52nd Street Theatre, Wednesday, April 6, was obtained by the author during a roving trip through that turbulent country. Beeause he wove his pattern from the threads of the life around him, he retained so completely the color and texture of peon strivings and aspirations, and produced a na- turalistie work of creative art. And through it runs a revolutionary mo- | tif, for he not only witnessed, but. par- ticipated in the dawn of a new Mex- ieo. “I came into the country,” said Gold, “during that transitional period between the rule of Carranza and Calles. The agrarian party was just beginning to show its strength. The peon was awakening. It was a tre- mendously interesting period in the history of Mexico. Peons, who for centuries had been no better than serfs, subjected to the tyranny of feudal barons, were just beginning to grow conscious of their rights and their power, were beginning to throw off the yoke which had kept them in poverty and ignorance for so long. “This was not an easy thing to depict for the movement was not as clear, as a statement of it makes it seem. Leaders sprang up, would-be liberators of their people, some sin- eere and honestly motivated, full of the new idealism. But organizing the masses was not a simple thing to do. “In Don Enrique, a character from “Fiesta,” I try to show a little of Car- ranza, a leader and idealist, but con- fused by the conflict around him. Actuated by the finest of motives, he finds himself impeded by peon leth- argy, ignorance, inability to grasp yet, this force of liberation. “In his brother, a contrasted type, we have the feudal baron of Mexico, a petty tyrant, utterly selfish in all his motives, living only to gratify his own senses. He has no regard at all for peons, believing that they are not better than cattle, and no more likely to progress, “In Chato, the young peon, I try to embody the hope of the new Mexico. He represents the awakening serf, the worker who glimpses the hope of the future, the chance for a better, freer || life, for the rights that acerue to | “every individual, and for the end of these centuries of tyrannical rule. “In the other characters, the ranch foreman, the sheriff, the judge, Guad- aloupe and the other peon women, I try to show the effects of this slowly moving revolution, and its influence upon their lives. “The Mexican peons were very much like the Russian peasants before the revolution. In some sections, they still ploughed in primitive fashion, just a stick driven by oxen. But the peons have a kindliness about them that is ° very beautiful. They are elaborately courteous to each other, bowing, smil- ing, considerate, even in rags. “Their love life was natural and casual, and in fact, marriage became popular, only after the Catholic Chureh reduced its marriage cere- moriy fees. “Of course, the peons have been gaining in strength and organization, until to-day they constitute the strongest unien of Mexico.” “Glamor,” an English war play, by Hugh Stanislas Stange, is being placed in rehearsal by A. H. Woods and Al Lewis. Miriam Hopkins and Ralph Morgan will have the leading roles. Francis Edwards Faragoh, author of the expressionistie drama “Pin- wheel,” has completed * the libret- to of an operetta’ based on the life of Lueretia Borgia, “I’m the Duchess,” which H. H. Frazee will produce in the autumn with Grace La Rue “as the star. Edmund Eliseu provided the lyrics and Eugene Bur- ton the music. New Lyrie Bill at-the Neighborhood Tuesday The Neighborhood Playhouse will open its fifth production of the sea- son, a bill of Lyric Drame, next Tuesday evening. The program includes: A Comme- dia Dell’ Arte, a broad comedy which was improvised and presented by Martinelli and his Italian comedians in 1689 and now re-enacted by the Neighborhood Pla}house Players, Amelia Defries, translated it into English and Ann MacDonald made the acting version. The music, ar- ranged by Howard Barlow, is selec- ted from composers of that period ineluding D, and A. Scarlatti, Pergo- lese and Paisello, Hungarian Folk Scenes arranged to the music of Bela Bartok’s .Dance Suite, Dance designs for “The White Pea- cock” and Tone Pictures—two com- positions of the American composer, Charles T: Griffes. The entire pro- duction is directed by Irene Lewi- sohn, The players include: Albert Carroll, Otto Hulicius, Lily Lubell, Mare Loe- bell, Ian Maclaren, Dorothy Sands, Blanche Talmud and Paula Trueman, George Heller, Selma Leigh, La Ferne Ellsworth and Sol Friedman. Civic Repertory Theatre Planning Tour in May Eva Le Gallienne and her Civic Repertory Players will make a five weeks’ tour at the conclusion of the season, at the 14th Street Theatre, opening in Washington, May 9. The tour will also include Baltimore, Philadelphia and Boston. The com- pany will offer three of the current season’s plays, “The Cradle Song,” “La Lacondiera” and “Three Sisters.” A fourth play, perhaps “The Master Builder,” is being considered. ~ Upon completion of the road tour the company will disband until next September, when it will resume at the 14th Street Playhouse. (——sereen Notes} Universal is presenting a new pro- duction, “The Fourth Command- ment,” at Moss’ Colony Theatre. This was written by Emilie Johnson, and the cast is headed by Mary Carr, Belle Bennett, Robert Agnew and Leigh Willard. A new Vitaphone program includes Mme. Schumann- Heink, who will be seen and heard for the first time. “What Price Glory,” the William Fox pieturization of the noted stage play, celebrates its 250th perform- ance at the Sam H. Harris Theatre Monday. “Till of The Soil,” a new French film, is the current screen feature at the Fifth Avenue Playhouse. “The Price of Honor,” based on Dorothy Howell’s story will have its premiere at Moss’ Broadway Theatre,- beginning Monday. Dorothy Revier, Maleolm McGregor, William V. and Gustav von Seyffertitz handle the chief roles, “Monte Cristo,” Dumas’ famous — will be shown on the Cameo screen beginning this Sunday. The part of the Count is played by John Gilbert. The Metro’s production, “Tell it to ak Marines” will be the screen f ture at the Capitol, beginning today. Lon Chaney, William Haines and Eleanor Boardman play the leads. The Hippodrome will show next week “The Monkey Talks.” Olive Bordon and Jacques Lerner are starred in the production. Rochester Opera Company at The Guild Theatre, Next Week Under the sponsorship of Eastman Theatre and the Eastman School of Music, and with the co-operation of the Theatre Guild, the Rochester American Opera Company opens a week’s engagement at the Guild Theatre, presenting eight perform- ances of opera in English. The performances will be conduc- ted by Eugene Goossens, conductor of the Rochester Philharmonic Or- chestra and Emanuel Balaban. The schedule of performances and casts of principals follows: “The Ab- duction From the Seraglio,” by Mo- zart, Monday and Thursday evenings and Saturday matinee, Ethel Codd, Mary Silveira, George Fleming Hous- ton, Albert Newcomb, Charles Hed- ley and Mark Daniels: “Madame Butterfly,” by Puccini, Tuesday and Saturday evenings and Thursday matinee. Cecile Sherman, Helen Oelheim, Hedley, Allan Burt, Marion Howard, Norval Brelos. “Marriage of Figaro,” by Mozart, Wednesday and Friday evenings, Sil- veira, Codd, Daniels, Houston, Sher- man. { ctacaietalsacamaiepini METROPOLITAN OPERA “Tristan and Isolde” will open the last week but one of the Metropoli- tar season next Monday with Easton, Branzell and Kirhchoff, Whitehill, Other operas of the week: “Boheme,” Tuesday evening with Bori, Guilford and Gigli, Scotti, “The Bartered Bride” and “La Giara” on Wednesday evening, the former sung by Mueller, Hunter and Laubenthal, Bohnen, the latter with Miss Galli and Bonfiglio, Berger. “Pelleas et” Melisande,” Thursday evening with Bori, Howard and John- son, Whitehill. “Die Meistersinger,” Friday even- ing with Mueller and Laubenthal, Bohnen. “Mignon,” Saturday matinee with Bori, Talley and Gigli, Rothier. “T/Africana,” Saturday night with Easten, Morgana and Chamlee, De- Luea. With the Orchestras | . PHILHARMONIC With a performance of Brahms’ Requiem at the Metropolitan Opera House this Sunday afternoon, the Philharmonic Orchestra concludes its eighty-fifth season. Wilhelm Furt- waengler will conduct the Requiem, and the soloists will be Louise Lerch, soprano of the Metropolitan and Fra- ser Gange, baritone. organized Choral Symphony Society will provide the choral ensemble. NEW YORK SYMPHONY This week will bring to a close Walter Damrosch’s long career as conduetor of the New York Sym- phony Orchestra. It winds up a for- ty-two year leadership of the orches- tra which was founded by his father, Dr. Leopold Damrosch, in 1878. Dam- rosch will appear next season as guest conductor. He will also con- tinue to direct the Children’s and Young People’s concerts, Damrosch will conduct this Sunday afternoon at Mecca Auditorium. Rob- ert Goldsand, Viennese pianist, will be: the solpist. The program: Sym- phony in D Minor, Ceasar Frank; Hungarian Fantasy for Piano with Orchestra, Liszt; Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis, Vaughan Williams; Catalonia, Albeniz. A concert performance of “Gotter- damerung” will be given next Thurs- day afternoon in Carnegie Hall. The soloists inelude Florence Austral, Rudolf Lauhenthal, Frederick Baer, ae ae ‘ The recently . Pee PA. A , j 4 ° : i ’ 7 + 5 ~ OM CARA Will present a program of Orien- tal dances Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday at Carnegie Hall. Frederic Patton, Gitla Erstinn, Clar> fbel Banks and Viola Silva. The season will close with two performances of Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony, with solists and a chorus of three hundred, Friday evening in Carnegie Hal! and next Sunday after- noon in Mecca Auditorium. ‘Music Note=== Marguerite d'Alvarez, Peruvian contralto, will give the last of this season’s artists’ recitals of the Pea- ple’s Symphony Artists’ course to-, night at the Washington Irving High’ School. The program includes num- bers by Schindler, Hageman, Martin, Bizet and Duparc. Ruth St. Denis, Ted Shawn and their Denishawn Dancers will give four dance recitals at Carnegie Hall next week, on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday nights and Wednesday matinee. The program will be spee- ially featured with dances of the Orient, includiig dances of Java, Bur- ma, China, Japan and India. Maxim Schapiro, Russian pianist, will appear in a recital Tuesday evening at Aeolian Hall, playing a program of Bach, Schumann, Medt- ner, Prokofieff, Scriabin and Chopin, Rena Pfiffer, soprano of the Vien- na Opera, will make her debut Mon- day evening at Aeolian Hall. MUSIC AND CONCERTS N. Y. SYMPHONY WALTER DAMROSCH., Conductor Mecea Auditorium, Tomorrow Aft.. at $ Mecca Box Office open 11 A.M. tomor'w soloist GOLDSAN D FRANCK, Symphony in D> minor; LIsZT, Hungarian Fantasy; VAUGHAN WILLIAMS, Fantasia for String Or- chestra; ALBENIZ, Catalonia. Mr. Goldsand uses the Knabe Piano, Tickets at Steinway Hall, 113 W. 57 Sf, — 1003. GEORGE ENGLES, Mgr, (Steinway Piano.) PHILHARMONIC FURTWAENGLER, Conductor Last Coneert of Seas METROPOLITAN OPERA “TOU SE THIS SUN. AFTERNOON at 3:00 | with Cheral Symphony Society of New York (225 voices) Arthar Judson, Mgr. (Steinway) ~ CARNEGIE HALL April 4-—5-—6, Eves. at 9:30 Matinee Wed., April 6, at 2:30 UTH Nts TED D SHAWN DENISHAWN DANCERS ‘erformances of Sents The Carnegie Fall Box Office