The Daily Worker Newspaper, May 7, 1927, Page 12

Feeble A pology for Big Business “Wall Street.” a play in three acts and a prologue, presented at the Hudson Theatre. EUGENE O'NEILL rT miserable apology fora play is a dim echo of the first decade of this century when fourth rate dramatists were busy turning out banal stuff about the great self- sacrifice ofthe rich; extolling their great responsibilities and trying to prove that beneath the elegant finery of the idle, luxurious and debauched ladies and gentlemen of the four hundred there beat hearts of “purest gold.” The last atrocity of this sort that we can recall was entitled “The Battle,” and had a beefy comedian as its star. Wall Street is the story of a New England farmer who dreamed of playing the stock exchange and kept imaginary accounts, much to the chagrin of his bovine wife. The New England scene contained all the trap- pings of low melodrama—snow on the window sill, dim lights, a cradle with an imaginary infant son. Arthur Hohl and Margaret Douglas, enacting the roles of John H. and Anne Perry tried to infuse life into the prologue by utilizing one of the shoddy exhibi- tions of the ribaldry of yokeldom. |- The introduction fell flat. But then we thought the thing might prove to be a burlesque so we waited expectantly, if somewhat im- patiently. The next scene was a crippled at- tempt to depict a broker’s office in Wall Street; tickers, tape, board boys, customers and a villain. John H. Parry is there; having started to work in a menial job for the firm of Patter- son & Marshfield. By some sort of hocus-pocus Parry becomes a partner of Patterson, ousting Marshfield. The New England wife goes back to Nel- sonville, the “home town,” taking the son and heir with her. Parry marries the daughter of Patterson. After years the son turns up to revenge his mother, he tries to double- eross the father, but the old man is a wizard and none of the Wall Street bulls or bears can put anything over on him—the original, one and only, gentle, modest, retiring, but withal hard as nails, John H. Parry. The thing kept getting worse, but still we thought SOMETHING would eventually happen. But nothing hap- * pened. It went haltingly on to the Ry a \ The noted dramatist will have his latest opus “Marco Millions” - pre- sented by the Theatre Guild early next season. ee Sire dismal end. Absolutely pointless, poorly written, acted in the manner of the ten-twenty and thirty cent stock companies of pre-war days, the thing came to a close with the Wall Street magnate defeating all his scheming enemies and winning, at last, his beloved son—who incidentally won a wife. The thing is obviously a crude at- tempt to grovel before the much- abused Wall Street gang by trying to picture one of its members as a hu- man being, deserving of sympathy be- cause of his great responsibilities — a, BW; “An American Tragedy” will be presented by Horace Liveright at the Bronx Opera House for one week com- mencing Monday. Morgan Farley, Katherine Wilson, Janet McLeay, Walter Walker, Albert Phillips and Grace Griswold are in the cast. Rosalie Stewart will revive “The Torchbearers” before the close of this season. This was the first of George Kelly’s series of successful comedies. The New Plays MONDAY “OH, ERNEST!”, a musical play based on Oscar Wilde’s farce, “The Importance of Being Earnest,” will open at the Royale Theatre Monday evening, presented by P. T. Rossiter. Francis DeWitt wrote the book and lyrics, Robert Hood Bowers the music. In the cast will be Marjorie Gateson, Hal Forde, Dorothy Dilley, Harry McNaughton, Ralph Riggs, Katharine Witchie, Flavia Arcaro and Barbara Newberry. SIERRA’S SPANISH ART THEATRE opens the second week of their engagement on Monday night, presenting four plays during the week, The program: Monday and Friday nights, “The Cradle Song”; Tuesday, “Angela Maria,” a drama, both by Martinez Sierra; Wednésday and Thursday evenings, “The Royal Peacock,” by Sierra; Saturday matinee and evening, “Pygmalion,” by George Bernard Shaw. Dy a I ST Bc ca th ana a lL U FERS MET en The Theatre Guild Acting Company in ALL NEXT WEEK “The Second Man” 52nd Street, West Street, West of Broadway. Eves at 8:30. GUILD THEATRE Matinees THURSDAY and SATURDAY at 2:30. Week of May 16th—PYGMALION » Week of May 23rd—THE SECOND MAN PIRANDELLO'S RIGHT YOU ARE IF YOU THINK YOU ARE GARRICK THEA 65 W. 35th St. Evs, 8:30, * Mats. Thurs. & Sat. 2:30. Week of May 16th—MR. PIM PASSES BY Week of May 23rd—RIGHT YOU ARE ALL NEXT WEEK “The Silver Cord” JOHN GOLDEN THEATRE, 58th St., East of B’way. Matinees THURSDAY & SATURDAY. Week of May 16th—NED McCOBB’S DAUGHTER Week of May 23rd—THE SILVER CORD CIRCLE 5678 UNZUE $500 AWARD for the article of 200 words or less judged to be best on the play “TheeLadder’. Contest for. fifth week closes Monday at 10 a. m. - Money refunded if you do not like the play. “THE LADDER” WALDORF THEATRE 50th St. E. of B'way—Mats. Wed. & Sat. THEATRE, WEST 42d STREET. Eves. 8:30. Mats. Thurs, & Sat, 2:30. THIRD MONTH A. H. WOODS presents CRI By Samuel Shipman and John B. Hymer TIMES SQ. “A vivid, gripping and absorbing melodrama. I con- fess that I enjoyed it as I haven't enjoyed a melo- drama in seasons.” —Alan Dale, American, PROLETARIAN ART THEATRE presents “The Awakening of China” A Dramatic Recitation With N. MALKIN and MARY GINSBURG, at THE LABOR TEMPLE, 14th and 2nd Ave. SATURDAY EVE., MAY 7th Mr. STANLEY DAY at the organ. Mr. JOHN PICORRI, Scenic Director. _H. M. WICKS will speak on the Chinese Revolution. 5 B, LUMET A. VINOGRADOF R. VANDROF S. LIPZIN TICKETS 50c, to be had at the Freiheit and at the Defense Office, 41 Union Sq. All money to go for the Cloak, Dress, and Furriers Prison- ers—victims of the right wing Mineola treason. “JULIE,” by Corning White, will be presented by Homeric Produc- tions at the Lyceum theatre Monday night with Alison Skip- worth, Erward Arnold, Betty Pierce, Alexander Clark Jr. and Blanche Friderici in the cast. “KEMPY,” by J. C. and Elliott Nugent, will be revived Monday night at the Selwyn theatre by Murray Phillips. The Nugents—Ruth, Norma Lee, Elliott and J. C. will be in the cast. “KATY KID,” a comedy by Willis Maxwell Goodhue, comes to Daly’s 63rd Street Theatre Monday night, presented by Edward White- side and J. J. Levinson. Julietta Day and Romney Bent head the cast, TUESDAY “HE LOVED THE LADIES,” a comedy by Herbert Hall Winslow, opens at the Frolic theatre Tuesday night. The principal players are Lillian Ross, Lyons Wickland, Louise Carter, John Carmody, Isabel Dawn and Gertrude Fowler. WEDNESDAY “ONE FOR ALL,” a comedy by Ernest and Louise Cortis, will open at the Greenwich Village Theatre Wednesday night. The cast will include Madeline Delmar, Ethel Jackson, Jennie A. Eustace, MADISON SQUARE GARDEN TWICE DAILY, 2 P.M & 8 P.M. RINGLING BROS. BARNUM & & BAILEY CIRCUS Incl. among 10,000 Marvels PAWAH SACRED WHITE ELEPHANT TICKETS at GARDEN BOX OFFICES 8th Ave. and 49th St., and Gimbel Bros, Som HARRIS THEA. West 42nd St, Twice Daily, 2:30 & 8:30 WHAT PRICE GLORY Mats, (exc. Sat.) 50c-$1. Eves. 60c-$3. Harry L. Cort and Clark Ross will produce a new play called “The Brigand,” by Paul Fox and George Tilton, early next season. This will be followed with a musical comedy by Cort called “The Radio Girl.” —Be |% 149th St | Bronx Opera House for ara ave. Pop. ces, Mat. Wed. & Sat. ‘KATY DID” A New Domestic Comedy "S West 42nd Stree% WALLACK’S West nines 20 What ‘teas Wed., vie and Sat. CARROLL a ee Barl Carroll Shp MRA" 55 eereacensteniesiesnenliinceniieneecmtannanennanpiants aintipeeensesiest Phillip Dunning, who collaborated with George Abbott in the writing of “Broadway,” has a new one, a comedy of back-stage life, titled “The Under- study.” Jack Donahue is coliaborating this time. |