The Daily Worker Newspaper, May 14, 1927, Page 12

ba agit The Tribulations of a Middle Class Family “Kempy” is back in town after a five year’s absence. Played then with Grant Mitchell in the leading role, “Kempy” returns to the Hudson to mark the beginning of a repertory season. A stock company, com- prising the original cast five years ago with the exception of William J. Kelley and Norma Lee in leading roles, is presenting the play. The management launches its repertory with a campaign for a re- turn to the price scale of ten years ago with no seats higher than $2.00 and many as low as 50 cents. “Kempy” is a comedy and a sa- tire on the middle class American family who kids itsself into thinking it is rich. In the words of the simple son-in-law “every man is only a week ahead of the poor house.” It por- trays the efforts of the middle class to keep up appearances, with the head of the family nearly going mad under the pressure of everlasting bills. The children boast of their father being worth $100,000 and the father goes thru agonies in an effort to sell their home to be able to make ends meet. A father economises even to the ex- tent of not wasting matches or the strings that come off packages, a daughter who spends $1,100 on gowns. The economic salvation of the family depends on this daughter marrying millions. It does happen and they are saved. That’s all there | is to the play. There is no new tone to the theme of the play but it will draw big houses just as it did in 1922. It is entertaining, it 1s clever, and it is typical of the economics of the average middle class American family. “Kempy” will be followed with other plays of proven entertainment value and favorite casts, and the management is now negotiating for “The Fortune Hunter,” “The Man Who Came Back,” “Scandal,” “Ma- dame X,” “Captain Applejack,” “The Boomerang,” “The Melting Pot,” “Turn to the right,” Peg O’ My — “Lombardi, Ltd.,” “Wedding Bells,” “The Hottentot,” “Lawful Larceny,” “The Ghost Between” and others.—N. W. “Merry-Go- Round” Here May 31 Richard WHerndon’s newest revue “Merry-Go-Round,” will be brought to the Klaw theatre Tuesday May 31. He has taken out of the cast of “Americana,” Evelyn _ Bennett,, Georgia Ingram, Maryon Dale, Tom Burton, Arthur Lipson, Isabel Mason and Vida Manuel, and placed them in his new production. Marie Cahill, Philip Loeb are also included in the east. The book and lyries of “Merry- Go-Round” are by Morrie Ryskind, and Howard Dietz; the music is by Henry Souvaine, who wrote the “Americana” melodies, and Jay Gor- Herndon’s The New Plays . | MONDAY “THE COCOANUTS,” George S. Kaufman’s and Irving Berlin’s mu- sical show, with the Marx Brothers featured, will be presented at the Century Theatre Monday night by Sam H. Harris. Other players include Phyllis Cleveland, Jack Barker, Janet Velie, the De Marcus, the Brox Sisters and Basil Raysdall, THURSDAY “GRAND STREET FOLLIES,” the fifth edition of the series, will open next Thursday night at the Neighborhood Playhouse. FRIDAY “RUDDIGORE,” by Gilbert and Sullivan, will be revived by Lawrence J. Anhalt at the Cosmopolitan Theatre next Friday night. The cast is headed by Craig Campbell, William Danforth, Herbert Waterous, Sarah Edwards and Alexander Clark. DOROTHY SANDS . In the new “Grand Street Follies,” opening next Thursday night at the Neighborhood Playhouse. ney; Allan Dinehart i new production, The revue will be yizyed in At- lantic City the week of May 28rd, preliminary to its New York opening. Walt Kuhn is designir ~ the costumes and scenery and staging the hal'ets. Leonard Sillman, the young dancer, who danced upstairs and down in the fantastic new Playwrights’ Theatre production of “Loudspeaker” will also be included in the company. ging the Edgar Selwyn who has just re- turned from Paris announces that he will produce Paul Geraldy’s play “Son Mari,” which is a current hit in Paris. Geraldy’s work has been represented here by “The Nest,” pro- duced by William A. Brady, and “To Love” and “She Had to Know,” pro- duced by Grace George. Sierra’s Spanish Art Theatre will close with a final performance this Sunday night. Other closings of the week taking place to-night are: “Le Maire’s Affairs,” The House of Shadows,” “Yours Truly,” “Cherry Blossoms,” “The Devil in the Cheese,” and “What Anne Brought Home.” When Gilbert and Sullivan operet- ta “Patience” *is presented, it will be in the original style of the London production of 1881, according to Peter Hamberg who is the producer. The cast will include James Watts, Vivian Hart, William Langan, Dudley Mar- wick, Beatrice Kneale, Eleanor Edson and Bernice Marshon. The Theatre Guild Acting Company in ALL NEXT WEEK BERNARD SHAW’S “PYGMALION” GUILD THEATRE 52nd Street, West of Broadway. Eves at 8:30. Matinees THURSDAY and SATURDAY at 2:30. Week of May 238rd—THE SECOND MAN “MR. PIM PASSES BY” GARRICK THEA. 65 W. 35th St. Evs. 8:30, Mats. Thurs, & Sat. 2:30. Week of May 238rd—RIGHT YOU ARE ALL NEXT WEEK NED McCOBB’S DAUGHTER JOHN GOLDEN THEATRE, 58th St., East of B’way, Matinees THURSDAY & SATURDAY. | CIRCLB 5678 Week of May 23rd—THE SILVER CORD nnn THEATRE, WEST 424 STREET. TIMES SQ. Eves. 8:30. Mats. Thurs. & Sat. 2:30. 4th MONTH A. H. WOODS presents M “A vivid, gripping and absorbing melodrama, I con- fess that I enjoyed it as I haven't enjoyed a melo- drama in seasons.” By Samuel Shipman and John B. Hymer Alan Dale, American, $500 AWARD for the article of 200 words or less judged to be best on the play “The Ladder.” Contest for sixth week closes Monday at 10 a. m. Money refunded if you do not like the play. “THE LADDER” WALDORF THEATRE 60th St. E. of B’way—Mats. Wed. & Sat. 149th Stree Bronx Opera House }/°°? , Street Pop. Prices. Mat. Wed. & Sat. THEODORE DREISER’S “AN AMERICAN TRAGEDY” Arthur Hopkins is planning to pro- duce “The House of Women” next season with Elsie Ferguson and Nance O’Neil. The play is a drama- tization by Louis Bromfield of his novel “The Green Bay Tree.” Jed Harris has acquired another, this time a comedy by Edna Ferber and George S. Kaufman which will open here sometime in September after a try-out in Atlantic City. The play’s called “The Royal Family.” “Countess Maritza,” the Viennese musical romance will return to the Shubert theatre Monday night. Albert Lewis has acquired a new play titled “The Big Timer,” written by George Jessel, and Herman J. Manckiewicz, which he intends. pro- ducing early next season. “Blossom Time,” will play a return engagement at the Bronx Opera House, beginning Monday night. A. E. and R. R. Riskin have ac- quired a new play “The Front Page,” by E, G. Riley, which they intend giving a Spring try-out. Eugene Walter whose playwright- ing activity has been nil for several years, has a new drama, called “Dif- ferent Women,” which will be pre- sented in Chicago next month with ' Frank Keenan in the leading role. — & =— onli Sam THEA. West 42nd St H. HARRIS Twice Dally, 2:30 & 8:30 WHAT PRICE GLORY Mata, (exc. Sat.) 50c-$1. Eves. 50c-32 Margaurita Sylva the prima donna, will be co-starred with Louise Hunter in “Golden Dawn,” the operetta with which Arthur Hammerstein will open his new Hammerstein’s Temple of Music next fall. MUSIC Hans Lange has been re-engaged as assistant conductor of the Stadium Concerts for the coming season. Mr, Lange made his local debut as a conductor two years ago at the Stadium. : £ Leningrad will hold the first All- Russian Music Festival this Spring. Many of the trade union organiza- tions will take part. Some four thou- sand singers, a Balalaika orchestra of 1,800, a band of 1,500 and a man- dolin orchestra of 300 will take part _ in the festival. The boys and girls who compose the Heckscher Foundation Orchestra will give their concert at the Chil- dren’s theatre, Fifth Avenue and 104th Street, next Saturday after- noon. Annette Royak, soprano, will appear in recital tomorrow afternoon at Chickering Hall.