The Daily Worker Newspaper, June 11, 1927, Page 12

The Moscow Stage Meierhold’s Theatre a Workshop of Revolu- tionary Expressionism HERE is no doubt that the Russian stage today is probably the most active, not only in its tendencies to- wards the development of experimen- | tation and ideas, but in the presenta- tion of drama that is alive to the times. ing to get a bourgeois outlook on what is taking piace in the Soviet theatre. The following, taken from am article by the Moscow correspon- dent of London Observer, represents such a viewpoint. “No where in the world,” he says, “ean the theatregoer exercise such a wide range of selection as in Moscow. Side by side with the old established classical Russian theatres a number of new producers representing the most modern in radical tendencies in dramatic art have appeared on the scene. And the Moscow theatres old and new alike generally enjoy the benefit of excellent acting. “The predominent tendency on the Moscow stage at the present time is to emphasize action rather than thought. Presentation rather than substance, to exalt the actor and the producer somewhat at the expense of the playwright. The most icono- clastic and controversial of modern Russian producers is Vsevolod Meier- hold, whose theatre is simultaneously a workshop of expressionism and a form for the presentation of revolu- tionary themes on the stage. Meier- hold starts out by making a clean sweep cf such conventional stage gecessories as certain and footlights. | (His original productions also bared distinctive costumes, but he is making concessions on this point.) His scenery is wheeled on and off the stage in full view of the audience and! his productions are illuminated by the rays of large electrical projectors. For nine-tenths of his effect Meier- hold depends upon the special methods in which he has trained his actors, and upon clever and original stunts of staging. His actors are put! through a strenuous course of physical training and many of them could al- most qualify as trained acrobats. To express various emotions, they lunge, leap, crawl and turn somersaults with eqal facility, and their athletic achievements are made easier by the introduction on the stage of ladders, platforms, staircases and similar aids to quick and lively movement. Propaganda Plays. “Meierhold’s most popular produc- tions during the past season were, “Roar, China,” and “Revizor.” The | former production written by ay Russian named Tretiakov lived for! some time in China. The story is| based on the incident of an American killed in a scuffle with Chinese boat- men and of a British nayal com- mander demanding the lives of two boatmen as a penalty under threat of bombarding the Chinese city if the demand is not fulfilled. . “A good theme for propagandist drama—and Meierhold and Tretiakoy make the most of it. Technically the production is vivid and Chinese cos- For that reason it is interest- | GEORGIE INGRAM One of the merry souls in the new “Merry-Go-Round” revue at the Klaw Theatre. Arthur Richman is adapting Paul Geraldy’s play, “Son Mari,” for pro- duction by Edgar Selwyn. “Love and Lightning,” by Edna Earlie Lindon and Ruth Langdon, has been placed in rehearsal by Cham- berlain Brown and A. H. Van Buren. Hazen Dawn, Reginald Mason James Crane and Marie Curtis are in the * cast. “Caponsacchi” is in its final two weeks at the Hampden Theatre. Wal- ter Hampden announces the closing of the Robert Browning poetic tale on Saturday, June 18—after a run of 272 perfo ees, . Année Shoemaker will take over Antoinette Perry’s role in “The Lad- der” next Monday night at the Cort Theatre. Miss Perry is going abroad for a vacation. “Pickwick,” a dramatization of the Dickens’ character by Cosmo Hamil- ton and Frank C. Reilly is scheduled for showing by Mr. Reilly at the Em- pire Theatre on Labor Day. John Cumberland will play the title role, —=Screen Notes—= “Old San Francisco” will have its premiere Tuesday June 21st at the Warner Theatre. Dolores Costello is featured in the picture, which is a historical outline of the city with the landing of the Spaniards on the shores of the Golden Gate, along through the gold rush of 49, and coming down to the present. War: ner Oland, William Demarest, Joseph tumes and Chinese music add an ele- | Srvickard, Anders Randolph and John ment of exotic color. “Revizor” was a daringly uncon- ventional version of Gogol’s great comedy of that name which is known in English under the title of “Inspec- tor General.” The five acts of Go- gol’s play were turned into fifteen of the shorter envisedes which Meierhold prefers in his production, and all sorts of liberties were taken with ac- tion and with characters. The pro- duction aroused a great deal of dis- cussion and Meierhold was roundly attacked in some quarters for having murdered Gogol’s humor. “Sunrise,” a new play by Willard Mack and which is claimed to treat with Bolshevism, will open’ out-of- Miljan are others in the cast. Alan Crosland directed the picture. The John Barrymore picture, “When a Man Loves,” now current, will end its run Sunday night June 19th, Syd. Chaplin’s _ starring vehicle, “The Missing Link,” which has been showing at the Colony Theatre for the past six weeks, will close its stay in another fortnight. Moss’ Broadway beginning Monday will show a new film “The Sunset Derby.” William Collier, Jr. plays the lead and is supported by Mary Astor, and Ralph Lewis. : The Cameo, beginning today will revive “The Three Musketeers,” town June 20 and maybe come here | Douglas Fairbanks plays the hero in later. ‘Dumas’ famous story. The Theatre Guild Acting Company in ALL NEXT WEEK “The Second Man” GUILD THEATRE 52nd Street, West of Broadway. Matinees THURSDAY and SATURDAY at 2:30. Eves at 8:30. ALL NEXT WEHREK “Mr. Pim Passes By” GARRICK THEA, ° * Mats. Thurs, &. Sat, 2:30. W. 35th St. Evs. 8:30. Week of June 2th—NED McCOBB’S DAUGHTER ._ ALL NEXT WEEK “Ned McCobb’s Daughter” JOHN GOLDEN THEATRE, 58th St., East» of B’way. Matinees THURSDAY & SATURDAY. CIRCLE 5678 Week of June 20th—MR. PIM PASSES BY win thé prize. “THE LADDER” $500 AWARD for the article of 200 words or less judged to be best on the play “The Ladder.” closes Monday at 10 a. m. Money refunded if you do not like the play. Not necessary to see the play to MATINEE WEDNESDAY SUMMER PRICES—Best Orchestra Seats $2.00. Balcony Seats $1.00.—Popular Priced Mat. Wed. $1.50 Top Contest for tenth week CORT THEATRE 48th St. E. of B’way " ‘The 55th Street Cinema is reviving) Little Theatre “The Beggar on Horseback,” a screen version of the famous satire on big business by Connelly and Kaufman. The picture will be shown for one week beginning today. =—=Music Note=== Work has started at the Lewisohn Stadium on the erection of the or- chestra platform for the Stadium Con- eerts which will begin on July 6, with the Philharmonic Orchestra. An important musical feature of “When A Man Loves” at the Warner Theatre is -its Vitaphoned musical score, the work of Henry Hadley. The Vitaphone concert programme preced- ing the picture has Marion Talley, Gigli, Jeanne Gordon and De Luca of the Metropolitan Opera in the quar- tette from “Rigoletto”: Charles Hack- ett, tenor: Waring’s Pennsylvanians and Van and Schenck on its bill. The | part. New Plays : TUESDAY “TALK ABOUT GIRLS,” a new musical by William Carey Duncan, will be presented by Harry H. Oshrin and Sam, H. Grisman Tues- day night at the Waldorf Theatre. lyrics and Harold Orlob and Stephen Jones composed the music, Andrew Tombes, Russell Mack, Jane Taylor, William Frawley, Madelyn Killeen, Spencer Charters, Bernard MacOwen, and Frances Upton are the principal players. WEDNESDAY “A WOMAN OF BRONZE” will be revived by Murray Phillips at the Lyric Theatre next Wednesday night, with Margaret Anglin in the chief role. Pedro de Cordoba will play the leading male SATURDAY “BARE FACTS OF 1927,” a revue by Stuart Hammil, with music by John Milton Hagen and lyries by Marian Gillespie and Menlo. Mayfield, is scheduled to open next Saturday at the Triangle Theatre, presented by Kathleen Kirkwood. Austin Street, Hazel Henderson and Derothy Guy are in the cast. GRAND 44th St., W. of B’way. A k AND SATURDAY, 2:30. FOLLIES ——— KLA Thea., 45th, West of B’way W Evenings 8:30. Mats. Thurs, & Sat 2:30. MerryGoRoun The successor to “AMERICANA,” Rca nD ie SE prance os Sa THBA. West 42nd Si a HARRIS HE. Dally, 2:80 & 836 William Fox Presents 7th HEAVEN Mats. (exc. Sat.) 50c-$1. Eves, 50c-1.50 sD CHAPLIN '’ THE MISSING LINK B. S. uoss COLONY pRroapway Contin. Noon to Midnight.—Pop. Prices, Walter Damrosch has accepted the appointment of musical directorship of National Broadcasting company and will direct a series of symphony concerts on the air next season. The concerts given by the New York Sym- phony under Damrosch, will be re- layed by the National to thirty-five stations, Irving Caesar. wrote the NS ERASED a ————n ae er nnencr nena FE ROLE TIS, fen nenmmn