Critical Moments

“The Bride of Torozko” which was first shown to an American audience in a barnyard theatre at Westport, Conn., has been brought to Broadway. The same cast headed by Sam Jaffe and Jean Arthur may again be seen in this Hungarian piece adapted from the play by Otto Indig at the Henry Miller Theatre, I recommend it to you with some slight reservations.

When the “Bride” opened in Westport this particular correspondent was not on the scene but there appeared in this column an exciting comment written by this paper’s Westport reporter. I fear that I am not in complete agreement with the laudatory sentiments expressed by that young man.

“The Bride of Torozko” concerns the strange and disturbing experiences of Klari (Jean Arthur), a beautiful Hungarian peasant girl, who, on the evening before her marriage, is told that she is a Jewess. She had believed that she was a Catholic and this news makes it impossible for her to marry the Catholic youth who was her choice. The peasants in the village revile her but the Jews in the town, especially Herschkowitz, the innkeeper (Sam Jaffe), are delighted. They try to lighten her burden by reciting to her all the exploits and virtues of the Jewish race and she soon becomes convinced that it is an honor and distinction to be a Jewess and she flaunts her newly acquired religious affiliations until even the Jews become a little bored with her. However things take a different turn when it is discovered that a mistake in writing out Klari’s birth certificate had been made. It seems that Klari was actually born a Protestant and the remainder of the play tells how she transforms herself from a Jewess into a Protestant.

As outlined above, you can readily see that this is fine play material. Humor, pathos, ethics, philosophy are integral parts of such a plot but neither Ruth Langner, who adapted the play from the Hungarian, nor Gilbert Miller and Herman Shumlin, who produced it, make the most of the opportunities at hand.

The play is much too slowly paced, too talky and often wearisome. When the characters get into discussions about religion it becomes downright boring. But there is much that is amusing and bright about the “Bride.” One bit in particular stands out. Herschkowitz is telling the girl the story of the Jews, how they were the victims of persecution and how they were mistreated. She looks puzzled and wonders why they are called “The Chosen People.” Herschkowitz then slyly remarks, “I didn’t say what they were chosen for.” Such things as these makes the “Bride” almost worthwhile. It is too bad, because, had the script been tightened up and the verbosity eliminated, the play would have emerged as farce of a high order.

Sam Jaffe, the Jewish actor, gives a better than just good performance. He is a comic of great skill and plays his role with understanding. Jean Arthur is also compelling. She handles a difficult role with fine judgment. The minor roles are also well acted, especially those of Francis Pierlot, Victor Kilian, Genevieve Belasco, Rose Keane and Don Costello.

MIKADO OPENS

Last night the D’Oyly Carte Opera Company gave Gilbert and Sullivan’s “The Mikado” to another packed house at the Martin Beck. Since Labor Day night there has not been an empty seat in the rather large house and it doesn’t seem as though there will be any available until this fine English company goes home. In presenting “The Mikado” new stage settings and costumes were introduced, the likes of which have never before been seen in an American-produced Gilbert and Sullivan operetta. So perfect is the performance given by the troupe that in looking for something to comment about, a reviewer’s attention falls upon the costumes. These new dresses are said to be a copy of Japanese court costumes of the early eighteenth century. They are very impressive in their stiffness.

Derek Oldham, who can outcroon any of our popular American crooners, plays the role of Nanki-Poo; Martyn Green makes a fine and sprightly “Ko-Ko”; Darrell Fancourt is an august “Mikado”; Sydney Granville is “Pooh-Bah” and Eileen Moody, Marjorie Eyre and Elizabeth Nickell-Lean are the three sisters. The rest of the cast is as always, almost too perfect for criticism.

NOTES FROM THE SCREEN

The new film at the Strand called “Desirable” which came in quietly is unusual film fodder that you will like. . . .

Helen Chandler will play one of the leading roles in “Say When,” the Jack McGowan-Ray Henderson musical comedy which is coming to Broadway in November. . . .

“Dream Child,” a play by J. C. Nugent in which the author will appear, is scheduled to open at the Vanderbilt a week from tomorrow night which I calculate is September 26. . . .

Julian Green’s novel, “Adrienne Mesurat,” has been dramatized into play form by Arthur Fleming and will be produced by Henry Forbes next month under the title of “The Closed Garden.” . . .