Critical Moments

People who have trouble making up their minds are in for a very disturbing week. For the first time since that murky Fall day in 1929 when stocks took that decisive dip. Broadway offers theatre goers no fewer than forty distinct legitimate and musical attractions. In addition, there are #he usual number of cinema offerings and special holiday plays. During the past week eleven brand new plays rang up that many opening night curtains.

To give a detailed report of the latest offerings in the space allotted these lines would be the trick of the week so I will devote myself to short resumes of some of the things that were opened for your enjoyment this week.

‘RAIN FROM HEAVEN’

“Rain From Heaven,” a Theatre Guild attraction at the Golden Theatre is entitled to first notice. This is a serious play by S. N. Behrman, who is no stranger to success. His “Biography” and “The Second Man” were first-rate plays and “Rain From Heaven” is a likely successor. Mr. Behrman’s new play is set in a London suburb in the home of Lady Wyngate. He has gathered together in her drawing room a varied group of people—a rich American who thinks that Fascism is the answer to the world’s problem, an exiled German who was so unfortunate as to have had a Jewish great-grandmother, a Russian who couldn’t stomach Communism, a famous aviator, a Rhodes scholar, a young Jewish musician and an American girl who does not love her husband. Naturally, the author sets his characters to talking and they talk with wit and wisdom. Before you leave the theatre you have heard much that should make you think. Needless to say, Mr. Behrman’s humanitarianism does not include a warm feeling for Fascism and his sympathetic attitude towards his own race should please New York audiences.

Without going into details about the plot, I do want you to know that Mr. Behrman has done a provocative, mature and very much worthwhile play which is aided by the acting of Jane Cowl, Thurston Hall, John Holliday and Jose Ruben.

‘THUMBS UP’

As an addition to the musical coterie, you can safely add “Thumbs Up” at the St. James and “Fools Rush In” at the Playhouse. Both of these musicals are excellently produced, filled with entertainment, brightly directed and thoroughly enjoyable. In “Thumbs Up,” which is the work of Eddie Dowling, the cast is headed by those eternally funny men—Clark and McCullough. Hal Le Roy, whose tap and clog dancing is second only to that of Fred Astaire, supplies some of the footwork and among the other performers are the Pickens Sisters, Sheila Barrett, the impersonator, Paul Draper, and of course, Eddie Dowling himself. The music, which is catchy, was written by James Hanley.

“Fools Rush In” is Leonard Sillman’s effort to recapture the carefree, slightly mad flavor of “New Faces” with which he appeared last season. I believe he has succeeded to some extent. He again offers a large cast most of whom are unfamiliar to theatre-goers, but all of them are young and willing and act, sing and dance with spirit. What the production lacks in elaborateness it makes up in satire and few of our stuffed shirts escape without a thorough rubbing. I thought it was good fun.

‘ACCENT OF YOUTH’

Samson Raphaelson, who has been absent from Broadway these past years, has returned with a play which he calls “Accent of Youth” (Plymouth Theatre). In it he throws a sop to men who have reached the half century mark. He sets out to prove that they, too, may have their moments. He has created a successful elderly playwright who finds himself enamored of a young woman who in turns cares for him; but a young man steps into the scene and our hero fashions him a love speech to make to his, or I should say, their girl. The lady does not love the boy but after making his speech he takes her in his arms and his manliness overcomes his obvious lack of intellect. She marries him. Off hand you might say that this is a slight plot, but Mr. Raphaelson has endowed it with live and bright dialogue, and Crosby Gaige presents it with a good cast.

‘BIRTHDAY’

At the Forty-ninth Street Theatre, “Peggy Woods may be discovered in a Play called “Birthday.” Aimee and Philip Stuart had a good idea. Two girls living with their mother are taught to idealize their dead father. One of the girls develops a father fixation which she transfers to her mother and when the mother goes off to marry a rich man the older sister attempts suicide. Only when the family doctor tells her the truth about her father, who, it transpires, was pretty much of a rounder, does the girl regain a normal outlook. Here are the ingredients of a fine drama, something to rival “The Children’s Hour” but the production and the acting especially that of Peggy Woods, is inferior with the result that the play is not as moving as it should be. Nevertheless, it is dramatic in spots and if you are not too particular, rather engrossing. Jeanne Dante, a twelve-year-old child walks off with the acting honors.

HAMPDEN’S COMPANY

Walter Hampden is another well-known actor who has returned to New York. He will remain with his repertory company for two weeks and may be seen at the Forty-fourth Street Theatre. Among the plays that he will give will be: “Hamlet,” “Richard III,” “Macbeth” and “Richelieu.” Needless to say, Mr. Hampden continues to be one of the best and most adequate of the dwindling group of Shakespearian actors. His opening performance in “Hamlet” was a full-bodied and satisfactory one.

As for the rest of the week’s openings which include “Music Hath Charm” at the Majestic, an operetta; “Baby Pompadour,” at the Vanderbilt; “The O’Flynn,” an operetta at the Broadway, and “Portrait of Gilbert” at the Longacre,” I shall have for reasons of space and time, to withhold comment until early next week.

CINEMA NOTES

Katherine Hepburn who last year about this time broke all records with her “Little Women” may be seen at the Music Hall in a picture version of J. M. Barrie’s “The Little Minister” … The Capitol offers Joan Crawford and Clark Gable in “Forsaking All Others.” Pat O’Brien, one of our more hard-boiled actors, is being starred in “I Sell Everything,” at the Mayfair. “The Mighty Barnum” has been held over at the Rivoli and “Here Is My Heart,” the new Crosby film, stays another week at the Paramount. These last two named pictures should be on your “must” list.