Critical Moments

Have I been premature? For the past few weeks I have been sounding the knell of the Spring 1934 theatrical season and after each knell I learn that the next week will bring forth another batch of new hopefuls for the stage, It is beginning to look like a critical conspiracy.

For instance, take this coming week, Five plays will get started. On Monday, the Theatre Guild which had its ups and downs, mostly ups, will offer “Jig Saw” at the Ethel Barrymore, This piece takes the place of “Races,” anti-Hitler play that never got any nearer New York than Philadelphia On the same evening Sam Chartock will offer his idea of ” Iolanthe,” for the fifth week of his Gilbert and Sullivan Cycle. Tuesday night the serious Mr. Zatkin will make his debut as a producer with a revival of Thsen’s “The Lady from the Sea” at the Little Theatre. “Love Kills” will be offered at the same time at the Forrest Theatre. Wednesday evening the fifth opening will be “Picnic” at the National Theatre.

PICNIC WITHOUT ANTS

“Picnic” is said to be one of those serious comedies. It is the work of Gretchen Damrosch, daughter of the distinguished musician. She is not exactly a newcomer to Broadway, having written “The Passing Present,” which Arthur Hopkins produced several seasons ago. This new venture, which is being produced by Arthur J. Beckhard, who did “Another Language,” is a “family play,” the action of which takes place in a New England village and traces the breaking up of an old American family under the social forces at work in modern life.

THESE REVIVALS

These revivals are becoming overwhelming. In such profusion do announcements about them come from producers’ offices that it will soon be necessary to go out and revive some of the old theatergoers so that an audience can be guaranteed. During the past week Shuberts stated that, beginning May 7 at the Forty-fourth Street Theatre, they would start a series of revivals of once popular musical comedies and operettas such as “The Merry widow” and “Bitter Sweet.” Chartock is thinking of reviving some of the Victor Herbert pieces and now I learn that Charles Purcell is preparing a revival of “The Chocolate Soldier” for opening at the St, James Theatre some time during the week, Mr, Purcell has organized the Knickerbocker Light Opera Company and plans to follow ” The Chocolate Soldier” With “The Desert Song,” “Dearest Enemy,” “Hit the Deck” and other favorites.

Hardly a healthy sign–hitherto, fertile Broadway never dodged a chance to bring out something new. This sudden interest in revivals indicates a paucity of material for producers or else a fear to take chances, Somebody who can turn out a good musical will clean up, if this diving back into the past continues.

FROM THE CINEMA

The Strand looks as though it had a winner with its “Twenty Million Sweethearts,” a picture filled with good music and clever dancing and starring Dick Powell, Ginger Rogers, Ted Fiorito and band, and the Mills Brothers.

The Music Hall has held over “Stand Up and Cheer,” a hodgepodge but nevertheless not without its moments, At the Roxy, Adolphe Menjou and Chaire Dodd may be seen in “Journal of a Crime” and you may also see in the lobby of the Roxy an exceedingly large birthday cake to commemorate the seventh anniversary of the opening of the gigantic house, And of course there is, at the Mayfair, the ” Hitler Reign of Terror” picture. The Rivoli is doing “We’re Not Dressing,” with Bing Crosby Carole Lombard, Burns and Allen, Ethel Merman and Leon Erroll, Also featured for the week is Alexander Woollcott in a short, Whimsically titled “Mr. W’s Little Game.”

IN THE OFFING

The craze for historical pictures has struck Hollywood a terrific blow. In the offing is “Richelieu” which George Arliss will do when he gets back from London, After playing a series of Jewish roles, Mr. Arliss should find that of the famous French cardinal a relief! Another picture with an historical tinge is “The Affairs of Cellini.” This one, in Which Fredric March and Constance Bennett will star, is based on Edwin Justin Mayer’s play, “The Firebrand,” United Artists, who will release the picture, deserve credit for changing to a title which will convey a definite meaning, The picture will of course deal with the life of Benvenuto Cellini, Sixteenth century man of affairs who by touting his own horn in his famous autobiography has become an immortal. I wonder though, how many average Americans have ever heard of Cellini?