The Theatre

SING AND WHISTLE, a comedy in three acts, by Milton Herbert Gropper. Setting by Cleon Throckmorton; staged by Ernest Truex; produced by Milton Herbert Gropper and Ernest Truex. At the Fulton Theatre.

This should be a restful play for Mr. Ernest Truex. If he isn’t actually lying prone on a bed alone or with an interesting companion, he is talking about it. If he isn’t near a bed then he can be found guzzling from a business-like looking bottle ostensibly containing “hard” drink. The very first scene finds this gentleman, pahamaed and sleepy, being awakened. The second act finds him drunk and in bed while the heroine pours brandy over his head, and thethird act finds the couple wondering whether it is all worth while. This same thought occurred occasionally to your correspondent.

Briefly “Sing and Whistle” is a comedy in which two married couples worry a great deal about their pre-martial affairs. It seems that before they were “sealed” Frank Jillson (Truex) was something in the life of Carole Dickens (Dorothy Mathews). Her husband Hugo (Donald Macdonald) cannot get over this situation and believes that the only way to prove that all has been forgiven is to throw the couple together again. Hugo proposes that he take Frank’s wife Sylvia (Sylvia Field) for a time, which consists of a trip to Harlem’s hot spots, and that Frank stay with Carole. Whereupon the farce is on and the major portion of the comedy follows the tribulations of the newly matched couple, terminating in one of the aforementioned bed-room scenes.

The play is redeemed by the amusing lines and the really fine acting of the small but effective cast. For the sake of the record if must be set down that at the conclusion of three acts all the characters are fully clothed and you have begun to doubt whether they were quite as adulterous minded as the author indicates.

ROSENBLATT PICTURE

Following closely upon the departure of Maurice Schwartz and his Yiddish Art Players for a tour, the Yiddish Art Theatre was taken over by Edwin A. Relkin and Sigmund Weintraub, who will present the first talking picture made in and about the Holy Land. “The Dream of My People” is the name of the picture, featuring the late Yosele Rosenblatt, who played an important role in the picture and sang six specially composed numbers for this film.

“The Dream of My People,” directed by A. J. Bloome, under the supervision of Joseph Fox, has many views of historic relics close to the heart of every Jew. Among the many historic spots shown are: the “Maharath Mamachpeilu,” the burial ground of the holy fathers, and the grave of Rachel, the Wailling Wall, rempant of the holy temple and numerous others.

“The Dream of My People,” opens for a week’s showing at the Yiddish Art Theatre tonight, and the event will be witnessed by many prominent local Jews.

SOVIET ENVOY AT PREMIERE

Alexander Troyanowsky, Soviet ambassador to the United States, wired United Artists that if he’s not detained by the imminent departure to Russia of William C. Bullitt, United States envoy, he will attend the opening of the einema “Catherine the Great” tomorrow. Mr. Bullitt sails the following morning. The picture was made for London Films by Alexander Korda. It marks the appearance of Douglas Fairbanks, Jr. in the role of Czar Peter III, and also introduces Elizabeth Bergner to the American public. This actress is hailed by Europeans as “the greatest living actress in the world.

PARAMOUNT BOOKS ‘BOLERO’

A change in booking at the New York and Brooklyn Paramount theatres brings “Bolero” to these playhouses for a joint world premiere, starting next Friday evening. “Bolero” is based onthe life of the world’s greatest dancer and stars George Raft, supported by Caole Lombard and a cast of cinema celebrities.

GAIGE’S “RAGGED ARMY”

Crosby Gaige, whose production of “A Hat, A Coat, A Glove” at the Selwyn Thestre, is gaining in favor, announces “A Ragged Army” for immediate production. The play will be staged by Mr. Gaige.