Evening star., 1927-02-17
PLANS PRODUCTION
OF BANNED PLAY
Publisher EnroIIs Cast of
''The Captive" in Defiance
of Police.
ny the Associated Press.

NEW YORK, February 1.-THE en-
tire cast of THE Captive raided
broadway play, was enrolled today in
the ranks of a new producer, Horace
Liveright, publisher. for performances
In defiance of police mandate.
Liveright announced his intentions
after four members Of the cast were
freed Of charges Of producing an inn
moral play, on their promise that the
production would close Charges were
e1so withdrawn against the men who
have been producing the play.
Ldveright'S announcement prompted
o new declaration of war from Acting
Mayor Mckee.
I'VE will meet that challenge" he
said. "If Mr.. Liveright attempts to
put on that show he and every mem
ber OF his cast will be placed under
arrest" Mckee added TO his warn
ang:
Dramas Downright Bad
''Many OF the dramas on the legi-
innate stage are downright bad, but
the nudity Of many cabaret perform
ances and the shocking dialogue per-
mitted in them is even worse. Conse-
quently, they have to be reformed if
1t takes the police and grand juries
10 put them out Of business"
LiVeright announced The Captive"
would reopen Monday. although he has
yet to obtain scenery. He declined to
announce the theater in which the
show will he presented. He said he
has obtained cabled authorization from
Edouard BOurdet Of Paris, author of
the play. Plans for obtaining a protec-
tive injunction are being considered
Miss Helen Menken, appearing in
the title role, and three other mem
ber-s of the cast yesterday promised
Magistrate Renaud they would never
act in THE Captive" again for any
body, but after a conference with
Liverfght. he declared the four would
l'etract the promises when the matter
comes up in court again Friday on
continuance of the case against the
five of the cast who made no prom
tses.
Players Are Defiant.
A statement issued over the sigma
lures OF the nine members of the cast
said the players refuse to be intimi-
dated. Far from feeling that we
have been engaged in the commission
of crime for the past six months"
the statement read. I'VE feel that we
have been privileged in using our tai
ents in play of the highest literary
merit and social value" The setting
of the play is in France and the
theme il abnormal fascination.
Arrested with the cast We're Gilbert
II. Miller. managing director of the
Charles F'rohman Co., producers, and
George kondolf. jr., show manager.
Announcing the withdrawal of the
play. Mr.. Miller defended it as lone
of the great modern masterpieces of
dramatic writing" He characterized
police action against the production as
grossly Unfair" but said the F'roh-
man Co. could not prejudice it's rep
utation. The play has been given in
the Empire Theater, made famous by
Charles Frohman.
$4,000 to BE Returned.
More than $50 900 received in ad.
vance ticket sales will be returned.
The total loss involved in abandoning
the New York and road show interest
Is estimated by the Frohman manage
ment as $4,000 and 100000.
Sex" and THE Virgin Man." two
other Broadway plays raided with
THE Captive" last week. have oper-
ated under protection of injunctions
prohibiting police interference. The
plays awaited Supreme Court decision
today on applications that the injunc-
tons be made permanent.