Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-08-03

UGUST seems to be the pickup
n month in the theater Pro-
IA ducers are pleased over the fact
4 a that twice as many plays will
come to light during this month
as did last year at the same time. Be-
sides IL new offerings scheduled for
production, Broadway will see the con-
Summers heat. These revivals include
Journeys End" "Topaze," Young
Sinners" and Simple Simon"
Casting for the revival of Journeys
End" which opens in New York again
on August 4, has been concluded. The
leading roles will be played by Richard
Bird, G. p. Huntley, jr.; William Sauter
and Wilfred Seagram. Richard Whale,
the English director, who was RESPONSE
BILE for the filming of this war play, has
arrived in this country to supervise the
final rehearsals.
Word comes that Gus Van, who be-
fore Schenk's death was half of the
team Of Van and Schenk, is not to
retire, after all. Mr.. Van, after listen
ing to the pleas of many of his friends
has decided to continue on the vaudeville
stage. He will do single" beginning
the week Of August %, ION a split" as
they say, between the Fordham and
New York's Eighty-sixth Street Theater.
George Jessel, who has had a varied
year on the stage, in the films and
being a producer, in conjunction with
the Shubsrts, has purchased the
American dramatic rights to a French
play called "L'Amour a L'Americaine"
This play Is said to reveal the meander-
ings of an American woman amid the
intricacies Of French society.
David Belasco, dean Of producers, is
to be very busy during the coming
Dancing Partners" due on Broadway
August 4, Mr.. Belasco will present
Tonight or Never" an untitled play
by Patrick Kearney; Earnest Raymond's
The Berg" and dramatization of
this years Pulitzer prize novel, Laugh
ing Boy" by Oliver La Fargo.
Broadway producers are shaking their
heads over the fact that Warner
Brothers are TO film the play illicit"
before it appears in the flesh. A habit
Of this sort, they point out, is not only
dangerous to the possibility of success
of the play itself but to the author as
well and to the plays ever becoming
possible for stock or the road
after Tomorrow" the new Hugh
STANCE play, in which Donald Meek is
featured, has been put into rehearsal by
John Golden. The cast, which is under
the direction of STANCE includes Ross
Alexander, Penelope Hubbard, Edythe
Elliot, Kate McComb, Beatrice Moves
and Robert Burton.
ION the CT" the successful London
comedy, is the play in which the
Shuberts, by special arrangement with
Charles Wagner, will bring Madge
Kennedy back to the stage this Fan.
Stanley Logan, the director of "Topaze, /"
is to stage this play, which. besides Miss
Kennedy, will have in the cast Terrence
Neill Eric Blore, Vera Nelson and
Roland Hoag.
Mrs. 10 Mielziner's play, "Cafe," has
been put in rehearsal by director Jose
Ruben. Under the sponsorship of Will
liam A. Brady and John Tuerk, with
possibly A. II. Woods holding some sort
Of reins In the background, this play
will have Rollo Peters, George Game
and Horace Braham to head its cast.
Another indication that the West
may be coming East is the report that
Fanchon and Marco, Fox Theater's
producers of Ideas" have decided to
conflne all their activities to New York,
instead of dividing them between New
York and Hollywood, as heretofore. 1t
seems that they believe that talent for
their ideas" is more prevalent along
Broadway. Hence they will close their
Hollywood offices and send forth their
weekly dancing teams from Manhattan's
metropolis exclusively.
While stock companies and vaudeville
houses have wilted with the heat and
from lack of patronage this Summer, it
seems that the showboats, the rivers