Evening star., 1932-05-01

tAIOoC III VIC oGOCh mai hSl,
i manage to keep alive the
public interest in the inSti-
tuition. And like the statesmen
who are trying to balance the
budget, the managers continue to
make assaults upon the boarded
capital of the thrifty to ease the
agonies of a regular season which
is yet in its throes.
Hay Fever" announced for the
Shubert-Belasco, although cryptic
in title, for it has nothing what
ever to do with the sneeZe and
handkerchief malady, is, never
theless, Noel Coward play, which
squeezed out a 12-week run in
New York and ought to excite in
terest here. It's "cast of distinc-
ton" is headed by Constance Col
lier, of whom the world at large
has heard much. With her, also,
will come a few interesting no.
tables, among them Julia Hoyt
MRS. Louis Calhern) New York
society matron, who first attracted
theatrical notice with William
Faversham, in 1921, in THE Squaw
Man." and later achieved degree
of success with Mrs. Fiske's all
star revival of THE School for
Scandal; Eric Cowley, who has
been quite a figure on the Eng
lish stage for nearly a score Of
years, but who played his first en-
gagement in this country only last
year in Gilbert Miller'S production
of "Petticoat Influence" with
Helen Hayes, and Valerie CoSSart,
who IL none other than the daugh-
ter of Ernest Cossart of the New
York Theater Guild.
x*
EVEN in the face Of such his
trionic greatness, the Nation
al Theater Players should COM
mand a fair share of public no
tice. Despite the clash of man
ager and musicians, the playing
members of this popular little Or
ganization have dug deeply into
their pockets to preserve and
maintain the ancient tradition,
"the show must go on" 1t was
the who cut the Gordian knot,
ats, hope seemed hopeless, and
already they have reaped the re-
ward of sympathetic letters and
more substantial testimonials from
a host of admirers whose favor
they have won thus early in their
season that seemed likely to be
throttled. They will renew their
efforts tomorrow evening in THE
Unexpected Husband" l." whose eX-
cellence will be more fully eX-
planned elsewhere in these COL
umnS. There will be a surprise,
however, although it was partly
delivered last week, when they
were among those "On the Spot"
The production will be mounted
with the same care as its prede-
ceSSorS and with the same degree
of artistic excellence, and the per
formance will be presented with
the usual skill and grace OF the
company. But-and this is the
surprise: The seven-piece orcheS-
ira, which has been the sole cause
of their troubles and for which
they voluntarily suffered salary
slash. like the Mexican murderer
sentenced to be hanged by the
Arizona Judge, one of Irwin Cobb's
interesting radio stories, will not
be present to grace the occasion.
1t may report with due regularity
to perform its part on company
pay days, but Manager Cochran
has very definitely announced
that it's services will not be util-
lied for any other purpose. They
are not needed" says Mr.. Coch-
ran, and we do not propose to
Slow up our performances with
their efforts"
~
"'THE man that hath not music
in himself" wrote the i'm
mortal Bard of Avon, nor is not
moved with concord of sweet
sounds is fit for treason, strata
gems and spoils. Let no such man
be trusted" Manager Cochran
however, seems undaunted by the
indictment. There may be a rea-
son, for only recently so eminent
an authority as DR.. Walter Dam
rosch, in a radio address to his
millions" limited, if he did not