The Waterbury Democrat., 1937-12-08
In New York
By GEORGE ROSS


 Now York, Doc, 8-Tho stage; Tho package wasn't marked "Deht open before ChriStmAS" and so Broadway got It's holiday surprise the other day in the form Of tho new Ed Wynn show, "Hooray Tor Whatl" .
 it has been Q long time since the eX.flreehief h the funny hat and tire shaped goggles has been up on a Rialto stage; and perhaps you would like to know that no x M funny as ever, that no Btill trillh hiN Hso.e.o.o'S" and that he Stlll k The Perfect Fool. .
 A handsome BhoW, this "Hooray for WhatI," In every possible respect have the libretto. Tho girls arc the pick of available pulehritude, the costumes eXpensiVely eolorful and tho scenery looks aS though tho na' tlonal debt had gone into it 1T tht story of 'iIeoray for What" iSn't 10 hot, the librettistS can thank Ee for overcoming it, because no can create his own laughs without any bedy's help, . . WhNtl" by the way, is said to have originated with the ebullient com. ie. It probably Is tho first time that on extravaganza wanted to Dc pros paganda aS well, for "Hooray for WhatI speofS the munitions mak- CTS, tho poison gas boys and the Peace Conference, With nd at the innocent head of 1t oil.
 They could use c man Ike Ed In Geneva and the statesmen preb' ably would And the songs and skitS from "Hooray for Whatl" more en- tertaining than battleship ratios Towers of Baber?
 An event that includes Ina Claire always is an suspicious occasion in the theater, but Miss Claire has her setbacks, too, from time to time, Just now, for example, she is ap. bearing in the comedy, "Barchester Towers" which stems ell the way back from Anthony Trollope. .
 Now "Barchester Tower" had all the advantages; Q sprightly source, e production by Guthrie McClintic, an able cast, 0 beautiful theater (the Martin Heck), Q rich display of scenery and, foremost, of course, the glamorous and suave Ina in the leading part.
 Yet 1t emerged on the stage aS Q thin little tritle in which most of the activity was in the hands of the sceen shifters. All about the ecclesiastical highjinks in a prim English Village (circa 18S0) and about how Miss Clarie twisted the clergy around her pretty little finger It has two acts more than the story warrants.
 The gentlemen who report on such matters for next days papers said as much, paid their respects and condolences to Miss Claire and there the matter of "Barchester Towers is resting at the moment.
 Three Yawns
 Even If you are an avid follower of the stage, you need not bestir yourself too much about the other three plays that descended upon Broadway up to the time that your correspondent filed this report.
 One called Brown Sugar." pro- duced by George Abbott with an all- Negro cast, turned out to be the kind of melodrama considered old fashioned as far back as 1925.
 The second was Merely Murder, ' which deals with a group of sus- poets trying to laugh of case of homicide. It was checked of as nc good.
 The third of this unholy trio was something entitled Love Tn My Fashion" and the less you know about it, the better for everyone mixed up in it.
 These new plays come and go, as through revolving door, but 'To- baco Road" celebrated it's fourth birthday the other night and em- parked upon it's fifth year.
 There is no stopping it.