Evening star., 1939-10-30

piece as Leave 1t to Me" which con
began its roistering. satirical existe
disturbing dream on its way to becom
and Samuel SpeWack, could write.
pretty much as they please. They
pleased to write ironically about in
ternational diplomacy, filling their
musical book with good humored but
not necessarily gentle references to
the cast of characters now playing
, daily on page one. Chamberlain. Sec
retary Hull, Signor Mussolini, etc.
That was roaring fun, especially
the inspired situation in which the
hapless American Ambassador to
Russia kicks Herr Hitler's envoy in
the tummy described by wit we
know as the perfect belly laugh.
Given such vivid Interpretation by
Victor Moore, Billy Gaxton, Sophie
Tucker ct al, the hilarious charade
looked as if it might run on forever.
Reopening on Broadway in August.
it was destined to stay there we'll
into the current season, maybe
through it.
Then, however came September
and the world was not the same
place at all. The play had situa-
| tionS, illusions and references which
had changed meanings almost over
night. Amendments were in order
To make them required time. Every
one involved, the Spewacks, Vinton
Freddy, who is the producer, and
the cast, decided the answer to that
was to stop the New York run, make
the corrections dictated by circum-
stances and then take the play on
the road.
That is why it is here so early in
the season, in form that is some
what different but which every one
insists is just as funny.
In making the changes. however.
the SpeWacks have learned that
| ivory towers are no protection for
dramatists who write topical musi-
Gals.
Now Catholic University's speech
and drama department, starting on
its most ambitious season, is also be-
ing topical in its most outstanding
project for the year. Its topic, how
ever, is far safer than the Spewacks'.
1t is the life of George M. Cohan,
who has given his permission to the
/ group to dramatic his career in the
theater. The enterprise will take the
form of a musical biography, to be
written and produced entirely by the
department, which is headed by
Father Gilbert Hartke, o. P.
Tracing Cohan's career from the
days when he was transported from
| town to tank town in his parents
trunk to his current position as the
first actor in the American theater,
Yankee Doodle Boy" necessarily be-
comes an elaborate affair. Ralph
Brown, recruited to the department
staff from the Pasadena Playhouse.
already is busy with the design and
construction of the many sets which
will be required
Authors of the tuneful, dramatic
tale of Cohan are Walter Kerr and
Leo Brady. Mr.. Brady, author of
Brother Orchid successful orig
inal produced by the department
last season, will make a second con-
tribution to this years program, IT,
tied "Calidore"
In addition to co-authoring yam
kee Doodle Boy Mr.. Kerr will di-
rect the production, set for Decem-
ber. The Far Of Hills" by Lenox
Robinson, will open the season on
November II and 18.
Mr.. Cohan, a considerable admirer
of Father Hartkes department and
its works, will have opportunity to
appraise progress on the production
of which he is subject. He will be
here during its preparation as star
of the late Sidney Howard's Mad
anne, Will You Walk coming to the
National, prior to Broadway.
X x
Obviously pictures not to be de-
layed for anything are those starring
Deanna Durbin. And obviously not
to be delayed longer than it takes a
print to reach Washington is First
Love-" latest of Deanna's contribu-
tions to the enchantment of the Re-
public. 1t is scheduled to open
Wednesday in Washington in what
will be a world premiere showing,
notable as such because it will be
marked by a complete absence of
ostentation.
, AS in the case of all previous Dur
bin films. Three Smart Girls" 100
Men and Girl" Mad About
Music" and That Certain Age" the
title of her latest is definitive af-
fair. In other words, First Love"
is the fifth chapter in the biography
of one of the most fascinating per-
sonalities the movies ever discovered
X X X X
That Harold Heffernan's piece
spoofing the cinema stars patronage
of soothsayers may be as funny to
you as to us, we must tell tale of
Mr.. Heffernan. . Host one night
at a party, he decided it would be
fun to visit one of HollyWood's most