Evening star., 1940-07-15

verSity, on the production schedule
OF which regularly appear original
plays; that is, plays written by stu
dents or instructors.
Before summers end, or the end
of the university,s theater season, a
grand (meaning truly grand) total
of three original plays will have
been presented. They represent the
work of two young men, or a vir-
tually enormous concentration of
on-coming playwrights in one in
Stitution.
The two are Walter Kerr, brilliant
young instructor in the department
of Father Gilbert v. Hartke, and
Leo Brady, student. Those designa-
tions represent only broadly the
activities of the young men. That
is because, in addition to his teach
ing, Kerr also is a director of un-
usual abilities, while Brady, beyond
his studies, is an actor, a student
instructor and secretary in the de-
partment. Both find time for a
prodigious amount of writing. an
accomplishment which is kind of
impenetrable mystery to any one
who finds 24-hour days among
natures most short-sighted pro-
visions for the Species.
X X X X
The short, square, energetic
Kerr Is a native of Evanston,
ILL.,, and an honor graduate of
Northwestern University's drama de-
partment. Among his published
plays are an adaptation of Vicar
of Wakefield. RIP Van Winkle," /"
and Christopher Over Chaos" the
latter of which recently was pro-
duced in one of New York States
summer theaters. A satirical COM
edy, art and Prudence" in which
Julie Hayden would have appeared
had contractual relations been mod
ified, is scheduled as the last pro-
duction of July at the school.
Brady, Washingtonian whose
healthy ruddiness indicates he must
find time for sleep and meals in
spite of contrary evidence, is to be
represented as author on this week S
program of the university theater.
His "Calidore," play in verse with
an Odetsian cadence, follows two
other Brady originals on the sched-
ule, Brother Orchid" which subse-
quently became a starring vehicle for
Edward G.. Robinson on the screen,
and Ghost of Yankee Doodle"
which he wrote in collaboration with
Kerr.
The latter, musical biography of
George M. Cohan (which Cohar
praised along with critics and audi
ences), was so easily the high light
college musical of the season that
it attracted nationwide attention
to Catholic us inspired, ambitious
and unfailingly busy drama de-
partment.
The attention took the form not
merely of interest on the part of the
most popular periodical press, but
brought flocks of producers and
movie talent and script scouts to
Washington. The producers, being
their own bosses, have memos on
their calendars to return for both
"Calidore" and "Art and Prudence"
The talent and script forces, always
on the lookout for what their bosses
need, also will be back for both
productions, testifying to the fact
Father Hartke's young school has
made considerable name for itself.
One unfamiliar with all the busy
places in Washington can only
hazard the guess that none is so
busy as c. us drama department,
but it seems to be an ideal guess
for hazarding at this particular mo-
ment.
The current weeks schedule calls
for morning rehearsals of the Chill
dren's Theater production. The
afternoon is devoted to rehearsals
of "Art and Prudence" Wednesday
and Thursday nights will see the
presentation of "Calidore" and
mark also the beginning of prep
arations for production of William
Saroyan's MY Hearts in the High
lands" The latter will bring to
Washington, as featured player,
Fredrick Tozere, last seen here in
brilliant support of Paul MUM in
Key Largo"
Sounds reasonably close to per-
petual motion.