Evening star., 1941-09-29

passed and still was he hero.
Then, at long last, he talked. Final
ly he talked one time at place
called Des Moines, Iowa, and he was
hardly hero any.
These things did the Washington
Civic Theater's director, Leon Askin,
ponder as he studied the script Of
THE American Way" the drama
of democracy which opens the
groups season October IS at the
Wardman Park Theater. He pom
dered and then telegraphed George
S. kaufman, co-author with Moss
Hart of the play. asking permission
to delete from the drama the ad-
miring scene eulogizing the fellow
who made the historic trans-Atlan-
tic fight in 1927. Mr. Askin felt
that this was no hero any more.
Mr.. Kaufman's answer: If 1t
makes sense go right ahead.
Mr.. Askin thought it made sense
and went right ahead.
X
Two of the towns major amateur
groups have plays in rehearsal and
are ready at this point to announce
casts.
The Blackfriars Guild will be
opening its season with Ladies in
Retirement" with cast which in
cludes Natalie Core, Albert Siga-
foose, Nell Fleming, Marion Leigh.
Helen Hickey, Gertrude Powell and
Mildred Carroll. The play will be
presented at st. Pauls Auditorium
October %, 20 and 80.
The Montgomery Players are
opening their season the evening OF
Saturday, October 25, at Leland
Junior High School, with George
Washington Slept Here" Harrison
r. Hathaway is directing and his
cast includes Doris Dewey Day. Ed
mund Soper, Phyllis Rands, Frank
T Hoadley, Mabel Lukens, Roger
Hamilton, Joan Spencer, Virginia
Carpenter, Prentiss Childs, Fred
erick Kerby, John John, Jack Rob-
erts, Margaret Day, Shirley Lynne
and Irving M. Day.
X
Discussing William Saroyan is
both one of the safest and one of
the most dangerous things a COM
mentator upon things theatrical can
do. It's safe because whatever is
said is likely to be met with ire
futable argument by some Saroyan
character in the audience. Still, in
the face of this even, we feel safe
in observing that Mr.. Saroyan is
more imaginative than anyone you
can name off hand in selecting 10
Gales for his plays. A far cry from
that wonderful waterfront saloon
of "The Time of Your Life" is the
setting Mr.. Saroyan has selected to
house the Saroyan antics of his new
play called Jim Dandy" The &C
ton of this takes place in the read
ing room of a public library.
You will have your chance to
look upon Mr. Saroyan's notion OF
what might happen in a public
library reading room some time in
the latter part of October, when
"Jim Dandy" is staged by the
speech and drama department OF
Catholic University, as was re-
ported yesterday. This seems to
prove Walter Kerr, who is guiding
drama activities at c. U. during the
years absence of Father Gilbert ".
Hartke. and his associates definite
Saroyan enthusiasts. 1t was at
Catholic University last year that
Washingtonians had an opportu-
nifty to see MY Hearts in the High
lands" with the leading role being
played by Frederic Tozere, who
most recently was seen in Washing
ton doing his darnedest to make
"Two-Story House" (now renamed
Cuckoo on the Hearth" on Broad
way) resemble a play.
In addition to what probably
will be the world premiere of Jim
Dandy" further distinction is be-
ing won by Catholic University by
way of the Iabors Of Leo Brady.
Mr.. Brady's "One-Punch Judy"
the crackerjack adolescent comedy
which was presented by the c. U.
high school laboratory group during
the summer, has just lately been
selected by Variety as one of the
best possibilities for Broadway pro-
duction among the straw hat" Of
ferings. Variety listed total of
1O4 plays tried out in the country
theaters during the summer and
selected "One-Punch Judy" as one
of the II outstanding Movie max
ers are angling for it, too.