Evening star., 1942-11-13

CIuQlng Kay FRANCIS, CarOle Lam
dis, Mitzi Mayfair and Martha Rave
has just arrived in Great Britain
under the auspices of the motion
picture division of USO-Camp
Shows to entertain American troops
stationed in the British Isles.
The members of this volunteer
theatrical task force have all ap-
peared extensively at Army and
Navy training bases in the United
States and will present to soldiers
overseas an integrated variety pro-
gram OF songs, dances and comedy
Screen Star Kay Francis will act
as mistress of ceremony of the
troupe. Film Actress Carole Lands
will do a song and comedy routine.
Mltzl Mayfair, dancer of Broadway
musical comedy fame, will perform
several OF her stage dance successes
in addition to request dances, and
Martha Raye, singing and dancing
comedienne, will offer her own in
terpretations of popular song num-
bers. Material for this all-star re-
vue was written by Hal Block, we'll
known radio writer.
The troupe composed of Miss
Francis, Miss Lands, Miss Mayfair
and Miss Raye, who have all can
celed commercial radio and screen
engagements for the period, will
remain in Great Britain for ap-
proximately two months.
Cnr1n 1n1nfn Chnsv MFsL-s-Ix
The number of telephone calls
that have been received by the
Earle Theater Office in regard to
the late show they are presenting
Saturday night has the manage
ment wondering whether theater-
goers will descend on them for this
show en- masse
Callers ask whether it is true that
the late show begins at midnight.
The answer is yes. Then they ask
whether that means a complete
show will be seen. The Earle an
swers yes again. Caller then asks
II this late show is going to be
presented each week end, and the
theater replies that it is a special
late show for this week only-with
the possibility of other shows like
1t being presented.
The screen attraction is ''My Sis
ter Eileen" with Sue Ryan, the
Three Samuels and the Roxyettes
on the stage.
Good Reel for Draftees.
AT the TranS-Lux Theater. start.
ing today, in addition to the news
reels, will be the first issue of RKO
Pictures "This Is America" series.
entitled Private Smith, U. S. A."
This elaborately produced two
reeler tells the sorry of the Ameri-
can youth now in the armed serv-
Ice, OF what he goes through physi-
cally and mentally in the time that
ne becomes adjusted and trans
formed from civilian to a soldier.
Other attractions are the latest Dis
ney cartoon, Army Mascot" and
the Kaltenborn and McCrary shorts,
now regular weekly numbers.
Russian Play Is Ready.
The Theater Guild announces that
Clifford Odets has completed the
acting version for the American
stage of Konstantin Simonov's
drama: THE Russian People" Mr..
Odets has been steadily at work
on the manuscript since the guild
purchased the play one month ago.
Harris Moss translated the play
into English. The Russian Peo-
Pile" will be placed in rehearsal
Monday under the direction of Har-
old Clurman.
In sharp contrast to without
Love" and "Mr. Sycamore, the
guilds current comedies, THE Rus
sian People vividly portrays the
dramatic struggle of the Russian
people against the Nazi aggressor.
Simonov became a war correspond
ent of international fame with his
stirring accounts of the defense of
Moscow, Leningrad and Stalingrad.
THE Russian People" will be
Clifford Odets' first Broadway rep
resentation since Clash by Night
produced last December. This play
will be one of the attractions of
the American Theater Society's
Washington subscription season.