Evening star., 1942-12-15

s.myonov : --------- Mark schveit
k Army Inssnn EEssss f%as
Koser, Ad Karns. Ernest Graves Harr,
Meller. Jon Dawson, Michael strong.-
Rssnck Sos. ssost1sE5 shn0 Meh.s ns
Greben; Lucien Arnold Ruttman. sey
mour Osborne.
undertakes the ultimate in hazard!
and sees it through to success. In.
cidental characters, some drawn ir
rather shallow dimensions, por.
tray graphically and sympatheti
cally certain phases Of Russian life
and character, folks with norma.
emotions and all fired with terri
BILE intent to punish the invader
Excellent Cast in Play.
The Theater Guild has supplied q
superlative cast for the complete
Interpretation of Simonov -Odets
Leon Ames as the guerrilla com.
mander transfers into valid term!
the inspirational aims of the sol.
dier, carries through effectively
the dominant love theme of the
play. Luther Adler has bestowed
upon him the most colorful char
acter created by Simonov, a Rec
Lothario in his leisure moments,
bu; supremely loyal to the cal
of duty. Adler makes him vivid and
alive, completely understanding
Elisabeth Fraser looks extremely
we'll nourished for a courier who
underwent countless hardships, but
this robust health did not detract
from her well-acted emotional
scenes. vibrant with rich opportu-
nifty. Victor Varconi gives an out
standing. performance as Vasin,
veteran Of several wars, who be-
comes chief of staff. Eleonora Men
delssohn was superb as the oppressed
and tragic mother Of the Russian
commander. Other excellent sup
port is provided by Margaret Waller
Rudolph Anders, Joseph Shattuck,
Randolph Echols, Anna Minot and
Herbert Berghof.
Throughout the play a Russian
male chorus is heard singing back
ground inspirational music of the
Red Army and Soviet songs. THE
Russian People" is a propaganda
play, but it is rousing theater. It
got 10 curtain calls last night after
the first performance, as hearty as
any given for good melodrama in
the days when 1t was regular menu
OF the playhouse.
About Count Me In"
Lester Cowan of Columbia Pic
lures, who controls the screen
rights to the Catholic University
musical. Count Me In,' writes that
this is the HOLLYWOOD situation:
Both Paramount and Metro-Gold-
Wyn-Mayer have shown some inter-
est-Paramount with Victor Moore
in mind: MGM with Frank Nor
gan and Mickey Rooney in mind.
Eddie Cantor is interested, but War
ner Bros. to whom he is under con-
tract, are not enthusiastic.
Out Of all this something is likely
to happen soon to Count Me In" as
a screen possibility.
+% ~
Mr.. Davies Is Particular.
Ambassador Joseph E. Davies Is
taking keen interest in the screen
transcription Of his book, Mission
to Moscow" Even appears on the
Warner Bros. lot to overlook pro-
duction. When he arrived recently
and saw Walter Huston getting
ready to act, Davies inquired /:
Who's he supposed to be?" "You,"
they replied. Then Mr.. Davies ex-
planned since all Of the other nota-
bles resembled the men they were
portraying something ought to be
done about Huston resembling him
So they killed the footage already
shot, with new makeup devised
for Mr.. Huston which makes him
resemble Mr.. Davies.
Discussion on Russia.
The Russian people and the the
ater Of that country was the SUBJ
juct Of an interesting panel discus
sion this afternoon at the home OF
Mrs. Clifford Pinchot. 1915 Rhode Is.
land avenue NV. Taking part were
Theresa Helburn, administrative di-
rector Of the Theater Guild; Clifford
Odets, who adapted Simonov's play
"T'he Russian People" for American
audiences. with Harold Clurman, d.
rector: Henry Wadsworth Longfel.
low Dana. lecturer on the Russian
theater; Luther Asher and Leor
Ames of the cast now presenting the
play at the National Theater.
X X \
Play for Apex Theater.
Subscribers to Glare Tree Major.
Children's Theater of New York to.
day received notice from the Chill.
dren's Museum of Washington
which sponsors the Washington sea.
son of the plays, that "Pinocchio,
the Christmas attraction, originally
scheduled for the National Theatel
on Tuesday morning, December 20
at 1890 o'clock, will be presented in
stead at the Apex motion pictur,
house, at 4813 Massachusetts, avenue
NV. The day and hour remain
the same.
Arsenic and Old Lace" the reg
ular attraction at the Nationa
Theater the week Of December "a
Is driving the youngsters out to seel
a new house for their play.
Those who have seen this chilling
play will remember the gloomy Sc
in which all the action Of the pla,
is laid. and 1t Is this same set which
is adding still another episode Il
the saga Of the little wooden puppet
Try as they might, neither the Ma
tional Theater stage hands, the the
ater management nor the Children
Theater could figure . way to pu
/ the outdoor sets. Of "Pinocchio" II
front of the Arsenic and Old Lace
set without completely destroying al
illusion. Hence the reason for tn
move.