Evening star., 1943-06-29
Prosperous Time
For the Theater
Across the Sea
Shaw Is Thrice.Evidenf
But Critics Are Cool
T0ward Junior Miss
BY Russell Landstrom.
LONDON.

London theaters are enjoying an
other of their remarkable wartime
prosperity phases.
Thirty-two houses are open, offer.
ing broad variety of entertainment,
and producer would be stumped to
find a theater for another produce
ton.
Shaw, Synge and Ibsen are on the
boards, and so are many musicals of
by no means equal worth. Shaw is
represented by three presentations
the durable Doctors Dilemma
starring Vivien Leigh; "Heartbresk
House." which opened recently with
cast headed by Robert Donat,
Edith Evans, Isabel Jeans and De-
borah Kerr, and the Don Juan in
He'll" scene from Man and Super
man." part Of new bill by the
Arts Theater
Synge's THE Well of the Saints"
is favored with exceptionally skillful
treatment in the hands of an Arts
Theater cast Ibsens "Hedda
Gabler" is displayed by Sonia
Dresdel. whose first appearance in
the part was at Ashley Dukes Mer-
curry Theater. Critics found her
electrifying.
Among recent first nights, that Of
Firth Shephard's production Of
Junior Miss" was a standout. A
number Of the critics couldn't make
up their minds.
The chief reason for critical COOL
ness apparently was that the charm
of the play was lost on the reviewers.
They could see no more in 1t than
gag situations that exploited pre-
cocity. Appreciation Of that sort Of
thing, they argued, is peculiarly
American. One English writer stig-
matized it "a play for simpletons
More valid reasons for adverse
criticism would lie in the imperfect
casting for the parts of Judy and
Fluffy, the ebullient adolescents who
involve the others of the play in a
succession of difficulties. Both Joan
White as Judy and Peggy Cummins
as Fluffy are too old for the roles.
though they work at 1t valiantly.
The producer had to cast Junior
Miss" that way, or forego putting 1t
on at all in the ever more pinching
war years.
Ballet After Spencer.
Lupino Lane is back with a new
musical called La a-di-da-di-da," a
title which is unfortunate for more
than typographical reasons.
The Sadler's Wells Ballet, patro-
nized as only the best or most pub
licized attractions are, returned to
London at the end of March; its
new ballet for the spring season is
The Quest" an adaptation by Doris
Langley Moore of a theme from
Spencer's 'Faerie Queene," the mu-
sic by William Walton.
George Black is benefitting from
the first few weeks of Strike New
Note" a youth-and-gsiety ensemble
which is indebted in principle to
George Abbot's Best Foot For
ward the big hit in the United
States. Its freshness has placed 1t
high on the must see" list.
The biggest box office success is
Arsenic and Old Lace" Reserva-
tions for this one-which may prove
to be the smash hit of the year
must be made weeks ahead. Three
other American plays, Claudia" /"
The Man Who Came to Dinner"
and THE Petrifled Forest" the lat
ter co-starring Constance Cum
mings, Owen Mares and Hartley
Power, fare comfortably.
The longest running plays in Lon
don are Noel Coward's "Blithe
Spirit and Quiet Week End" a
simple, unpretentious but expertly
constructed comedy of contretemps
In q prewar English family circle.
A major April opening was a re-
vival of Congreve's Love for Love" !"
its an-star dimensions taking in
John Gielgud, Leslie Banks, Angela
Baddeley, Leon Quaterman and Max
Adrian.