Evening star., 1943-05-16
Sounds Of a Dying Feud
Yet Another Critic Offers His Analyses
Of the Kingsley and the Wilder

Evans (Mrs. Sidney Kingsley was
fine as Patsy, Jefferson's daughter.
Whoever wrote the program note
for Maj. Thornton Wilder's THE
Skin of Our Teeth" had his tongue
in his cheek, of course. 1t reads:
To Our Indestructibility.
Here is comedy about George
Antrobus, his wife and two children
and their general utility maid, Lily
Sabina, all of Excelsior, N. ]. George
Antrobus is John Doe, or George
Spelvin, or you-the average Amer
lean at grips with destiny sometimes
sour, sometimes sweet.
'The Antrobuses have survived
fire, flood, pestilence and seven-year
locusts, the ice age, the black pox
an dthe double feature, dozen wars
and the double feature, dozen wars
many gamut, are as durable as
radiators, and look upon the future
with a disarming optimism. Alter
nately bewitched, befuddled and be-
Gained, they are the stuff of which
heroes are made-heroes and buf-
foons. They are the true offspring
of Adam and Eve. victims of all the
ills that flesh is heir to. They have
survived thousand calamities by
the skin of their teeth. Here is a
tribute to their indestructibility."
OF
long when my companion remarked:
80 what? Let's have more Tallu-
lah Bankhead."
Miss Bankhead's role is the richest
in the play She is the eternal
Wanton, and in the parts she is
kidding the play and the audience
you find the most humor. In fact,
if it were not for her Sabina there
would be little fun in the comedy.
F'redric March and his wife, Flor
ence Eldridge, who were mainly
responsible for bringing the play to
Broadway, are good as Mr.. and Mrs.
Antrobus. They and Miss Bankhead
are leaving the cast soon for vaca-
tions and Michael Myerberg, the
finding suitable successors.
Current Competitors.
I mentioned above plays as good
or better than the prize winners.
Here is a list. Some have been
around long while. others are
new. They range through musicals.
comedies and serious drama:
Sons and Soldiers" a remark
able drama by Irwin Shaw.
Noel Coward's "Blithe Spirit" now
in its 10th month and scheduled to
close after another month.
Paul MUM in the revival of "Coun-
sellor at Law"
The rousing musical play, okla
homa"
Something for the Boys" with
Ethel Norman
Uncle Harry" murder mystery
which has run quietly and success
fully for year. It's really swell.
Tomorrow, the World"
"Ziegfeld Follies."
"The Doughgirls."
Ethel Barrymore in "The Corn Is
Green"
"By Jupiter" which has the ex-
cellent dancer comedian, Ray Boil
ger.
Angel Street." in its second year.
arsenic and Old Lace" in its
third year.
And Life With Father" rolling
merrily, along with its barrels Of
laughs through its fourth year.
Notes.-The current edition of
Sonia Henie's and Arthur M. Wirtz's
STARS on Ice" after playing to
l ,181 900 persons since last July 2,
closes today and the new edition
opens June "a. Early to Bed"
a musical, opens its tryout in Boston
May "a. -. Muriel Angelus, Lon
don-born star. has the leading role.
Z. Miriam Hopkins, lately of the
films, is among those mentioned as
Tallulah Bankhead's successor in
THE Skin of Our Teeth" Ger.
aldine Fitzgerald, the Irish actress.
is giving one of the years outstand.
ingly fine performances in Sons
and Soldiers" =. And virtually all
the critics are writing about the
hilariously funny portrayal of tho
ancient doctor by William Wads-
worth In the recently opened
'Three's Family" !.