Evening star., 1949-07-31
Anqie Came to Life
In Soroyon's Play
Whimsical Playwright Finds Man
Far Funnier Than He Bargained
By Joy Cormody

By Joy Cormody
Eddie Bowling Saroyans Time OF
Life" Meridian Park Theater last weekand through
tonight.
time encountered real life Saroyan character and
thrown for loss
Eddies perfectly in the Saroyan diom
down to his name, Angie Poulos.
Angie was Greek American proud type walked
as if he were feet inches tall instead inches
Downg sped the Broadway theater district
marching putian through mob of his bggers
but of whom could have been his betters
Walked an Emperor
II fascinated by the little guy Eddie Here we were
ehearsg play Loves Old Sweet Song and this
hired Also everything about the little chap suggested he
an actor even down to fierce sort Of Chaplin mustache
There was no way out of it. I had to stop him
Downgs first question was whether the little man was an
world the II funny but they do not know
this that Hollywood which California They do not let
act, the greatest comedian in the world"
Dowings instant decision that this ban Angie should
right him Immediately the theater.
introduced him Saroyan Walter Huston Jessie Royce Lands
and the others.
The Great Gave Him a Bow
II introduced him his words the greatest comedian
the world Dowlng recalls land they him worthy
of lesser Angie suddenly where he had always
what that The fact Angie really funny unnier
in his way than in the play
only Bill (Saroyan) had msgivings about but
finally wrote Angie into the play"
The part him Greek-Amercan
who moved lawns All during reheasas he kept the entire
of hlarty walowing recognition
funny man-n exactly in the thought himself
angie was simply out-Saroyaning Saroyan," Bowling
"and while it giving Bill fits the rest Of having
normal laughter convusons His accent said feeling
of being great actor his walk everything about him
You could not fail him character who had
found his niche saroyan character"
1t opening night at Princeton that Angie his
greatest performance.
1T brought the house down. Dowlng but also left
Saroyan's show in complete ruins"
Huston Started % Act.
called Angie moving outside
Huston bedroom window AS he he made happy little
until they a awakened Huston
beVOn The
Huston. Downg recalls, was supposed to lean the
window and tell Angie In rehearsal being actor
wastes he had merely said the line quietly opening
night as he was supposed to do he beloved
Angie outraged that any should address
greatest actor the world He started screaming
the lines that Saroyan had written, but others coming
straight from his heart
you big you got hours to show
big you Me- got two minutes and you
try to kill two minutes What for do this
you. you-'"
Bowling never will know which laughed the longest and
ouds the Princeton audience backsage
He does know that Angles
one of the funniest things a stage
1t Couldn't Laughed OFF,
There wasn't much could do for the show after that
Downg Huston tried explain the audience actually
simply had come to life and made wrecks all the other characters
in the play"
especially saroyan recognized Angie the menace
he after that episode They tried keep him under
but they were only partially successful.
His demise the funniest character appear a
Saroyan play funny poignant happened
day when Saroyan issued umatum that funny
only In the that Saoyan and the director wanted him be-
He would speak only the lines written for him and another
word. or he would be fired.
angie disappeared hours felt badly for
him." Eddie HE did come back however
with bundle of tied rubber band
met saroyan he began to read in that mad
funniest autobiography written 1t his life story
great he how much better than
how he had spent $500 learning speak the
TITS last line, I'll forget. read: you
spend to learn speak English. saroyan?'"
Bowling does not know where Angie now. But
wherever he is he Angie Of the funniest