Evening star., 1952-05-07


behalf of amending the local chi
actors. The three were Alan
Frances Clark. Members of the
House District Committee were
impressed with the witnesses, and
the witnesses were impressed by
the members Of the committee.
Chairman John L. McMillin,
presiding, complimented the wit
nesses not only on the intelligent
and fair quality of their presenta-
ton, but upon its amusing aspects.
Demonstrating the funda-
mental soundness of the commit
tees makeup was the nature Of
its own questioning. -. Testimony
about which it was most curious
or more likely the witness-was
that of Miss Clark. She plays
the Grand Duchess in Call Me
Madam" but at the hearing she
acted perfectly the role of an at
tractive actress attracting Con-
gresSmen. She is former child
actress, a graduate of the Pro-
fessional Children's School in New
York, and clearly impressed the
committee as performer to whom
no harm had come by a theater
childhood.
Crisp, clear and probably more
effective If less glamorous was the
testimony of District Commis-
sioner F. Joseph Donohue. j
Speaking for the Board Of Com
missioners and the Board OF Edu-
cation, he made the telling point
that both are in favor Of the
proposed amendments. These
would permit children as young as
seven to play eight performances
weekly. until 1880 pm. on local
stages, subject to proper safe
guards. . These would match in
rigor the requirements of New
York's own law relating to the
health and welfare of children in
the theater.
Two other excellent witnesses
before the committee were Play
wright Producer Actor Howard
Lindsay and Producer Author =
Lyricist Oscar Hammerstein II.
.. AS co-author and star of Life
With Father" Lindsay needed vir-
tually a monopoly on child actor
labor a few years ago, was proud
to say that all of his plays null
titudinous offspring have turned
into fine citizens. And fire.
quently employed actors. E. "Act-
ing is fun for both adults and chill
dren, more for the latter" Lind
say told the committee.
If the spirit of the hearing
means anything. the Washington
law will be amended to permit
such heretofore unbookable at
fractions in Washington as South
Pacific" 'The King and l." "The
Member of the Wedding" sandtl
many others. >. Although no one
brought it up. Uncle Toms
Cabin" would be banned under
the present law, enacted in 1928,
amended in 1941, now urged for
liberalization to bring it into con-
formity with other statutes.
\ X 4 y
Clearly the tops in surprises in
the movie and play award season
is the Pulitzer choice Of Joseph
Kram's first play, THE Shrike." +"
The New York critics gave it
the barest second thought in MAX
ing their award. Outside of a
great performance by Jose Fer
rer and some clever direction on
his part, it was dismissed as good
theater, weak play. Kindest
reactions to the decision: Kram's
q nice guy who got fired from his
regular job the day after his play
opened; this is a Ferrer year.
"The Male Animal" which did
so well in its pre-Broadway week
at the Gayety, is New York's new
est old hit. ;. The Elliott Nugent-
Martha Scott starrer may move
downtown for a regular run after
its City Center fortnight. . The
New York Times Brooks Atkinson
called it the best comedy of the
season. ). And no one called him
an eXaggerater.
y X
Most impressive public figure in
the opening Call Me Madam"
audience. at least to the New York.
erS down for the occasion, was
Gen. George c. Marshall j.. They
were still talking about his ruddy,
,restful. healthful appearance yes
terday Most tretful one was
Russell Grouse, co-author of the
book Of the musical He keeps
the topical quality of the show up
to date, always worries about