Evening star., 1955-05-10


for an equal period. These will
carry on, Mr.. Lotto hopes, the
tradition that the National shall
be one of the more successful
summer musical centers among
the Nations legitimate theaters.
AS traditions go, this one is
not very old, mere four years.
Nevertheless, from Call Me
Madam" in 1851 through South
Pacific" last summer, the Ma
tional has had the rent money,
and more. Moreover, scores of
performers who have worked
here during the hotter months
have gone away to deny that it
is warmer here than elsewhere.
X X X X
CONSISTENT TYPE: Mr.. Lo-
tito, whose tan comes from the
Spring Lake, N. j., golf course
where he maintains a summer
home, is the New York City The
aters' booking genius and also
the Nationals.
Over the weekend, he had
shot a pair of 92s, which makes
him an average sort of golfer,
but a paragon of consistency for
a man who has spent his life
in the theater. The only con-
siStent performance expected of
show people is one breath after
another. x x X
MELANCHOLY NOTE: Mr..
Lotto had news for the drama
desks that went beyond Can
Can" and THE King And l."
And, although he was sorry. it
was less cheerful news. 1t had
to do with the attitudes of pro-
ducers. These can be pretty
appalling in their lack of logic
but since Mr.. Lotto is as much
the victim of them as Washing
ton theatergoers, he's not to
blame for them.
Why, for instance, doesn't
Washington get more big musi-
Gals, especially those bound for
New York in try-out? Say Damn
Yankees" the newest hit song
based upon Washington's Doug
Wallop's novel?
well" Mr. Lotto looked
rueful. there are several rea-
sons-good and bad. For one,
big musical needs lots of re-
hearsal in its pre-Broadway
state. You can't rehearse on
a stage in Washington without
paying stage hands, as you can
elsewhere. Costs are fantastic
enough without adding this one,
especially when musicals are in
the Shape-up stage and the en-
phaSis is up on outgo, instead
of income.
Then, I hear another story:
much more surprising. Producers
and remember they're the ones
among whom I find tenants for
our theaters, including the Ma
tional-say a funny thing about
Washington. Too close to New
York. they say, $50 close it will
hurt business when the show gets
to Broadway"
But it is no closer than Bos-
ton, and approximately only half
as close as Philadelphia" the
local drama desks protested.
That's what I tell them, as
emphatically as I can since it is
my job to keep the National
lighted" Mr.. Lotto shrugged
Another thing I tell them, which
they already know, although to
no appreciable effect, is that this
is great theater town. l think,
for instance. you could get eight
huge weeks of The Pajama
Game" here. You probably will,
but in the summer of 1857"
X Il n
LOYALTY TEST: Despite its
vicissitudes, and the numbing en-
counters with its lack of logic,
Mr.. Lotto remains unshakeably
loyal to the so-called living
theater.
He could have turned the Ma
tional over this summer for the
road show of the filmed okla
homa"
I'VE never gave it second
thought" he says. That's what
we rescued the National from be-
ing, picture house. We'd look
ridiculous letting it revert"
4 Y \ 4
All, THOSE PRICES: Mr..
Lotto, whom everyone calls
Louie. by the way, is no man to
dodpe responsibility On the