Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-08-29

AASS0A4 AACAPCA bCACt4oAO11 QU ~ III
Anyhow, it has been lying fallow
down there on the Franconia
road for several years, until this
late August of 1855.
The irony is that television's
victim has been revived not by
the movies fighting back but by
q grass-roots branch of the poor,
moribund theater. It is the new
Globe Repertory Theater Com
pany that has relit the Sylvia. II
is the notion of Richard D. Wa
tiers. who has engaged in similar
projects on the West Coast, that
those living in Franconia and
environs would welcome a resi-
dent acting group in their midst,
A great many Franconians agree
that this is a fine thing for the
community.
+ \
The Globe Company is start
ing out as a hopeful cooperative
venture, much in the same man
ner as Arena Stage got started
when setting out to win its
place in its community. Getting
the theater ready and the first
production on the boards has
been a sort of labor Of love for
Mr.. Waters and those associated
with him.
They have made the Sylvia,
which was no gilded showcase
Of a movie house to begin with,
quite a livable home. Out Of
necessity-the old movie screen
was right up against the back
wall-they have settled for a
sort of cross between in-the-
round and conventional staging.
This involves an open playing
area. but with the 200 seats fac
ing it instead of surrounding II
on four sides. It works out fine.
The Globe Repertory players
first production is r. c. Sheriff s
World War drama, Journeys
End" which offers both advan-
tages and disadvantages for q
non-professional group. Among
the latter are the facts that the
royalty is a bit sitter than for
some other plays and that an
All-male cast is required. 1t is,
however, q drama that is etfec-
tive to q degree if merely enun-
eiated clearly. and q set Of the
ater devotees with a stack Of
scrap lumber and 80 cents worth
Of nails can make an authentic
set for it.
It probably will not surprise
the Globe folks any If a critic
Is forced to admit that he has
seen Journeys End" played
more skillfully. This drama Of
Life In the trenches during that
war to end all wars is some
thing Of a semiclassic, though.
If you've never seen it and you
are In the Franconia neighbour
hood. you ought to drop in. It
won't hurt a bit unless you re-
fuse to settle for anything less
than Sir Laurence Olivier.
The players - particularly
Robert Speaker. Raynor Clark,
Robert Walker and Warren
Pfaff-do get the narrative
across in recognizable condition.
The major fault of this Jour-
ney's End" is that Director Wat
ers has not been able to get a
concert out of the various So
loists occupying the stage. The
pace on opening night was
ragged and uneven. too. Mr..
Pfaff, especially. had trouble
finding level. going from highs
to lows in the intensity of his
performance.
This still. Of course, is a COM
mendable effort to enrich the
community life around Fran
coma. The Globe players are
operating only on Thursday,
Friday and Saturday nights, In
cidentally, at this early stage of
their venture. If the Francon-
ians and visitors from other
neighborhoods increase the de-
mand, however, the supply will
be increased.
MONDAY MEMOES-Speak-
ing Of supply and demand, the
latter intensified noticably when
This Is Cinerama officially
went into the concluding weeks
of its long run at the Warner
Theater. Consequently, the sup
ply has been increased by two
matinee performances a week
at 2 pm. on Monday and Tues
day-at least until further no
tice. The new one, "Cinerama
Holiday" is set for a September
% opening. The premiere will
be sponsored by the Variety Club
as benefit for its welfare fund
for Childrens Hospital.
The darlington Players will
conduct tryouts tomorrow and
Wednesday nights. under the
direction of Leo Garoon. Object:
Casting THE Happiest Days of
Our Life" Time: $50 pm.
Place: darlington Administra-