Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-03-24

Chanel models she's now wear
ing in 1.-THE ct Sympathie" at
the Theatre de Paris in Pigalle.
Obviously happy and perfectly
At despite rumors to the con-
trary, she's playing nightly be-
fore houses too packed to
squeeze in one more "fana-
tique." But it's Bergman alone
who brings them in, for the
original theme of Tea and
Sympathy" is neither interest
ing nor very understandable to
French audiences.
In the French version it's
become, through subtle en-
phasis, more of the sort Of love
story the French appreciate
than the sort of problem play
they don't. Ingrid Bergman is
the lovely. loving, leading
lady. At 40 her face is still
glowingly beautiful but 1t must
be admitted frankly that she's
downright dowdy In that
Chanel wardrobe. Chanel
clothes are best on fragile
types and Bergman. even with
out an extra gram Of weight.
is not fragile.
How odd that fate has cast
this woman. who'd be ideal
in the role of Mother Earth,
as a femme fatale. Audiences
here are far too sophisticated
to be entirely beguiled by ro-
mantle happenings in the life
of she who then became Sc
nora Roberto Rosselini. OF
course they're intrigued by the
live presence of a living love
story but this wouldn't be
enough to spellbind Paris
where great women stars are
called MADAME" not the coy
Miss"
Madame Ingrid Bergman
does spellbind them night after
night. That she does is proved
by the long loud BRAVOS
ringing out not only at the
final curtain but for curtain
calls after each act. Curtain
calls between acts are tradi-
tional in the continental
theater but braves are not
really very often heard from
these blase audiences.
Greatest Living Actress
This woman Ingrid Berg
man is certainly the worlds
greatest living actress, whether
or not she is awarded the
Oscar on March q. Who else
can and does perform in
Swedish. German. English.
Italian and French? Once
again, with Tea and Sympa-
thy" here in Paris. she's pulled
of the brilliantly high stand
ard she set for herself. She is
the worlds greatest and prob
ably only automatically inter-
national star.
To see Ingrid Bergman in
her element is a privilege. AL
Paris is in her debt for hav-
ing chosen this city for her
long winters run. And since
she's losing no interest in the
project, and isn't suffering
from it, the play may run right
through until the normal fer
meture annuelle in August.
While tickets to Broadway
shows starring far lesser lights
are sold at scalpers' prices and
waits run into months, any
one can buy a ticket to see
Bergman for only $50 francs
(75 cents providing he's will
ing to wait all of three weeks.
But disapproval of Bergman
is not dead or so judged one
Of Americas major radio net
works which rejected a lauda-
tory script about her because,
I'VE don't believe our listeners
are sufficiently sophisticated
to accept such a piece on
Bergman" And Bergman her.
self is playing 1t cautiously.
Wearing a new emerald neck.
lace from her husband, she
attended the Paris opening Of
"Anastasia," but refused to 60
to the opening in London be-
cause Princess Margaret had
promised to be there too. APP
parently no one in all Eng
land thought that Ingrid
Bergman Rosselini's presence
might embarrass a member of
the anti-divorce royal family.
but I. B. r. thought that it
might, and so she didn't go.
It's Working in Rome
Many attempts to esta blish
an English speaking theater in
Paris have failed but 1t looks
as though it's going to work in
Rome. perhaps because of the
high and permanent popula-
ton of professional and work.
Ing English speaking actors
eager to trod the boards of a
live theater. The movies busy
them by day, although that
business has its ups and
downs. Currently it's on the
upswing after a long and
dreary slump, Actually there's
very little theater at all In
Rome, English or Italian,
which is Ingrid Bergman's
stated reason for playing here
IN Paris.
England's delightful star
Alec Guinness practically found
himself left to New York BUSH
nessman-cum- theatrical angel
Robert Bowling in the will Of
the late Sir Alexander Korda.
1t seems that Korda owned
the Guinness contract but Dowl-
ing's money had bought it.
Guinness completely trusted
Korda's artistic taste but not
Dowling's and refused to bulge
and the principle Of "you-can-
lead : : horse to-water-but-
you can't make him drink"
thonrxy