Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1958-03-08

indeed that KEITH FrlngS' a0ap
novel was deemed a cinch for b
prizes.
Well, it is March now and
twinges of uncertainty have re-
placed autumn's absolute con-
victions on the subject.
This is a seasonal phenom-
enon based in part upon the
fact that as drama years draw
to a close, critics become pre-
dictable. They have been ex-
posed to considerable wear and
tear and this. more than the
appearance of possibly better
plays, accounts for the doubts
about the ultimate best play
choice.
In terms of the reviews subse-
quent productions have re-
ceived, Look Homeward. An
gel" will face several COMPETE
tors. One would be Joshua
Logan's production Of BLUE
Denim" by James Leo Herlihy
and William Noble.
Mr.. Logan is always a COM
petitor to watch. In blue
DENIM" he has come up with a
subject that is not unrelated
to the theme of Mrs. Frings'
play, the plight Of the ado
lescent. Dealing as it does with
a pair of involuntarily Juvenile
delinquents, it is in some re-
spectS both more universal and
timely than Mrs. Frings' por-
trait of the writer (Wolfe) as
young man.
Moreover, the latter hap
pened to be the subject Of two
other plays this season, Wines
burg, Ohio" and William Inge's
1.-THE Dark at the Top of the
Stairs" The former was a
quickish failure, the latter is
still one of the seasons box
office hits.
BLUE Denim" may profit in
the critics voting by seeming
the more fresh play as to
theme.
AS to other possible compe-
titors, a ballot or two might
go to William Gibson's enor-
mously successful, 1.-TWO for the
Seesaw," although its rhap-
sodic praises were directed
more to the playing Of Anne
Bancroft and Henry Fonda
than to the play itself. And
don't overlook Dore Schary's
Sunrise at Campobello."
All things considered. Look
Homeward, Angel" is still the
best bet for the critics decision
at its April 8 meeting at the
Algonquin, the hotel at which
the critics annually do their
most serious thinking.
y
THE MUSICAL: Their YER
dict on the years best musical
may be the one that touches
off the lolideSt denunciatiOn of
the drama reviewers.
The top candidates could not
be more distinctive in quality
If they were Democrats and
Republicans. One of these is
the lean, hard and exciting
"West Side Story" the collab-
grafton of Leonard Bernstein.
Jerome Robbins and Arthur
Laurents. The other is the
large. opulent slice Of Ameri-
cana, 1.-THE Music Man."
In the contest between them,
art and entertainment meet in
one of the most direct, head-on
duelS in seasons. Whichever
wins, the enthusiasts for the
other are bound to demand an
accounting of the critics.
4 X 4 4
THE IMPORTS: The odds-on
favorite among the foreign
plays on Broadway will have to
be John Osborne's Look Back
in Anger" Running as an entry
with it is the same young Eng
lishman's 1.-THE Entertainer"
but the critics have made it
clear already that this one
owes everything to Sir Laur-
ence Olivier as its star.
The third candidate is Peter
Ustinov's omanoff and
Juliet" which has delighted
thousands of theatergoers. 1t
happens, however, to be a
comedy and a vehicle for its
enormously talented author.
Critics are not much impressed
by these aspects of a candidate.
+ \ 4
SATURDAY SUMMAR Y:
How do you look at television?
Well, Cheryl Crawford still
looks at it more intently {.
Like so many, she saw Peter
Ustinov in James Lees video
play, THE Life Of Samuel
johnson" The production
over. she promptly got in