The Detroit tribune. (Detroit, Mich.) 1935-1966, 1958-06-14
SEEM


New York City--(SNS}-- oiii'
ply Heavenly" in London.
The biz news this week is the
opening Of Langston Hughes play
Simply Heavenly IN Lon
don with the original stars
and a few nex ones added
However. the heartbreakins news
is-London critics panned II
Opening al the Adelphi inca
trc last week with a $3.50 top
Londoners just didn't understand
Hughes simple writings oil
Harlem character who knows ms
Harlem streets his Harlem
women - and finds JOY in be-
ing alive in big, noisy place
like Harlem It's fantasy -
not TO be typed to the Negro as
the only play he can wrltc--but
a warm, sincere story OF a guy
and his troubles with his girl.
However - London. in its fog
81 atmosphere. just didn't get
the point. One critic wrote
Simply Heavenly is an artlcss
Harlem story about a chlldlike
Negro who refuses TO pay for a
divorce so he can marry his
sweetheart. and who keeps get
ting sidetracked by a neighbor-
hood flOozy
He also says In most ways
7, 5 Disappointing choice, for
3, lacks real vitality and the score
Is Indifferent. although that i'm
preston may be attributed TO
Laurence Harvcy's staging. The
production is hardly helped by
tie fact TIA, The romantic leads
ave Necal'Y inadequate, notably
on the ballads
in other words - the English.
nan has completely missed the
point the magic of Jessie b.
Simple and his era have been
lost And the star, Melvin
Stewart, who played the lead
here in the off-Broadway produc-
ton to more appreciative audi.
enccs. is classified. by the British.
as "a moderate romantic lead
What blow to this young
star who received such good, en-
couraging notices here. But
regardless of what they had to
say - Melvin loves London and
is thrilled at the chance of get.
ting abroad - as most OF the
group are. They are a bunch
of hard.working kids who have
sacrificed much to stick with the
production. through thick and
thin. and really believe in its
merits. How far the musical
will tour. or what success il will
meet, or even how long the en-
cagcmcnt will last al the Adelphi
is yet undetermined but as
far as the cast is concerned -
they're trying each night - to
the best of their ability hut
they think. deep down. that those
British are a bit harsh in their
judgement.
We must mention, however,
enc Ct the brightest stars who
vas added to the cast abroad
He's Earl Cameron - who's done
several movies in Europe ~ and
good ones too. His first was
Pools OF London where he had
a sizcablc role and proved him
self a good upstart. Earl is
native OF Bermuda where he
helped organize Little Theatre
Group he loved acting as a
Kid went TO Europe 10 get
better roles and so far has man
aged TO come up with some
plums - though many arc not
shown in the states.
Cab Galloway is doing great in
Paris - i'm his second week at
the Olympia Theatre. The Step
Brothers hailed in the new Jerry
Lewis show at the Moulin Rouge
in Los Angeles - where Jerry
has proved himself one of the
greats Of our time. ...
Martha Davis and Spouse,
terrific act, with an album out
as tribute to Fats Waller is
getting real build.up with no
limits Under the exclusive
direction of Milton Deutsch
Agency. Martha and Spouse (Cal-
vim Pondcr), do have many big
dates to their credit. In their
4th year with the Garry Moore
show - they've done spots for
Perry Como, Steve Allen, Pat
Boone and Jack Parr. just
closing Mister Kellcy's in Chica
20. the two open June 9Th at the
Holiday House in Reno Hal
Wcnton, their personal manager,
tours with them -.
Sally Blair is newcomer ev-
cryonc is pulling for - everyone,
meaning all the greats in show
biz and that's going some
for she's a sweet girl with real
genuine personality and great
biz voice that's not afraid OF a
critical audience when she
appeared for the Dean Martin