Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1958-08-23

often" he beamed At Miss
Allyson.
II never go there" she said.
II hate the place"
She recalled the incident
with the expression Of one who
would rather not have said
THAT, but with no implied
promise that she wouidn't do
1t again.
Not even critics are exempt
from Miss Allyson's direct an
proach to the truth.
Looking the first one she
met sqparely In the eye, she
asked him: DO you have a
black eye?"
He explained that it was
merely the oocupational dark
circle of his calling. the mark
of long days and sleepless
nights. Miss Allyson, an actress
to her fingertips. managed
NOT to look as IL she thought
someone had Justly hit back at
a critic.
MR.. ATKINSON SPEAKS:
Actors Equity magazine, which
has become so journalistically
lively that it now is interview
ing critics. does a question and
answer piece with the New
York Times Brooks Atkinson
for September. The result is a
highly readable feature from
which we would like to quote
one question and one answer
to wit:
@. Do you think most Of the
dramatic critics writing today
are qualified to Judge a per-
Torrance?
A. A drama critic represents
a public point of view. There
is always going to be trouble
between critics and actors and
people in the theater on one
score at leaStA People in the
theater are inclined to assume
that the critic is a member of
the theater, that he is part of
the profession, but he is not,
He is paid by a newspaper He
has a public point Of view, and
he, in my opinion, is supposed
to represent the public and to
be a theatergoer. I am talking
about newspaper critics now
There are other kinds OF
critics who have different
points of view that are also
valid. but mine Is that of a
theatergoer. So. although
think ! am qualified to judge a
performers work from a public
point of view. I don't think ]
am from a professional point
of view"
No questions? Splendid!
v
SATURDAY SUM MARY:
Music with Mary Martin" the
big concert show which Mary
has put together to tour 80
cities. will open in Anchorage,
Alaska. J.. to be followed by
visits to II Alaskan military
bases. Washington will see
the show later in the autumn.
Kathryn Grayson winds
up her Carter Barron Amphi-
theater booking tonight.
with Singer Johnny Mathis
taking over for three nights,
Starting tomorrow. He will
be fofiowed on wednesday by
Ricky Nelson, whose three
nights will close the park sum-
mer show season next Satur-
day night. Shakespeafean
festivals are doing very we'll
this summer. thank you.
Stratford, Conn, has not added
its figures recently, but is ahead
of last year. and without name
performers. AS for Strait
ford, Ont. Its 12-week season
will end up with a box Office of
$4,000 as against $61o, 900
last year. Attendance is up
from l85,42o to $4,000 this
year. The Ontario season
will close September Is.
Barter Theater will present the
world premiere of a new COM
edy, "Jada," for the week which
starts Monday. IT is the
work of Paul 8. Nathan, for
mer California newsman, now
of New York. Macarthur
Fheater will have a new screen
feature starting next Thursday
It's a comedy starring Peggy
Mount and Terri Thomas and
its title "Your Past Is Showing
relates 10 the activities Of a
scandal magazine.