THE MICHIGAN DAILY 1934 Dramatic Season Opens Tomorrow Night With "The Brontes ., ___ - Q ElizabethRisdon Elizabeth Risdon, Appearing As Charlotte B ronte Has The Part Of Charlotte Bronte Violet Kemble-Cooper Will Portray Emily Bronte; Play Is In Nine Scenes Six Shows Planned 'And So To Bed' Will Be Second Play Of Season; Leonto vieh To Star The premier Americah production of Alfred Sangster's stirring melodra- ma, "The Brontes," opens the 1934 Dramatic Season tomorrow night in Lydia Mendelssohn Theatre. The show will run for seven performances through Friday night. Plays on the Bronte sisters, Char- lotte, Emily, and Anne, and their brother Branwell Bronte, have been written and shown in abundance since "The Barrets of Wimpole Street" proved the stage possibilities of literary biography, "The Bronts" is said by many to head the list.; Not only is it the first play about this ex- traordinary family, but it has just closed a run of 305 performances at the Royalty Theatre in London and is now touring England. Tells Of Repression The play tells how the Rev. Pat- rick Bronte repressed and tyrannized his family; how the three girls in the lonely Yorkshire vicarage won fame bey their anonymous writings; how the moody Emily died, and the gentle Anne, and the drunken brother Bran- well; hrow the selfish father; in his old age, tried to break off Charlotte's romance with his curate, and how they were married in spite of him; and how the senile patriarch survived his group of geniuses. r Elizabeth Risdon of the New York Theatre Guild has the part of Char- lotte Bronte and Violet Kemble-Coo- per portrays Emily. It is a new kind of role for Miss Cooper, according to Robert Henderson, director, in that she plays a part thatis stern, tempestuous, and highly dramatic as compared to her previous popular light comedy roles. Compton Plays Father Francis Compton, brother of Fay Compton, the English stage star, has the important role of the father; Au- drey Ridgewell appears as Anne Bronte, and Robert Henderson as Branwell., Others in the cast include Jessie Busley as the Reverend Bronte's sis-' ter, Brandon Evans as William Make- piece Thackeray; Clifford Dunstan as the famous reviewer, George Lews; Lee Crowe as the young publisher of "Jane Eyre"; Madame Ludmilla To- retzka and Donald Randolph as Ma- dame and Monsieur Heger; Edith Gresham, Helena Stungo, Richard Abert, Oswald Marshall, and Pierre Watkin. The play 'is in nine scenes. Rolo Peters Starred The second show of the season will be "And So To Bed," with Madame Eugenie Leontovitch, star of "Grand Hotel" and "Twei tieth Century," playing the leading role. Rollo Pet- ers has the male lead in this pro- duction, as Mr. Pepys. An innovation for the Dramatic Season is contained in the third pro- duction, which presents Walter Sle- zak, Olive Olsen, and Dorothy Vernon in the continental musical comedy "Meet My Sister.". This is the first time that such a show has been at- tempted in the six years-that the Dra- matic Season has been given annual- ly. Advance demands for tickets for this show have been so great that an extra matinee performance has been added to the regular schedule, Mr. Henderson said. "The Shinipg lour" Next "The Shining Hour," Keith Win- ter's current New York play, will be the fourth production, and will in- clude in its cast Violet Kemble-Coo- per, Rollo Peters, and Audrey Ridge- well. The last two plays of the season are the most ambitious by Mr. Henderson, one being "a new interpretation of Shakespeare's heroic melodrama, 'Macbeth,' and the other Howard Lindsay's farce on college life, 'She Loves MedNot.' "Ian Keith and Flor- ence Reed have 'the leading roles in the former play, while the principal cast member in "She Loves Me Not" is Gloria Blondell, sister of Joan Blon- dell. ha modern creative dancers. As John t47+ rtiin, di inguidshed dance critic of the New 'York Times rev(ently wrote. "In the same manner that Mr. Weid- mnan is perhaps the leading male dancer in America, Miss Humphrey combines to an extraordinary degree her sharp-pointed witty style and a fine gay creative spirit." In addition to their concert recitals, these two dancers have fairly revolu- tionized the dancing of the elaborate_ Broadway musical revues. Presenting their dance groups in serious and authentic dance composi- ions, first in "Americana" and this fall in "As Thousands Cheer," with Clifton Webb and Marilyn Miller, their precise and full-flavored style achieved a brilliant success. Appeared As Soloists Both Mr. Weidman and Miss Hum- phrey later personally appeared as soloists and choreographers in the New York Theatre Guild's production of Moliere's "The School of Hus- bands." Several of their numbers from Madame Eugenie Leontovich, starof "Grand Hotel" and "Twentieth Century," who will take the leading role in the comedy, "And So To Bed," to be given second on the Dramatic Scasun program. this performance will be presented in their programs are primarily enter- their Ann. Arbor recitals. tainment for its own sake. Their danc- Again John Martin applauded their ing has 'lift' and a joyous .infectious success. "Miss Humphrey," he writes, fl Miss Hmphrey's nuber, "is as captivating and as decorative oi"Descent into a Dangerous Place," Sas the great Isabella herself, and which she performs on the Thursday there is more Moliere in one move afternoon program, is as delightful and gesture of Charles Weidman than and charming a dance composition in hours of spoken verse." as I have ever seen."I In bringing these two American dancers to Ann Arbor, Robert Hen-- With Miss Humphrey and Charles dersoi points out that they differ both recean Viviappea, Pauline Law- fromMarha Gaha andMis En- rece .end l Viviian Finie, pianists. Their ters. elaborate costumes have been espe- "There is a dash and gaiety," he cially created by Miss Lawrence. says, "to both of these artists, quite surpassing, I feel, any other dances HARRIS HALL DISCUSSION in the country. Their work is primarily The discussion to be held at Harris colorful and robust. Backed by the Hall at 7 p.m. today will be continua- soundest of technical resources, the tion of the questions asked by the audience is never conscious of any- students on any i'eligious subject. Rev. thing obtuse or involved. In the man- Henry Lewis and Rabbi Heller will ner of the Monte Carlo Ballet Russe, lead the discussion. r, t a x Miss Risdon, of the New York Theatre Guild, will take the pasit of Charlotte Bronte in the opening production of the 194 Season, "The Brontes" to begin tomorrow night. Dramatic Season Idea Held To Be Great Theatre Development Barrett, Robert Lorraine, Rose Ho- bart, Tom Powers Rollo Peters, Violet and Anthony Kemble-Cooper, Violet Heming, Katherine Wick Kelly, and the dancer, Angna Enters. In 10 weeks, April 9 through June 16, Robert Henderson will have pre- sented his Dramatic Seasons in five cities throughout the country - Mil- waukee, Ann Arbor, Louisville, Toledo and Detroit., Burns Mantle, well-known critic of4 the New York Daily News and promi- nent for his annual "Best Plays" series, recently wrote: "I consider the organization and development of the dramatic season idea the most im- portant thing that has happened to the American theatre in general since the rebirth of the great resident com- panies about 1895." The same idea was expressed last week by Ashton Stevens in the Chi- Complete Schedule Of PlaysD, ates Is Given The complete list of plays for the 1934 Dramatic Season is as fol- lows: "The Brontes," with Violet Kem.. ble-Cooper and Elizabeth Risdon, Monday, May 14, through Friday, May 18. "And So To Bed," with Rollo Peters, Madame Eugenie Leonto- vichsand Roberta Beat ty. Satur- day, May 19, through Thursday, May 24. Dance Recital, with Charles Weidman and Doris Humphreys. Matinees May 21, 22, and 24. "Meet My Sister," with Walter Slezak, Olive Olsen, and Dorothy Vernon, Friday, May 25, through Wednesday matinee, May 30. "The Shining Hour," with Bert Lytell, Violet Kemble-Cooper, and Jessie Busley, Wednesday, May 30, through Monday, June 4. "Macbeth," with Ian Keith andj Florence Reed,. Tuesday, June 5, through Sa~lturday, June 9. "She Loves Me Not," with Gloria Blondell, Monday, June 11, through Saturday, June 16. cago American when he said, in con- nection with the unusual success of the dramatic season just closed at the Pabst Theatre in Milwaukee, that "such audiences and such enthusiasm appear in the light of a minor miracle today in the theatre. Actually such success re-proves the truth that the living theatre is never dead First Season Inclusive In 1930 the first Dramatic Season - the first theatre festival as such in America -included a number of prominent members of the stage and presented many .well-known plays. Among the former were Margaret An- glin and Katherine Wick Kelley (who returns this year in "And So To Bed"). Plays given included "Lady Winde- mere's Fan," "Excess Thggapge," "The Royal Family," and ".T1e Sea Gull." The following spring the season branched out and brought an even more distinguished list of ar isos I ( Ann Arbor. Among plays ivt were teu "Elev- tra" of Sophocles, with Blanche Yu'ka and Martha Gra ham: "The Father"; "The Way of the World," Wtlh Ernest Cossart and Miss Yurka; "Cprice,' with Miss Yurka; Ibsen's "Ghosts" Bernard Shaw's "Arms and the Man," with Tom Powers, VioleI. 11m- ing, and Mr. Cossart; Lnd Noel Cow- ard's "Private Lives," wtih Msi Hen- ing and Miss Powers. 1932 Program Varied In 1932 "There's Always Julicl" opened the season, and was foLxxwed by "Candida" with P iS C .nl Geoffrey Kerr in 1"T Animal King dom" and Violet K mb,,-Coope In "The Vinegar 'T'ec ame nexl, a '"Peter Ibielson," wi h Mis Cooper and Glen Hunter cia; d _he ya Last year 'The Lady of the Cam i lias' and "Twelftil N ii' '' c n sidered ni t m ( ent~ations. C01 het''.;, t cA m Living,'' "'Analoher L a i' g a p "Springtime For Hmy ' and Mad Hopes." Auon he arts in' these plays were Jane Cowl, Ed ti The Thrill OfThe iving Theat re! SPRING IN ANN ARBOR -and again the brilliant theatre festival at the Lydia Mendelssohn Theatre for five weeks, from May 14 through June 16. Madame Leontovich, Ian Keith, Florence Reed, Charles Weidman and. Doris Hlumphrey and many others. The ranking New York stars, the latest and most interesting of the New York plays- glamour fnd excitement and distinctionin the Ii ist of the Dramatic Seasons, opening TOMORROW NIGhT at8 :15, witlI Alfred Sangster's stirring London success- ('-P. I -'9 44 'p DR F.S" with the New York Theatre Guild Stars VIOLET KEMBLE-COOPER ELIZABETH ISDON TilE AMERICAN PREMIERE PRODUCTION "An engrossing an(] powerful play on the most fascinating family in our history. Brilliantly played, with Miss Cooper giving the most stir- rinlg ierforilaee of her cMweer." ASIITON STEVENS in The Chicago American. Season Seats Still On Sale at Box Office SDIA MENDELSSOIIN THEA TRE Matinees Wednesday, Friday and Saturday at 3:15 _. . p.' 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