Kansas State Historical Society Topcka. Ks.
Broadway-Bound 'Caine Mutiny' Thrills KU Crowd
By COURT ERNST
A capacity crowd in Hoch auditorium last night was treated to a superlative performance of Herman Wouk's "The Caine - Mutiny Court-martial." Although this great stage production has not as yet reached Broadway, it is certain to be acclaimed one of the season's big hits.
Mr. Wouk's own stage adaptation of his best-selling novel, produced by Paul Gregory and Charles Laughton, has received staging by Len Smith Jr., and John Crawford, and masterful direction by Dick Powell.
The play deals with the court-martial proceeding against Lt. Maryk, who, during a typhoon in the Pacific during World War II, relieved his coming officer, Lt. Cmdr. Queeg of his command because he felt the commander had temporarily lost control of his faculties, and the ship was in its "last extremity." He is charged with relieving his commanding officer without proper authority and without just cause.
Henry Fonda, as the smooth, coldly calculating Lt. Greenwald, defense attorney, turned in a brilliant performance. Except for his closing speech in the play, his lines didn't offer the sustained orations given by the defendant, and he seemed rested largely on his shoulders, and he more than met the demands of the play.
There is nothing in this play which could be offensive to the Navy. It clearly concerns itself only with determining the fitness for commanding duty of one individual, pointing out the somewhat unethical tactics used during the trial by the defense attorney.
John Hodiak, as Lt. Maryk, the defendant, had little chance to show his skill except for his scene on the witness stand, but he did a
the production. The climax is reached as the trial ends and there is no doubt in the audience's mind that Lt. Maryk will be acquitted. The significance of the fact that the wrong man was tried is left to this final scene, so it is essential to the play's final resolution. Still, the scene is not as strong as the rest of the play, and thus could have carried a little more of a final dramatic impact.
Lloyd Nolan surpassed anything he has done in motion pictures in his characterization of Queegr. His scene on the witness stand in the second act was the high spot of the play, and he gave it all the conviction and intensity that needed; his might be considered the role of the play, with Mr. Fonda and Mr. Hodiak subordinate. The courtmartial proceedings are only a small section of the novel, however, in which the defendant is definitely the main character.
The final scene, the celebration of LL Maryk's acquittal in a hotel room, ties together all loose ends, yet seems to be the weakest part of
The failure to use a curtain at any time during the play served well to heighten the mood. The effect of the courtroom sitting dormant until needed for the trial got across well.
One of the factors most responsible for the play's great impact was that every supporting actor was of the highest calibre. There were
worthy job in his portrayal, because it was somewhat difficult to make his character clear to the audience.
no weak parts at all. Although the names Russell Hickens (President of the court), Ainslie Pryor (Lt. Com. John Challele, prosecuting attorney), Robert Gist (Lt. Keefer), and Herbert Anderson (Dr. Bird), don't carry too much significance, movie-goers recognized the parade of familiar faces, and every character was superbly portrayed.
One of the most gratifying things about last night's performance here was the capacity crowd in Hoch auditorium.
Daily hansan
51st Year, No.47
Chorale to Give Concerts in 10 Kansas Cities
The University chorale of 23 selected voices goes on tour this weekend to give concerts in 10 Kansas cities Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday.
The tour opens with a televi-
sion appearance over station KTVH in
Hutchinson Sunday night. Concerts
will be given Monday in Hutchin-
son, Buhler, Halstead, Burrton, and
Peabody, and Tuesday in Junction
City, Chapman, Abilene, Hering-
ton, and Council Grove.
Now in its fifth year, the chorale was organized and is directed by Clayton F. Krehbiel, assistant professor of music education. Members receive no academic credit for singing in it.
Leo Horacek, instructor in brass instruments, will appear with the group on the tour as cornet soloist. He will also play the arts sophomore, in accompaniment.
The chorale will give half-hour programs including selections from classical choral literature by Bach and Palestrina, folk songs, early American songs, spirituals, and popular tunes from Broadway musical comedy shows.
Chorale members are: soprano—Catherine Newman, education senior; Judith Tate, education junior; Greta Reetz, fine arts junior; Sandra Keller, college sophomore; Phyllis Nehrbass, education senior; Betty Southern, fine arts sophomore; and Christine Wray, childrens librarian. Linda Stormont, fine arts senior; Rosemary Owen, education senior; Barbara Barnes, education junior, and Delores Stritesky, education junior.
Tenors-Fred Tarry, education junior; Delbert Fillmore, business senior; Richard Scott, education junior, and John Biegert, college senior.
Basses-Ed Howard, college senior; Merlin Gish, education senior; Jerry Clark, education senior; Robert Tebow, graduate student, and Frank McCollum, business senior.
LAWRENCE. KANSAS
Court Throws Out Gas Companies' Suit
The judges dismissed the suits on the grounds that the gas companies had not followed legal procedure in questioning the commission's order, which went into effect July 1. They ruled Kansas law provides for a judicial review of commission orders.
Thursday, Nov. 19, 1953
Topeka —(U,P).- Three major natural gas companies yesterday lost suits to prevent the Kansas corporation commission from changing methods of measuring gas.
District court Judges Paul Heinz and Beryl Johnson sustained motions by the state to quash suits brought by City Service Gas company, Kansas-Nebraska Gas company, and the Northern Natural Gas company.
-Kansan photo by Wilson Ayars
SOGGY CRITTER-What promises to be an elephant in the Sigma Phi Epsilon homecoming display seemed to be almost holding its own during this morning's deluge.
Coughing Audiences, Colds Disturb Fonda
The Kansan will furnish 75 copies for the football team of 1923 at the team's reunion dinner tomorrow night.
By EILEEN FOLEY
To accommodate the expected
premium crochet run of
8.500 yards, it is being printed
The common cold, a disagreeable thing at best for any of us, is a catastrophe for an actor, Henry Fonda, the "Mister Roberts" of Broadway, said last night after the performance of "The Caine Mutiny Courtmartial" in Hoch auditorium.
"You just have to be a hypochondriac when you're in a show," he said. "You hate yourself for always having to be so careful, but every precaution must be taken." Mr. Fonda has been lucky—in 1,700 performances of "Mister Roberts" he never once had a cold. Before the "Caine Mutiny" company set out on the tour they each took cold shots, he said.
Friday's Daily Kansan Homecoming issue, will be one of the two biggest papers ever published by the Kansan. Fifty-two pages, including a picture supplement, a 16-page sports section, and a news and feature section, are planned.
Whopper-Size Issue Set for Homecoming
Mr. Fonda gives a different appearance on the stage and in movies than off stage. In fact, it's difficult even to recognize him. He's taller and more broad-shouldered than one would imagine. And he's better looking, with a tinge of gray hair to add distinction.
Probably the most noticeable thing about the stage and screen star is
his friendliness and sincerity. He willingly signed autographs for students backstage, even though he was in a hurry to return to his hotel. The cast planned to retire early, since they were to leave for Lincoln, Neb., at 7 a.m. today.
Mr. Fonda does not act off stage. He seems more like a neighbor than a star. He likes to fish—he hates incompetence, or no talent, and his favorite role was—that's right—"Mister Roberts."
He was born in Grand Island, Neb., and attended the University of Minnesota because he was working his way through college and thought there was more opportunity for jobs there. He had planned to be a journalist, but quit school in two years. He's thought about writing a play, but is too busy doing dramatizations right now. He would like to direct a production sometime, though.
Mr. Fonda, at present, has no plans for making any more movies. He's tied up for the next three years in stage work, which he prefers to any other acting medium.
Probably the biggest distraction to an actor is noise in the audience, he said. "People don't cough when they are really spellbound," Mr. Fonda said. "That's one way the cast can pick out the weak parts of a play. We feel the audience is getting bored if there is a great deal of noise. They immediately become quiet on cue of an important line"
Hall, Heady Get Death Sentence
Kansas City, Mo.—(U.P.)—A federal jury decided in an hour and seven minutes today that kidnap-murderers Carl Austin Hall and Bonnie Brown Heady should be executed and they were sentenced to die in the poison gas chamber on Dec. 18.
'Rain & Snow Is 'Low Blow'
Bad weather was considered a distinct possibility for Homecoming Saturday, and KU students already were preparing to bring out blankets, overcoats or raincoats as needed, and other winter apparel that hasn't been in general use since the Kansas State game Nov. 7.
It was raining in Lawrence this morning, and the weather bureau expected snow by tonight. For tomorrow, colder weather with temperatures not above the 30's is predicted, but snowfall is expected to be light.
Rainfall in Lawrence up until this morning had been light. C. J. Posey. Lawrence weather observer, said that rainfall up to 7 a.m. today was 27 of an inch.
For Homecoming decorations, the prospects is soggy papier-mache, and building the decorations at organized houses is expected to become a difficult project if the snow arrives.
This morning most of the organizations had not completed enough of their decorations to be damaged by the rain, but Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity reported they might have to start over.
- Hall and Mrs. Heady, who confessed to kidnapping and murdering six-year-old Bobby Greanleave for a $600,000 ransom Sept. 28, took the verdict with the same stoical calm they had displayed through the trial.
Mrs. Heady looked up and smiled in Hall's direction but he did not see her. He was resting his chin on his palm with his elbow on a table and looking at the floor.
The prisoners were called before the bar, Hall standing on the right of U.S. District Judge Albert L. Reeves and Mrs. Heady standing on his left. Their sleeves almost touched, but they looked up and straight at the judge, never at each other.
Robert C. Greenlease, Bobby's wealthy, 71-year-old father, stared intently at Hall, but his face remained impassive, except for a brief cording of muscles in his jaw.
Hall said. "no, sir."
Judge Reeves, a somber, 79-year-old man in black robes, asked Hall whether he had anything to say.
He asked Mrs. Heady the same thing and she formed the word, "no, sir," with her lips, but the words themselves could not be heard, except possibly by Hall.
"You, Carl Austin Hall," the judge said, "shall be transported by the U.S. marshal to Jefferson City, Mo., the state capital, where the sentence of death shall be imposed upon you in the lethal gas chamber, during the day of Dec. 18, 1953."
Kansan photo by Eileen Foley
LT. GREENWALD AFTER THE SHOW—Henry Fonda, the Lt. Greenwald of last night's "Caine Mutiny Courtmartial," relaxes at Hoch auditorium after the performance.