Revivals

At bargain prices, these time-honored attractions were tempting theatregoers on Broadway last week: The Lady From the Sea. Henrik Ibsen's psychological drama of a woman who is impelled to leave her husband for an earlier spiritual alliance was revived by onetime Dramacritic Nathan Zatkin. Most of Playwright Ibsen's magic has survived the 46 disenchanting years that have passed since it was put to paper. Tall Mary Hone, as the wife, performs creditably in a role last played in Manhattan by Blanche Yurka five years ago, by Eleanora Duse ten years ago.* Iolanthe. The operetta, during whose composition Sir Arthur Sullivan successively lost his father, brother, mother and fortune, still brings merriment to confirmed Savoyards. William Danforth adds one more Gilbert-&-Sullivan characterization to his long list with the part of the stately Lord Chancellor. Iolanthe is the fifth Gilbert-&-Sullivan revival by S. M. Chartock's capable company. The Chocolate Soldier. A charming, melodious newcomer named Bernice Claire has just the right, light touch when she bids the comic craven, Bummerli, "Come, come, naught can efface you" in Strauss's appealing "Hero" song. The hero, who would rather eat candy than fight, is alternately Donald Brian or Charles Purcell, the revival's producers.

*In small Asolo, northwest of Venice, townspeople took a day off last week to commemorate the great Italian actress who, dying in Pittsburgh, Pa., was buried in the Asolo graveyard exactly ten years ago. In her honor they dedicated a Duse Square, opened a museum of Duse memorabilia, rang up the first curtain on a Duse theatre.

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