The opening play of the season, S. N. Behrman’s No Time for Comedy, was the 4,320th performance in the Elitch Theatre…
In addition to No Time for Comedy, the plays presented included Elizabeth Ginty’s Missouri Legend, Sutton Vane’s Outward Bound, Paul Osborn’s Morning’s at Seven and The Vinegar Tree.
The Theatre company had the following among its array of players: Sylvia Field, Michael Whalen, David Wayne, Helen Trenholme, Francis Compton, Donald Cook, Ruth Lee, Millard Mitchell, Helen Bonfils, Viola Roache, Brandon Peters and Robert Stewart. George Somnes was again director, and Victor Paganuzzi was the scenic designer.
Sylvia Field and Michael Whalen were the leading players. Prior to appearing at Elitch, Field had been in the movies and on radio and appeared in most of the “straw-hat” houses of the East. She had been in plays with two members of the cast – Millard Mitchell and Francis Compton. The Denver Post described her as the “youthful veteran of theater.” In Missouri Legend, Donald Cook replaced Michael Whalen in the lead, and Helen Trenholme replaced Sylvia Field as leading lady in A Slight Case of Murder.
[Borrillo, T. A. (2012). Denver’s Historic Elitch Theatre: A nostalgic journey (a history of its times). Colorado. p. 193-194]
Theatre Staff:
- Arnold B. Gurtler, President and Treasurer
- Marie M. Gurtler, Secretary
- George Somnes, Director
- Lucian Self, Stage Manager
- Victor Paganuzzi, Scenic Director
Resident Company:
- Sylvia Field
- Helen Trenholme
- Ruth Lee
- Viola Roache
- Mary Howes
- Helen Bonfils
- Michael Whalen
- Donald Cook
- Francis Compton
- Brandon Peters
- Lewis Russell
- David Wayne
- Millard Mitchell
- Robert Stewart
Productions:
- Week of June 23: No Time for Comedy, by S. N. Behrman
- Week of June 30: Margin for Error, by Claire Booth.
- Week of July 7: Missouri Legend, by Elizabeth B. Ginty. Donald Cook replaced Mr. Whalen as leading man.
- Week of July 14: A Slight Case of Murder, by Damon Runyon and Howard Lindsay. Helen Trenholme replaced Miss Field as leading lady.
- Week of Jul y 21: Outward Bound, by Sutton Vane
- Week of July 28: Ladies and Gentlemen, by Charles MacArthur and Ben Hecht
- Week of Aug. 4: The White Steed, by Paul Vincent Carroll
- Week of Aug.11: Morning’s at Seven, by Paul Osborn
- Week of Aug. 18: Burlesque, by George Watters and Arthur Hopkins
- Week of Aug. 25: The Vinegar Tree, by Paul Osborn
