"Alexander Throttlebottom" Prefers Laughter To Tears While Gilbert Insists Upon Ibsen's Art

"People are tiring of the novelty of the 'talkie', and the serious, legitimate stage is coming back into its own," said Walter Gilbert, veteran actor who is now leading a new stock company, the National Dramatic Players, in "As Husbands Go." Mr. Gilbert has been connected with the old St. James Theater stock company for the last decade. "I am of the opinion that the stock company has been of invaluable help in this revival of the drama which will be more evident this winter.

"The life of the stock player, though enjoyable, is strenuous; so strenuous, in fact, that if we didn't believe that we were contributing to what we consider the highest of arts, I doubt whether most of us would continue the grind. Our system of presenting a play for only a week, usually, and then giving another almost immediately, allows but four or five days to learn a completely new role sometimes as long as 30,000 words."

Hendrik Ibsen is Mr. Gilbert's favorite playwright.

"The primary purpose of the theater is to entertain and amuse," declared Victor Moore, famed comedian who again is portraying the role of the ineffectual Throttlebottom in "Let 'Em Eat Cake" at the Shubert Theater, the sequel to "Of Thee 1 Sing." in an interview last night.

"It has always impressed me as being infinitely more worthwhile to make people laugh than to make them cry. And I have found in the 27 years that I have been acting that this purpose is best achieved cleanly. I wouldn't accept a role which my wife or children couldn't see without blushing.

"I have always loved the stage, particularly comedy and musical comedy. When I was a kid, I used to steal money to go to the theater. Of course Thalia has made remarkable progress since I was a boy. The comedy of the caricature and the burlesque was in vogue then. Now the public demands human beings in human situations."

Kauffman is Moove's genius.