Word: hillier
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...Pistache, director W. W. Hillier chose someone who can act but not sing, which took a certain amount of guts. Anne Chittenden is a perfect Pistache for the most part, but there are times, there are times. Miss Chittenden succeeds with "C'est Magnifique," but she has a little trouble with "Allez-Vous-En." And if all the acting ability in the world could carry off "I Love Paris," Miss Chittenden might have done it; some songs, though, simply have to be sung...
...nine scenes which Director William Hillier had adapted from Feiffer's cartoon strips proved entertaining enough, but they lacked the color or movement of Crawling Arnold, the one act play which was conceived explicitly as theater...
Jacqueline Brooks, Bernard Kessel and Edward Higgins cleverly explored the depths of thestock-types they presented. Dean Gitter was good when he wasn't reverting to Willy Loman. And Hillier should be praised for the atmosphere of smooth informality in which he knit the scenes together. It was not until Crawling Arnold, however, that he seemed confident with his material, and didn't feel impelled to superimpose dramatic trickery...
...cast (this may reflect on director Maurice Breslow) who fully appreciated the slapstick possibilities of the play. Jerry Vermilye's competence as Peter was unfailing, and Raye Bush as Mrs. Mallow, the old lady who repays Peter's charity, handled a fairly banal character interestingly. But William Hillier's portrayal of Bill detracted greatly from the whole production. It would be impossible to say he didn't develop his part, because he didn't really know it. He stumbled over his lines (and everyone else's) with all the expressiveness and variety of Howdy Doody...
Houghton's play, despite a by-passed chance for an uproarious finale and Hillier's shoddiness, was funny and well performed. Thus, in inagurating its new home, an attractive room directly opposite Widener, the Poets' Theatre has broken a spiral of esotericism which had over-exploited the academic nature of this community. Now Poets' owes a wider showing to both its author and its potential audience. Let's assume that all theater is experimental, rather than a few designated performances...