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Howard Erskine had hardly reached maturity when it became apparent to his family, his friends and his fellow students at Williams College that the young man's primary interest was the theatre with a capital T. As soon as he had won his diploma he started commuting to New York from the parental home in Bronxville and like all ambitious thespians did the proverbial knocking on managers' doors. With far-seeing wisdom he chose summer stock as a base for his theatrical training, acting thoughout the East, in Bermuda and eventually in California. After performing in one Hollywood film called "Seminole," he returned to New York, where he found employment in several major video dramas. In 1953 Mr. Erskine entered the managerial ranks of the theatre as associate producer of a comedy called "Late Love" which boasted Arlene Francis, Neil Hamilton and Lucile Watson in leading roles. A friend associated with Random House gave him the galley proofs of a new novel called "The Desperate Hours." He read it, entranced, at one sitting, and decided it was material for a great play. The next day, he flew to Florida where author Joseph Hayes was vacationing and convinced the latter he should adapt it for the stage and that they should present it jointly on Broadway. The rest is stage history. Less than a month after its gala premiere Howard Erskine, now acclaimed as the youngest Broadway producer of a smash hit, married lovely actress Lou Prentis and sailed with his bride to London. "The Desperate Hours" is having its second presentation in the British capitol, and with this event, Mr. Erskine achieves another long-held ambition, for he serves there not only as a producer but also as the director of the British production. |
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