Some months ago there sailed from these shores for England an American company whose purpose was to regale British audiences with a production of the American comedy success, “She Loves Me Not.” In New York, Howard Lindsay’s play had kept the Forty-sixth Street Theatre filled with both people and laughter but when the same lines came across the footlights of a British theatre they were greeted with almost completed apathy and after a few weeks the play closed.
Evidently the producers learned nothing from this, because the other night at the Playhouse, William Brady produced “While Parents Sleep,” a very, very English farce which it is said kept staid Londoners in stitches for months. I am afraid American audiences will accord this comedy by Anthony Kimmins a reception similar to the one given “She Loves Me Not” in London.
It will not be in the spirit of revenge the New Yorkers will say away from the Playhouse in large numbers but simply because “While Parents Sleep” is a trifle too English for native consumption.
The play deals with the events that transpire in Colonel Hammond’s drawing-room and especially what happens to his snobbish wife, his two vacuous sons and their respective although not always respectable feminine friends. One of the sons, Neville, is interested in society and the convention. slightly uncouth, lusty and without prestenses.
Neville is planning to go off to some Colonial possession as an aide to a lord. He brings to his home the wife of his lordship, while Jerry conveniently lugs home a poor but honest working girl. The two couples plan to spend the night under Colonel Hammond’s roof. Lady Cattering, wife of the lord, is broadminded. In fact she attempts to seduce young Neville but is caught before she can accomplish her nefarious designs. Jerry’s girl friends is much more respectable, which of course gives the author a chance to point out that the poor all the fun. Anyway, things become pretty complicated, as you can guess from the set-up, but before the final curtain rolls into place almost everything is settled to the author’s satisfaction.
AMUSING IN SPOTS
As a play “While Parents Sleep” is pretty thin and forced fare. There are amusing lines and mirthful situations but they are few and the intervening gaps are too long. Miss Ilka Chase as Lady Cattering is good to look at and she interprets her role with tact and skill. Jane Bramley as the poor but honest miss is likewise satisfactory, and the rest of the cast are all that could be desired.
“While Parents Sleep” is faintly entertaining but the parents who slept through it all didn’t miss very much.
IBSEN ON THE HUDSON
Up on Riverside drive at 103rd street, in the auditorium to the Roerich Museum, an amateur company is giving until Saturday night a revival of Ibsen’s “Hedda Gabler.” Amateur companies are ambitious when they attempt to indulge their for histrionics in Ibsen plays. They should be praised for their industry and nerve but they should not expect theatregoers to journey uptown to see them, even though the fleet is in.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
