After a week’s tryout in Philadelphia where it was received with warm regard, “I Myself,” the work of Adelyn Bushnell was brought to New York and opened at the Mansfield Theatre. Not having gotten around to the opening I was able to read the notices of the other critics and I must say that their dismissal of this play as a dismal, silly and badly acted piece struck me as being much too severe.
However I can understand the basis for such adverse criticism. “I Myself” dealing as it does with the ghost characters may, if the acting is inadequate or false strike one as ridiculous and on opening night the cast turned in an admirable performance that was impressive.
‘BEST LAID PLANS’
“I Myself” concerns an unsuccessful lawyer (Charles Trowbridge), who is contemplating suicide. He realizes that if he does away with himself his family will be left penniless but that if he dies naturally or is murdered then his insurance will be paid to his wife. Meeting a tramp, in desperate need of money so that he can visit a sick wife, he convinces this needy fellow that he should murder him and the first act curtain drops as the lawyer is leaving this world with a bullet in his back.
It is at this point that the ghosts begin to walk. The lawyer has met one of his old army buddies in the “hereafter” and together the team wander around attending the lawyer’s funeral and spying on things generally. At first, the lawyer’s plans do not work out according to expectations. The district attorney suspects the lawyer’s wife of murder and only when the tramp confesses is the ghost properly laid.
WELL PERFORMED
As you can see, restraint must be used if “I Myself” is to be taken seriously by the audience. The introduction of ghosts who sit and discuss life and death must necessarily be handled with the greatest of care. I believe that Mr. Trowbridge, Regina Wallace and Frank Wilcox are able performers, who play their roles with intelligence and feeling. The rest of the cast is likewise sincere and the directing and settings show a well applied knowledge of stage craft.
Miss Bushnell had dealt with a difficult theme and she had used her material well. “I Myself” is good theatre and should give you an evening’s entertainment.
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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.
