A comedy in three acts, by Gladys Hurlbut and Ema Wells. Settings by Jo Mielzzsiner; staged by Aldrich and Mr. deLiagre. At the Morosco theatre. Ellen Smth……………………..Dorothy Gish Mrs. Gretchell ……………..Josephine Hull Winifred …………… Winifred …………Elizabeth Bruce Henry Smith………..Howard Lindsay Frances Gretchell…… Cynthia Rogers David Mackzie .. Kenneth MacKenna Freddy ……………Ernest Glendinning Andree………………………………Elizabeth Love Firts Bell Boy……………… Henry Fox Second Bell Boy………………..Carl Endicott
BY YOUR LEAVE
Old “John Commuter”, that suburban husband whom artoonists just can’t resist picturing as he rushes for the 5:15 overladen with bundles, is the type chosen by Gladys Hurlbut and Emma Wells for their comedy “By Your Leave”, now current at the Morosco Theatre.
In this instance, the suburbanite is portrayed as a middle-aged married fellow who has begun to worry a bit at the thought of approaching death and is determined that he must take stock of himself. He wonders whether he hasn’t already fallen into a set spot in the minds of the community and hopes to have at least one more fling at life before he finally capitulates to a steady diet fo slippers and the old rocking chair. To this end he proposes to his wife that they both take a weeek’s vacation in the city, separately, of course. During this period they are nto to see or communicate with each other and above all neither are to ever question the other about what transpired during this week of freedom. The wife agrees. Before the week is over the husband finds that he has had more than enough and tries to persuade his wife to return to their suburban home before the tiime is up, but the lady in question has met an interesting gentleman and insists on keeping the pact to the end. In the last act the audience is regaled with their reactions to this synthetic vacation.
The acting, settings and staging of “By Your Leave” have been skilfully done sand give to the play an air of gaiety that is not justified by the lines. Dorothy Gish as the husband the corner to a movie house.
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.
