Milford chronicle., 1924-11-28
PLAYHOUSE, WILMINGTON,
THANKSGIVING ATTRACTION

THAN NhSUl lNW ALIhACIlUN
Lest it be thought that God Bless
Our Home" is a rural melodrama of
the type where the heroine is forced
out into the cold, cold world, Robert
Milton, the producer hastens to eX-
plain that the new Philip Barry
comedy which he is to present at
the Playhouse, Wilmington, Wednes-
day, November 26th and Thursday,
November 9th, Thanksgiving Day
with special matinee that day at 8
o'clock is a play of modern Ameri-
can home life, somewhat in the view
of Mr.. Barry's very successful first
play, you and !" and in the same
class as Frank Craven's "The First
Year" The prosperous American
middle-class family offers an allur-
ing field to the new school Of writ
ers. The humors, aims and trials of
wholesome people who live at home,
have real neighbOrs, and experience
real emotions offer opportunities for
the dramatist to draw characterize
tions that have sincerity and realty
and are not really talking puppets
on stage. Mr.. Barry has taken such
a family and it's friends for his med
ium, and written story strong with
whimsical humOr, and not without
its moments of pathOs.
On Friday and Saturday, Novem-
Der 21 and % with a matinee per-
formance on the latter day. the
Playhouse, Wilmington will have as
its tenant Arthur Hopkins prOduc-
ton of a new comedy entitled "Closs
Harmony" written by Dorothy Park
er and Elmer Rice. This attraction
promises to be one of the most note
worthy offerings Of the current sea-
son in that city.
"ClOse Harmony" will be Mr.. Hop
kins' third of his present producing |
program, his two previous cOntribu-
tions to the theatre of the current |
theatrical year having been; first
What Price Glory" now the out |
standing dramatic sensation of New |
York, where at the Plymouth The
atre it is playing to absolutely Ca
pacity audiences at every perform
ance and so tremendous is it's vogue
that every seat in the theatre has
been sold for weeks ahead. Next in
order under the Hopkins banner,
came Miss Ethel Barrymore in a re-
viVal of "The Second Mrs. Tanquer-
ay," which is now at the Cort The
atre, New York, where this notable
star is appearing to crowded houses
1t each of her performances.
"Close Harmony is said to be a
play that treats simply but effect
vely of every day life, presenting a
minute and subtle study of charac-
er and in many of it's values justly
to what Price Glory"
The plot OF the comedy has to do
With the intimate life of two Ordi-
larry, matter-Of-fact families, resi-
lents of two adjoining cottages in a
uburb of New York City.
Ed. Graham, the titular head of
ne of these households, is an unas-
ertive stamia-lacking city clerk in
is early thirties whose every act in
ife is dominated by a prim, method
cal wife, shrewdishly aggressive in
er attitude toward her husband.
Text door resides the Sheridans, the
7ife of this family being a former
how girl whose craving for 4 home
nd desire "tO get out of the busi-
ess" brought her to marriage with
man who has developed into a
cheap sport" type. The action of the
lay is set at the time when Mrs.
heridan has discovered that no love
ond exists between her husband
nd herself, and when the yet un-
wakened Ed Graham finds that the
1nstant dictatorial attitude, and at
,ndant nagging, of his wife has be-
1me practically unbearable. A flip
the card of fate brings ED" and
RS. Sheridan together and from
len on a novelty developed plot
langes the former from a drab, rid
IN creature to dominant factor Of
e home. Comedy, sentiment and ar
whine characterization combine to
ford engrossing entertainment in a
lite unusual play
In addition to the delightful Wan
! Lyon, to whom the leading role
Mrs. Sheridan has been given,
ere are such other noteworthy fig
'es as James Spottswood, a player
many conspicuous personal
the well-remembered
sorgia Drew Mendum, cousin to
hel Barrymore, and pOssessor in
r own right of a goodly share Of
e Drew-Barrymore fame; Freder-
< Burton, long distinguished in the
Id of truly drawn small-tOwn
pes, Robert Hudson and Marie Cur
!. AS in all of Mr. Hopkins presen-
tons, the direction is by Mr.. Hop
ns himself. fact of first impor-
ice.
The seats for the three perform
ces of "Close Harmony" are now
sale at the box Office Of the Play
use, Wilmington.