The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1936-04-20
Smart Lines
Smooth Our
Rough Spots
Work of Isabel Ayres Is
Surprise of Show,
Broadway Hit.
BY JOHN w. THOMPSON

last few seasons, now being fostered
at the Civic Theater, concerns itself
with deciding on the Importance of
the ingredient Youth in the con-
coction Of romance.
The opening performance at the
Playhouse Saturday night recalled
the excellent movie made of Samuel
Raphaelson's play, in which Her.
bert Marshall and Sylvia Sidney
starred. Although the play ma
terially is hampered by the So
called limitations of the legitimate
drama, it is interesting to see how
well the movie could have done
without certain portions of bust
ness and unimportant incidents
which only are mentioned or in
ferred in the stage production.
The play romps around Steven
Gage, successful middle-aged play
wright, who, when the tale opens,
is casting his latest opus, piece
called "Old Love-"
Argue Over Play
In Mr.. Cages penthouse gather
Dickie Reynolds (Herbert Wagner),
handsome juvenile; Miss Darling
(Jane Smith, veteran stage &C
tress, and Frank Galloway cd
ward Green, character actor who
believes his romantic days are
over.
They argue with Linda Brown
Isabel Ayres), Mr.. Cages Secre-
tary, about the merits of the play,
the three cast members taking sides
against it's success. Linda sticks
up for it and when Mr.. Gage en-
tiers, the three actors Immediately
change their tunes, using Linda's
arguments to get on the good side
of the playwright.
To play the leading feminine role
in "Old Love-" Gage calls Genevieve
Lang margaret McEwen) to his
apartment. The sight of her kin
dies old love and when she refuses
to take the part Gage agrees to
run away with her. He gives up
the idea of producing the play,
cancels all engagements, makes
reservations on the next boat to
Finland. Then he calls Linda in
to tell her she is discharged.
Delivers Exit Speech
She refuses to take any none
tary gifts, charging him only for
her salary to date and the money
she paid on the parcel post package
delivered the day before.
Before she goes, she tells Steven
that she is in love with him, has
been all these years, dumfounds
him with beautiful exit speech.
When she fees through the door,
Steven goes after her, consoles her,
and suddenly gets splendid idea
for his play. He uses her speeches,
twists the plot to fit his own en-
gagement with Genevieve.
Linda, believing Steven is in love
with her, stays on, takes part in
the play herself. Steven warns up
to Linda's love until one night he
discovers Dickie in her apartment.
He leaves her note, walks out on
her. Linda attempts to explain
and Steven half-heartedly accepts.
Steven plans dinner party at
which he is going to announce their
engagement just before the party
Dickie breaks in, tells Steven he
really loves Linda. He inveigles
Steven into writing proposal for
him, which he doesn't use. Linda
falls for Dickie and they are mar
ried.
Marriage Is Failure.
After a year of honeymooning
with Dickie, Linda returns to Stew
en-, confesses that their marriage
has been a failure and says she has
asked Dickie for a divorce so she
can marry Steven. Steven refuses,
is about to send her back to her
husband when Dickie and two de-
tectives rush in and demand Linda.
She saves the situation by emerging
from Stevens bedroom attired in
his bathrobe and slippers. Well
leave the ending for you to figure
out.
Although the entire production
dragged perceptibly Saturday night,
the lines are witty enough to cover
many of the holes. Frederick Bur-
leigh has directed the play with
straight forwardness which keeps
action and dialogue entertainingly
simple. We feel that Mr.. Raphael
sons play would be much better if
cut to two acts.
Jack Harding, as the playwright,
leads the play around by the nose.
With the exception of Linda, the
characters bow before him in near
ly all scenes. Mr.. Harding is cast
excellently, performs with ease and
turns out a polished Steven Gage.
Isabel Ayres Praised
Surprise of the show was the
work of Isabel Ayres in her first
Civic play, as Linda. Miss Ayres,
with a delightful Southern accent,
shows remarkable talent for COM
edy and yet the seriousness of Lin
da Brown in her love for Steven
is never lost through any unneces-
sary by-play or slapstick. In Miss
Ayres the Civic has found a bright
new star which Mr.. Burleigh will
do we'll not to lose
Edward Green, who has played in
Civic Theater productions since he
was a child, makes an excellent
Frank Galloway His drunk scene
in Act II is about the best thing
we have seen Eddie do. We do
wish, though, that he would wipe
of a few of the grease paint
wrinkles
Herbert Wagner, a Civic new
conner, as Dickie Reynolds, and
Alec Saxton as the butler, Flogdell,
are sufficiently convincing for their
roles. Margaret McEwen, who plays
Genevieve Lang, makes a grand
appearance, ner only drawback be-
ing several stiltec' gestures. Jane
Smith is amusing as the veteran
actress, Miss Darling. William
Sheehan and Warwick Wicks ap-
pear briefly.
The play is to he presented each
night through Saturday.