Evening star., 1944-04-09
NEW YORK

NEW YORK.
1t Is questionable, I think, how
Many audiences will join the tens
If thousands of readers who rejoiced
wholesomely in Rosemary Taylor's
little homespun novel of an Arizona
boarding house, Chicken Every
Sunday" now dramatized under
that name by Julius j. and Philip
G. Epstein and produced at Henry
Miller's theater.
Miss Taylor's novel was motive
less stosy of incident and character
ization and so is the play. As in
the book, its dramatic counterpart
makes for laughter. But, unlike the
novel, some of the laughter rises
out Of questionable lines-double
entendres and quips much more
obvious which we do not seem to
remember as having appeared in
the plays literary parent. In brief,
if I am not totally in error, this
comedy often seeks its laugh in
low humor original with the play.
For two acts, notably the second,
there was fun enough, I thought,
without those off-color interjec-
tions. However, a very friendly
first-night audience was always
ready to guffaw at them.
AS central characters there. are
Mrs. Blachman, splendidly played by
Mary Philips, and her husband, Jim,
a Col Sellers type (Rhys Williams)
ever obsessed with some grandiose
and thoroughly phony business prof.
ect, whose helpmeet, in consequence,
must needs conduct boarding house
as a means of family survival. So
doing she has filled her home with
nearly a score of boarders of vari-
Gus types and characters whose
antics mainly constitute the play. 1t
is all very amusing in spots, far
fetched in others and contains some
moments when you wish you were in
your home with Miss Taylor's book
instead of sitting in on the MeSSrs.
Epsteins' play.
Miss Burke Vibrant.
Billie Burke, of course, is sheer joy
whenever and whatever she acts.
So, had Zoe Atkins done nothing in
her new comedy, Mrs. January and
Mr.. Ex," other than write a part
eliciting brilliant reflections of Miss
Burke's personality, she would have
done enough to satisfy admirers of
this blithely whimsical person.
regret to report this is about all the
author accomplished in piece in
volving an engagingly novel idea not
adequately developed in the plot.
But certainly Miss Burke has her
night in the theater AS Mrs. Janu-
ary, much-married scatterbrain of
vast wealth who has faddishly con-
tracted virulent case of parlor
communitis, she has a part mimi
tably her dish. Mover to express
her theology by transferring herself,
her jewels, goods, children and serv-
ants from palatial city mansion to
a two-family house in a New Eng
land village, she autters, postures,
trills, burbles, sparkles and gestures
in process of adaptation to humble
environment; in process, too of an
nexing the occupant of the other
half of the house-he turns out to
be former President of the United
States, retired, Calvin Coolidge
type-as prospective fourth of her
string of husbands. 1t all results
in beautifully humorous first act
and thenceforward a cumulative
petering out due to lack of solid sub
stance, defect emphasized by fail
ure to give "Mr. Ex"( Frank Craven)
little to do other than grin, grimace
and speak an occasional sentence.
Hence we have a piece trivial and
sketchy, destined probably to endure
until Miss Burke's faithful follow
ing is exhausted.
Only for a Moment.
I greatly fear "Only the Heart"
by Horton Foote, will not be extant
when this is read. 1t represents-or
representative first Broadway
venture of the America Actors