Evening star., 1947-12-23

MISS GREENWOOD dIlu lici PAoJ p4o
snow when you got OF the train
coming home for Christmas. h
Truth to tell, II Remember Mama
Is more q mood perhaps than q
olay. John Van Druten, who
adapted it from Kathryn Forbes
"Mama's Bank Account" knew q
continental reverie when he saw
one and was cagey enough not to|
.amper with 1t. He found it inno-
cent. warm and full Of laughter and
his IS the way 1t comes across the
foothghts from Miss Greenwood and
:aer associates. This also is the way
t came across when Mady Chris
.ians played mama for two joyous
seasons before New York's presum-
ably cynical citizens.
The difference between the origi-
nal and current offerings Of the
rlay is largely one Of production.
The present one is simpler, less
mechanically perfect, but it is some
now consonant with the story and
robs it of none Of its warmth. Far
fewer persons would have occasion
to remember mama If she could be
displayed only on that original re-
volving stage. That would be
truly great shame, and Producers
Russell Lewis and Howard Young
wisely would have none OF it.
Miss GreenWoods Mama" is in
deed 4 woman to remember, one to
hold as high in the affections as her
predecessor in the role. There Is
nothing Of stunt casting about her
succession to the character. One
has no sense of . former musical
comedy star. . oomedienne with q
special style, leaving her milieu.
one gets rather the joyous feeling
Of . superior actress settling into
one Of the most engaging parts the
theAter has laid eyes on In q long,
distracted time. Mama was
woman to give your heart to and
Miss Greenwood sees that you do
BY catching every CLINT Of her ten
dernes, bravery, loyalty, humor,
and, when the desperate need arose,
her craftiness.
1t Is . laughing portrait of melt
ing pot America that is painted in
Il Remember Mama" The plays
two acts are jammed with incl
dent growing out of Norwegian
family's brave effort to settle itself
In this brave new world.
Papa is the nominal head of the
household of Hansons, but mama is
it's always dependable driving spirit.
The San Francisco home at the
humble foot of one of the city's
regal hills, is her responsibility.
Papa makes the money, but mama
has the bank account, and no mat
ter how poor it may be In coin OF
the realm, it is always rich In
mama's character. Overdrafts are
an impossibility.
The problems that beset the
household are those overpowering
numerous ones Of keeping the coffee
pot filled on the back Of the stove;
alloting the money between the
landlord, the grocer, and the shoe
repairman; maintaining serenity
among the four temperamentally
different youngsters; explaining the
essential goodness Of reprobate old
Uncle Chris; and above all seeing
that the children have a fair chance
as achieving their various hearts
desires.
It Is mama's caginess that makes
hsr 10 gay q character to watch in
conflict with her multitudinous
dilemmas. She cannot be defeated.
II a hospital has rule that q
mother cannot see her child for "A
hours after an operation, mama dis
xuises herself as a charwoman and
soes in to scrub the ward. II editors
keep turning down Katrin's stories,
mama knows how to handle that
too. When q greatly successful
author comes to town to lecture,
mama trades q few Of her rare Nor
veeian recipes for the advice needed