McDermott on Broadway

Only Serious New Play of Distinction Is O'Neill': 'Long Day's Journey Into Night'

By WILLIAM F. MCDERMOTT

The current Broadway season is not notable for superior drama. Music show hits of some admirable quality are unusually numerous, but there are very few straight dramas of any consequence. The only serious new American play of any distinction is O'Neill's "Long Day's Journey Into Night." If a vote were taken today I have no doubt that it would win both the Pulitzer prize and the Critics' Award. It is good in itself but its merits are magnified by a lack of competition. For the time being, it stands alone in its field. Until last week. Terence

WILLIAM F. MCDERMOTT

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Rattigan's "Separate Tables" is only a device he uses to reemed to have the firmest present some moving glimpses ~clutch on the prizes for the best into pitiable and painful truths foreign play. Since then, Jean of human life.

*Anouilh's "Waltz of the ToreaThe second of the two plays  ́dors,” has opened on Broadway is the best. It mainly concerns to the highest critical acclaim and will undoubtedly be in the running when the annual!

· awards are bestowed.

a morbidly shy young woman and an older man who is an imposter and a pervert because of compulsions rooted in psy-

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I did not see the Anouilh play chological illness. In the play, materially than her mother had of rubber stamps including a as Rattigan, original wrote it, selected for her. There is some mild satire

because I had tickets for estab-į 'lished successes and did not

seems to be.

the man

was a homosexual.

Because of the Lord Chamberof British types and attitudes

scene in which a young suitor wish to take a chance on a new gives a bouquet or roses to the French play which might close by the end of the week. That ain's code of censorship, the in the play, but it is essentially object of his affections and,, was a mistake, for some of the homosexual implication had to a rather conventional and rouwhen she rejects his suit, retine comedy. You can't have turns to the room to pick up hits I attended were less interbe eliminated. much respect for a play in the gift he had presented her. esting and noteworthy than The character is now pre-which somebody mentions the "The Waltz of the Toreadors" sented, as he was in London, word "philanderer" and another This scene was used thirtyas a man guilty of furtive sexu-character remarks "I thought a five years ago in a play by Separate Tables" is an in-al approaches to Women in philanderer was somebody who Frank Craven. I do not know genious and engrossing play, movie theaters. The improve-collects stamps." how many times it was used beautifully acted. It is really ment in moral intimations This play collects a number before or has been used since. two plays, though some of the made by the change is not notcharacters which appear in the able. But the play is not sensafirst play are carried over to tional and the man is pitiable, the second and the proceedings rather than disgusting, because as a whole are unified in place he is ill and deranged. And mood. The scene through-| Eric Portman and Margaret out is a hotel in the English Leighton are the principal playseaside town of Bournemouth ers in "Separate Tables," and and the feeling is one of taut they are remarkable. They cach aliveness and inner loneliness. impersonate different charaçIt displays superb theatrical ters in the two plays and you craftsmanship, and that is per-hardly recognize them in the haps the quality which has second play as the same players made it 30 popular. But it in-who appeared in the first, so volves more than god theatri-contrasting are the characters -cal workmanship, which is often and so rich and varied are their associated with the hollow and performances the artificial.

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It is not a matter merely of In this play. Mr. Rattigan a change in physical appearhas got into the heart of his ance, which can be wrought by characters and the odd and makeup but a complete transformation in feeling and spirit. well-arranged pattern of events It is not a stunt, but a revelation in the flexibility and sensi-' tiveness of fine theatrical artists.

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successful, though it is admirably played by a largely English cast, headed by Adrianne Allen and Wilfrid Hyde White. It is a fairly amusing comedy about a class-conscious London [mother who tries to force her daughter into marrying a titled boob. Going her own way, the daughter manages to snare the man she loves who turns out to be a better catch socially and