Chapter 4

Comedy. 3 acts. By Philip Barry. Adapted from an original play by Eleanor Golden and Eloise Barrangon. 6 males, 7 females. 2 interiors. Modern costumes.

This gay, light, frothy comedy was first produced by Jed Harris at the Empire Theatre in New York where it found a ready audience. The story concerns a number of New England college girls in general and one, Alexandra--called Alex--Benson in particular, who finds it very difficult to attract young men of any description; primarily because she feels that she looks very much like a horse with a fly up its nose, which as a matter of fact, she doesn't at all. Alex sets her heart on Sam Thatcher, a Yale man who has turned against college and regimentation to set off for Russia with a free-thinking, free-living, rebellious companion oddly called "The Lippincott," who knows everything about women except how to get along without them. When Alex can't seem to get very far with the courtship by herself, her girl friends decide to take the matter into their own hands to secure Sam for the sad and bewildered Alex. They conspire to make Sam jealous as well as interested in things other than communism, Russia, and candid cameras, and to raise Alex to the rank of belle of the ball. Sam, a sad funny figure the world over, finally capitulates under the ministrations of the many females, and he and Alex elope to the great delight of Alex's gang.

"_Spring Dance_ is a bright and amusing comedy, splendidly adapted, in cast, subject matter, and its collegiate background to students of high school and college."--American Academy of Dramatic Arts.

"I recommend _Spring Dance_ to any theatre that is still selling entertainment."--H. Miles Heberer, Director, The Manhattan Theatre, Kansas State College.

"Its youthful spirit and gay wit made it more than just good entertainment. Other Little Theatres will doubtless find, as we did, that the casting will give them a chance to capitalize on the natural popularity of young and enthusiastic actors."--Gordon Giffen, Director, Little Theatre of Duluth.

_Spring Dance_, when offered by colleges, high schools, or Little Theatres, draws extremely enthusiastic audiences.

(Royalty, $35.00.) Price, 75 cents.

CRAB APPLE

Comedy. 3 acts. By Theodore Packard. 4 males, 3 females. Interior. Modern costumes.

First done at Yale and several summer theatres, _Crab Apple_ is a light and amusing play of contemporary American life enlivened with up-to-the-minute allusions. "She's got a good mind," is said of one character, "she's read 'Anthony Adverse.'" The play gives a brief glimpse of everyday life in the Hunter family, with Mr. Hunter grown crotchety and weary with business cares, making life miserable instead of pleasant for the family he has toiled for. His wife meekly accepts his grumblings and his tyranny. His children frequently threaten rebellion, but their feelings smolder until the situation is brought into sharp focus by the arrival of son Jim from college with a bride. This overt act of Jim's gives courage to his brother George to bring home a radio, banned as a nuisance by the head of the family, and to sister Amy to blossom out in a low-backed evening gown and plan to step out dancing. Mr. Hunter is only brought to reason by a conspiracy which makes him believe he is seriously ill. The family coddles him into a change of heart, and then finds it impossible to believe that their jest has become earnest and that their father's health is really in danger.

(Royalty, $25.00.) Price, 75 cents.

THE LATE CHRISTOPHER BEAN

Comedy. 3 acts. By Sidney Howard. 5 males, 4 females. Interior. Modern costumes.

Produced by Gilbert Miller in New York and elsewhere, this is one of the outstanding successes of the theater season of 1932-33. The comedy has to do with a family of New Englanders who have, years before, given refuge to a great artist. The play opens some years after Bean's death, with an excited world in pursuit of his work and any details they can gather as to his life and character. Dr. Haggett and his family, who have some of Bean's canvases, suddenly realize their value, and become hard, selfish, and ill-tempered. It is, however, Abby, the family servant, who ultimately holds them all in her power: she has one of his greatest paintings, which she cannot be persuaded into selling or giving away; it turns out that she is the only one who really understood and appreciated the artist--besides, she had been married to him! An ideal play for colleges and Little Theaters.

(Royalty, $25.00.) Price, 75 cents.

LADY PRECIOUS STREAM

Chinese play. 4 acts. By S.I. Hsiung. 5 males, 5 females (extras). Conventional Chinese scene for all sets. Chinese costumes.

This Chinese play by S.I. Hsiung, was produced successfully in New York, and in London, where it was performed more than 500 times. It is in every respect an authentic play written and performed in the Chinese manner with the delightful and charming conventions of that ancient institution. This beautiful romantic drama of love, fidelity, treachery and poetry is a decidedly colorful fantasy that appeals to all classes of theater goers. It tells, in varied scenes, of the devotion of a wife for her adventurous husband, of his prowess as a warrior and his ultimate return. (Not available for amateur production at present, but if interested in producing let us know and we shall notify you immediately it is released for your locality.)

Price, 75 cents.

CHARLEY'S AUNT

Farcical comedy. 3 acts. By Brandon Thomas. 7 males, 5 females. Interior, exterior. Modern costumes.

The first act introduces us to Jack Chesney's rooms in college. He is violently in love with Kitty Verdun. A chum of his, Charles Wykeham, is in the same quandary, loving Miss Spettigue. The young men at once lay their plans and ask the objects of their affections to join them at their rooms for luncheon--in order to meet Donna Lucia D'Alvadorez, Charley's aunt, who is expected to arrive from Brazil. Miss Spettigue and Miss Verdun accept the invitation, but the millionaire Donna from the antipodes sends a telegram saying that she will have to defer her visit for a few days. The problem is solved at once by forcing another undergraduate of the name of Lord Fancourt Babberley into a black satin skirt, a lace fichu, a pair of mitts, an old-fashioned cap and wig. As Charley's Aunt, then, this old frump is introduced to the sweethearts, to Jack Chesney's father, and to Stephen Spettigue. Unexpectedly the real aunt turns up, but she assumes the name of Mrs. Smith or Smythe. To attain his object,--viz., the rich widow's hand--the solicitor invites everybody to dinner. She gets his consent to the marriage of his ward to young Chesney, and eventually everybody but the avaricious solicitor is rendered overwhelmingly happy.

(Royalty, $25.00.) Price, 75 cents.

DOUBLE DOOR

Drama. 3 acts. By Elizabeth McFadden. 7 males, 5 females. Interior. Costumes, 1910.

An outstanding success on Broadway. Its theme is the battle for power that goes on in an old New York family and culminates on the verge of murder. "This one deserves especial thanks and hearty praises. It returns us to expertness and fascination and fine mood in the theater." Gilbert Gabriel, in _New York American_. "At last a play has come to town that can be heartily recommended. Sturdy theater, compelling. Once you are within the radius of _Double Door_ you will remain transfixed until you know what's behind it." Bernard Sobel, _Daily Mirror_. "_Double Door_ is a thriller of a new kind, beautifully written, superbly played, clean as a whistle, and arousing in its spectators a tenseness of interest I have rarely seen equaled in a playhouse." E. Jordan, _America_. Leading part acted by Mary Morris in America and by Sybil Thorndike in London. A play that will challenge the best acting talent of Little Theatres and colleges.

(Royalty, $25.00.) Price, 75 cents.

THE DISTAFF SIDE

Play. 3 acts. By John Van Druten. 5 males, 8 females. 2 interiors. Modern costumes.

Produced with preeminent success in London and New York. Mr. Van Druten's new play deals with the women of one family, women so unlike that they set one another off startlingly. There is the tart, querulous old Mrs. Venables, and there are her three daughters--Nellie who is married and whose life has slipped away from her in the provinces; Liz who is divorced and whose life has been brilliant and unconventional on the Continent; and Evie who is a widow and whose life has been spent being happy through others--her husband, her children, her friends. Evie's young daughter Alex is the fifth woman in the family, and the drama of _The Distaff Side_ centers chiefly in her and her two suitors who represent such different things. But if the plot belongs to Alex, the honors of the play go to her mother--for seldom has a modern playwright drawn so warm and womanly and endearing a character as Evie. The family life of these people is extraordinarily human, but it is Evie that it revolves around, Evie who lights it up.

(Royalty, $35.00.) Price, 75 cents.