Year: 1947
Theatre:
Wyndham`s Theatre Charing Cross Road
Part: Dr. Valentine
Review: "Benjamin Frankel had
recently seen James Donald give a superb display of high comedy acting
in Shaw`s "You Never Can Tell" and with him in mind he wrote the leading
male role of Lord Digby in Trottie True."
This
wholly delightful revival of Bernard Shaw`s comedy which is presented
by Sherek Players Ltd. has proved a popular draw. A splendid cast
extract every ounce of fun from the many humorous situations. The play
is skilfully directed by Peter Ashmore, and a special word of praise is
due to the delightful settings by Anthony Holland and to the charming
costumes of the period. The second act scene on the terrace of the
Marine Hotel is one of that will be long remembered as an artistic
triumph of the first order.
Story:
Dolly Clandon, the first patient of the impoverished young dentist,
Valentine, is joined by her brother, Philip, in an attempt to persuade
him to join the family for lunch.
Mrs. Clandon
typifying the emanicipated woman of the period (1896), does not live
with her husband, and has brought up her three uninhibited children
abroad in ignorance of his identity. After Valentine`s protest, which
occurs shortly after their return to England, they beg their mother to
tell them the true.
Valentine,
wanting to impress his landlord, to whom he owes rent, claims the whole
of the Clandon family as his patients. But what Mr. Fergus Crampton,
the landlord, really wants is some attention for an aching tooth.
Dolly
advises the landlord as to the beast means of extraction. Peviously,
she has skilfully persuaded him to bring Valentine to lunch with her
family.
Valentine,
having induced Fergus Crampton to agree to forego the rent owing to him
if the tooth is painlessly extracted, forcibly uses gas to carry out
his part of the bargain.
The
Clandon family, whilst waiting at the hotel for Valentine and Mr.
Crampton to join them for lunch, are met by Finch McComas, the family
solicitor, who tells them he has news of their unknown father.
The family
solicitor, having revealed the fact that the rich but crusty old Mr.
Crampton is their unknown father, the family drink a re-union toast.
McComas
encounters very stiff opposition from Mrs. Clandon in his efforts to
bring about a family reunion. The children do all they can to encourage a
reconciliation as a rich father could undoubtedly ease the financial
burden the family is bearing.
Later the same night Valentine asks Gloria
to marry him but confesses that he hasn`t a penny in the world. But in
spite of her seeming indifference it is soon obvious that Gloria is
equally attracted.
Gloria has a heart to heart talk with her newly-found father- and appears to enjoy the experience.
Mr. Bohun, the legal adviser, has
been briefed to try and persuade Mr. Crampton to return to his family, a
task which is proving more than a little difficult.
source: Theatre World Jan. 1948