Word: playe
(lookup in dictionary)
(lookup stats)
Dates: during 1940-1949
Sort By: most recent first
(reverse)
Even allowing for opening-night delays, however, the play seemed over-long. The episode involving a trumpeter in the first part of Act One added little to the humor and nothing to the play. Following on a witty prologue, it bogged down the proceedings and was not aided by the actors concerned. Omitting it entirely would be a great improvement...
...Alkmena who was visited by the God Jupiter?" That left a lot unsaid. M. Giradoux (through his translator S. N. Behrman) now says the rest. The fact that he really has little to say and says it with too many words does not particularly matter. It is a talky play, but the talk is nimble. The story itself is simple, little more than an extended practical joke. There are no memorable lines or take-home gags; it is rather an exercise to keep afloat some pretty balloons that somehow got into the bedroom...
...part of Jupiter, Paul Sparer has brought an excellent speaking voice and an assured performance that missed few opportunities to play up all aspects of his prank on Alkmena. David Bauman was adopt as Mercury, the pandering, puckish son of Jupiter of an earlier affair. He achieved, through good timing, the proper tinge of irony to his barbs. Though the role of Amphitryon, thanks to the machinations of Jupiter, is relatively small, John Seiler handled it skillfully...
...mortal. Following this tradition, Giradoux's Alkmena is a tender, faithful, loving wife with no desire to fulfill her destiny with Bulfinch's mythology. In the role, Anna Prince was all that Giradoux requires and brought, in addition, a certain luxuriousness to the part that added immeasurably to the play. Unfortunately, however, Miss Prince is not always understandable. Striving for variety in her voice, some of her lines became lost in a flood of sheer inflection. With that corrected, Miss Prince should give abundant pleasure...
...most complete that have been seen at Sanders in several years. He has made no concessions to the peculiarities of Sanders and has achieved a picture-frame stage through ingenious use of curtains and cables. The direction of Robert Seaver was commendable. He has done wonders with a play in which pace and timing are essential to success. "Amphitryon" clicks along with complete certainty of purpose...