New Play

Adrienne. Taken by and large, Adrienne offers about as pleasant solace for that tired feeling as any more or less fluffy entertainment that has been staged for some time.

True, some of the jokes are rather mummified, but, judging by the laughter of the audience, there must be some people who haven't heard a joke in ten years. And all the other ingredients that go to make up a successful musical comedy are there in profusion. The music is catchy and pleasant--indeed some of the songs will probably afflict the flat-dweller's ear from the phonograph next door for months to come. Vivienne Segal has one of the best voices in light opera and uses it with effectiveness and precision. Richard Carle and Billy B. Van carry most of the comedy between them and do it well.

The plot concerns a band of crooks who pretend to be Hindu mystics to swindle Vivienne Segal out of her jewels--which gives opportunity for one gorgeous stage-set and a lot of music full of temple-bells and incense-smells and the rest of the allure of the East as known to a Broadway orchestra.

Heywood Broun: "A summer show well above the average."

Burns Mantle: "With the little woman away and the kids at the shore, he (the golf-wearied merchant) will find Adrienne stimulating and pleasant to take."