New Play in Manhattan

Nina (adapted by Samuel Taylor from a play by Andre Roussin) created something of a ruckus before reaching Broadway. Gloria Swanson, who plays the title role, snarled publicly at Gregory Ratoff's direction, sneered at the play and threatened to quit. On Broadway the play itself should cause much less stir. It can best be described as very French in plot, and not nearly French enough in manner.

A farce built on the Gallic axiom that there are three sides to every story, Nina has the husband decide in the first act to kill the lover, in the next act to kill the wife, in the last act to kill himself. The husband is much the most rewarding member of the trio--a hypochondriac who sneezes just when he intends to shoot, a red-nosed reindeer with, deep down in him, a bit of the wolf. British Actor Alan (The Winslow Boy) Webb plays the part so delightfully that he is even able to raise some hopes for the play. But the play grows increasingly harried and hack. And though David Niven does a nice job as the lover, Ratoff brings hobnail direction to scenes that need dancing pumps. Actress Swanson, in an all-things-to-both-men role, is of no help whatever to either.

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