Riotous Comedy Given By Civic Theater

Riotous Comedy Given By Civic Theater

“Kiss and Tell," a comedy in three acts; presented by the Ann Arbor Civic Theater; at Slauson Junior High School Auditorium; at 8:30 Wednesday, Thursday and Friday nights; directed by T. Todd Jones; sets by Leila Wheeler

CAST

Mr. Willard, a house painter                                       A. B. Crandell

Louise, The Archer’s maid                                          Marguerite del Toro

Corliss ARcher, going on sixteen                               Jean Hendel

Raymond Pringle, aged twelve                                  Bob Smith

Mildred Pringle, going on eighteen                          Peggy Cumings

Dexter Franklin, seventeen—the boy next door      Dick Woodcock

Janet Archer, Corliss mother                                      Marie Gilson

Harry Archer, Corliss’ father                                        Thomas D. Gilson

Private Earhart                                                              Al Stohrer

Lt. Kenny Archer, Corliss; brother, aged twenty      John Sargeant

Mary Franklin, Dexter’s mother                                  Margaret Nickerson Martin

Bill Franklin, Dexter’s father                                        G. Davis Sellards

Dorothy Pringle, Mildred’s mother                             Willett Brown

Uncle George, Corliss' uncle                                        John H. Benjamin

Robert Pringle, Mildred's father                                  Jim Reason
 
Bookholder                                                                     Mabel E. Jones

March Banks, a dog                                                       Duchess (Mrs. Mabel Stanton, owner)

The kids, as might be expected, ran away with the show last night at Slauson Junior High School as the Ann Arbor Civic Theater gave its final play of the 1947-48 season, the riotous juvenile comedy, “Kiss and Tell.’’

The oldsters, of course, had their moments in the play, but it was Jean Hendel as Corliss Archer, Dick Woodcock as Dexter Franklin, and Bob Smith as Raymond Pringle, who took the honors for the evening.

Miss Hendel, a University student from Wayzata, Minn., played that arch little hell-cat, Corliss Archer, to the hilt. She managed, very nicely, to capture the spirit of a young girl just emerging into womanhood—and very conscious of the fact.

In this, perhaps, Dick Woodcock’s Dexter gave her an admirable contrast. Squeaky-voiced, loud-mouthed, and very much in love, despite (or because of?) his seventeen years, Dexter and Dick showed again that women mature much more rapidly than men.

Gives Notable Performance

For the least self-conscious and most matter of fact performance of the evening, however, Bob Smith's job as the brattish Raymond was most notable.

Among the other roles, Dr. Tom Gilson's Harry Archer was outstanding, as was Mrs. Gilson’s Janet Archer. Dr. Gilson's quiet and pithy way of putting things carried many a borderline laugh over into the grounds of high hilarity. And Mrs. Gilson's air of stability gave just the right note in an otherwise madcap neighborhood.

Peggy Cummings, as Mildred Pringle, was truly charming; A. B. Crandell in the too-brief role of a house-painter, captivated the audience from the start; and Marguerite del Toro, as Louise, the maid, rivaled Hazel of Saturday Evening Post fame.

It is true that the performance last night was marked by a little roughness, a little unsureness of lines, but this wore itself out as the uproarious evening continued. The succeeding performances, tonight and tomorrow night, should prove even better. But that is gilding the lily. Last night’s performance of “Kiss and Tell” could stand anywhere on its own merits. —J. S. B.