Old Play in Manhattan

The First Mrs. Fraser (by St. John Ervine; produced by Gant Gaither), which tackles the problems of British divorce in the '20s, probably wasn't meant to hold up after 17 years. In any case, it hasn't. A drawing-room piece about a middle-aged woman (Jane. Cowl) who lets her husband (Henry Daniell) marry a self-seeking young girl and then gets him back again, it follows a familiar pattern, makes use of familiar patter. It has no glaring faults; it is just so tame and predictable as to be generally dull.

Playwright St. John Ervine (rhymes with "Injun servin' ") ceases to be mild--and well-mannered--only in his irate slashing away at the younger generation (the heroine's smug sons and selfish successor); but the younger generation hits back by refusing to seem convincing. And the older generation, whatever its higher virtues, seems awfully short on verve. So does the production itself, which puts an extra curse on the play.

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