New Play in Manhattan

To Be Continued (by William Marchant) got critically blasted in a season when it is fairly safe to blast whatever appears. But it is a relatively minor offender and not without redeeming traits. Playwright Marchant has attempted that hazardous thing, a sophisticated artificial comedy about sex. Like many another playwright, he has found a far better entrance into his central situation than an exit from it.

The play concerns a businessman (Neil Hamilton) who for some 25 years has played a domestic split week--Monday to Thursday happily in Manhattan with a lady of independent fortune (Dorothy Stickney), Friday to Monday rather perfunctorily in Connecticut with his wife (Jean Dixon). Advised that she should take thought for the future, the city spouse sends the country spouse an anonymous letter, hoping to precipitate a divorce. But when the two ladies finally meet, they like each other and decide--for the benefit of all concerned--to let bygones be futuregones as well.

As an artificial frolic, the play rightly shows greater concern for comic intrigue than for human probability. Marchant begins well, with a witty mind if not a notably witty pen. But just when the fun should start to snowball, it begins to melt. What should be treated as a prank is too often treated as a problem; there are solemn moments instead of airy ones, virtuous looks instead of mocking glances. Even with a good production, To Be Continued comes off too mixed a drink with too mild a flavor. But it is certainly nothing to heave in the playwright's face.

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