"Another Language" was performed at the Lyric Theatre, London, from 1 December, 1932, to 4 February, 1933, having firstly opened at the Palace Theatre, Manchester, from 14 November, 1932.
From The Era of 7 December, 1932.
‘‘ANOTHER LANGUAGE"
First, a congratulatory word or two about the redecoration of the Lyric Theatre, where this play opened a few days ago. An old fashioned and very miserable theatre has been metamorphosised very agreeably into a semi-modem one. Another Language is a domestic drama which earned my continuous interest. Underneath its veneer of English topography and idiom, one perceives a typical product the American naturalism school. Four brothers clustering around their parents on Sunday nights, bringing their bored wives to tea, while a tyrant of an old lady mother extracts her measure of attention and adoration from them all. One daughter-in-law who rebels from the tyranny of clan and one grown grandson who falls in love with her. A boyish little affair that nearly wrecks a household. That is all there is to it. Rose Franken’s play is so slight that an unwanted responsibility falls on the admirable cast and producer. There was room for an enlargement of our view of this family. But enough of criticism. This is play well worth the seeing. It is exciting and humorous from beginning to end. And I fairly revelled in the spectacle of Herbert Marshall and Edna Best (who both appear to have put on condition since I saw them last) having domestic scrap, instead of Mary and Michaelising to the end of their days. They themselves no doubt regard the change as healthy. Auriol Lee’s production is tasteful and slick. The mother is played with modest brilliance by Mary Jerrold, a lovely performance. Winifred Oughton makes a very amusing study of the disillusioned Helen Hallam; Louis Hayward is faithful to the role of the adoring nephew. The other parts offer few chances, but Dora Barton, Charles Mortimer, Gilbert Davis, Margot Sieveking, Douglas Jefferies, and Marcus Barron do all they can for the play.
‘‘ANOTHER LANGUAGE"
First, a congratulatory word or two about the redecoration of the Lyric Theatre, where this play opened a few days ago. An old fashioned and very miserable theatre has been metamorphosised very agreeably into a semi-modem one. Another Language is a domestic drama which earned my continuous interest. Underneath its veneer of English topography and idiom, one perceives a typical product the American naturalism school. Four brothers clustering around their parents on Sunday nights, bringing their bored wives to tea, while a tyrant of an old lady mother extracts her measure of attention and adoration from them all. One daughter-in-law who rebels from the tyranny of clan and one grown grandson who falls in love with her. A boyish little affair that nearly wrecks a household. That is all there is to it. Rose Franken’s play is so slight that an unwanted responsibility falls on the admirable cast and producer. There was room for an enlargement of our view of this family. But enough of criticism. This is play well worth the seeing. It is exciting and humorous from beginning to end. And I fairly revelled in the spectacle of Herbert Marshall and Edna Best (who both appear to have put on condition since I saw them last) having domestic scrap, instead of Mary and Michaelising to the end of their days. They themselves no doubt regard the change as healthy. Auriol Lee’s production is tasteful and slick. The mother is played with modest brilliance by Mary Jerrold, a lovely performance. Winifred Oughton makes a very amusing study of the disillusioned Helen Hallam; Louis Hayward is faithful to the role of the adoring nephew. The other parts offer few chances, but Dora Barton, Charles Mortimer, Gilbert Davis, Margot Sieveking, Douglas Jefferies, and Marcus Barron do all they can for the play.