News
Cambridge Residents Slam Council Proposal to Delay Bike Lane Construction
News
‘Gender-Affirming Slay Fest’: Harvard College QSA Hosts Annual Queer Prom
News
‘Not Being Nerds’: Harvard Students Dance to Tinashe at Yardfest
News
Wrongful Death Trial Against CAMHS Employee Over 2015 Student Suicide To Begin Tuesday
News
Cornel West, Harvard Affiliates Call for University to Divest from ‘Israeli Apartheid’ at Rally
The Happiest Millionaire is a mild comedy.
Based on a book of reminiscences by the daughter of one of Philadelphia's oldest clans, it is set in the middle of what she claims was her family, a world dominated by a pleasantly enthusiastic millionaire who believes in having fun ("You can't save life, or store it, or put it in a vault. You have to plunge in.") The play's purpose is to show Mr. A.J. Drexel Biddle and his family plunging in.
Although a few of the lines seem terribly familiar--"You swear all the time," "I do nothing of the kind, damn it!"--the mood is buoyant, because the stage is often full of two alligators, nice bits of Life With Father, and Walter Pidgeon, who has a wonderful time bounding around in the title role. He has an effective supporting cast headed by Diana van der Vlis as his boxing daughter, and George Grizzard as her finance. The several actresses who play society women all flutter very nicely. So does the play.
Want to keep up with breaking news? Subscribe to our email newsletter.