Common Clay (play)

Common Clay is a 1915 play by the American writer Cleves Kinkead. A social drama, it shows the relationship between a servant and a member of the wealthy family which she serves. When she becomes pregnant she finds herself ostracized by them. The play was controversial on its release, but enjoyed a lengthy run on Broadway.[1] It was the outstanding success of Kinkead's career, and he struggled to repeat it with his later works such as Your Woman and Mine (1922).[2][3]

Contemporary photo of the third act published in a newspaper. Jane Cowl is in the center.

Adaptations

It was the basis for a 1919 silent film starring Fannie Ward and two further adaptations during the 1930s: Common Clay starring Constance Bennett released in 1930 and a 1936 version called Private Number starring Loretta Young. A novelisation by D. Torbett was published by The Readers Library, to coincide with the release of the 1930 film.

References
  1. Brown & Hayes p.68-69
  2. Bordman p.174
  3. Common Clay original Broadway production, August 26 1915 Theatre Republic ending May 1916, 316 performances; IBDb.com

Bibliography
  • Bordman, Gerald. American Theatre: A Chronicle of Comedy and Drama 1914-1930. Oxford University Press, 1995.
  • Brown, Jared & Hayes, Helen. The Fabulous Lunts: A Biography of Alfred Lunt and Lynn Fontanne. Atheneum, 1986.


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