The First Year (play)

The First Year is a 1920 American comedic play written by Frank Craven, and produced by John Golden and directed by Winchell Smith on Broadway.[1] It was a hit on Broadway, running for 729 performances.

The First Year
Roberta Arnold and Craven in the play.
Written byFrank Craven
Date premieredOctober 20, 1920 (Broadway)
Original languageEnglish

Background

The three-act play, which centers on the first year of married life, ran on Broadway at the Little Theatre for 729 performances from Wednesday, October 20, 1920 through June 17, 1922.[2][3][4][5][6] (Prior to opening on Broadway, a warm-up performance was put on at the Apollo Theater in Atlantic City, New Jersey on October 7, 1920.[7][8][9])

It was the biggest Broadway show of the season, and when it finally closed, it was the third-longest run in Broadway history to that time.[10] It received positive reviews upon its release.[11][12][13][14][15][16] Critic Alexander Woollcott even called it "one of the best, if not the best [comedy], ever written by an American."[15]

After closing in New York, the company went on tour.[5][17]

A London production was mounted in 1926-27, which opened at the Apollo Theatre on November 26, 1926, and moved to the Prince of Wales Theatre on March 27, 1927, with a total run of 180 performances.[18]

The Equity Library Theatre staged a revival in New York in 1947.[19]

Film adaptations

It was adapted to films of the same name in 1926 and 1932.

Original Broadway cast
  • Roberta Arnold as Grace Livingston
  • William Sampson as Mr. Livingston
  • Maude Granger as Mrs. Livingston
  • Tim Murphy as Dr. Anderson
  • Lyster Chambers as Dick Loring
  • Frank Craven as Thomas Tucker
  • Leila Bennett as Hattie
  • Hale Norcross as Mr. Barstow
  • Merceita Esmonde as Mrs. Barstow[2]

References
  1. Underhill, Harriette (February 1921). Writing "The First Year", Shadowland
  2. (21 October 1922). The First Year Is Joyous, The New York Times
  3. (18 June 1922). Advertisement, New York Herald (advertisement for 722-729th performances)
  4. (7 June 1922). "The First Year" Closing, New York Clipper
  5. (21 June 1922). "The First Year" Closes, New York Clipper
  6. Fisher, James and Felicia Hardison Londre. Historical Dictionary of American Theater: Modernism, p. 237 (2d ed. 2018)
  7. (8 October 1920). The Stage Door, New-York Tribune, p. 8, col. 3.
  8. (10 October 1920). New Productions Open Out of Town, Ready for Showing on Broadway, New-York Tribune, p. 11, col. 1.
  9. (11 October 1920). The Stage Door, p. 6, col. 3 (the prior day's Tribune said no New York debut date had yet been set; today, an October 20 opening at the Little Theatre is reported)
  10. Bordman, Gerald and Thomas S. Hischak. The Concise Oxford Companion to American Theatre, pp. 228-29 (3d ed. 2004)
  11. (21 October 1920). "The First Year" Equals "Lightnin'" In Dramatic Value, New-York Tribune, p. 8 col. 3
  12. (21 October 1920). "The First Year" Gives Its Audience Night of Laughter, New York Herald, p. 11, col. 6.
  13. Broun, Heywood (24 October 1920). As We Were Saying, New York Tribune
  14. Broun, Heywood (20 November 1920). On the New York Stage, Collier's, p. 16.
  15. Woollcott, Alexander (February 1921). An Emergency Masterpiece, Everybody's Magazine, pp. 54-55
  16. Mantle, Burns. The Best Plays of 1920-21, pp. 63-97 (1921)
  17. Hickman, Walter D. (7 August 1923). Newlyweds Have Matrimonial Measles, Indianapolis Times
  18. Wearing, J.P. The London Stage 1920-1929, p. 480 (2d ed. 2014)
  19. Library Theater, Billboard (May 10, 1947, p. 47)
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