Scenes Behind The Scenes

Chronicle (Levin), 4 October 1949, Page 4

Scenes Behind The Scenes

We peeped in the other night an'd watched the cast of "Fools Rush In" at rehearsal. It reminded us somewhat of the atmosphere behind the scenes in a darkened theatre of West End or Broadway. We had to keep pinching ourselves to make sur.ea we were awake. Firslly, there was the producer, Arnold Goodwin. He was alive, dyhamic. Not a word of the play escaped his notice. Restless, watchful, enthusiastic, he prowled up and 'down, darting in here to show someone how to walk, how to pour a drink, how to register horror. Hardly for a moment were his hands still, one raised warningly now to stay an entrance, then' a sudden onward movement urging a player forward or pleading for a quickening in pace. A fiick of a fihger or an upraised eyebrow, each had its own mysterious message. We leaned back in our ehair and prepared to take things easy, but not for long. As the story of the play unfol'ded the ehair began to quiver. Then it began to rock. Once it nearly overturned altogether so heartily and spontaneously did we laugh. There's no doubt that "Fools Rush In" is a riotous comedy. The playwright, Kenneth Horne, well known to> radio listeners through the B.B.C. programme, "Much Binding in the Marsh," has here a play with enough amusing situations guaranteed to make your sides >ache. The scene where — but, no, we can't tell you that or it'd spoil the story for you. Take it from us, though, it all adds u.p to a sparkling night's entertainment that

you can't afford to miss. And as for that piece where the uninvite'd guest— sorry, there we are again; bursting to share it all with you now, yet we know we must remain quiet for your sake. One thing we can tell you, though, the tox plans are at the Regent: Theatre and the seats are being snapped up. -It's a mistake to delay your reservations. There Won't be any left soon.