Independent Players bring 1920s comedies to Elgin

During the four weeks from Feb. 27 to March 22, Independent Players is presenting two vintage comedies from the 1920s - George Kaufman and Edna Ferber's "The Royal Family" and A.A. Milne's "Mr. Pim Passes By" - at the Elgin Art Showcase in Elgin.

With these two plays, IP returns to presenting classic comedies during March. These two plays showcase three important playwrights of the 1920s. In addition, "The Royal Family" is one of the foremost American plays of its time, while "Mr. Pim Passes By" is an equally important English play of its time. Together, they give one an exceptional idea of what brought people into theaters and made them laugh during the late 1920s and 1930s.

"The Royal Family" is said to be a thinly disguised portrait of the legendary Barrymore family of American actors. The Cavendish clan likewise comprises three generations of actors: Fanny Cavendish, wife of the best actor of his day, is, despite her age, planning an upcoming tour; her brother Herbert, a once-popular actor is now in his decline; Fanny's daughter Julie, who is at the height of her Broadway career, and son, Tony, who has given up the theater for Hollywood. Julie's daughter Gwen is just beginning a very promising ingénue career.

When Tony rushes home and immediately flees to Europe to escape a Polish movie star, and Gwen shocks everyone by marrying a non-actor, it seems as though the Cavendish family name and reputation is threatened.

Despite all the family antics, however, Fanny rules the day with her strength, wit, courage and sharp tongue, and proves that "the show must (and will) go on."

"Mr. Pim Passes By" is a delightful comedy which tells what happens in a very "English" home when the very likable Mr. Pim (who has much trouble with names) drops by one day on a small matter of business. The business is soon forgotten when Mr. Pim announces that the former husband of the lady of the house, who is thought to be deceased, is alive. Since the lady is married now, she is a bigamist. Her current pompous and tyrannical husband is extremely upset.

Mr. Pim passes by again and confesses that he confused two names and it is safe to assume the lady's first husband is dead, as they originally believed. Without telling her husband, the lady uses this knowledge as a means not only to get what she wants in the house but to force her husband to allow his niece to marry the young artist who loves her.

It is entirely possible that either or both of these plays may have been staged in Elgin or the Fox River area during their heyday (1930s), or very possibly since then.

Coincidentally, Independent Players' production of these two plays coincides with the Gail Borden Public Library's celebration of Elgin "Reflections: Elgin Flowing Through Time 1920s-1970s." These plays give residents of the Valley the chance to see two of the best comedies written during the 1920s and 1930s on a local stage.

"The Royal Family" runs at 7:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, Feb. 27-28 and March 6-7, and 2 p.m. Sundays, March 1 and 8. "Mr. Pim Passes By" runs at 7:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, March 13-14 and 20-21, and 2 p.m. Sundays, March 15 and 22. Both productions are being produced at the Elgin Art Showcase, 164 Division Street, Elgin.

Tickets are $15 for adults, $12 for senior citizens 65 and older and $10 for students, ages 13-22. For information and reservations, call (847) 697-7374.