''Over Night'' is a

farce Farce is a comedy that seeks to entertain an audience through situations that are highly exaggerated, extravagant, ridiculous, absurd, and improbable. Farce is also characterized by heavy use of physical humor; the use of deliberate absurdity o ...

in three acts by

Philip Bartholomae Philip Bartholomae (July 3, 1880 - January 5, 1947) was an American playwright, lyricist, screenwriter, and theatre director. He wrote many plays and musicals which were staged on Broadway in the 1910s and 1920s, several of which were adapted into ...

. The play takes place aboard the S.S. Hendrik Hudson, a steamboat on the

Hudson River Day Line Circle Line Sightseeing Cruises is a boat-based sightseeing and entertainment company in Manhattan, New York. Its principal business is operating guided tours of New York City from its base at Pier 83 in the Hell's Kitchen neighborhood. History Ci ...

, and follows two sets of couples, the "Darlings" and the "Kettles". The work premiered on

Broadway Broadway may refer to: Theatre * Broadway Theatre (disambiguation) * Broadway theatre, theatrical productions in professional theatres near Broadway, Manhattan, New York City, U.S. ** Broadway (Manhattan), the street **Broadway Theatre (53rd Stree ...

in 1911, and it was the first significant success for Bartholomae as a playwright. Bartholomae later adapted his play into a

screenplay ''ScreenPlay'' is a television drama anthology series broadcast on BBC2 between 9 July 1986 and 27 October 1993. Background After single-play anthology series went off the air, the BBC introduced several showcases for made-for-television, fe ...

for the 1915 film of the same name which was directed by James Young and starred

Vivian Martin Vivian Martin (July 22, 1893 – March 16, 1987) was an American stage and silent film actress. Biography Martin was born in Sparta, Michigan and began her career as a child actress on the stage with comedian Lew Fields. Her early theatrical ...

and Sam Hardy. He later adapted this play in collaboration with

Guy Bolton Guy Reginald Bolton (23 November 1884 – 4 September 1979) was an Anglo-American playwright and writer of musical comedies. Born in England and educated in France and the US, he trained as an architect but turned to writing. Bolton preferred w ...

into the hit Broadway musical ''

Very Good Eddie ''Very Good Eddie'' is a musical with a book by Guy Bolton and Philip Bartholomae, music by Jerome Kern, and lyrics by Schuyler Greene, with additional lyrics by Elsie Janis, Herbert Reynolds, Harry B. Smith, John E. Hazzard, Ring Lardner and Jer ...

'' (1915) which featured music by

Jerome Kern Jerome David Kern (January 27, 1885 – November 11, 1945) was an American composer of musical theatre and popular music. One of the most important American theatre composers of the early 20th century, he wrote more than 700 songs, used in over ...

History

''Over Night'' premiered on Broadway at the

Hackett Theatre The Anco Cinema was a former Broadway theatre turned cinema at 254 West 42nd Street, between 7th and 8th Avenues in Manhattan, New York City. It opened in 1904 and was originally named the Lew Fields Theatre. It continued to operate as a playhou ...

on January 2, 1911.Sturgis, p. 138 The play was produced by William A. Brady and became the first significant success for Bartholomae as a playwright.Fisher & Hardison, p. 49 The cast included Margaret Lawrence as Elsie Darling, Robert Kelly as Percy Darling, Jean Newcombe as Georgina Kettle,

Herbert Yost Herbert Yost (also credited as Barry O'Moore and Bertram Yost; December 8, 1879October 23, 1945) was an American actor who in a career that spanned nearly half a century performed predominantly on stage in stock companies and in numerous Broadw ...

as Richard Kettle, Grace Griswold as Caroline Patschen, Norma Winslow as Caroline Powers,

Wallace Worsley Wallace A. Worsley, Sr. (December 8, 1878 – March 26, 1944) was an American stage actor who became a film director in the silent era. During his career, Worsley directed 29 films and acted in 7 films. He directed several motion pictures sta ...

as Al Rivers, Terese Deagle as Mrs. S. Rutherford-Cleveland and Max Freeman as Professor Diggs.

Citations

Bibliography

* * * 1911 plays Broadway plays Plays by Philip Bartholomae Plays adapted into films {{play-stub