Since summer now extends into what was once fall, how appropriate that the Metropolitan Playhouse down on East Fourth Street revives S.N. Behrman’s 1936 End of Summer beginning October 7. Behrman’s one of our greatest playwrights, but his work isn’t as often seen as it should be. Just happened to re-read this particular play, however, not too long ago, so I feel synchronized. Like last year’s The Awful Truth, End of Summer originally starred Ina Claire. In his autobiography, Behrman mentions owning a recording of a performance she gave of his 1931 Biography. . . where is it now?
In End of Summer, the Claire character almost falls for a strong man, a shrink with definite fascistic tendencies. Relevant in 1936–relevant this election season.