Previous sections:
1.—Introduction. Writing and production
Reception
The reviews of Piccadilly Jim were mostly positive at first, but toward the end of December there is a clear decline, which can be illustrated by a few extracts in chronological order:
"Piccadilly Jim," a character that won the admiration of all who read the story when it appeared in the Saturday Evening Post, was presented on the stage last night at the Grand Opera House for the first time. "Jim" proved as popular a stage hero as he did in the book, and judging from the manner in which the play was received "Piccadilly" is destined to enjoy a long and successful career. The play is a mixture of fun and thrills and is most enjoyable. It is packed with laughs and last night's audience seemed to enjoy it to the fullest extent. Although last night's performance was the first on any stage, the production moved with such smoothness that it was impossible to tell it was a premiere. [...]
It has all the earmarks of a real winner, and will undoubtedly capture Broadway when it finally lands there for a run. The company is far above the average seen this season.
Wilkes-Barre Times Leader, December 2, p. 19
(Note that this review ignores the Indianapolis summer season.)
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As Piccadilly Jim, Mr. Kelly exceeds all speed limits for laughs for the authors have broken their own records in the matter of comic ingenuity. And Mr. Walker has gathered a brilliant company to portray the unusual character tangled in their web of blythe humor. Ruth Gordon plays the demure Anne Chester. Burford Hampden as the complacent prize of the kidnappers, Willian Sampson as the patient inventor, Catherine Proctor as the lady detective, Elizabeth Patterson as the cultured Mrs. Pett, Fred Tiden as the nervy burglar, Frank Connor, Grace Hayle, Beulah Bondy, Clare Weldon, Agnes Gildea, Graham Volsey, Dora Matthews, Edgar Stehli, and Ruth Copley make up the imposing cast.
The Meriden Daily Journal, December 13, p. 7
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"Piccadilly Jim," a comedy made in part from a short story by P. G. Wodehouse by that worthy and industrious young man, himself and his favorite accomplice, Guy Bolton, was seen at Parsons's Theater last evening and proved to be a pleasing bit of amusement without at all ruining Mr. William Shakespeare's claim to immortality as a dramatist. Messrs. Bolton and Wodehouse are as considerate as they are prosperous; they are content to have their hands in most of the books of musical plays of the present age and to dash off a comedy here and there; they are willing to achieve fortune and such little things but they simply will not shove good old William Aforesaid Shakespeare off the map. It wouldn't be cricket don't you know, to treat a dear dead Johnny so.
But though not obtaining greatness in the composition and construction of "Piccadilly Jim" the authors have given people who go to see their work excellent reasons for frequent smiles and not a few good laughs; and they have given some clever players some neat opportunities. There was no riotous applause from the audience last evening but there certainly was appreciation for the wit of many of the lines and the brightness of some of the situations. [...]
The story is thin but the telling is bright and the acting of those principally concerned is excellent.
Hartford Courant, December 19, p. 10
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"Piccadilly Jim," the comedy by Guy Bolton and P. G. Wodehouse, presented at the Shubert-Garrick this week, is enjoyable. The fair-sized audience last night felt that way about it, and so expressed itself. Gregory Kelly brings a unique personality to the title role, his remarkable manipulation of the one syllable "Yes" in a long scene with Miss Ruth Gordon and the comedy brought out by his enunciation of that word being a characteristic example of the actor's understanding of humor-provoking diction.
The Washington Evening Star, December 23, p. 25
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"PICCADILLY JIM" may not be another "Seventeen" for Gregory Kelly; but "Piccadilly Jim" is, notwithstanding, a thoroughly entertaining comedy. There's a plenty of laughable-at dialogue, there's a bit of melodrama that thrills, there's a sweet little love story, and there are liberal sprinklings of pure farce that draw continuous chuckles.
No, it's not a record-breaking masterpiece, but it's a mighty delightful way of passing a couple of hours or so—this "Piccadilly Jim" of P. G. Wodehouse and Guy Bolton. [...]
It's all very amusing. And fairly well cast, although one gets the impression that the thing is too new to let the actors get the full value of their parts. But in a short time this will have worn off, and the comedy will be even better than it was last night, when it made a goodly house chuckle continually and roar occasionally.
The Washington Times, December 23, p. 10
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Almost a new category of drama is needed in which to classify "Piccadilly Jim." Its origins are more obvious: popular magazine fiction plus the earlier influence of Mr. George M. Cohan were its inspiration. And it is amusing in effect, albeit this effect is of a somewhat obvious kind. It is neither as deep as a well, nor, fortunately, as broad as a barn-door. In fact, on the latter score, it is without a single word of offense. That alone stamps it as a novelty among present-day farce-comedies. But it is also a bit of a comedy of manners and contains, likewise, more than a hint of that five-year old antique the crook-play with its turns and tricks. Added to all this are aphoristic lines enough to furnish forth a winter's tale to be told around the corner grocery stove. In short, it is an amusing example of opportunism in dramatic technique, the story constantly taking such new tones and directions as the wit of the authors could devise to keep it going. And it does go—as far, apparently, as it was meant to. [...]
In two or three instances certain rôles have been miscast. Odgen, for example, is a precocious child, but the illusion is not heightened by having this part played by an actor with a blue chin and maturity of facial expressions. Time will probably correct many of these details, among which crudity of make-up, in more than one case, unquestionably needs attention. Even with these blemishes, however, the laughter of the first-night audience gave sure indication that "Piccadilly Jim" will be a popular success.
The Christian Science Monitor, December 23, p. 16
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At the Garrick, Gregory Kelly is holding forth in P. G. Wodehouse's "Piccadilly Jim"—a play that offers fair enough entertainment, but one which rather disappointed the critics, who expected a vast deal of fine stuff from the combination of Wodehouse and Guy Bolton.
Earle Dorsey for the Washington Herald, December 25, p. 5
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Stuart Walker's "Piccadilly Jim" at the Shubert-Garrick received rather good notices and was a mighty clever little comedy, with a last act that turned into an old time thriller. The cast was excellent and after the piece is brightened just a little, it being played in a quiet key throughout that rather tired, it ought to be a fair contender for successful honors in New York.
Hardie Meakin for Variety, January 2, 1920, p. 71
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This last prophecy was not fulfilled. By the time the last notice was published Walker had already decided to cancel the play. The last performance had been on December 27 in Washington.
In the next post, Ruth Gordon's reminiscences will give an idea of what the general atmosphere within the company was really like during the rehearsals and tour.
Next sections:
3.—Ruth Gordon's memoirs. Afterlife
4.—Reconstruction of the plot
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