Anniversary Waltz is a three-act play, written by Jerome Chodorov and Joseph Fields, and staged by Moss Hart. It is a comedy with a simple plot, medium-sized cast, fast pacing, and only one setting. The action varies from farce to schmaltz, as the Walters celebrate their fifteenth wedding anniversary only to have a family secret go public and send everyone into a frenzy.
The play was produced by Joseph M. Hyman and Bernard Hart. It was a box office success on Broadway, running for 615 performances, despite major reservations by some reviewers. It is filled with attitudes and references topical to mid 1950s American culture; this and the lack of critical appreciation seems to have forestalled any major revivals. The writers later adapted their work into a screenplay, which was released in 1959 as Happy Anniversary.
Characters Leads Bud Walters is a volatile husband and father, fond of his wife but not his in-laws, who loathes television. Alice Walters is Bud's wife, who manages the family finances, and tries to walk the tightrope between her husband, parents, and kids.
Supporting Mrs. Gans: is Alice's mother, prim in outlook, and inclined to let people know their faults.Often addressed as Lily by her husband, but all credits omit first name. Mr. Gans, is Alice's father, a generous soul who is amazed at how the world keeps changing.Often addressed as Arthur by his wife, but all credits omit first name Okkie Walters, is Bud and Alice's 14-year-old son, easygoing, a would-be charmer, who teases his younger sister. Debbie Walters is Bud and Alice's 13-year-old daughter, alert to adult hypocrisy, quite frank in speech, and prone to worry. Millie is the Walters' maid, "part clown and part philosopher", prone to eavesdropping. Chris Steelman is an older bachelor, Bud's business partner, a bit of a womanizer. Janice Revere is a much-married woman, maudlin and mercenary, who admires Alice's marital longevity.
Featured Harry is an installer for Johnson TV Service, who delivers the TV sets gifted by Mr. Gans and Chris. Sam is Harry's helper. Handyman replaces a bedroom door twice broken by Bud during arguments with Alice.
Voice only Moderator of television program Juvenile Jury, heard but not seen. Various voices for commercials heard on the television.
Synopsis The Walters are celebrating their fifteenth wedding anniversary. Alice's parents are due for an evening get together, so she supervises Okkie and Debbie's choice of attire and Millie's preparation for the gathering. Harry and Sam deliver and install a TV set, a gift from Mr. Gans. Knowing Bud's violent dislike of television, everyone is a bit apprehensive. Bud arrives home with his business partner Chris Steelman, and Janice Revere, a new friend of Chris. All three are a bit merry with drink. Janice, who has married well and often, admires Alice's ability to pick a good partner on the first try. Chris and Janice leave, while Bud notices the TV and explodes. Alice calms him, asking his indulgence for that evening. He relents, just as Alice's parents arrive. Mrs. Gans is shocked when Debbie uses the word "prostitute" in response to Mr. Gans telling her what a "vamp" was. As the evening progresses, Bud, warmed with affection for Alice and primed with champagne, carelessly lets slip that he and Alice had premarital relations. The kids and Millie overhear the admission, and the resulting outrage from the grandparents. As Bud justifies it to his in-laws, they grow huffy and storm out of the apartment. Bud angrily kicks the TV, wrecking it. Alice is distraught over Bud's slip and the resulting fight with her parents. She locks herself into the bedroom. Bud then breaks the door and lock trying to enter.
The next morning a handyman brings in a new door and lock for the bedroom. Bud and Alice reconcile, but Alice says Debbie asked if they were going to get divorced. Later, Janice shows up at the Walters apartment alone, to talk with Alice, who has gone out. Millie reluctantly admits her, and Janice sees the handyman repairing the door. Alice returns, and Janice is enlightened that even good marriages have their storms. Harry and Sam return to the apartment with another new TV, this one a gift from Chris. Okkie persuades Bud to watch a little television while they are relaxing. Bud likes the commercials, but then a program called Juvenile Jury comes on the set. They are all stunned to see Debbie on the program as a guest. She tells the moderator that her parents had a quarrel, they resent her trying to help heal the breach, and she's worried they may get divorced. Bud and Okkie are in an uproar. As a punctuation to the brouhaha, Bud kicks in the second TV set.
As Millie sweeps up shattered remains, Debbie returns home to an ominous welcome from her father. Debbie is contrite, realizing she has gone too far. Alice whisks Debbie away while Bud fumes alone, until Chris shows up. Seeing the broken TV, he and Bud begin to quarrel. Bud finally leaves the apartment, with Chris following, trying to calm him down. Four days later, Alice and the kids breakfast alone; Bud has stayed away. Okkie assures Alice that Bud is simply cooling off. Chris arrives at the apartment to intervene for Bud, who is waiting outside the apartment. Bud apologizes for staying away, and asks forgiveness, but he had to get his head straight. Alice forgives him and further informs him she's expecting. They embrace and play ends.
Original production Background The first public word of this production came when the producers put out a casting call for thirteen years old actresses. Despite the producer being her brother-in-law, the director her husband, and one of the writers (Fields) her husband's best friend, Kitty Carlisle auditioned along with other actresses at the Coronet Theater in December 1953, and had to wait two weeks before being told she had the part. MacDonald Carey, the male lead, was signed in late December 1953, weeks before Carlisle. Rehearsals began February 8, 1954 under Hart's direction; the setting was designed and lit by Frederick Fox, while costumes were by Robert Mackintosh.
Cast Save for one featured role eliminated during a rewrite in Boston, the cast remained the same throughout all three tryout cities and the Broadway premiere. However, as the Broadway run lengthened, replacements began to occur, as shown below. + Cast during tryouts in New Haven, Boston, Philadelphia and the original Broadway run Role Actor Dates Notes Bud WaltersMacDonald CareyMar 03, 1954 - May 21, 1955This was Carey's first return to Broadway in over 13 years.Andrew DugganMay 23, 1955 - Sep 22, 1955Duggan switched from the Chris Steelman role to the lead.Leif EricksonSep 23, 1955 - Sep 24, 1955Erickson took over the last three performances on Broadway prior to heading up the national tour.Alice WaltersKitty CarlisleMar 03, 1954 - Jan 27, 1955This was her first non-singing Broadway role and the first time her husband directed her.Marjorie LordJan 28, 1955 - Jul 02, 1955Jeanne ShepherdJul 03, 1955 - Sep 22, 1955Phyllis HillSep 23, 1955 - Sep 24, 1955Hill took over the role for the last three Broadway performances prior to joining the tour.Mrs. GansPhyllis PovahMar 03, 1954 - Sep 22, 1955Josephine BrownSep 23, 1955 - Sep 24, 1955Brown took over the role for the last three Broadway performances before joining the tour.Mr. GansHoward SmithMar 03, 1954 - Sep 24, 1955Smith was the only actor to play the entire production run, from tryouts through the national tour.Okkie WaltersWarren BerlingerMar 03, 1954 - Sep 24, 1955Janice RevereJean CarsonMar 03, 1954 - Apr 16, 1955Patricia ShayApr 18, 1955 - Sep 24, 1955 Debbie WaltersMary Lee DearringMar 03, 1954 - Dearring left in late 1954 to be a regular on syndicated TV series His Honor, Homer Bell.Patty Foster - Feb 10, 1955According to newspaper, Foster had matured out of the role.Jacqueline KernerFeb 11, 1955 - Sep 24, 1955Kerner was fourteen when she took over this role.Chris SteelmanAndrew DugganMar 03, 1954 - Sep 08, 1954Duggan left this role for a lead in Fragile Fox.David WhiteSep 09, 1954 - Nov 28, 1954White's brief tenure ended with a knee injury.Andrew DugganNov 29, 1954 - May 21, 1955 Duggan returned to this role then switched to playing the lead in May 1955.Robert BurrMay 23, 1955 - Sep 24, 1955MilliePauline MyersMar 03, 1954 - Sep 24, 1955HarryDon GrussoMar 03, 1954 - Sep 24, 1955SamDonald HylanMar 03, 1954 - Sep 20, 1954Hylan left to take over the role of Carl Gibson in By the Beautiful SeaDonald McClellandSep 21, 1954 - Sep 24, 1955This was his last known role; he died less than two months after this production closed.HandymanTerry LittleMar 03, 1954 - James Bender - Sam Locante - Sep 24, 1955DianePamela O'NeillMar 03, 1954 - Mar 20, 1954This was a juvenile role, a friend of Debbie Walters, reduced to only a mention in dialogue during the Boston tryout.
Tryouts Anniversary Waltz had its first tryout at the Shubert Theatre in New Haven, Connecticut on March 3, 1954. The local reviewer acknowledged the audience liked the play, but was scathing about the writing. The direction and acting were fine according to the reviewer: "It's only the play itself that is witless and tasteless". Chodorov and Fields had used "the same old waggery and same old schmaltz", updated with a few new tricks and topical references.
The company then went to Boston for two weeks, opening at the Plymouth Theatre on March 8, 1954. Reviewer Cyrus Durgin sounded a doubtful note about what sort of play it was, "something between farce, drama, and animated comic strip". He felt the writers had thrown too much frenetic action and wisecracks into the play and suggested cutting back somewhat. The writers seem to have taken his advice, paring away one featured role during this tryout. Durgin was positive about the performers, especially the two supporting youngsters, Warren Berlinger and Mary Lee Dearring.
Moss Hart was wary of tough audiences at the National Theatre. So the production went to Philadelphia next, opening at the Locust Theatre on March 23, 1954, as part of the Theatre Guild local subscription series. Reviewer Henry T. Murdock pointed out that the character of Bud Walters "wasn't really a very funny fellow at all, and that his antics were humorous only by the most tolerant definition of the term." Nevertheless, Murdock conceded, the audience appreciated the performance.
Premiere The play premiered at the Broadhurst Theatre on April 7, 1954. MacDonald Carey and Kitty Carlisle received top-billing, i.e. their names appeared above the play's title in advertisements. When Carlisle left the show, Carey retained his top-billing; after his departure no other actor was so honored. Actor Howard Smith had a bad case of laryngitis on opening night but managed to get through his part successfully.
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