Old Acquaintance is a 1940 play by the British writer John Van Druten. It is a three-act comedy, with a small cast and two settings. The story is a conflict between two women, childhood friends from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania and now both successful writers. It is all conversation, with exits and entrances the only action. It was considered a "woman's play" by contemporary reviewers.
Old Acquaintance was first produced on Broadway by Dwight Deere Wiman, staged by Auriol Lee, with set design by Richard Whorf, and starred Peggy Wood and Jane Cowl. It ran from December 1940 thru May 1941 on Broadway. The film version was released in early November 1943. It had a Broadway revival during 2007.
Characters
Listed in order of appearance within their scope. Leads Katherine Markham called Kit, is 42, an elite writer, veteran of love affairs, stylish, warm, and perfect. Rudd Kendall is 31, an assistant at Mallory Press, Kit's publisher, and is also her current lover. Mildred Watson Drake called Milly, is 42, pretty, divorced, wealthy writer of trash, and decidedly imperfect. Deirdre Drake is 19, the daughter of Milly and Preston, who admires Kit and wants to emulate her. Supporting Preston Drake is Milly's ex-husband, a handsome and understanding man in his late forties. Featured Sabrina is Kit's live-out Black housekeeper, who smokes and listens to radio soap operas. Susan is an elderly woman, one of Milly's many live-in servants. Voice Only Don Estry is a WOTC radio announcer who introduces Chuck Adler and his Hillbilly Highlights. Granny is the main character of a radio soap opera called Little Granny. Johnny is a young man, Granny's grandson on Little Granny. Off-stage Lucian Grant is a polished young chaser with a past who keeps Deirdre out all night. Caroline Lindsay is a wealthy friend of Milly and Kit who rents her Park Avenue apartment to the former. Jane Meredith is 27, a book illustrator, a discovery of Milly, whom Preston Drake has been seeing. Stephanie Morrison is a gossipy married friend of Kit's who phones during Act III. M. Skeffington Liebowitz is a Hollywood studio executive trying to recruit Rudd Kendall.
Synopsis
Act I
(A November morning at 8am in Kit's living room) Kit and Rudd have been out all night at a publisher's party. Kit worries about Deirdre being out all night with Lucian Grant. Rudd asks why, since Deirdre is doing the same Kit did at her age. Kit confesses her worries are for Deirdre's mother. Rudd proposes to Kit, who turns him down. They break off when Deirdre arrives. Kit and Deirdre spar about staying out all night, and Kit warns her Milly is coming over. When Kit goes upstairs to dress, Deirdre tells Rudd she wants to stay with Kit all winter. Rudd scolds her presumption, but is moved to see her concern for Kit's opinion. Kit comes down and Rudd leaves. Deirdre asks Kit about staying over for the winter, but Kit demurs, knowing that Milly would not approve.
Milly arrives; since Deirdre wants to stay in Manhattan for the winter, she has rented an apartment on Park Avenue. Of course, Milly and all the servants will stay there as well. Milly tries to get Deirdre to come home with her to Pelham, but Deirdre has a date for that evening. She leaves to go to sleep, while Kit and Milly have an uneasy discussion about the girl and their friendship. Milly knows about Rudd and Kit's other lovers. Milly presses her about Jane Meredith seeing Preston Drake. Kit admits they met at her place and are engaged. Milly speaks disparagingly of Jane's morals, which Kit counters. Rudd returns to pick up Kit; Milly departs. Rudd wonders how the two of them can be friends. Kit insists they are best friends. (Curtain)