New Revue in Manhattan

Joyce Grenfell Requests the Pleasure ... has something decidedly attractive to offer in Joyce Grenfell herself. An English monologuist and comedienne, she has the air of a born lady and pretty much of the orbit. Her material is well-bred nonsense and lightly barbed social satire. Her manner is the scrupulously deadpan, just touched with the cockeyed. With impeccable timing and delivery, she impersonates an arch, gushing antique-shop owner, a cheery but firm nursery-school teacher, a rich, cult-crazed American lady.

Armed with her half-dozen best numbers, Joyce Grenfell would be the perfect star of the usual intimate revue. In the present unusual intimate one, she is still worth seeing, but considerably handicapped. She makes 13 appearances; the only other performers--a dance trio--appear even oftener. Onstage so often, Actress Grenfell is forced back upon the second best and even the secondhand--such things as Songs My Mother Taught Me (mother was one of Virginia's famous Langhorne sisters*). The dances only now and then rise above the agreeable, and the trio would benefit themselves and the show if they sat a few dances out.

*Two others: Lady Astor and Mrs. Charles Dana (the original "Gibson Girl") Gibson.

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