By Howard Lindsay & Russel Crouse
Based on the Book by Clarence Day

Directed by Nick Sweet

Performances

September 21-24, 2006

at the Goddard Center

Life with Father is a comedy by Howard Lindsay and Russel Crouse. [ Empire Theatre, 3,224 perf.] Clarence Day is certain he dominates his Madison Avenue brownstone and his family, which includes four young sons and his wife, Vinnie. He constantly complains to Vinnie about her housekeeping, and his blustering tantrums have cost the Days many a maid. But when the Rev. Dr. Lloyd pays a visit, Day accidentally reveals that he has never been baptized. Father Clarence argues, “They can't keep me out of heaven on a technicality,” but Vinnie is determined that the oversight must be rectified. Clarence, however, is adamant until in a weak moment, when he believes Vinnie may be dying, he agrees. Vinnie holds him to his promise, so he goes off to church bellowing, “I'm going to be baptized, damn it!” The comedy, based on Clarence Day Jr.'s New Yorker recollections, remains the longest running nonmusical play in Broadway history. Arriving as war broke out in Europe and while America was still feeling the effects of the Great Depression, its affectionate portrait of 19th-century home life evoked a past of simple values.