One of the classic situations of soap opera is the domineering mother who won’t let go off the apron springs; it’s the subject of this play adaptation, which is about a newly wed couple who visit the groom’s mother in a small town after the war. It turns out mum is an oppressive, obsessed mother determined to get her way. She’s got another son, who’s engaged, who didn’t go to the army because of his nerves and is an interior designer – is this code for gay? It’s all quite predictable but there’s enough meat in the situation to pass the time. It’s kind of feminist in that the new wife is a strong character – she has her own career as a chemist, loves her husband, has principles and isn’t afraid to express them. It’s also well structured (Sidney Howard wrote the play)l, with a three act structure and climax involving one woman running away and the wife telling the mother in law to get stuffed Nora in Dolls House style. Ralph Bellamy and Ruth Hussy are the newlyweds, Estelle Winwood plays the mother from hell.
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