DARING ETERNAL TRIANGLE

Evening Star, Issue 21710, 3 May 1934, Page 1

DARING ETERNAL TRIANGLE

INTRIGUING COWARD PLAY FOR REGENT

‘ Design for Living,’ which comes to the Regent Theatre to-morrow, is the screen version of Noel Coward’s daringly conceived stage play of the same name, which he wrote specially as a vehicle for Lynn- Fontaine and Alfred Lunt, and in which he himself played the second male role. The pattern which Noel Coward has had in mind in writing this play is one of eternal triangles told from a novel and intriguing angle. Tt is a whimsical comedy on a theme that has all-the potentialities of seriousness; situations continually , arise which might very easily in ordinary life develop dramatically; but they are never allowed to do so. f Design for Living ’ is entertainment of the best variety. _ _ Fredric March and Gary Cooper are cast as two struggling Americans in Paris. One writes pi avs and the other paints pictures. They are bosom friends and mediocre in their professions. When they fall in love it is with the same girl (Miriam Hopkins), who reciprocates in both directions and makes up her mind to assist them both—as a “ mother of the art.” The pact they make is “no sex,” and for some time they are faithful to it, to the great advantage of their professions, as the girl.very tactfully criticises and encourages them in. their work.However, as she herself remarks later, “ It was a gentleman’s agreement, and. unfortunately, I am no gentleman. ■ Their problems are solved .temporarily by another man (F.dward Everett Horton) , but later the original triangle is reconstructed on another gentleman’s agreement. 11 . All four partici* pants in the plot act admirably*