Born Yesterday

Born Yesterday (1946), a comedy by Garson Kanin. [ Lyceum Theatre, 1,642 perf.] Billie Dawn (Judy Holliday) is the “dumb‐blonde” mistress of the crass but very rich junkman Harry Brock (Paul Douglas) who always lives “at the top of his voice.” She is forever embarrassing him with her gaffes, so he hires a handsome young liberal writer, Paul Verrall (Gary Merrill), to tutor her. Brock's reward is to have Billie's eyes opened and to have her turn against him, accusing him of being “not couth.” When he orders her to cosign some important papers she refuses, so he slaps her. Billie signs the papers, packs her bags, and heads for the door, quietly asking Harry for just one favor before she leaves. He growlingly wants to know what that favor might be, and she asks softly, “Drop dead?” When Billie later returns to get the rest of her things, she announces that she has turned over to Paul incriminating papers that can send Brock to jail. Since Brock has long since put most of his property in her name, however, she offers a compromise: Paul will not publish the papers and she will sign back his property to him—but only a bit each year, for as long as he behaves. Like so much Kanin‐family writing, the play was a sermon on the virtues of liberalism; but its bright lines, sharp character studies, and superb performances made the Max Gordon production capital theatre. Holliday's performance was all the more remarkable since she was a relative unknown who had been cast hastily when the original star, Jean Arthur, quit during the tryout. A commendable Broadway revival in 1989 with Madeline Kahn as Billie did disappointing business.

For the 1950 film version, see Born Yesterday (1950 film)

For the 1993 remake, see Born Yesterday (1993 film)

For the album by The Everly Brothers, see Born Yesterday (album)

Born Yesterday is a play written and first directed by Garson Kanin and adapted into a successful 1950 film. It was remade in 1993 with the same name. Actress and comedian Judy Holliday originated the role of Billie Dawn on Broadway, as well as the George Cukor adaptation made by Columbia Pictures. The remake, directed by Luis Mandoki and released through Buena Vista Pictures, starred Melanie Griffith as the central character and updated the plot. A 1989 revival of the play starred Madeline Kahn.

Contents 1 Plot 2 1946 stage production 2.1 Cast 3 References

Plot

An uncouth, corrupt tycoon, Harry Brock, brings his showgirl mistress Billie Dawn with him to Washington, D.C. When Billie's ignorance becomes a liability to Brock's business dealings, he hires a journalist, Paul Verrall, to educate his girlfriend. In the process of learning, Billie Dawn realizes how corrupt her boyfriend is and begins interfering with his plans to bribe a Congressman into passing legislation that would allow Brock's business to make more money.

1946 stage production

The stage production of the play opened on February 4, 1946 at the Lyceum Theater, where it began the first of 1,642^[1] performances. Directed by its writer, Garson Kanin, and starring Judy Holliday (Dawn), Paul Douglas (Brock), and Gary Merrill (Verrall), the play opened to rave reviews. After over two years at the Lyceum, the play moved to the larger Henry Miller's Theatre with the same cast, where it finished its run on Christmas Eve of 1950.

For his performance as Harry Brock, Paul Douglas was awarded the 1946 Clarence Derwent Award for the most promising male.

Cast

• Paul Douglas as Harry Brock
• Judy Holliday as Billie Dawn
• Gary Merrill as Paul Verrall
• Carroll Ashburn as The Assistant Manager
• Frank Otto as Eddie Brock
• Larry Oliver as Senator Norval Hedges
• Mona Bruns as Mrs. Hedges
• C.L. Burke as A Waiter
• Ellen Hall as Helen

References

1. ^ Playbill article on Lyceum

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