Written by Phillip Barry

Directed by Martha Barton

    "The Gainesville Little Theatre told "The Philadelphia Story" last night against the background of a sparkling new set, which added a long-needed touch of realism to the Recreation Center stage.
    Designed and constructed by Technical Director Robert Knowles, and nicely set up with Casova Blake's properties, it captured the feeling of a Main Line "sitting room" of the stuffy -but not so idle - rich.
    There's Tracy Lord (Louise Walker), about to embark n her second marriage with a priggish, self-made business tycoon, George Kittredge (Bill Rich). Her father (Hulon Beasley) has been driven by his self-centered family to New York, and a dancer named Tina Mara; and her Uncle Willie (Arthur E. Wyman) has a roving eye and a yen for hard liquor.
    Mrs. Lord (Helen Foster) is also mother to a brat (Helane Fernandes) and a literary son (Lee Kasan) who is on a deal with a national magazine to trade the story of Tracy's wedding for an expose of philandering Papa.
    Reporter Mike Connor (Pierre Bejano) and Photographer Liz Imbrie (Moore McKay) have been sent down from New York to do the job, and they also find Tracy's first husband, C. K. Dexter Haven (Robert Johnson) hovering around.
    After creating such a set up, author Phillip Barry goes on and snarls and unsnarls a number of hilarious scenes.
    Last night's audience was especially responsive to a really great performance by Wyman as Uncle Willie, Bejano's expert handling of his drunk scene, Johnson's flawless diction and stage presence, the midnight swim episode, and Mrs. McKay's wisecracks.
    It was done on Broadway and in the movies by Katherine Hepburn, as Tracy; and Jimmy Stewart won an Academy Award for his portrayal of Mike Connor."  --- Jim Camp, Gainesville Daily Sun, November 14, 1950