Probably one reason why Benn Levy's "Springtime for Henry" was revived this winter was to give Edward Everett Horton a chance to strut his stuff in front of footlights instead of floodlights. And footlights it has to be in this case because "Springtime" would surely burn the celluloid in places. But it is pure light farce and Horton is so perfect for the role that this standard Summer Theatre comedy turns out to be all Levy could hope for.
In the play, Horton is a wanton millionaire who is led to the straight and narrow path of decency by his seemingly prudish, beautiful, secretary. He becomes a changed man and this metamorphosis is a perfect set-up for hilarious dialogue. The climax of humor comes when Horton finds out that his beautiful and pure secretary has already shot one husband and is in no way the prim maid he thought her to be.
All this adds up to standard yet excellent comedy. The situations that arise call for no exercise in imagination and your sense of logic is almost never violated. In fact, the Colonial is now a perfect place to drop the post-exam blues or the pre-dean worries.
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Hand in Hand to Hell
