Last evening the Cambridge Summer Theatre presented, prior to Broadway, a sophisticated comedy by Harold J. Kennedy entitled "A Goose for the Gander," starring Gloria Swanson and Ralph Forbes. At first viewing the play seems to have rather slim chances of a Broadway run, but the plans at present are to exhibit it at other summer theatres and with a rewrite job that would eliminate a talky first act it could very easily become a very pleasant theatre experience. At any rate, last night's opening audience enjoyed it immensely. In short, "A Goose for the Gander" is considerably above average summer theatre fare.

The plot is the perennial one of the middle-aged couple who find their love cooling after eight years of married life. Believing that the reason for her husband's inattentiveness is her lack of charm and physical appeal, Katherine undergoes a week's treatment at a milk farm. While she is away, David, her husband, becomes lonely, gets drunk and picks up a sleazy, drawling streetwalker whom he takes home for the night. The pair is discovered eating breakfast the next morning by Katherine, who returns earlier than expected. The remainder of the play concorns Katherine's efforts to incite her husband's jealousy and regain his love by inviting three ex-beaus to the house for the weekend.

Gloria Swanson and Ralph Forbes in the respective roles of Katherine and David succeed in making this rather absurd lovers' quarrel completely believable. Lynn Carter makes an attractive pick-up girl and injects a much-needed note of natural humor. Doubling in the role of author and actor, Harold Kennedy plays the faithful friend Tony as if the part had been written for him. Louise Valery, Lee Nugent, Allan Tower, Miranda Swanson and David Tyrell round out the cast. It should be said that Andrew Mack's set is probably the best of its kind that has been seen in many a straw-hat season.