In the best Philip Barry tradition, "Foolish Notion" steers pointedly clear of the many problems presently besetting the world and sets before its audience neat, imaginative comedy with a touch of light sophistication that makes for decidedly good theatre. Instead of tackling the complexities of international intrigue, playwright Barry and his leading lady, Tallulah Bankhead, plunge into Sophie Wing's domestic difficulties, complex and intriguing in their own entertaining way.

Sophie is a rather fetching actress of lusty temperament whose soldier husband has been reported missing in action. When she announces to the press new matrimonial intentions on the very day that Jim, husband number one, shows up at a nearby seaport, an embarrassing situation rears its provocative head. From the simple idea of what each member of the family imagines he will say to the returning hero, Barry has fashioned a series of artful dream sequences which pack a comic punch and no little satire.

So long as matters remain witty, "Foolish Notion" is a remarkably edifying Play Javishly spiced with fast patter and an air of fantasy. Tallulsh's Sophie slinks along through three acts, charging each gag line with the solid note of Bankhead innuendo; Joan Shopard, recently of "Tomorrow the World," nearly steals several scenes as Happy, Sophic's quipping adopted daughter. During the rare moments when wit is forgotten and Barry's heady continuity fumbles, Miss Shepard comes to the rescue with extremely competent timing and humor sense for a performer of her years. Once or twice in the opening act her precocity becomes a little too precocious, but John Wilson's able directing never lets more than such very minor matters get out of hand. ssh