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Carousel, La Salle College

The Masque Programs

A Word About the Play

On April 20, 1945 the morning after the Theater Guild introduced Rodgers and Hammerstein's new musical at the Majestic Theater, eight New York newspapers acclaimed Carousel as one of the fine musicals of the decade and the best since Oklahoma. And the critics voiced their praises through 890 Broadway performances, for the Rodgers and Hammerstein team had triumphed again.

But with Carousel they abandoned the usual happy go lucky formula of their musicals for a play presenting a sadly sentimental theme. They did not, however, lose the habit of pregnating the story with fine …

The Lady's Not For Burning, La Salle College

The Masque Programs

When The Lady's not for Burning had its premiere in Boston there was no dissenting voice among the critic. After the opening in New York in November, 1950, the enthusiasm was even louder; the usually cautious appraisers united in loud hosannas of praise. In the New York Journal-American George Jean Nathan wrote, " In a theater largely consecrated to serving the eye Christopher Fry stands out as a playwright who serves that badly neglected organ, the ear ... He delights in the beautiful sounds of words and the smooth roll of sentences and the fireworks their flame can set alight.'' …