''Jerry'' is a 1914 American play by Catherine Chisholm Cushing, written as a star vehicle for

Billie Burke Mary William Ethelbert Appleton "Billie" Burke (August 7, 1884 – May 14, 1970) was an American actress who was famous on Broadway and radio, and in silent and sound films. She is best known to modern audiences as Glinda the Good Witch of t ...

. It premiered on Broadway March 28, 1914 at the Lyceum Theatre, directed by

Charles Frohman Charles Frohman (July 15, 1856 – May 7, 1915) was an American theater manager and producer, who discovered and promoted many stars of the American stage. Frohman produced over 700 shows, and among his biggest hits was '' Peter Pan'', both ...

. After a three-month New York run, Burke toured the U.S. with the play, including runs in Chicago, Texas, Oklahoma, and Seattle. Although Burke was American-born, ''Jerry'' was the first time Burke appeared in a play by an American author, and the first time she played an American character onstage. She plays a brash

Chicago Chicago is the List of municipalities in Illinois, most populous city in the U.S. state of Illinois and in the Midwestern United States. With a population of 2,746,388, as of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, it is the List of Unite ...

girl visiting staid

Philadelphia Philadelphia ( ), colloquially referred to as Philly, is the List of municipalities in Pennsylvania, most populous city in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania and the List of United States cities by population, sixth-most populous city in the Unit ...

relatives. She ends up stealing away and marrying her Aunt Joan's longtime fiance, Montague Wade. The ''New York Times'' review of the play singled out Gladys Hanson for praise in the role of the aunt, Joan Doubleday, while criticizing Burke for "irritating" overacting. "Jerry is Billie Burke raised to the nth power, Billie Burke laid on thick, Billie Burke very much overdone," while acknowledging that her fans were probably fine with that. They suggested that the play as first written by Cushman may have originally centered on the character of Joan Doubleday, and been rewritten to be more of a star vehicle for Burke, making it less of a comedy and more of a farce. At the time of the production, Burke was managed by

, who postponed a trip to Europe in order to direct the play. The role gave her a chance to show her skills as a comedienne, and also to make a sensation in one scene where she appears in

pajamas Pajamas (American English) or pyjamas ( Commonwealth English), sometimes colloquially shortened to PJs, jammies, jim-jams, or in South Asia, night suits, are several related types of clothing worn as nightwear or while lounging. Pajamas are ...

. On April 11, 1914, during the play's Broadway run, Burke married impresario

Flo Ziegfeld Florenz Edward Ziegfeld Jr. (; March 21, 1867 – July 22, 1932) was an American Broadway impresario, notable for his series of theatrical revues, the ''Ziegfeld Follies'' (1907–1931), inspired by the ''Folies Bergère'' of Paris. He also p ...

in a private ceremony in

Hoboken, New Jersey Hoboken ( ; ) is a City (New Jersey), city in Hudson County, New Jersey, Hudson County in the U.S. state of New Jersey. Hoboken is part of the New York metropolitan area and is the site of Hoboken Terminal, a major transportation hub. As of the ...

between the matinée and the evening performance.

Original cast

- "Jerry" * Gladys Hanson - Joan Doubleday *

Lumsden Hare Francis Lumsden Hare (17 October 1874 – 28 August 1964) was an Irish-born American film and theatre actor. He was also a theatre director and theatrical producer. Early years Hare was born in County Tipperary, Ireland. He studied at St. Duns ...

- Doctor Kirk * Shelly Hull - Montagu Wade * Alice Johns - Harriet Townsend * Allan Pollock - Peter Flagg * Thomas Reynolds - Briggs * Bernard Thornton - Lewis Cast per.

Notes

{{reflist 1914 plays American plays Broadway plays Plays set in Philadelphia