Holiday

   One of the quintessential Philip Barry high comedies, Holiday opened for 229 performances at New York's Plymouth Theatre on 26 November 1928, produced by Arthur Hopkins, and starring Hope Williams. Frequently revived, including Broadway productions in 1973 and 1995, Holiday is essentially a satire on New York high society, with a strong dose of moral philosophizing about the value of living life to the fullest. Johnny Case, a bright young man of means, is engaged to Julia Seton, also from the privileged class. Julia wants Johnny to move into her father's business, but Johnny prefers to use his means to live a fuller life away from the strictures of unfulfilling work and what he sees as the hypocrisies of high society. Johnny finds an unexpected ally in Julia's sister, Linda, who shares his desire to break away from the constraints of her pompous father's expectations. Julia pressures Johnny to acquiesce, but Johnny sees in Ned, Julia, and Linda's alcoholic brother, what he might become. Johnny breaks off his engagement to Julia and runs away with his soulmate, Linda. A 1980 musical adaptation, Happy New Year, failed despite a score of recycled Cole Porter tunes, but the 1938 George Cukor-directed motion picture (a remake of a 1930 version) starring Katharine Hepburn* and Cary Grant is a screen classic.