Critical Essay | Critical Essay by Phoebe-lou Adams

Critical Essay by Phoebe-lou Adams

[One Hell of an Actor] is an engaging example of the value of ingenious construction. If Mr. Kanin had begun with the overture and followed his theatrical hero to the final curtain, he would probably have produced a piece of no-business-like-show-business sentimentality. Far too clever for any such banality, he has converted the tale into his own supposed research into the career of the late John J. Tumulty, sprinkled it with references to real players and productions, and brought off a neat surprise ending. Fun, as it was intended to be.

Phoebe-Lou Adams, "PLA: 'One Hell of an Actor'," in The Atlantic Monthly (copyright © 1977, by The Atlantic Monthly Company, Boston, Mass.; reprinted with permission), Vol. 239, No. 4, April, 1977, p. 92.