Dear Ruth

Dear Ruth (1944), a comedy by Norman Krasna. [Henry Miller Theatre, 683 perf.] Miriam Wilkins ( Lenore Lonergan) is almost sweet sixteen and determined to do her share for the war effort. She writes over sixty letters to a lonely American soldier overseas, signing them all with the name of her elder sister, Ruth ( Virginia Gilmore), and enclosing Ruth's picture. Home on leave, the soldier, Lt. William Seawright ( John Dall), appears at the Wilkins home without warning, on the very day that Ruth has accepted a proposal of marriage from Albert Kummer ( Bartlett Robinson). Although Bill has only two days to spare, it is time enough for Ruth to fall in love with him and ditch Albert. Ruth's father ( Howard Smith), a judge, performs a hasty wedding ceremony, and the newlyweds rush off to a quick honeymoon. They are no sooner gone than the doorbell rings. It is a young sailor looking for Ruth. Miriam has obviously been doing more than her share. Welcomed by Howard Barnes of the Herald Tribune as “slight but eminently satisfying,” the play typified the vogue for preposterous but joyous comedies that went out several years later when television flooded the market with situation comedies.