The Show-Off (by George Kelly; produced by David Heilweil & Derrick Lynn-Thomas) revives on Broadway an old favorite of the '20s, while familiarizing Broadway with a new favorite of the provinces—theater-in-the-round. Both the play and the production have drawbacks, but both come off pleasantly enough. Performed on an arena-like stage with the audience at its elbow and on all four sides, Broadway's theater-in-the-round at times resembles theater-in-the-rough. But the illusion of life is quite as strong as with orthodox staging; what is diminished is the illusion of theater.
Playwright Kelly's famous portrait of a braggart is still an amusing one....
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