Morning's At Seven

by Paul Osborn

NY 1940 Samuel French. 12mo., 147pp., wraps. Good, a bit worn.

Genres: Plays, Drama

138 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1967

Reviews

[Martin Denton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Written by Paul Osborn in 1938, Morning's at Seven is set in a small town in the American Midwest in that year, in the adjoining backyards of the Theodore Swansons and the Carl Boltons. Cora Swanson and Ida Bolton are sisters; a third sister, Aaronetta, who never married, lives with Theodore and Cora; while the fourth and final sister, Esther, lives down the road apiece with her crotchety husband David. Ida and Carl live with their 40-year-old son Homer, who on the day the play takes place is at long last bringing--after a seven-year engagement--his fiancée Myrtle home to meet the family.

It turns out to be an eventful day. Not only does everybody satisfy their curiosity about Homer's mysterious girlfriend; nearly every one of his relatives manages to cook up a little stew of their own, as well. Cora has become obsessed with the notion of moving to a new house--the one that Carl built for Homer, should he ever finally decide to get married--in order to get away from busybody Aaronetta. Carl is having one of his "spells" and can be found banging his head against a tree or blathering vaguely about how he has to go back to the fork and take the right path. David is executing a plan to exile Esther to the top floor of their house as retribution for her desire to socialize with her sisters, who he thinks are "morons." Ida's just trying to entertain Myrtle as best she can, all the while fretting about the stay-at-home son she may be about to lose. And Aaronetta is poking her nose into everything, some years-old baggage providing her with a bit of an extra burden.

I don't want to tell you much more: this is a beautifully crafted play, and after a leisurely beginning it builds to a magnificently funny second act curtain and an even more wonderful climax. Morning's at Seven, whose youngest character is 39-year-old Myrtle, is about the wisdom and foolishness of age; about loneliness, joy, and sorrow; about all that it means to have a soul mate and a family that you genuinely care about. It's a warm, welcome reminder of the values that make people so terrific to be with, even as it gently pokes fun at the foibles and nonsense that make people so exasperating.

[John Geddie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This one came highly recommended, but I found it sort of okay. It seems a bit like a look at middle aged family members dealing with secrets and loss of youth and hope, but compared to more modern plays (I’m thinking August, Osage County), it seems a bit staid. It’s sweet and nostalgic in an Our Town sort of way, but I feel like the original message may be a bit too subtle with the changes in society.

[Carol · Rating 3 out of 5]

Feels a bit dated, but could be funny if produced well.

[Steven · Rating 4 out of 5]

Corny and amusing play about a sweet and happy family in the MidWest with their own dark secrets.

[Crystal · Rating 2 out of 5]

Gosh. I heard great things about this play... but all I could think of was Steel Magnolias, even though it really has nothing to do with it. I'm sure it is a great play to do in Beverly Hills but it truly isn't my cup of tea.

[Robert · Rating 4 out of 5]

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