I Remember Mama: Play in Two Acts

by John van Druten, Kathryn Forbes (Story)

Book by John Van Druten

Genres: Plays, Fiction, Drama, Classics, Historical Fiction, Theatre

85 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1945

About the author

John William Van Druten was an English playwright and theatre director. He began his career in London, and later moved to America, becoming a U.S. citizen. He was known for his plays of witty and urbane observations of contemporary life and society.

Reviews

[Tim Null · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I was young, there were certain evening TV shows that my family watched every week without fail: The Nat King Cole Show, Topper, and, of course, I Remember Mama. (During the day, us kids would watch Howdy Doody, Kukla, Fran and Ollie or Winky Dink and You while Mom did chores.) In those days Dad worked most nights so Mom had a big say about what we watched in the evening. Besides, we only had two TV channels, so there wasn't much choice. We did have an unspoken agreement with Mom. Us kids got to watch Topper every Friday night if we didn't complain when Mom watched Nat King Cole and I Remember Mama. Personally, I'll never forget I Remember Mama.

The I Remember Mama story began with a novel by Kathryn Forbes called Mama's Bank Account first published in 1943. Then the story was transformed into a play by John Van Druten, which was titled I Remember Mama and was first performed on Broadway in 1944. In 1948, I Remember Mama was made into a film. It then was made into a TV show that ran from 1949-1957.

My family got our first television sometime in 1954, so unless episodes were rebroadcast, my family wouldn't have seen the early television episodes of I Remember Mama. To prepare for this review, I watched the 1948 film, I read The Battle of Copenhagen poem, and I read the 1944 script written by John Van Druten. The play script included both an introduction written by Van Druten and stage directions. The swear words Uncle Chis used in the movie,  i.e., "DOM GJET" (translation: Stupid Old Goat), aren't the swear words used by Uncle Chris in the Broadway play. However, I'll be shouting DOM GJETT from now on whenever the need arises.

I'll be reading the Kathryn Forbes novel called Mama's Bank Account in the near future. She may not have created a story for the ages, but it was and is a fine story for both her time and mine.

[Talea · Rating 5 out of 5]

I adore this play. It’s about a mother’s love. It is good. It is strong. It is pure.

[AR · Rating 4 out of 5]

I played Mama as an 8th grader in the upper school production, so revisiting this brought back a lot of memories from being in it (mostly positive!) This play feels like a warm hug.

My brain definitely wouldn’t be able to memorize all those lines today however.

[Lorene · Rating 4 out of 5]

The nicest part about reading this old play is picturing the beautiful movie that was made from it in the 40s starring Irene Dunne as Mama. Love those gentle old stories!

[Steve · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm not quite sure how this play ended up on my To-Read list but it was enjoyable nonetheless. I Remember Mama is one of those plays that community theaters probably won't do because it has a number of young children.

There are certain plays I feel are nice to read but probably boring as sin to sit through. I Remember Mama works as a nice story with a large cast set in the early 20th century. The Norwegian family each have their moments. There are no high stakes; they are slightly poor but not about to keel over from hunger.

All of these sound like complaints (and I probably would be if I saw this live) but there's something warm and inviting about this play, like a bowl of chicken noodle soup. It's just a nice play and I enjoyed reading it.

[Kevin · Rating 2 out of 5]

In general, I was impressed with the order and structure van Druten brings to Kathryn Forbes' vignettes in adapting them for the stage, but was generally disappointed that the original material he adds sacrifices the simplicity and sincerity of the original with canned and cliched conventions.

[Alyson · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this play because Casey was "Mama" in the Hingham High production.

[Kristi · Rating 4 out of 5]

I Remember Mama is a play by John Van Druten based on Kathryn Forbes' novel Mama's Bank Account. It is a study of family life centered on a Norwegian immigrant family in San Francisco early in the 20th century. The play premiered on Broadway on October 19, 1944 at the Music Box Theatre , where it ran for 713 performances; it was produced by Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II. The cast included Mady Christians, Oscar Homolka, and Joan Tetzel. Marlon Brando played a minor role, making his Broadway debut as Nels. I know this play and later film were / are regarded as the quintessential depiction of a Norwegian immigrant family, but it could be any family struggling to become citizens and nurture their children. The story line reminds me of O'Henry's Gift of the Magi. Kristi & Abby Tabby

[Vivian Valvano · Rating 3 out of 5]

I hadn't read it in far too many years for me to figure out, but one of the LIT group women wants to do it in September as an old-fashioned play, so I got a copy from the library and breezed through it in a sitting. Sweet, gentle, and yes, old-fashioned. Mama is a joy. It's easy to get impatient with the pace, the pain-in-the-ass sisters, the rather plodding language. But it's also good to just go back to a very human tale set in the early 20th century in San Francisco and presented on stage in the middle of WW II. Family love, a daughter who pines to be a writer, immigrants who have become Americans, and a wonderful Mama - one could do worse than spend an hour here.

[Valerie]

We seem to be referring to different books/plays, etc.

The book I read was a series of essays. They tended to blend together into a montage. Life was NOT 'simpler' in those days--but the family in question is a TRUE family--an extended family. This is at least partly because the family is one of recent immigrants. But other immigrants at the time didn't retain the extended family structure. Probably the basis for success of this family is that they did.

[Agreenhouse · Rating 3 out of 5]

A play that reminds us of an earlier era when life was harder, simpler but had the values and solidity that we yearn for today. The mama in the book is similar to my mother -- willing to sacrifice it all for the happiness of her children. A tender look at a Norwegian immigrant family in the 1910s in San Francisco.

[Shawn Thrasher · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don't usually read plays, but I saw half of the movie on TCM a few months ago. I'm glad I read it - it's sweetly old fashioned, very funny in parts, very moving in other parts (I cried at one point, being a big old softie). I admit, I read it aloud, when no one was around - using fake Norwegian accents (although I think they were very convincing fake Norwegian accents).

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

If I read this play now, I'd rate it 2 or 3 stars, but I did this play in 11th grade, so it gets the 11th grade rating. Adam Nicholson drew a poster for the show which said, "I Remember Mama (w/ gray hair and no teeth)"

That annoyed the crap out of me.

[Vicki · Rating 5 out of 5]

Was a lovely play. I loved Mama and I loved the whole family. It was sweet and very interesting to see how a family lived at the turn of the 20th century. I have also seen the movie and loved it just as much.

[Carrie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is so good. Again, from the early 1900's era which I adore. A young writer learning to "write what you know."

[Robert · Rating 5 out of 5]

Play adapted from "Mama's Bank Account." Have read it several times, but have never seen it performed (other than the movie of the same name, which is great).
Read:
1978

[Carolyn]

Kind of like "My Big Fat Greek Wedding" for Scandis. Entirely different kind of humour though.

[Gypsysoul_ · Rating 2 out of 5]

Sweet story, dated, may be okay for community theatre fluff.

[Chrystal · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars. The movie was much better.

[Carolyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lovely play! Break a leg Naomi!

[Joey · Rating 5 out of 5]

So good! So good!

[Jenny · Rating 3 out of 5]

Play

[Dave · Rating 3 out of 5]

Heart-warming but dated.

[Raymond Bial · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very touching, witty, and wise play based on Kathryn Forbes' book entitled Mama's Bank Account.

[Ruth Loc]

as good as the film