Black Chiffon is a drama in 3 acts (not 2, as it states in Wikipedia) by Lesley Storm. It was first performed at the Westminster Theatre in a highly successful run from 3 May 1949, directed by Charles Hickman and with Flora Robson getting rave reviews in the lead role. The play was published by English Theatre Guild in 1950.
Original Cast:
· Flora Robson as Alicia Christie, a woman of 44
· Wyndham Goldie as Robert Christie, her husband, aged 50
· Owen Holder as Roy, their son, in his early 20s
· Dorothy Gordon as Louise, Roy’s fiancée, 20
· Rachel Gurney as Thea, the Christies’ married daughter, 25 and pregnant
· Anthony Ireland as Bennett Hawkins, a psychiatrist
· Janet Barrow as Nannie, the “old retainer”, aged about 60
Robson also took the play to Broadway for six months and there have been three adaptations for television, all in the 1950s. There was a well-reviewed revival at London’s Park Theatre in 2019 with The Stage describing it as “a hidden gem”.
According to The Encyclopedia of Hammer Films, Michael Carreras was set to produce the film version in 1956.
The Play:
A few days before her son’s wedding, a respectable woman shoplifts a black chiffon nightdress. All of the action takes place in a drawing room over a period of three days.
Act I: Monday afternoon
Roy and Thea tell Louise about their strained relationship with their father, who was away on business for years at a time and who felt resentful towards Roy when he did return. Their mother has fought for more than 20 years to keep the family together. After they get married in a few days’ time Roy and Louise plan to move into an hotel until their flat is ready rather than stay with his parents, because of his feelings about his father. Louise gets a call to tell her that her parents have arrived unexpectedly from India to attend the wedding. Alicia extends an invitation to them to come to dinner that night and goes out to buy special provisions. … Hours after she was due to be home Alicia has still not returned. Robert arrives back from work and his exchanges with Roy are polite but cold. He isn’t too pleased to have company for dinner. Thea tells Roy that their mother feels that she’ll be losing her son because he wants to avoid his father. Louise asks Thea if Alicia walks in her sleep…because she had been looming over her in bed the previous night. When Alicia finally arrives home she is in a confused state and has forgotten to buy the things she went out for. She confesses that she was caught stealing a black chiffon nightdress from a shop and must appear in court the day before the wedding.
Act II: Scene 1: Tuesday afternoon
Dr. Hawkins, a psychiatrist, has come to consult the family. Alicia tells him about the tension between her husband and Roy, how she has been almost mother and father to her son, and how his marriage is in some ways the end of her life. She tells him how every time she thinks of the theft she has to struggle against being overcome with laughter. Hawkins tells Robert how his jealousy of his son has driven the boy and his mother together too closely together. Louise tells Robert that when Alicia was looking at her in bed, she (Louise) had been wearing a black chiffon nightdress…
Act II: Scene 2: Five minutes later
Robert blows up at the family, blaming Roy for his mother’s condition. He accuses Alicia of having abnormal feelings for her son. She is adamant that she won’t admit to such a thing in court, even if the alternative is prison.
Act III: Scene 1: Wednesday morning
It is the morning of Alicia’s court appearance. She has asked Dr. Hawkins to call and tries to persuade him that his analysis of the situation is wrong. She lies to him about why she stole the nightdress, claiming that she was planning to run off with someone, but he sees through this immediately. He tells her that her feelings for her son are not abnormal but she refuses to use the matter in her defence in case the prosecution makes something sordid of it. She plans to plead guilty.
Act III: Scene 2: Three hours later
Thea and Roy await the verdict. Hawkins arrives and tells them that Alicia has been sentenced to three months in prison. Robert and Roy agree to sort out their differences before Alicia comes home.
"She lies to him about why she stole the nightdress....but he sees through this immediately."
Ooh Matron!