It was first produced by Sam H. Harris, staged by George S. Kaufman, with sets by Donald Oenslager, costumes by John Hambleton, and starred Jane Cowl.
It is doubly mortifying, for though Irene is only the daughter of a Midwest auto seller, she has acquired a sophisticated image from her European education and a brief prior marriage to a "Slovanian" prince.
[fn 4] Furthermore, Lucy learns that Irene is contemplating divorce from her elderly and dyspeptic husband Carter, whose only interests are fishing, comic strips, and radio programs.
[8] Some columnists and critics assumed the author's main inspiration for Lucy Chase Wayne, and perhaps a source for the play, was Alice Roosevelt Longworth.
[10] However, then real First Lady, Eleanor Roosevelt, upon seeing the play, told reporters "I think the authors picked out amusing incidents without stressing personalities".
[11] Producer Sam H. Harris and the authors originally wanted Ina Claire for the main role of Lucy Chase Wayne, but she signed a three-year exclusive contract with the Theatre Guild in July 1935.
[13] The negotiations coupled with Kaufman's delay in Hollywood for a Marx Brothers picture meant the Broadway premiere was pushed back from September 1935.
[13] Ann Andrews was originally cast for the second female lead (Irene Hibbard), but after the second week of rehearsals was replaced by Lily Cahill.
[20] Rowland Field of the Brooklyn Times Union said it was "a top hat and white ties affair", and he personally saw Tallulah Bankhead, John Golden, Arthur Hopkins, Max Gordon, Harpo Marx, Irving Berlin, Adolph Zukor, Moss Hart, Brock Pemberton, Ira Gershwin, Louis Calhern, Marion Davies, and Pat O'Brien among other celebrities in attendance.
[23] Rowland Field in the Brooklyn Times Union thought the play was the "season's best comedy", while Burns Mantle in the New York Daily News recognized Lily Cahill had the more difficult role, requiring a certain amount of overplaying to match the advantages of Jane Cowl's character.