Goodbye, My Fancy

by Fay Kanin

Comedy / 8 male, 12 female Interior A Broadway hit about a liberal Congresswoman who returns to her old school as an honorary visitor. Since her wartime experiences in Europe, she has devoted herself to the task of acquainting people with the horrors of war. That is why she has brought a documentary with her to be shown to the young graduates. The movie is considered harsh and improper by the trustees, so she has a fight on her hands. The conflict exposes the president a

Genres: Plays

126 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1948

Reviews

[Lauren · Rating 4 out of 5]

In the late 1940s, journalist-turned-congresswoman Agatha Reed returns to her alma mater to receive an honorary doctorate. She left the all-girls college after she was caught sneaking back into the dormitories late at night. The twist is that Agatha’s college paramour – and the unknown reason for her expulsion – is now president of the college and father to a graduating senior.

Goodbye, My Fancy veers too close to love triangle territory for my preference, but I was surprised at how much I enjoyed this one. The details of the college are wonderful, and the conflict surrounding academic freedom remains relevant over seven decades later. Recommended.
ETA: The film adaptation is good (and should be better known today) and makes a few tweaks to the plot that work wonderfully and give the narrative a stronger arc. The biggest shortcoming is casting. Crawford isn’t bad, but the role doesn’t really align with her strengths. Rosalind Russell, who was originally slated to play Agatha, or Barbara Stanwyck could have done wonders with this role and would have lifted up the whole film. Still worth a watch.

[Lynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

"A Broadway hit about a liberal Congresswoman who returns to her old school as an honorary visitor. Since her wartime experiences in Europe, she has devoted herself to the task of acquainting people with the horrors of war. That is why she has brought a documentary with her to be shown to the young graduates. The movie is considered harsh and improper by the trustees, so she has a fight on her hands. The conflict exposes the president"

[Lynda · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a reread for me. The writing is smart, but I have to admit the story is somewhat dated. However, I still enjoy it a great deal.