Anyone for tennis?

[trof]

'Anyone for tennis?' as a catchphrase typifies the kind of drawing-room comedies in which someone stepped in through the French windows, lightly swinging a racket.

Surprisingly (given his later tough-guy image) it was once much associated with Humphrey Bogart in his early roles, although it may have originated with George Bernard Shaw. "Misalliance", 1914, has the question, 'Anybody on for a game of tennis?'.



Bogart began his acting career on the Brooklyn stage in 1921, playing a Japanese butler. He never took acting lessons, and had no formal training. An early reviewer wrote of Bogart's work: "To be as kind as possible, we will only say that this actor was inadequate." Bogart loathed the trivial parts he had to play early in his career, calling them "White Pants Willie" roles.

Bogart appeared in 21 Broadway productions between 1922 and 1935. He played juveniles or romantic second-leads in drawing room comedies. He is said to have been the first actor to ask "Tennis, anyone?" on stage.

edited to follow my new rule: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=105x6720267

[Alexander]

1. Wouldn't that be nice.

Thank you, thank you. Credit belongs to Eric Clapton and Martin Sharp.

[trof]

2. Yeah, saw the lyrics too.