No Time For Heaven

No Time for Heaven has been called the best family play since Our Town. With a fresh approach to the universal problem of understanding—or lack of understanding—between old folks and young ones, it has an appeal for audiences of all ages. In No Time for Heaven we see Grandma Emmaline Church energetically running her household—and everybody in it—with an iron will. Her biggest problems involve her three grandchildren. Stubborn, ambitious Abby, age 19 to 21, wants to become one of the world's first female doctors. Cuddly, dreamy-eyed Kitty, age 16 or 17, wants romance. Energetic, clever-witted Thomas, age 14 or 15, wants to have fun. Grandma doggedly goes about the job of arranging all their lives while the youngsters work just as hard to do things their own way. Grandma is convinced that her way is God's way and their ways are wicked. Another of Grandma's victims is Jonathan Wigglesworth, the young, brawny, handsome but shy village blacksmith whom Grandma decides to turn into a preacher. Grandpa, feeble with age but young at heart, watches it all with a chuckle. Miraculously, the older members of the audience will feel that the play is sympathetic with their side of the problem, while younger viewers will be just as convinced that the author is on their side. Such is the talent of E.P. Conkle, whose plays have the magic quality of affecting various segments of an audience in varying ways. Successfully produced by community, university and high-school theatres, No Time for Heaven—with its comedy and its pathos—is one of those rare plays that will entertain every member of the family.