You Never Can Tell by George Bernard Shaw
Promotional postcard for You Never Can Tell by George Bernard Shaw. First produced by the Stage Society at the Royalty Theatre, 26th November 1899. The play is set in a seaside town and tells the story of Mrs Clandon and her three children, Dolly, Phillip and Gloria, who have just returned to England after an eighteen-year stay in Madeira. The children have no idea who their father is and, through a comedy of errors, end up inviting him to a family lunch. At the same time a dentist named Valentine has fallen in love with the eldest daughter, Gloria. However, Gloria considers herself a modern woman and claims to have no interest in love or marriage. The play continues with a comedy of errors and confused identities, with the friendly and wise waiter, Walter (most commonly referred to by the characters as "William, " because Dolly thinks he resembles Shakespeare), dispensing his wisdom with the titular phrase "You Never Can Tell." This photo is from the Royal Court Theatre production of 1906
