The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1909-05-25
"The Road to Yesterday"
 A Road Worth Travelling

May you and and every one of us be in the essence of ourselves ident1- ties which have been clothed in many bodies through many ages? The idea of reincarnation is very ancient. Many writers have been fascinated by it. Arnold's "Phra, the Phoenician," and other famous works of fiction hinge upon the belief. And other writers have dwelt upon the theme that time may be in the nature of space. and that one may travel forward and back ward in time, if one but knew how. The ''Time Machine" of H. G; Wells is a development of this thought. Twain's "A Yankee at King Arthur s Court" Bellamy's Looking Backward' and the "Ardath" of Marie Corelh are based upon it.
 R. M. Dix and E. G. Sutherland have developed both themes in ''The Road to Yesterday" the initial performance of which was given by the players Of the Poli Stock Company last night. Now the play is described as "com- edy of fantasy and this it is. But fantasy is something not so easy to attain. It is one of the most diff cult of all moods to attuue an audience to, and poor, or the wrong kind of good acting will easily break down the effort in it's most essential features.
 More credit therefore to Miss Elem ing MT. Ince and the other players that they succeeded in their most diff K, night drawbacks, as when the scenery toppled at a critical moment and when one of those hysterical people who will wander in beloved at a tense mo- ment.
 The curtain goes up in Will Leve- sons studio, in London. The time is 19O3 The characters are thoroughly raodern. It is midsummer eve. The discussion turns upon the feeling com mon to the players that they have lived in other bodies. MT. Ince, as Jack Gretorex, dons a costume of the past. Miss Fleming is Espeth Tyrell. She has visited London and is filled with 18th century ideas. She sleeps and dreams. The scene changes to the Red Swan Inn. The time changes from 1903 to 1903. Gretorex is now Reformando Jack. Tompkyns the artist, has become Tom pkins the tapster. Malena Leveson, society wom- an, has become Black Malena, the gypsy. Nora Gil1ow, the servant has become Mother Gillow, a witch, Paul ton has become Kenelm Pawlet, Lord
 Miss Fleming has become Lady Eliz- abeth Tyrell. In this portion of her work Miss Fleming proved romantic both to eye and ear. Yet her task was most difficult, because she of all the characters labored under the disad- vantage of knowing that she was in dream world This portion of the play afforded moments of strong mel odrama, tinged with the necessary quality of unreality. Incidentally Miss Fleming appeared disguised, or per- .haps not disguised, as a boy and a very pretty boy she made, too. MT. Ince was an improvement on himself in the romantic side of his role. Miss Loretta Wells was perhaps not so strong as in roles which she has made famous, but her performance was creditable. So also was the perform ance of MT. Duggan as Lord Strange aff f<Nv> %t7o exhibition of the brutal side of the mind which is not altogether com mon. The play is very much worth seeing. The company is an excellent company. Perhaps by tonight the lines that were missing last night will be committed. It destroys the illusion from time to time when the actors are driven to repeat.