The Bridgeport evening farmer. [volume] (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1866-1917, 1911-02-03
PARK THEATRE

The plainest talk ever heard on the
stage occurs in the big second act of
Clyde Fitch's last drama. 1.-THE City"
which will be the attraction at the
one performance Wednesday evening,
Feb. 8. In this play Mr.. Fitch. whose
polite society plays are the essence of
polish and good breeding. surprised his
friends with realism quite as extreme
as anything in the pages of lola. The
a reform candidate for Governor,
struggles with his illegitimate half
brother. Fred Hammock. a dope f1end.
who has just returned from the church
after having gone through a marriage
ceremony with Rand's sister, I'M
aware of his own relation to her. is
one of the most thrillingly dramatic
ever conceived or staged. The hor-
ror of Ran.7 when Re hears of the
wedding and the terror and despair of
Hammock when he learns from his
half-brother for the first time the kin
ship existing between himself and the
girl are Photographic in their realty
and electric in their effect on the au-
dienceS. When. as a elimination to
these scene. the girl enters and. to
prevent Rand from breaking. the ter
rible truth to her. Hammock shoots her
dead at his feet. the tension on the
spectators hardly can be described.
Yet there Is still another climax before
the act ends. Hammock. crazed with
horror and with drugs has been dis
armed by Rand. and he pleads most
desperately for the revolver so that
he may end his own miserable exist
ence. These events are but a few
of the many which go to make up Mr..
Fitch's mastery character study of
the effect of big city life upon those
who are not able to read its lessons
Alright. or have not the strength to
resist ifs foundations Vithout q
doubt. THE City is the biggest. the
most profound. and most enduring
drama Mr.. Fitch ever wrote. at least
SO have said critics in all the cities
where 1t has been presented. The
play will be seen here under the best
possible conditions. the company be-
ing in all main particulars the same
that appeared in it all last season
at the Lyric Theatre. New York. This
includes. of course. FULLY Marshall
f1end. has been a sensation wherever
seen.
The Park Theatre will have a
dramatic event of more than ordinary
interest next Friday, and Saturday
nights and Saturday matinee when a
company of exceptional excellence and
unusual personal attractiveness, under
the direction of Manager Frank Mckee
will present Walter Hackett's new
play Our World which is already
booked for Metropolitan production
at the Garrick Theatre next Monday
night. The author has already won
the favor of the theatregoing public
by his splendid drama 1.-The White
Sister, with which Viola Allen has
won her greatest success Of recent
years. His new play is thoroughly
modern in action and spirit With
heredity as the basic motive he has
worked out a story of powerful HUI
man interest, in which stirring Incl
dents, intense passion and thrilling sit
uations are combined to overthrow old
theories and bring about the happi-
ness that comes from sincere and hon
est love. In the cast are such splen>
did actors as Miss Doris Keane, Vim
cent Serrano, Amelia Gardner, Camp
bell Gollan, Malcolm Duncan, Olive
Murray, Alice Putnam and Herbert
Budd.