The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1912-05-07
"When Knighthood
 Was In FIoWer''
 Finely Presented
CARPENTER STOCK co. AT LYRIC
 SCORES BIGGEST SUCCESS.
Miss Cleveland At Her Best As Prin- cess Mary-Production Hand-
 somely Staged.

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 A surprise was promised in the pro- Flower" at the Lyric, last night, by the Frank Carpenter Stock Company of players, and it was given in the form of the finest bit of emotional acting by Miss Cleveland ever seen n this city. Those who have read name will remember the varying tempers of the Princess. Mary Tudor: the enthralling interest which the ro- nance between her and Charles Bran don, captain of the Kings guard. in- spired: and the incidents surrounding VIII. the then King of England. In 1ramatizing this delightful romance, Charles Major has enlisted all tha dramatic skill and imagination of a genius, and it is this touch of the master hand which made When -rical sensation of New York, with Julia Marlowe as the star.
 With Miss Cleveland es the center of interest throughouts the local pro- duction: with her interpretation a of Mary Tudor, one moment spftffre. the next a smiling. charming. capti- vating personality. and the opportun- lty it offers for her to enlist the arr tistic traits for which she is best adapted, her work of last night. will place her a good notch above any characterization she has thus far giv- en in this city. She scored signally. And what a reception! Recall after recall brought her to the front, and whom she tried to renig when she was called on to make a speech, the larg- est audience which has favored this popular company of players on first night, simply wouldn't stand for 1t. So she stepped forward and made the Ia esty and absolute lack of self consci- ousness, which has floated out over the footlights of a Bridgeport thea tre in many day.
 The cast was we'll balanced and schooled in all the little details which make the drama successful Robert Conness as Charles Brandon gave most earnest performance: John Car roll as Duke of Buckingham perform ed his task with great credit, george Bryant Conner. as Sir Edwin Casko- den. master of the dance, displayed anew his versatility and the fact that ecah performance gains added popu- larity to this young actor because of his ability.
 John J. McCabe, as Henry VIII. King of England. new actor with the Carpenter Stock company ou. welcome hereafter; Miss Carpenter as Lady Jane Bolingbroke who has won her way into the hearts of theatregoers in this city because she has dis played so rare artistic ability: Helen Strick. land as Catherine, Queen of England, who adjusts herself with marked fidei- ity to the beggers rags, as in one of the early productions, or the Queens robes of last night: Waldemer c. Burkhardt, as Duke de Longuevtiie an envoy of France who made very rood Frenchman, Helen Warde as Mistress Anne Boleyn, whose work shows experience and training. ana James Thomas as Thomas Woolsey Rishop of London-all measured up to and surpassed the expectations or the audience.
 Tine scenic effect in When Knight hood was in Flower" deserves men, tion Seldom will you find stock staging the plays In such an eIap- crate and realistic manner as the Car penter Company does. This is only made possible through the efforts of the eu stage carpenter Jos. Raymond and The scenic artist. Allen Schrock, who furnish the special scenery for every wesk's performance. Albert B. Meath furnished new and varied musical numbers with his splendid orchestra between the acts and all combine to make an evening spent at the Lyric entertaining, enjoyable-yes, delight full. can be seen evenings the rest of the week. with matinees Thursday and Sa turday. Tickets are selling far in advance. so an early order is advis- ed
 Al the close of the third act last night Miss Cleveland was made the 1 butes The Sperry players attended in f,,11 force