New Britain herald., 1915-01-19
The Master Mind' Is We'll Acted by
 Lyceum Company

"The Master Mind' which is the at traction at the Lyceum this week and which had a splendid presentation there last evening, is a powerful play, rich in dramatic situations, well built and lines that interest and entertain. This is the cast:
 Parker, servant ..... James Malley Walter Blount, alias Diamond Willie
 .............. F.. M. Leonard Andrew Watkins alias The Master
 Mind .............. Alfred Cross Mrs. Blount, alias Milwaukee Sadie
 .......... Adelaide Hubbard John Blount, alias Black Hawk -.
 .............. l.. J. Fuller Lucene Blount, alias Maggie Flint
 ..'............ Emily Galloway Courtland Wainwright, eX-District
 Attorney .......... Frank Wright Professor Forbes, an Alienist ..
 WyrieN Birch Freeman, maid ...... Lois Bolton Jim Crecean, a crook James M. Maher MT. Marshall, a detective Fred Sutton
 The plot of the piece is difficult to discern until the final act and then it is all easily understood. Courtland Wainwright has been a district attor-
 
 he sent a number of people to prison, some to the electric chair, among them one Watkins, and his brother Andrew, vowed he would be avenged upon him. He began by sending him white cards to indicate that he was on his track, red cards to show that he was closing in on him and black cards to prove that he was ready to strike. Watkins was unknown to Wainwright and although he came to the latter's home it was not known that it was he who was sending the cards. He ob- tained the four members of the BlOunt family. parents, son and daughter, to come to New York, under the guise of responsibility and Wainwright, who had previously met the girl and who had since been in love with her, mar ried her and the rest of the family went to live with them. The robbery of the safe was planned and when Mrs. Wainwright was informed by Hawkins of what was going to take place he gave her a large sum of money to give to the burglar and when she did this detective bounced upon her and the burglar, Wainwright him. self appearing on the scene and the be- ginning of the end was in sight. He learned the truth then, sought to have Hawkins, who seemed to know a great deal about everybody, sent to an insane asylum but failed and when the Master Mind" threatened to ex- pose the details of his family relation ship and destroy his ambition to be- come governor, Wainwright signed a ha Hawkins upon the pleading of the at torney's wife destroyed the document and withdrew from all connection with the case.
 It can be seen from this outline that the play IS a strong one and the fea- lures which grip and thrill Were we'll brought out by the company. Mir. Cross played Hawkins, the Master Mlnd' with quiet reserve, rising only to declamatory strength in those scenes which revea led his mission, making a contrast in his work that was pleasing and extremely interesting in it's effect. Mir. Wright was the eX-district attor- ney. sharp, nervy and looking the part. Nothing was lost by him in portraying the character in any scene and his for cibleness, though modestly worked out. carried with it sincerity and clever ness. Miss Galloway as Lucene and afterwards as Mrs Vain wright was good as always loving, appealing and full of real genuine affection; charming in manner and reciting her lines With character and expression. Mrs. Hb- bard gave a touch of fine originality to Mrs. Blount. who was so annoyed by the charge that she was a shop litter. MT. Leonard did well in most important part. and the remaining characters were filled with commend able clevernesS, particularly that of Jim Creegan played by James Maher of this city. The settings were in keep ing with the play and enabled good cast to present a fine play in a mer- itorOus manner