New Britain herald., 1915-05-01

last evening at the r1iSl SSiiooi duuh
forum, was the most successful preT
sentation of several years. The High
sch DOL; actors. after considerable re-
,hearsing gave an extraordinary play
with amazing ability. The audience
realized this. and in showing their
appreciativeness showered applause
upon the amateur thespians. The play
went off so decidedly 1weM that the
few vacant seats at, last evenings per-
Torrance will undoubtedly be filled
this evening when the play is re-
peated. - Nj
Labor versus Capital is the/ basis
of .gThe Lost Paradise" The play
was originally presented in the Ger
man as written by the playwright Lud
wig Fulda. It was adapted from the,
German for the American stage by
III enry g.. Denille. With a national
reputation behind it, the play could
hardly fail to be successful when
the. local students acted it.
An overindulgent father Mr.. An
drew Knowlton has one ambition in
the world, to please his beautiful
daughter and see her married to q
man worthy Of her. Margaret, his
daughter, is betrothed to Ralph
Standish. who comes from an illus
trious family. Polly Fletcher and
Bob Appleton are both visiting the
Knowltons and become quite we'll ac-
quainted. A strike is impending at
the KnowIton Iron Works where Reu-
ben Warner is the superintendent. Al
friendaaof the people Warner advo-
Gates their demands which are in
significant when compared to the
great wealth Of the owner of the
Works. Margaret visits the works
before her marriage and is astonished
at the conditions existing there.
Warner shows her the real state
Of affairs and she realizes that her
hnery has been obtained by the
sweat of the working peoples brows.
Matters reach a crisis and a delega-
ton from the working, men, and the
new partner Standish try to settle
matters. Standish refuses to grant
them their demands and the men on
their part are just as obstinate. The
hands after, no agreement could be
reached strike. Warner stands by his
people few days elapse and the
strlkers threaten violence when
kAln1oWlton attempts to give.a party
to scelle citrate his daughters engage
ment. Outrages are aVerfed, through
| the efforts Of Warner. He, announces
his decision to leave the works.
KnoWlton tries to dissuade him "a
Warner IS the real inventor Of "
great machine eofs.Which, the works
turn out hundreds daily. Warner
tis firm and Margaret learns = OF his
intended departure. During they last
few days she has discovered the good
| deeds Warner has been doing and she
learns OF his love for her. The en-
gagement between Margaret and
| Standish is broken and the play 'con-
I Guides with the betrothal OF. MARGARET
| and man worthy OF her, Warner.
Miss Olive Littlehales carried off
| the leading lady's part in a manner
that left nothing to be desired. Her
voice, enunciation and confident and
| easy playing We're outstanding fea-
lures of her work. Miss Harriet
| Wells played the part of Mrs. Knowl-
ton with good grace. Polly Fletcher
was the character assumed by Cath
/ crime Sanders and she brought out
the character SO that there was moth
Ing lacking in the portrayal Of ec-
icentricities and crude ways of the
country girl in the city. The part
Of the maid was played perfectly by
/ Miss Catherine Finnegan. She
| played the part in a talented man
ner which would have been more pro-
nounced had. the part offered more
opportunities The three factory
girls, Nell, Cinders and Kate. were
interesting people. The first played
by Miss Brown, was serious, the sec
ond and comic person, Cinders, was
interpreted very well by Miss Sally
Humason, and the third, Kate, was
pleasingly given by Miss Edith Bayer.
Bement Hibbard displayed remark
able ability as the leading man. He
had the part of Warner, and he took
advantage of his unusual chances.
He was popular with the audience
| as his applause was great. The diff
ficult part Of the indulgent father,
Knowlton. was intrusted to Vincent
Glynn. He showed singular talent,
i but had not difficulty in giving the
I expert Interpretation of. his part The
character part of Ralph Standish was
i we'll handled by George Betz No
play seems complete. without7humor
and no play is complete without u
comedian, so this play was mot com
ple.c without Bob Appleton which
was distinctly we'll acted by Roger
/ Holmes. Irving Fletcher Leon
I, Bradley, Sidney Dixon and Harold
i O'Meara, Harry Ginsburg, Leland
Hoar and Norman McKirdy, made the
most of the parts Of workmen at the
4 factory. With his ridiculous cos
| tune and funny manner, Thomas
Hawkesworth, created many laugh
which enlivened the show.
The young actors all did we'll and
there was not the least adverse crit
icism on the acting ofgthe play. The
scenery was accurate and pretty, es-
pecially the scenes at 4 the elegant
/ Knowlton mansion 3#