New Britain herald., 1915-02-16
The Big Idea is
 a Unique Play and :.
 is We'll Presented

The Big Idea" the play Which is pelng presented this week at the Lyceum,, is out of the ordinary, there was never another like it and pos s1bly never will be, although in these days when it is almost impossible to md anything new and when the plagiarist is so clever, there is no tell ing what utilization may be made of the clever work of A. E. Thomas. Those who have seen "Everyw woman will recall that when the curtain di- vides Nobody is seen standing in the center of the stage and recites the prologue. When the orchestra fin ishes playing it's introductory in "The Big Idea" MT. Gilmore, who in this case is Frank Wright, appears in front of the curtain and makes a speech concerning the play. The piece is in three acts and the cast is as follows:
 James Howard l.. J. Fuller Richard, his son ...... Alfred Cross Elsie, his daughter. Lois Bolton Mrs. James Howard. Adelaide Hubbard Bob Caswell ..... Wyrley Birch Elaine Foster. Emily CallawaN MT. Byrne. Fred L. Sutton MT. Gilmore. Frank Wright Bingham .....E E. M. Leonard
 James Howard, a banker, is in
 financial difficulties, made so by surreptitiously taking money from the vaults and when the crash is ready to come he finds that he is prac- tically bankrupt, he having all his property heavily mortgaged. He must raise s22, 2,OOO, and despairs of ever oh i,,iv hJ1f hi jo1- hi he sees way out of it. He is carry ing an insurance policy for $25,000 and he proposes to take his life by touching an electric wire in such manner as will give the impression that it was an accident, the money will then go to his father and he will be saved from disgrace. While he has this plan under consideration, Miss Foster comes on a visit to Dicks sister. Elsie, and when she learns of the plight of the family she suggests that instead of taking his life that he write play, using his difficulties as the material and then sell it. She collaborates with him in the writing acts out the sentimental part with him and when they present their ef forts to the producer, Mir. Gilmore, he offers them $500, which is not ac- cepted, and when he hears that they want $22,000 he thinks Dick is crazy. They tell him, however, that the last act will have him in it and the whole thing will be so true to life and be such a big idea that it will prove a great success. He finally gives. in, the money is paid over and the Howard family is saved This outline does not give the details of this performance, and it is they that make it so enter taining. Miss Galloway /plays Miss Foster" charmingly; her comedy is of the best and so magnetic and whole
 some as to be infectious. When the theatrical manager expressed doubt as to whether the play would be success she came to the footliglts and in voice full of faith and earnestness said to the audience: You will like it, won't you?' and the astonisned people broke out into applause. MT. Cross played Dick in splendid style and MT. Wright could not be inn proved upon as Manager Gilmore, while Mr. Birch was clever and ac- tive in his character. The rem aiming parts were not large, but they were filled acceptably and the performance proved very entertaining and the play was voted as the most original ever seen on the Lyceum stage.