New Britain herald., 1919-07-22
FAIR AND WARMER
 IS ON AT LYCEUM
Miss Antoinette RoChte Works We'll With Cormican Players
(By Herald Reviewer)

Nby Herald ReV1eWer)
 r ar and Warmer being. produced thlS week by the Cormican Players at the Lyceum is a very light farce. one in which the action must be kept up at top speed every minute else the entire play lags. In the initial per- formance last evening the Cormican Players did very well and gave prom lse or developing it into a snappy lit tie performance during the remainder Of the week. This week sees the play CTS With somewhat depleted cast as the lines call for fewer players, but a new actress makes her debut on the Lyceum stage in the person of Miss Antolnette Rochte. Miss Rochte play ed her part very we'll last night worked well with other members of the cast and gives every indication of proving a most valuable member of the company.
 Fair and Warmer' is one of those light, farcial plays that have been SO much in demand in New York It is so light that at times it borders on the slapstick comedy'' type, but with careful work on the part of the play CTS can be "put across" most satis- 1actorlly. It is however, one of those plays in which comedy is essential and tIiio hiohSo IL lllOIS QllllCuIt S1nCG there IS that ever present tendency to over- act the part and eXaggerate the com edy. In brief, the story deals with the domestic troubles of two young couples. One man has simple, trusting little wife whom he keeps that way by Keeping her guessing" as to what he does, where he goes and who he goes with. The other is d quiet, home-loving husband whose Wife IS of the other type. His very goodness bores her and as she says in the first act, she could love him if he would not be so damned good" to her and would swear at me once in while.' Husband Number One ad- vises Husband Number Two that in order to hold his wife's interest and affection he. must keep her guessing, Whereupon he goes off to "the Mystic Shrine,' leaving his own wife talking with the other. At the same time wife of Husband Number Two goes to the opera with a friend of the fam fly. Left alone the trusting wife and home-loving husband confide their troubles and decide that they will "compromise' each other and get their respective wife and husband 'guessing.' Here the complications
 
 most too well, until the last moments of the third act when explanations are made. and both live happy ever after-aS all comedies should end
 James COrmican has the leading role, that of Billy Bartlett, the neg lected husband, and playing opposite him as his wife is Miss Rochte Both do their parts well and in the scene in which Billy and "Banny", the neg lected wife of his friend, played by Miss Van Waldron, get drunk to make their compromising position more real, they are at their best Edward Lynch, the favorite of the Cormican company, was given good hand when he made his appearance last evening, and lie played his part with his characteristic snap and vim add ing much to the success of the pro- ductlon. He takes the part of Jack Wheeler "Blannys s husband and friend of Billy who knows how to keep the wives guessing"
 Desmond Gallagher takes the part of Philip Evans, the friend of the famlly' who comes near breaking LID the Bartlett family and Mrs. Gleason as Jessie, the maid, while playing a mlnor part, makes the most of it and does it well as she has done each of her parts in the various performances m which she has appeared here J. k. Hutchinson has a very minor part as furniture mover and is aided by Pete Meady, who has a heavy part. Pete has nothing to say, but has to carry a trunk out on, his. back C'How- ard Wesche is Pete. ...:.u
 The manner in which the various Cormican productions are staged is worthy of comment. Not only this week, but also each of the others, the stage settings have beeu excellent and much creoit is due those who have this part lh charge. The costumes worn by the players are also good and III th1s weeks production some pretty gowns are Worn by the women, espe- clally by Miss Rochte w. c. Mason IS stage director; A. c. Riegler is the scenic artlst; Howard Williams stage carpenter, and Fred Matthews, prop erty master.
 Next week the +Dlayers will appear in ''The Rosary WhNh is being play ed as result of poplar request. The following week shoull prove a record breaker for the play is "Yes or Mo-" written by Arthur Goodrich of this city. This is not light farce, but a good, substantial drama that has been @ success.