New Britain herald., 1919-07-08
COMMON CLAY BEST
 YET PLAYED HERE
Miss Van Waldron Succeeds in
 Most Difficult Role
(Written by Herald ReViewer)

(Written by Herald Reviewer)
 One of the largest Monday night houses that has visited the Lyceum in some time was present last evening to witness the initial performance of "Common Clay" the famous Harvard which the Cormican Players have at tempted during their stay in this city,
 "Common lay" the famous Harvard prize play, is one of the best dramas that the American stage has produced of the vehicles in which Jane Cowl starred a season or two ago. AL though it is a play that demands much study on the part of the players in or der to properly interpret their re- spective parts, the Cormican Players did exceptionally well and but little improvement can be made on their first nights performance.
 Common Clay" is a combination of the sex problem play and play dealing with the existing social prob lems of the day. The story is written around two principal chara cters El- len Neal, a Fabitue of one of the low dance halls of a great city, and Judge Filson, one Of the biggest men, social ly and politically, in the city. Ellen Neal, young, beautiful, somewhat tal- ented and verX ambitious, permits herself at the Age of Is to be dazzled by the bright flights until, at the hands of one of the citys most prom inent families, she takes the wrong road. Realizing her misstep, she es- says toIurn to the right road and to Dette. tme ., ways ;3 of 3 society *3 she of Richard, Fullerton, a wealthy social leader. Here she meets the man who caused her fall and he, rebuffed by her, tells Hugh Fullerton, son of her cmployery the story of her past This young man, weak and prone to satis- fy his every desire, makes advances to the glSy and she, admitting that she likes hAn very much and becoming discouragea~ with the improbabllity of her ever bePming anything other than what shA is, throws discretion to the winds anA as the curtain to the first act drops she says: "Whats the use?"
 The second act opens with Hugh Fullerton's father, in a frenzy of de- spair. calling upon Judge Filson, the family lawyer, where he explains that Ellen Neal former servant, claims that his son is thef father of her child. The wealthy society parent is anxious to do anything in order to shield the | name of his son. It is here that the really strong character of Judge Fiji son shows itself and he takes the side of the downtrodden, defending them to the irate parent, To better illus trate his point he tells the story of his own past, how he,( a young man, fel in love with a girl of the streets. of l fered to marry her, and lost her wher l she, about to beccme mother ou l of Wedlock, pens hlJn a short note say. | ing that she would be but a drawbacl
 10 him in life if she married him, ant 1 commits suicide. a'his story fails tt
 stir the emotions of Fullerton seniol 1 and eventually Judgie Filson essays the ] task Of making settlement with El
 len Neal, mother of Hugh T'ullerton'
 son. The entrance Sf other chara cter 1 throughout the play lends to it 1 necessary amount of humor, comed,
 and pathos, which ia well balanced 1 and most enjoyable. an the final act l the trial, Judge Filson learns that FI
 len Neal is in reality hAs own daugh , 1 been bo1n. T he play ends satisfactOr 1 jly with the reunion of father ant 1 daughter yet not too Happily for req
 life, for although the daughter find 1 her father and is assured of his low l and protection and d place in the so | cial world, her marriage to younj ] Fullerton does not take place Tn 1 moral drawn from "Comfnon Clay' i 1 obvious. It tells the stoty of every l day life in not too sordiq d manne l and draws the parallel between so | called society and the classes wh
 strive for their daily read'-thc stor ! being that although one i&s rich an, l the other is poor each is swayed b human emotions and, in the worldl,
 view, d person is not retarded S,
 much for what they do asg for wha
 they are in the social spheke.
 As usual, Edward LynGh, playin; l inc role of Judge I'ilson, leaves bu | little to be desired. His aJting is real istic, his show of emotion well tenn
 pered and his enunciati8n and artic
 ulation, added to his plea asing person
 ality, makes him one of the primo
 favorites of the confpany. J. K
 Hutchinson as Ric1ard Fullerton
 father of the youthful scape-grace fills substantial part in a substantial I way. His characterization of thi part is human andy he does it well
 while his son, played by James Cor Aanican, while a n{inor part, is wei Handled. This WAek Desmond Galla
 gher appears in he of the most i'm I nOrtant roles 0f uha Dl2v that of Ar