New Britain herald., 1919-06-17
CORMICAN PLAYERS
 HAVE REAL ABILITY
Summer Stock Company Should
 Make Good in This City

If the Cormican Players. who made their initial bow to the New Britain thcatergoing public at the Lyceum last evening, continue to put on produc- tons of the same quality as their pre- nier one, and the members of the cast show the same skill that they did last night there is no reason why sum- lner stocl< in this city should not be a success, The Brat which is the ve- hicle in which the Cormican Players make their first appca rance, is a very good comedy but is badly named AL though "The Brat had d successful run on Broadway, it's name was never an asset and the average theatergoer here who is not familiar with the type of the play imagineS from it's 1niSnonl- CT that il will be q play in which tho clement Of the rough predominates. and the comedy will be of the heyden- ish type.
 This is not so. "Thc Brat" is clean, wholesome comedy drama which has plenty of real humor, Il slight touch of pathos. and rich in human interest. In brief. it tells tho story of two brothers, one an emi- nent author, the other 8 young man with a disposition to walk on the downward path. The novelist. seeking G model, brings in The Brat from the night court and the better to ob- serve her type he has her remain with the two brothers and their mother. Through the strong Charac cter of 'The Brat" the drunken brother is re- fn1.a ,nI in, 11 realizes that it is this man that she really loves. instead of tho novelist who has unwittingly dazzled her. Ad- jnstments are made before the final curtain and all ends happily.
 Miss Ethel Van Waldron, leading lady. made most favorable impress sion on the first nightcrs. She is de cidedly attractive in appearance and has a personality that is bound to win her q large following. In 'The Erat' sine had ample opportunity to i show her ability 8s an actress and in the more difficult parts where she had to portray the type of all uned- ucated girl of the slums, she did her ! part without oyerdoing it. Tn her dia- | logues with Steve. with whom she is i in love. she was exceptionally good. ! Mir Cormican himself played the ] juvenile part of Steve and as a drunk 1 on youth. a staunch friend, and at 1 last the true man who is willing to 1 fight for a. friend and sweetheart, even 1 aranst his whole family, he showed l real ability.
 Than Ervillo Anderson. in the part 1 Of Timson. tEcrc has not been a better | chara cter actor on tho I-yccNm stage in long time. Tn tho rat her minor
 { fo, I,.1,+1 1c-,, judge of good booze. ATr. Anderson : played his role well and was respon- ! sible for much of the good comedy Of ! the evening". Edward Lynch, playing 1 the part of MCMillan Forester. nov 1 elist, took off that part Of the worldly 1 wise. blaso man-abOut town in a very , capable manner. His acting was i worthy of mention was that of T K. Hutchinson. in the role of T fussy
 fidgety bishop.
 Among the feminine members of 1 the cast the work of Miss JOSenhine
 Sake as Angclia stood out promincntlv
 She worked hard all the time and sue i ceeded in ma king a decidedly favor ! able impression. Her part was thai
 Of a young dcbutante who. while real. ! ly in love with McMiIlan Forester thought it necessary to force his hand
 and make him propose Playing op-
 posite her was Miss Caroline Locke ! her rival in the play. She took hcl 1 part we'll and in dialogue with her i youthful rival she was excellent. Mrs
 Nina C. Gleason handled the role ot
 Mrs. Forester to perfection. actinG the part of the doting mother who lived only for the genius of her nov e!st son. Miss Lillian Worth, in the
 minor part of MargOt maid, did all
 that could be desired and gives prom
 ise of being equally mt"rc&tinc in
 more important roles.
 The costumes worn by the Cornlican
 Plavers are new and we'll suited to
 them. while the stage furnishi17g and scenery is excellent.
 '!! All in all, the Cormican Players