The New York herald., 1922-10-22
Amateur Actors Will Cringe
and Blush q Little at 'The
Torch Bearers
. GORGE KELLY's satiricai COM

- at the Vanderbilt Theater,
opens merciless fire on aspiring anna
teur theatricals IN general and the
Little Theater movement in particu-
lar. The first act is laid in the draw
ing room of the home OF Frederick
Ritter In a small city. Mrs. Ritter Is
explaining to her husband. just re-
turned from a business trip, how she
happened 70 fall heir to the leading
feminine role in the play which her
friends are presenting, when the lead
ing woman, Mrs. Jimmy Sheppard, lost
her husband suddenly.
Ritter uaking a cigar from his case)--
Did he know that she was to play one
OF the leading parts?
Mrs. Ritte---Who, Mr.. Sheppard2
Ritter-Yes.
Mrs. Ritter-why, OF course he did;
shed Just finished telling hirn-when he
fell over. My dear. poor Clara Shep-
pard is q wreck. You want to write her
a note, Fred, when you get time. And
he never spoke-not a solitary word. But
size says. just as he was dying, he
gave her the funniest look. Oh, she
says IL she lives to be thousand sheH
never forget the way he looked at her.
Ritter (moving over from the right,
where no has been standing. toward the
r1antelpiece)--Had he ever seen her act?
Mrs. Ritter-I don't know whether he
ever had or not. Yes, no had, too; Tor
I saw him myself at the Century Draw
ing Rooms last Easter Monday night;
ard she was in that play that night
there--don't you remember?
Mrs. Ritter, preparing her husband Tor
the fact that Il rehearsal Is to be held
--ut their home. informs him that MRS.
J. Duro Pampnelli, an officious MEM
Der OF the group, will direct the per-
formance.
Mrs. Ritter-No. she doesn't take any
part-shes just In charge of everything.
Iiitter-That suits her better.
Mrs Ritter-kind Of directress,
suppose you'd call her Gle Is lighting
his cigar and makes funny sound of
amusement.) Tells US where to so, you
know, on the stage. so We won't be run
ming into each other. (He takes the
cigar out OF his mouth. laughs. and
throws the match stem into the fire
place.) Really, Fred. you have no idea
how easy it is TO run into person on
the stage. You've got to know where
you're going every time you move
What are you laughing at?
Eitter--I was just thinking OF a few
OF the things I've heard Mrs. Pam
p.relli called.
Mrs. Iatter--Oh. now. that isn't bit
nice of you, Fred Ritter! / know YOU
dol'. like her.
I,itter-I like her all right.
Mrs. Rittor-You do not, now. Fred:
so don't say you do.
Ritter-I think she's marvellous.
Mrs Ritter--Well, she's tremendously
clever about this stage business. don't
&C what you say. Gle sets the cigar
IN his mouth at rather challenging
angle. rests his elbows on the table and
squints through the curling smoke with
an expression susceptible OF infinite in
terpretation.) You just should hear her
talk about it somo time. Now. the last
rehearsal we had, over at her house.
she spoke on Technique in Acting as
D.stingulshed from Method"; and you
have no idea how interesting it was.
Ritter-You say you've given this show
before?
Mrs. Ritter-Oh, yesl We gave 1t on
the fourteenth at the Civic Club. And.
my dear, that audience just loved it.
And you'd be surprised, too, for it's a
torritically serious thing. n fact, In
way, it's too serious for the general
public That's the reason several OF the
PEOPLE who saw 1t suggested that II we
give Il again we should give dance
right after il. (He leans around again
and knocks more ashes into the fire.
piace.) But. of course. as Mrs Pampi-
nell, says. it's an absolute impossibility
70 give dance at either the Civic Club
or the Century Drawing Rooms. So
that's how were giving II this time
down az Hutchy Kutchy.
F,itter-Where?
Mrs Ritter-At Horticultural Hall
There at Broad and Spruce. you know.
Ritter-Yes. 1 know; whstd you
cali It.?
Mrs. Rtter-Hutchy Kutchy. Mrs
Patnpinei always calls II that, and
suppose I'm getting into the habit, too.
from hearing her
Rtter-What's the show for. a charity
of some kind?
Mrs. Ritter-Its for the Seamens In
stitute. Kind OF a refuge for them, you
know, while they're In port. So the
sailors won't be wandering around the
streets getting into bad company. II
> Mrs. Pampinellfs idea: so. of
course, she didn't want anything TO hap
pCn. so she called me up first thing
In the morning, and she said. Paula,
darling. have you heard the newa7" So,
OF course. said NO" Because, up to
that time / hadn't. and. naturally.
wasn't going 10 say Inat had.
hitter-Certainly not. Ole turns and
Glcks more ashes into the flreplace.)
Mrs. Well" she said, poor
Mr.. Sheppard has just passed on Well,
luckily ! was sitting down at the time
o. /. positively think ! should have
PASSED on myself