The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1922-05-26
Little Theatre
League Scores
In Local Plays

The Little theatre League Wednes.
day presented a widely varied bill OF
three one act plays, written staged
coached and played entirely by
Bridgeport people thereby adding
laurels to its already everburdened
brow. A paced house received the
dramatic tid-bits with enthusiasm
usually accorded a Broadway sue
cess, as the Little Theatre closed its
closed doors for the summer on the
browning accomplishment if Its ca
reer.
Encouraged bv it's continued sue
cess the League is planning to spread
its winds. Bills will be exchanged with
other community theatrical organiza-
tons Throughout the East. If the new
plans materialize the first stop will be
Northampton. The Massachusetts
town boasts of a finished amateur
players organization, and will bring
their production here while the local
Thespians stage a bill in the college
town.
First Play Crook Drama
The first bill was an exciting crook
'mellerdrammer'' from the pen of
Miss Lucille Marsh, now instructor in
the English tongue at a. prominent
woman's college. The scene of ''IIar-
1quirade' proved not to be laid in
soft drink parlor, but in the home of
a millionaire. The plot centered
around the efforts of some crooked
folks taking advantage of the bal
masque to approximate necklace.
This play was in the hands of
competent cast including Rose" Min
erva Pious, Jerry" Louis Oneker;
Mrs. William Mclaughlin; "Elwood"
Paul O'Brien and MAN" Carlisle
Lewis
'+The Rut'' A Different Play.
Mrs Sara Sherman Pryor is recog-
nized one of the best dramatic
directors of amateur productions in
the East. The "Rut'' not only gives
evidence of Mrs. PrTor's keep apprec-
iation of dramatic values in works
of standard playwrites, shows she has
been able to embodv this knowledge
in her own play. The ttRut'' is distinct
ly original in plot and character de-
ineration. Depicting the hopelessness
of a life CT self-sacrifice of a young
woman whose continued Self-denial
has made a career possible for her
younger sister and the lives of many
others happier and brighter. Mar
garet Kent played with great sin
cerity by Julia Farnum has been
slowly forced into a rut though it is
not of her own making. Her health
shattered. the truth appears evident
to the objects of her self-denial, and
they try to make amends but too late.
At this point in the plot the author
might have resOrted TO the hackneyed
climax so often used by professional
playwrites. in handling a story along
like lines. Mrs. Pryor might have had
hcr 'rut'' staged athriNing revolt
against the people we have accepted |
her sacrifice for wears without a |
word of thanks. There is no tira
against the futi1itv of constant eff
fort TO better the happiness of others |
The piece. closed quietly and beauti-
fully the spirit of self sacrifice glori- |
fled IS the kind deeds of the ''ruts'
live after her in the establishment |
of the "Marsaret Kent Hospital
Tho cast for the "Rut' was an adj |
mira Bile one Space is limited but suf-
flee it to saw that every one of the |
actors in this piece displayed a keen |
and sympaIhetic undertaking of
their parts The "Rut" was maturely |
done. more so than any other play |
given this year.
1t was of 'fbigIeague" caIibre. The
The cast was: Margaret Kent"
Julia G: Farnum; Beatrice Alison"
Allison" w. Stewart Clark; Mrs |
Jenkind," Katherine Wheeler Clark:
Mrs. Miles Blanche Sanborn Clark:
CDR. Ralph Graham" Hal Thurman |
''Barbara's Rivar' Good.
fitting closing piece. The audience
they wanted in Morehead's sprightly
lines. This comedy was chock-a-block
with bright and witty dialogue which |
kept the audience on its toes every
minute. Hazel Mclean. who portrays
the jealousies of the hypotenuse of n
IMAGINARY terna1 triangle involving
a chorus queen, her husband and her |
brother complications tumble over
one another as the play revolves about |
Rarbara'S hatred of one of the char
acters of her hubby's successful novel |
a blond lady. who seems too true to
life to originate in her husbands
Imagination.
One thing about the final piece
pleased the audience. The voices of |
the actors in "Barbara's RIVAL could |
be heard to al parts of the house
even above the rumble of passing L
freight trains. The ceaSlesS rattle of Il
rolling stock is annoying to the
spectators and discouraefng to the /
players. 1t is hoped that the Little
Theatre League will soon locate in
its own theatre nearer the center of
the city Morehead's play included:
Richard Winwood," Harry l.. Haw-
ley: Barbara. his wife" Hazel NC
Lean: Mrs Blair" Dorothy Smith