New Britain herald., 1927-12-10
SCHOOL ThESPIANS
 EXCEL IN DRAMA
Polly With a Past Exceptionally
 We'll Done

Polly with a Past" one of the most difficult stage productions ever attempted by the Amphion club of the Senior High school. was present ed last night with technique and ability that marked the players as outstanding stars in school drama.
 The play was presented several years ago in Hartford by a stock company and was success Several roles call for unusually dt1icult act ing and when it can be said some of the players in last nights show equalled some of the professionals in their interpretation of the same parts, an idea may be had of the heights to which the school players rose.
 The plot revolves around the at- tempt of two pals to help their friend win the affections of the girl he loves. A maid in the household of the two suggests that someone be engaged to vamp the love-sick boy and thus make him the reformation subject of the girl whose chief in- terest in life seemed to lean toward the saving of her less fortunate fel- low beings. The play comes to a climax in the last act when the maid, who had been chosen to play the part of the vamp. and the victim of her advances actually falls in love with each other.
 The leading parts were we'll taken last night. Miss Aida Janshian as Polly shannon. minister's daughter, household maid and Partisan yam pire of international reputation, was great in her interpretation of the difficult part, in which she had to speak with French accent. She was before the footlights during the greater part of the play and despite the fact that she is comparatively new in the dramatic field. she scored heavily.
 Rex Van File. millionaire. whose only wish and desire was to win the love of Myrtle Davis, played by Mar iorie Young. Miss Davis is sophis- ticated and philanthropic and spurns the advances of Rex, played by Sten E'lygt. Miss Young played her part well. Her cool and indifferent man Ter toward Rex make up an inter esting part of the story. Flygt also made a hit with the audience.
 Rexs two loyal pals, Harry Rich ardson, enacted by Douglas Harvard whose smooth talk pulls the three pals out of difficult situations, and Clay Collum. played by John Black, who was always trying to help. but just didn't seem to be able to ac- complish anything, were on the stage for the greater part of the play.
 Then there was Prentice Van File, ReX's uncle, which part was played by Frederick Schmalz. He was an authority on women and 1t was he who would tell in a minute just what kind of a woman" the vampire was. He made his appearance dur ing the last act and was very good in his part.
 Others in the play. Mrs. Clemen- tine Davis. mother of Myrtle. (Eve- lyn sorrow): Mrs. Martha Van File, i Rex's mother (Mabel Benedict) '; Commodore Bob" Barker (Francis Traver); Stiles (William HaswelD a stranger (Theodore Stalk) and Parker, a maid. (Frances Campbell) were also excellent in their support of the leading characters.
 That the players knew their parts and not single break or delayed entrance was noticeable to the audi ence may be attributed to the worl of Mrs Amy C. Guilford. director oi the play. All embarrassing events which often accompany an amateur
 production were missing.
 The Senior High school orchestra again scored in its series of musica
 numbers before the show and be
 tween the acts. George B. Matthews
 director of the orchestra during 1t!
 many years of existence. again tool his accustomed place and the or
 chestra received much applause
 Albin Pikutis featured with a violil
 solo "Fantasie."
 William Haswell was stage mana
 ger. Miss Eleanor Hesse was chair
 man of the candy committee an
 Earl Scott was chief usher. The of1i cers of the club are Sten Flygt. pres ident: Elizabeth Corbly. secretar.
 and Douglas Harwood, treasurer.