Putnam patriot., 1929-01-31
COLUMBIAN PLAYERS
 OFFER MYSTERY PLAY
Cast Ably Presents "In the Next
 Room" At Bradley Theatre
Meet Greater Demsnds of Quasi
 Tragedy Most AeeePtAbIy

climaxes and situations went the "Co- inmbian Players" ef the Knights of Columbus, Friday evening, at the Bradley Theater, for their third an- nual offering to the theatergoers of Putnam and surrounding towns. The chosen vehicle for this years offering made greater demands upon the anna teurs than anything they have hereto fore attempted. However. they sue ceeded in developing and exposing the mystery, ''In the Next Room" to the satisfaction of an audience that filled the floor of the theater and part of the balcony.
 The play produces couple of mys- terious murders and leaves the audience to speculate upon who is the guilty person until the final scene, the expose coming just as the curtain is rung down.
 The story unfolds as Philip Van tine. a collector of antiques. receives n cabinet purchased in Paris This is removed into the ''next room" where a mysterious person is waiting to see Mr Vantine When the room is en- tered the stranger is found on the floor dead. When Vantine later goes into the room he also falls dead. as he staggers back onto the stage, set as the Vantine sitting room.
 The Third Degree
 Everyone is put through a mild third decree by Inspector Grady. It develops that an international crimin- al is on the trail of the cabinet, for, in 1t he has hidden some information ally known diamonds of priceless value which he has stolen. In the se- cret compartment where the dia- monds are hidden has been arranged contraption that scratches any hand put into it and, at the same time, in oculates the scratches with some venomous and deadly poison
 Felix Armand, posing, first as a son of the man who sold the cabinet, then as Colonel Piggott, internationally known detective, is exposed as the arch criminal.
 Of course there is a thread of rom antic interest throughout the play as James Godfrey. newspaper report CT, woes and wins Lorna Webster, niece of Mir. Vantine.
 As Players Were Cast Parks. the butler. as portrayed by Michael White, was an outstanding bit of acting throughout the three acts ot the play. It might be said that Parks, to use the vernacular, stole some of the thunder from those having more prominent assignments Certainly he displayed commendable ability and brought this minor part te front stage time and again.
 Miss Sybil Gilman made a charm ing Lorna Webster and her scenes with James Godfrey, Joseph Bove, were well carried out. Hector Lueier a new eomer to the Columbian Play CTS. was most exeellently cast as Phil ip Vantine. Mir. Lucier's acting was easy and natural and he delivered his lines clearly and in good voice.
 Gordon Caffrcy, also new conner, had the part of Rogers. the footman, and assisted in several of the dramat- l ic climaxes. Inspector Grady was well handled by James Williamson. His | subordinates were William F.. Ryan, as Simmonds, detective, and Officer 1 Morel, Lawrence Light.
 John Hogan was east for the heavy as Felix Armand, alias Colonel Pig l gott. alias the international criminal. He was much in the spot light and ! handled the part in credible man ner. Miss Edmaer Guy was cast as Julia. maid of Madame de Charrier, Miss Gertrude Remillard, and her part added mystery to mystery.
 A Daring Undertaking
 The undertaking of a mystery play was daring one for amateur players. \ There is no production that will fall flatter than this sort of offering if bungled. The silence of the audience denoted that the plot was being put across in an interesting way and that it held the close attention of those out front. While there were few lines designed to produce an occasion al bit of humor for the most part the piece abounds in mystery and trag- edy. Possibly local theatergoers would prefer the light humor of past offer ings. That only they know. 1t was, however. worth while to see what the amateurs in the ensemble of the Coz Iumbian Players could do with the more pretentous serious drama. It may honestly be said that they hand led the serious business effectively and we'll
 Members of the play committee were, John NJ. Hogan, chairman; l.. Hector Lucier. secretary; Michael l.. White, James J. Charron, Bernard Me