New Britain herald., 1930-10-22

, ooiito SholSllil btHdlu CCSleS Jahltor ..,............... Cecil Ramage Thomas Perry ....... o. B. Clarence Clara Perry Gwen Day Burroughs cynthia Perry ........... Jessica Tandy Nahcy .................. Peggy Eccles Jerry Warrender ... Derrick de Marney Harry Graham ......... Robert Douglas Wilson ..................... Allan Wade
 (By Herald Reviewer)
 Can the dead return to earth to protect those they love from dan ger?
 This theme is Interestingly, if la boriously, discussed in new play, The Last Enemy" by Frank liar vey, which is being presented at Parsons theater, Hartford, where 1t had its premiere last evening with an all British cast. The subject mat ter. which has the merit of being different, is reverently touched upon and handled delicately. There are moments of exquisite beauty and pathos offset by a general morbid atmosphere which raises a question whether the drama will be accept able to American audiences.
 "The Last Enemy" is story pro- vocative of thought. You may be jolly well sure that it will prompt the analytic minded controversional~ ists to explode polysyllabic pros and cons at the tip of your eyelashes in the public prints.
 The period from 1896 to 1917 is covered in the plot. The play opens with two explorers dying in a tent at the height of a blizzard in the antarctic. In the next scene they are shown mounting to heaven and meeting an instructor who disillu- sions them concerning their earthly ideas on the life hereafter. They learn that they are able to return to the scenes of their prior existence to protect the living in whom they have a deep interest. The younger of the two, although he was never in love, does return to guard a young girl, whom he believes to be his af- fnity, from an attack by a drink crazed soldier home on leave. The
 
 last act to offer a drink of water to a young subaltern dying on the field of battle, recognizing him as his own son. In the telling of the story there are spots which cause confu- sion in the minds of those who sit and watch, points which the author has not made as lucid as desra ble, but on the whole the play has a fascination, a morbid fascination if you will, which sustains the sus- pense and makes you want to see it | through to the end.
 The cast is admirably suited to its tasks. George Merritt and Donald Eccles are natural in the roles of the explorers who have died and are back on earth again. Derrick de Marney provides a convincing DOT traiture of neurotic youth whose conception of things as they should be has been shattered by the war. | Delightful touches of humor, in ac- ton as well as in words. by o. B. | Clarence furnish the solitary relief to an OlnerWlSe SerlOuS tale. GWen Day Burroughs is likeable in the character of the aunt and Jessica Handy discharges her assignment as the girl acceptably. Robert Douglas shows to advantage as youth whose love is unrequited.
 As might be expected from a new play, "The Last Enemy is in need of polishing and revision. ut so ab- sorbing is it, that its weaknesses are almost overlooked during its presen- tation. It will be given again to- night at Parsons and, in view of all the claptrap that is being offered by authors in general under the guise of drama, is we'll worth d visit, just for the contrast