New Britain herald., 1930-07-08
DRAMATIC SEASON OPENS IN BRISTOL
TrelaWny of the Wells" Pre-
 lted-Daniel Frohman Speaks
Especial to the Herald)

Bristol, July s-Presenting Ire lawny of the Wells" as the first play In its eight weeks program, the Manhattan Repertory Theater Col ony opened it's season last evening At the Community theater. The event attracted many leaders of so- Iclety in this and surrounding citi;es and not few public executives were
 noticed in the audience.
 Of striking appeal was the ap- pearance of Daniel Frohman, who ranks with the deans of New York producers and who brought Ire IlaWny" to this country more than 30 years ago. MT. Frohmaa spoke at length on the history of the stage and complimented Walter Hartwis, director of the colony, on his pluak as torch bearer in furthering the Interest of the spoken drama. While the curtain was lowered after the first act Mir. Hartwig ap- peared before the footlights and ex- plained his purpose in organizing and maintaining the colony. He stated that he had intense faith m the drama and the realization that F. it is to live it must be peopled with skilled actors and actresses, prompted him to form the colony several years ago. The organization trains people for all departments of the stage and it's faculty is composed Of talented men and women whose ability to teach others the secrets of Dramatic art has been firmly estab- lished. The acting company is a separate unit maintained so that the students in the colony school may have the advantage of observing at first hand the technique of actors and actresses who have risen to commanding positions in the theater. MT. Hartwig expressed the hope that persons living in this area would thow their appreciation of the pres entation of standard dramas brought to their doors and interpreted by Sast whose competence has been proved in the sharply competitive l field in New York city.
 MT. Frohman's talk was in the na- lure of "reminiscences and proved q delight to his listeners. He encouras- ed MT. Hartwig to continue to bear pn high the standard. He remarked that if MT. Hartwig had financial gain solely in mind, he could have found a far richer field for the sum- mer in New York, where his talents gre fully recognized.
 What the theater needs, MT. Froh- man said, is not managers or pro- ducers, but playwrights. To empha- size his point, he called attention to the fact that plays which haze l trharacter are those which live, and In this respect referred to the works or Arthur Wing Pinero, author of "Trelawny," and Sir James Matthew Barries, whose Peter Pan" and other dramas were produced in the United States by the speakers brother. the late Charles Frohman, who lost his life when the Titanic" toundered. Dwelling on the differ erce between audiences of a genera ton ago and of today, Mir. Frohman referred to the gasps of the nation hen he produced The Second s. Tanqueray," which dealt light with a subject for which the pub mind was not prepared but which was an immediate and prolonged success.
 Mir Frohman told several anec- N dotes in connection with his long service to the stage and described humorous incidents in the business relations of Charles Frohman and James M. Barrie.
 "Trelawny of the Wells" offers full scope for the dramatic talents bi the acting company which NJ. | Hartwig has assembled. It is a story os English stage life in the sos. Miss Louise Prussing, in the role of IRose Trelawny interpreted her part with charm and sympathetic under ktanding. Fuller Mellish, as the jrascible and domineering Sir Will ham Gower-of the Cavendish square Gowers-breathed life into his character and revealed powers of dramatic skill which will not soon be forgotten. The lovable Kate Mayhew, whose age is 76, played Mrs. Mossup in a sprightly and con-, vlncing manner, for which it would be difficult to find a parallel. Hugh Miller, May Edss, William Pod more. George Hare and R. >Halford Forster had prominent roles. Others h the cast were Carl Benton Reid, Octayia Kenmore, Ernita Lascelles, Abton Bundsman, Florence Wl- liams, Daisy Atherton. Carl Beitel
 Smith. John Waldron, Elizabeth Towne, John Kirkpatrick and Lydia i Bernard.
 "Trelawny' will be repeated eve nings this week. The play selected 1 for next week is Dear Brutus,' l Barrie masterpiece.