New Britain herald., 1930-11-28
Theater Review


 LEE sHUBERT
 presents
 FLORENCE REED
 PURITY"
 by Rene Wachthausen
 Adapted rom the French by
 Ralph Roeder
 Settings by Rolo Wayne
 Directed by Stanley Logan
 Cast of Characters) A Laoy .''...'.''....,... Loretto Shea A. Marcel ........,... James Moore 1ouhs Man .......... Walter Fenner faFk Guard .......... Frank Horton Jeanne .......t...... Marcella Swanson Vietoife ................. Florence Reed A Littte Girl ....... Frances TannehilI First Working Girl -. Mure Robinson Second Working Girl .. Peggy Conklin A Walking Advertisement .......
 ''................ Edward NJ. Favor ienfl ''.'................ Richard Bird M. Leon '...,......... Malcolm William Madame Micliaud ......... Maude Oden GostaNe ................ Jan I.inderman AieAl ittte PeaTi l,amOy
 (By Herald Revlewer)
 NJ. Leon, a character in Purity" indulges a hobby of feeding birds in a public park. Nictoire comments on his practice, remarking that ali the birds love him. After a mo- ment of reflection he replies sadly, They don't love me, they love my bread,' His soliloquy is prophetic of what transpires as the play pro- gresses.
 Purity had it's premiere We'd nesday evening at Parsons theater in Hartford. It is a new drama with Florence Reed chosen to in- terpret the central theme in drab, flint-hard tragedy based on the lives of small group of Parisians of the working class. Whether Miss Reeds portrayal-and it is a powerful, alive picture she makes-can popularize the play is doubtful. To a small class which likes vital realism even in its most depressing aspects, 1t will be hailed as something not to be missed. But to the majority of playgoers, who prefer colored sugar sticks to vinegar. it will have little appeal.
 Nictoire is a Lonesome charwom- an Of about 40 before whose eyes the rainbow of romance has never shone. AS q child of $, she came to Paris from the country, at 16 she became the mother of a child whose father was the brutal master of the house in which she was em- ployed as a servant and at 40 she exists by drudgery with no illusions about life, a continent woman in an atmosphere of indulgence. AS she sits in a park mending, she shares her bench with Henri, hungry employment. She gives him the sandwich she had been saving for her supper. Learning that he is without shelter, she arranges to pro- vide him with a room and later shares her own humble quarters with him. As their friendship rip ems. her maternal interest becomes a burning love despite her efforts to suppress it. but she discovers that he is having an affair with an empty headed little chit in the ncighbor- hood. Then she becomes the Wom- an scorned and bitter and upbraids him, but he fails to realize that she actually loves him. In the end, as she is about to throw herself into the Seine, NJ. Leon points out the nobility of the sacrifice to be made by continuing to live and hover over Henri as his own mother would have done.
 There is scarcely any action in the play, which depends almost en- tirely on the psychological spell which it weaves over the audience. As through a gray gauge bandage, you watch the pitiful love tragedy with it's motif of utter futility, it's abyssmal hopelessness. it's suffering. Miss Reed times the development of her character with nice regard for it's slowly increasing intenseness. In the few emotional scenes allow ed her in the story she acts with convincing poignancy.
 Mir. Bird has a disagreeable task in the role of the selfish youth and does it well.
 Mir, Williams interpretation of the kindly, philosophic M. Leon is one of the most remarkable instances ot fine dramatic work seen thus far during the theater season.
 Purity will move away from Hartford, hoping for the best, but rot too enthusiastically. after being presented again tonight tomorrow Q ftnrnnnr and tam nrrnW night