New Britain herald., 1930-01-21
Theater Review

STRANGE INTERLUDE"
 A Play u Nine Acts
 Bv EUGENE O'NEILL
 The Production Directed by Philip Noel
 ler-AssociAte Director,,sTom Powers
 Settings by Jo Mielziner
 (Cast of CharactersI
 Charles Marsden .....,.... George Gaul Professor Leeds ........ Brandon Evans Nina Leeds ..,..,..,. Elisabeth Rtsdon sam Evans ............ Blaine CoTdner Edmund Darrell ..,..... Frank Conroy Nlrs. Amos Evans ........ Maud Durand Gordon Evans as boy .. Lester Shcehy Madeline Arnold ........ Mar iIolsman Gordon Evans, as man James Todd
 tBy Herald Eeyiewer)
 Hartford and. 1t seemed, a large part Of New Britain crowded into ParSons's thcater last evening to attend Eugene O'Ncil's strange play Strange lntorlude," The at tendance was the largest in several seasons. IL would have been larger if the accommodations at the thea ter were on q srander scale. AS il was. every scat was occupied and this situation is expected 10 be dupr- catod during the rest of the week.
 strange Intermde" is a novelty in nine acts. The curtain goes up a, 5:&o in the afternoon and the first part Of the play is ended at 1850 o'clock. Ater an interval Of an hour and ten minutes, it is resumed and runs until II o'clock.
 The length of the drama is eX- plained because of it's construction, employing the aside in which the characters express the thoughts which arc flashing through their minds as well as giving voice 10 the lines found in the conventional play This construction antedatcs the modern thcater ty many centuries, having been introduced and used regularly by the ancient Greeks who gave drama to the world.
 The plot encompasses the adult life Of Nina Leeds. She lives with her father. q college professor Uho broWscs among his lares and pcnatcs which fill the shelves of his library, Denied the greatest passion Of her young womauhood-hcr sweetheart, Gordon Shaw, has been shot down in flames while flying over the west crn front in the World War-She be- , comes cmbittcrcd at life and throws away a year by becoming the play thing of former soldiers confined 10 a hospital in Europe. Returning home at her fathers death, she marrics Sam Evans for the sole pur- pose of having a baby on whom she can concentrate her love. Before her baby is born she learns from Sam'e mother that there is insanity in the family, and the child never sees the light. But she must have a baby ! one who will bc sound in mind and ! limb. and she selects Ned Darrell as 1 its father. Darrell learns to love her and his love continues until both ! have reached the years of maturity i He goes away 10 Europe to study al i Vienna clinic and 10 Antigua l where he has established a labora- | tory for research in biology. but al. ways he returns and bitterly watches | | her husband. whom she does not love. and secs their child grow into mans estate claimed as the son oi , another father. The foregoing iF i merely q brief dscription of a story that is worked out fascinatinely tt the end by the genius of O'Neill. Miss Risdon plays the role of tn morbid Nina Leeds which calls fo all the skill and emotional finess' at her command. She gives a vita and striking interpretation Of character that has no Countcrpar on the stage. Her labors are cX. hausting but she maintains the hisf pitch Of her part to the very end. or the male characters, the mos difficult is taken by George Gaul who plays Charles Marsden. a timid introspectivc autGor Of snpcrfcia novels. afraid of the world and for ever tied to the apron strings of the women of his family. Mr. Gauf: talents are given free play in many moods and his work is well rounded and finished. His soliloquies, during which the play hangs in the balance are especially ably done,
 Blaine Cordner, who is the San Evans of the drama, was recognlzet by many in the audience as for mcr New Britain resident. His as sisnment calls for the sole approacl to levity and naturalness and he dis charged his responsibilities With dis
 tinCtion.
 Frank Conroy made his first ap
 nearanco with the cast &s Edmun' Darrell. Considering this fact, hi
 character. calling for the suppres |, sion of d-ep emotions, Was exceed ! iuCly well handled.
 Brandon Evans was conrincin during the brief period ho was oI the stage as Professor Iccdse