The Waterbury Democrat., 1931-04-24
GOOD ACTING IN
 @CRAIC'S WIFE,
Little Theater Performance of Three Act Drama
 Capably Presented
ANN GILYARD IN LEAD

AcU6 6C AAShy tHIee dGI uEdfIds "Craig's Wife" was presented by the Little Theater of this city last night at Jacques. A well chosen cast ham, died the difficult piece in manner and director. It is a fairly long play of no important plot. The &C., tion covers an evening and part of the following morning, and what the author imparts to the spectator may be summed up in his explan-. atory quotation printed on the pro- gram,-"People who live to them selves are generally left to them selves" And that is the predic- ament or situation in which Mrs Craig finds herself at the end of this play; play that is more or less an exasperating 6ne with a weaving in and out of endless discussion, Mrs Craig the dominating force.
 "Craigs Wife"t Is a one character play. That is to say, its principal character. Mrs Craig, predominates, not pleasantly but ruthlessly. And this does not mean that there are no other well drawn characters in the play. On the contrary all of the other ten are important in the elucidation of that particular type of woman whose selfishness and ut- ter disregard of everyone even her husband finally spell her own un- doing. Ann Gilyard gave the char acter of Mrs Craig clever interpre- tation. Sc seemed not to miss any of the characteristics of the type of woman intended by the author. She made her Mrs Craig most agree able on the surface when it pleased her to be so, but underneath a cold and unsympathetic woman who ran her home with high hand, putting her home above her husband, but in the end because of the ruthlessness of her methods and her utter dis regard of her husband, finds herself alone, and without her husband, a, thing so surprising that one is shown bewildered and despairing woman at the final curtain. Mrs Gilyard did extraordinary well with the long and difficult role.
 Rowland Shepardson as the sub merged husband gave a good per- formance. From an unimportant and groping individual in his own house he suddenly emerges and as- serts his manhood in a hysterical scene that climaxes in his smashing one of Mrs Craig's cherished orna- ments. From then on MT Craig is his own man. A truly clever per- formance was that of Barbara Web- Der as the Cockney Mrs Harold, housekeeper in the Craig home. Her speech, actions and facial ex- pressions left nothing to be desired in one of the finest performances of the evening. She furnished the amusing situations in an otherwise most unamusing play. With her was the maid Mazie, played by Margaret deLancey. who performed her small role nicely.
 Miss Austin was very we'll played by Eleanor Johnquest. "Aunty' Austin is more or less the narrator of the piece in that she, in no gen. tie or polite words, unfolds the true character of Mrs Craig to her hus- band. As an exasperated relative of MT Craig and an honest one she serves her purpose and while she convinces the one the other is in nowise affected by her denuncia- tions. Mrs Sam Lincoln played the innocent neighbor, Mrs Frazier. in a satisfactory manner.
 Dorothy Mclaughlin was very charming in the small role of Ethel Landreth, who also is made to feel the insinuating influence or Mrs Craig. Miss McLaughlin's perform ance was finished as it was in a pre- vious performance last season in The Plays the Thing John F. Lati- mer jumped into the his role of Eu- gene Fredericks on very short notice taking the place of Eben Webster who was unable to appear. James Moran as Catelle in his small part gave promise of something worth while in larger part. Leroy Gibbs as Billy Birkmere and J. Warren l Upson as Harry were also among those who capably assisted in the
 running off of pretty good show. The action of the play was in the living room of the Craig home be- | tween five-thirty on summer eve ming and the following morning.
 The construction and painting com mittees have managed a good look | ing living room. The music between | the acts was by the Little Theater l Ensemble. The entire performance was directed by Miss Helen Schoeni.
 The play will be repeated tonight at S:30 o'clock.-M. M.