The Waterbury Democrat., 1932-10-27
0UIzzING CONGRESSIONAL CANDIDATES
.ERVINE'S COMEDY
 WELL RECEIVED
Little Theater Did We'll With ''The First Mrs
 Fraser" Last Night
GROUP OPENS 4TH YEAR

St John Ervine's "The First Mrs Fraser" was the choice of the Lit tie Theater of Waterbury for the opening production of their fourth season, at the Waterbury Women's club last night. The cast of eight composed some old favorites in the organization as well as new talent. A large audience witnessed the play last night and applauded the achievements of the players in the handling of their respective roles The comedy abounds in clever dia- logue, and while most of the im- portant situations are between Mrs Fraser (first), and MT Fraser, her divorced husband, still all of the other characters concerned have an importance in the evolving of the plot.
 The scene of action, or of dia- Fraser's fiat in Knightsbridge, and here is found Janet Fraser, first wife of James Fraser, her son, Nin- ian; and Philip Logan, Elsie Fras- CT, Murdo and Alice Fraser who drift in now and again. There was also Mabel, who answers the bell, brings in the flowers. the tea serv- ice and makes herself generally useful.
 St John Ervine used no half measures in the writing of his two chief characters; he went the whole hog" as they say in making James a thoroughly snug, con- ceited, selfish Scotsman and thor oughly unlikeable; and the first wife Janet, a thoroughly unselfish though human, nice and likeable person. He did his worst with James and his best with Janet, 6 balance which was perhaps bit tiresome although satisfactory in the working out of the plot.
 At the start of the play James Fraser comes whining back to Jan- ct when the second Mrs Fraser has interests apart from him and is about to divorce him as he had divorced Janet about five years pre- vious. He finds 1t bit thick to go through the procedure second time. Janet. foolishly, has never got over James and her sympathies are with him as against Elsie Fraser. The outcome is Janets victory, if it is a victory to get James back again, and the turning of the tables on Elsie who. 1t happens, is more divorced against than divorcing. Fortunately for the play, and her own selfrespect she keeps James dangling a bit and the curtain da- scends on triumphant Janet twirl- ing a string of pearls just sent in by an evidently remorseful former husband.
 Janet Fraser was played with taste, charm and conviction by Nora Fla uchald Morgan. heretofore known to the public as a singer. She proves herself very charming as an actress in "The First Mrs Fraser" She carries the longest role and does Janet exceptionally we'll. Charles Shons makes James quite as disagreeable as the author evidently intended him to be. Hs is thoroughly Scottish and a yer, overbearing fellow at best, which was, of course, as he should, be Elsie Fraser. played by Mrs Ro, Smith, brings into the piece all tho unpleasantness that only an un. scrupulous person of her type can Mrs Smith handled the part well A very fine and easy performance was given by Lewis Lauria, new. conner in the Little Theater, as Ninian Fraser, Janet's son. Ray mond Titterington as Philip Logan Harold Braman as Murdo Fraser and Anne T. Wood as Murdo's wife Alice, all added appreciably to the success of the piece. Mabel, played by Ruth Mitkowsky. was also ade. Quate. G.
 A musical program was present. ed before the performance and be. tween the acts by the Women's String Ensemble, directed by Mrs M. l.. Birt. Rev Moses Lowell ad. dressed the audience in a brief cur. tain speech asking for support o1 the Little Theater enterprise in Waterbury.
 The First Mrs Fraser" will be repeated tonight at the Women's cInh of O..