The Waterbury Democrat., 1933-05-23
$20 ,000 ASKED IN TWO CIVIL SUITS
CROWDED HOUSE FOR GUILD ACTORS
William Faversham Was Guest Artist in "Her
 Friend the King"
BIG OVATION FOR ACTOR
(Reviewed)

Many in the audience present last night at the performance of "Her Friend the King" no doubt recalled December of 1887 when William Faversham, celebrated &C., tor, appeared in this city with Minnie Maddern, later Mrs Fiske. Last night MT Faversham was the guest star with the New York Players guild, a group of actors whose aim it is to bring back the legitimate drama to the smaller cities. The guest star received a splendid ovation last night and as testimony of the esteem in which he is held and likewise as tes- tirnony of the interest Waterbury appears to show in this new ven- ture, the Women's club auditorium was filled to capacity. On entering the foyer the line from the door to the box office recalled other sight in those days of cultural apathy and what not.
 At the close of the performance when MT Faversham recalled that time moves on apace and that he played Waterbury 45 years ago and your old theater programs stored in the attic will reassure you on this fact-he made a plea for a return of decent legitimate the- ater, and asked the patronage of the Waterbury public in the new venture of the New York Players guild. One of the guild represen- tatives also spoke few words and said that the demand for seats was so great for last nights perform ance that the play would be re- peated here next Monday night.
 "Her Friend the King" is slight and amusing comedy by A. E.. Thomas. There is the romantic background of a small European kingdom gone to seed, it's king. Georges, played by MT Faversham, down but not out. There is the conventional small kingdom plot; the planned bethrothal of the kings daughter to Prince Otto; the sudden appearance on the scene of a charming rich American widow, Mrs Hastings Peggy Coudray), who shows the Princess Lydia (Lucia Laska), incognito, a good time; the following up of Prince Otto (Thomas Rutherford), also incognito; 8 bit of monarchical in- trigue; and of course a satisfying and happy end. It is no extraordin- ary play but makes pleasing enter tainment, many pertinent lines with a certain mild satire some- times apparent.
 MT Faversham was smooth and finished. He was tn eking to per- lection, a king little too amused by his predicament to be tragic. MT Faversham pleasantly recalled the old school of actors who make the most of every word and phrase. with none of the modern trend of swallowing words. His voice is still the voice of "The Squaw Man., "The Hawk, '"The Prince and the Pauper' and many more remote productions. The guild players of fered very satisfactory perform ances last night also. Peggy Coud- ray and Lucia Laska, as we'll as Ve1ma Royton as Miss Bridgerton, giving good accounts of themselves. Thomas Rutherford made an agree able Prince Otto, and Guy Mer- Till Palmerton, Frank Rothe, Frank Howard and William Myron, were adequate in minor roles.
 A Swiss chateau on Lake Como and Mrs Hastings apartment at Delice-les-Bains formed the settings. The production was staged by Mall com Beggs, assisted by Guy Mer- Till Palmerton and Robert R. Squires, the managing director.