The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1936-03-03
Full House
Chuck|es at
clarence
Presentation to Continue
Every Day for Week by
WPA Actors.
BY JOHN w. THOMPSON

BY w. ItOlII OO4N
A surprisingly adept cast kept
packed house at Keith's chuckling
last night through the four acts Of
Booth Tarkington's comedy, "Clar-
ence," the first presentation of the
Federal Players, directed by Charles
Berkell.
The play, which is to be given
each night this week and Saturday
afternoon, is light, swiftly moving
tale about the Wheeler family af-
fairs. Most of the trouble is caused
by Clarence, q serious minded boy
whose personality attracts the
women of the household.
In the opening ceremony, DR.. Lee
r. Norvelle, state WPA theater pro-
ject director, introduced Mayor
Kern, Gov. McNutt and DR.. Garlic
ton B. McCulloch, who welcomed
the players on behalf of the city,
county and state, respectively.
In the play, Clarence, former
soldier, wanders into the Office of
business man, Mr.. Wheeler, in
search of job. Bespectacled and
wearing a drab, misshapen uniform,
the two younger members of the
Wheeler family, Bobbie and Cora,
who happen in, take pity on him
and talk their father into giving
him a job.
At the Wheeler home, Clarence
becomes a handy man. He also
becomes a confidant for Bobbie,
Cora and Violet Pinney, Cora's
tutor. They all have problems.
Bobbie has kissed the maid, Della,
and she is about to blackmail him.
A Widower, Hubert Stem, calls
on Cora, but her father is attempt
ing to stop him. Miss Pinney wants
to get away from the din of the
irksome household and Clarence
falls in love with her.
Mr.. Wheeler Gets Suspicious
AS bits of Clarence's past are I'M
covered, Mr.. Wheeler gets SUSPECT
Gus. He starts an investigation, but
it stops when Mr.. Stem returns
with a paper carrying a picture of
an army deserter whom he claims
is Clarence. Clarence denies it.
Della, the maid, falls for Clar-
ence after he appears in a new suit
playing a saXophone, as does the
flighty Cora. Even Mrs. Wheeler
seems to be under his spell.
But Clarence, in his peculiar way,
proposes to Miss Pinney, she &C
cepts, and they plan to run away.
With the others blocking the way,
he displays a letter, addressed to
Clarence Smith, an entymologiSt.
1t develops that ne is an authority
on beetles, and a high-salaried job
awaits him. He didn't return to it
after the war because his assistant
had taken his place. Clarence did
not want to endanger his friends
future by claiming his old job, but
the assistant is called to Washing
ton and he gets his position back
Clarence also gets Violet and
everybody is happy at the final
curtain, except Cora, Della and
Bobbie, who secretly loves Violet.
Cast Does Well With Play
Mr. Berkells cast has done we'll
with Mr. Tarkington's play. There
are rough spots, over-acting and
some clumsiness, but the comedy is
excellent. The settings are unusual
for this type of production.
Hal Hawkes. as Clarence is out
standing, and as the dull -witted
bug-man seems just as he should
be- Seldom does he waver from
professional portrayal of the role.
Ned lie Fevre also is fine as
Bobbie. He makes an excellent
juvenile and looks we'll on the
stage
Among the women in the cast,
Betty Anne Brown as Cora, stands
out. She is a bright and agile
actress, with fine stage presence
and clear voice. Her violent argu-
ments with Bobbie were high spots.
Alice Arnold Is Heroine
: Alice Arnold makes a gracious
heroine, as the more serious and
sensible of the cast. She keeps the
family from going completely hay
wire
Jack Duval does we'll as Mr..
Wheeler. Ruth Benefiel with
voice like Jean Arthur kept Della
on a dramatic keel Others in the
cast were Par! Rouse, Elsa Ewell,
Ricca Scott Titus assistant to Mr..
BerkelD and Gene Britain.
AS a whole Clarence" bespeaks
tribute to the work of more than
60 WPA workers who aided in its
production. Although not a pol
ished performance, the play is