The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1936-05-05
Satire Puts
Beauty Into
Asylum Life
Behold This Dreamer Is
Given at Keith's in
Weeks Run.
BY RALPH NORMAN

Provincialism took a rap" in the
Federal Players presentation of Be
hold This Dreamer" which opened
last night at Keiths, but the
authors, Fulton Oursler and Aubrey
Kennedy, failed to convince this
reviewer that it is more cheerful be-
hind asylum bars looking out than
outside looking in.
The clever writing team, however,
did surround the leading figure of
their satirical comedy, Charley
Turner, part excellently played by
Ned LeFevre, with enough ugliness,
both mental and physical, to make
the peaceful and attractive institu-
ton into which he was Unanswered
a haven OF happiness for the trou-
bled would-be artist.
The authors and Betty Ann
Brown combined talents to make the
life of Charley unbearable, and while
not wholly sympathetic with his
laztneSs, his artistic temperament"
and his devilishneSs, I, like Charley,
enjoyed the quietness of the asylum
alter a stormy first act when Miss
Brown played the highly emotional
role Of Mrs. Turner with vigor and
intensity. After the first few lines,
ones sympathies we're more and
more for the harassed husband.
Plot Against Him
Through connivance Of Mrs. Tur-
ner and her father, John St-ickler
(Jack DuvaD, whose patience with
his son-in-law was exhausted after
Charley not only insulted his brush
business, but suggested a divorce
from his daughter, Charley was
placed in private institution
The beautiful drawing room of
the institution contrasted as sharp
ly with the drab ugliness of the
Turner home as did the ephemeral
beauty OF Melody an inmate, con-
trast with the tempestuous fury of
Mrs Turner. Melody (Berniece
Wood and three fellow-inmates, DR..
Ephraim Tanneyday Ora B. Klein
Harold Blessings paul Rouse and
D. D. D. (Hal Hawkes. accepted
Charley into the Inner circle" pre-
tended to discover real artistic abil-
ity, helped him to produce a paint
ing that set a new vogue in art
istry, won for Charley prizes and
honors.
Against the advice of Melody and
the three friends, Charley was per-
suaded by Mr.. Stricken to return
to his home and wife. The latter's
interests in an insurance salesman,
Mr.. Harris Gene Britain, did not
prevent her from enjoying her hus-
bands fame.
When Charley found her in her
suitor's arms he had the excuse he
needed to desert her and return to
his friends at the asylum, and to
Melody, his inspiration for a paint
ing he left unfinished after his first
success.
Happy in Asylum
The last scene found all happily
reunited around the asylum piano
for joyous round of songs before
dinner.
Charley again was happy, and
Melody, victim of melancholia,
ceased to cry, even though it was
raining, and she always cried when
1t rained. With barred windows to
shut out worldly insanities, the
happy group again was ready to
take up Charleys painting.
Behold This Dreamer" was on
the whole we'll cast and we'll acted,
and deserved a larger audience
than at the opening performance.
The trio of male asylum inmates
cleverly were amusing. and minor
roles we're we'll handled by William
Schneider. Alice Arnold, Ruth
Beneflel and William Wright.
The offering is to stay at Keith's
all week. In rehearsal for presen-
tation next week is THE Life of
Mary Dugan."