The Waterbury Democrat., 1939-03-30
tReviewed)


 Before . selected audience last night in the auditorium of the Wa terbury Women's club, well-chosen cast of the Civic theater gave a creditable performance of the often blatantly, if not raucously patriotic three-act play American Land- scape" by Elmer Rice. The audi eslce, comprised of clergymen, rab- bis, leading professional and busi- ness men, and representatives of veterans organizations, were invited to comment upon and criticize the preview of the production scheduled to be presented to the public tonight and tomorrow night.
 Nazi Camp Site
 This drama, which certainly can- not be condemned on the score of the ethical, American principles de- veloped in the three acts, deals in part with the proposed sale. of a large piece of property to a Nazi Bund for a camp site, and also with the reaction of the spirit of rug ged, conservative individualism to organized labor. Stuart Wayne, as Capt. Frank Dale, 75-year old owner of the large piece of property and of the towns shoe factory, gives an excellent interpretation of this character, whose inherited ideals of democracy are threatened. The play revolves around the decision which this elderly person has to make, in effect whether he will sell his ven- erable, colonial house, to the Nazi Bund, and his factory, whose profits have been negligible, to large shoe concern. His decision will affect the whole community of Dalesford, Conn.
 Locale
 The action of all three acts takes place in the living room of the Dale house. (Praise must be given here to the production staff for the ex- ceptionally fine set.)t In this hal- lowed room the ideals of American democracy are depicted by living members of the Dale family and by ar assorted number of ancestors who appear from the past to try to help Capt. Frank Dale make his decision in favor of keeping both land and factory. Out of the past are also resuscitated Harriet Beecher Stowe and Moll Flanders. One is rather puzzled as to the reason for Moll Flanders appearance, attrib- uting 1t at first to Elmer Rice wig waggery. A sub-plot, however, deals with the possible arrangement of Gerald Spinner, script-writer hus. band of Frances Dale Spinner, a granddaughter of Capt. Frank Dale. Skinner, it seems, is about to fall in love with Hollywood actress. and moll Flanders warns him of the Wiles and deceits of question able women. The part is ably ren- dered by Miriam Hurlburt, whose handling of the Elmer Rice version of Defoe's English is skillful in- deed.
 Romance is also supplied by Con- stance Dale, another granddaugh- ter, and Joe Kutno, the factory fore man, both of whom have real interest in the future of the town.
 We'll Performed On the whole, the cast performed nobly in g. very difficult play. The reiteration of the word, American ism," and the somewhat inflated aphorisms of democracy begin to tire towards to middle of the sec- ord act. One wishes that Elmer Rice had devoted more to the trib- ulations of capital and labor, which, In view of the romance between Constance Dale and Joe Kutno. might have become a more human situa- ton. The threat of Nazi Bund seems rather extraneous and some- what ridiculous.
 Personnel of Cast
 The complete cast is as follows: Captain Anthony Dale. ..........
 ................ Bernard Berman Betty Kutno .......... Eileen Pyle Frances Dale Spinner ..........
 ................... Edith Johnson Gerald Spinner ..... Frank Phelan Carlotta Dale ....... Grace McNiff William Fiske ......... Roy Flynn Captain Frank Dale ............
 Thomas Hogarth Constance Dale Lucille Di Mudugno M xl~~ AIs Is,%1x