The Wilmington morning star. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1909-1990, 1945-01-31
Little Theatre
Stars To Appear
In Coming Show

Acclaimed stars of previous
ITALIAN Association productions
will be almost the rule rather than
the exc ept on when Cradle
Snatchers'', the three-act farce
comedy by Russell G. Medcraft
and Norma Mitchell, takes over
Wilmington's entertainment spot
light in ITALIAN Hall on the nights
of February and 9.
To nine members of the cast
of Cradle Snatchers'' the Thali-
an Hall footlights will be no novel
ty, each having been in one or
more previous Thalian presenta-
tons.
Elizabeth Williams, Emma Bel
lamy Williamson, and Lucy Nash,
who play the respective roles of
Susan, Ethel, and Kitty, the three
suspicious wives, are all favorites
of long standing with Wilmington
theater-goers, and are three rea-
sons why Cradle "Snatchers"
promises to take its place among
the most hilarious comedies ever
given by the ITALIAN Association.
Although she has been featured
in several previous plays, Eliza
beth Williams will be best remem-
bered as Mrs. Yoder in Papa Is
ALP, presented in the spring of
last year. Emma Bellamy William
son, who is a member of the board
of directors of the ITALIAN Asso-
citation, not only has given out
standing performances in such To-
cal hits as Stage Door,, "You
and r, and First Lady,, but al
so appeared in THE Dragon in
the Lennox Little Theatre while at
tending school in New York.
Lucy Nash has been active in
the ITALIAN Association both on the
stage and in technical work. She
has been assistant director of num-
erous previous plays, and had
roles in both stage Door" and
Another Language.
Dick Cassidy, who will be seen
in Cradle Snatchers" as Roy, one
of the rowing husbands, played the
part of Ned, the good-for-nothing
son, in Holiday, presented last
fall. In addition, he has had fur
Their experience in little theatre
plays in Newport News, Va.
Guerard Simkins, who is cast as
Howard, another OF the husbands,
will be making his second appear
ance on the ITALIAN Hall stage.
His debut was made in Accent
on Youth, presented in the fall
of 1913.
Jimmy Burns, as Oscar, one of
the three young collegians, per-
formed before local audiences in
Papa Is ALP last year. Kathryn
Snow, who will be playing the role
of Elinor, one of the glamour girls,
was in "Claudia", has served as
assistant to the director in several
plays, and had the lead in Spring
Fever" at the New Hanover Coun-
ty High school.
Lester Preston, the butler in
Grade Snatchers", is veteran
worker in the ITALIAN Association,
having done technical work on
numerous productions. He will al
so be remembered as the doctor
in Cradle Song. Elizabeth Hard
wicke, cast as Anne, the little in
genue, was active in the ITALIAN
Association prior to going to Hol-
ms college.
Margaret Darst Smith will be
making her debut as a director for
the ITALIAN Association in Cradle
Snatchers" and if previous exper-
fence in other phases of the anna
teur theatre is any criterion, her
directing will meet with success.
In addition to her work with the
ITALIAN Association, of VIII c h
group she is technical director and
a member of the board of direc-
tors, Mrs. Smith has had consid-
cradle experience both technical
and as an actress with the Raj
eigh Little Theatre, Raleigh, and
at the University Of Georgia, Ath-
ems, Ca, where she attended
school.