The Waterbury Democrat., 1945-09-07

Inspector Michaud ......
 ............... Averell Harris
 Suzanne ....... Annette Sorell
 Few evenings in the theater have afforded as satisfactory and enjoy able entertainment as does the new est adaptation of Zola's "Therese Racquin" which opened at the Shu- bert last night with brilliant cast. Benefitting from tho inspired acting of Eva LeGallienne, Victor Jory, Dame Whitty and others together with the technical skill of Margaret Webste-, this thrilling study of men, tai suffering achieves success which indicates as cordial a reception on Broadway as that with which 1t met at the hands of last nights near capacity audience.
 The inevitability, stark cruelty of the mental retribution which mur- derer makes for his crime is not 8 new theme to be developed but rare- ly is it projected more convincingly and with such great force as author Zola and, subsequently,, playwright Job have done in the case of "Ther- ese." Here is the unfolding of TO- nance between badgered and tor mented wife and her artist lover who is her husbands friend. They finally adopt the obvious way of solving such a problem by disposing of friend husband Gas unattractive a goon as one meets in many a day. incidentally through the medium of an upset canoe and a gentle shove beneath the rivers surface of the non-amphibiouS spouse.
 "Ah, hal" they think, "now for our real happiness" But the haunt ing memories of their sin kill their romance and finally, tortured by the doting mother of the victim who becomes paralyzed when she acci- dentally learns of their crime, they come to hate each other and are eventually driven to confession. And then, in a loyalty to each other which permits neither to allow the other to accept full blame or single punishment for their joint crime, their love comes to it's full blossom and for the first time attains a quality previously lacking com- pletely.
 So fine is the line between drama and melodrama, between art and "corn" if you will, that such a story is safe only in thoroughly compe- tent hands. Miss LeGallienne and MT. Jory as the lovers have that skill. The ardor of their love is matched only by the later violence of their hate. They achieve seren- ity at one moment and utter mad ness in the very next. The reality of their performances transcends even the story itself and grips tenaciousIy the interest and ad- miration of those fortunate enough to witness it.
 To Dame May Whitty, beloved performer of stage and screen for many years, falls task which chal. Ienges all her ability but yields to 1t. For nearly an entire scene, she is allowed only an expressive pair of eyes and a paFaiytic inmobility to register her thoughts, That she succeeds is further tribute to . great actress.
 Miss Websters association with any play is coming to mean R VtFs tuaI guarantee Of its souHdness from 2 production point Of view. "TheFese" is no exception, VtHelys finished throughout, the production benefits greatly from various Blass teFly lighting effects which resolve themselves uHHOtieeably into most effective ends, The setting Is inter- estipg in that t provides R staiF' way downstairs ipstead 0f upstairs, as is the common ease,
 The principals in "TibeFese' enjoy R fame already secure 9D loHgsbnllt Feputatlons but Rll have gaTnlSbea t with RHotheF and new unqualified accomplishment @TheFesep IS sound theateT and gFaHa eHteFtaln1entI t ls due to bFlHg pleRsuFe t9 the' RteFTloYeFs for many monEhs te come, HMR