Excellent Production by Shanghai's Amateur Players'at the-Carlton on Best Peoria"
'A Comedy in Three Acts. by David Gray and "Avery Hopwood Lord. Hockmere George Gratton Leo, a waiter "220.
Aer Lenox in New York City. Late after Living-room tp the: home of Bronson
oon in" Ostaber. hor 1 tua Palace of "DPeame Scene 1),_ A private
(scene')"" Anothet pei ream Biene 8). Same ax Scene.
Aci Same an Act T—next morning, Tt is getting to be almost an axiom now, that when the American Players produce a show" it is a good ore, On Thursday night's presenta tion of "The Best People" was no exception to the rule, a fact to which 4 full house testified with rounds of applause. Good, not only because the play itself ig so satisfactory, but because the cast is so even, and they did their work so well. Indeed on this score it would be difficult to give any particular artist pride of Place, and on the score of convenience it would probably be best to take them as they came on the stage.
That brings us first to Mrs, Gardner Crane, producer, as well as} delineator of the part of Mrs. Bron-gon Lenox, a hyper-cultured woman of family'and society, the woman who flies off into hystetice on every. conceivable occasion, especially when her sense of what she does not know snobbery is outraged. It was these things Mrs. Gardner Grane read 30 effectively into the part, sometimes to suth an extent that one felt sorry. for such a person as Mrs. Bronson. Lenox, even though her antics aroused such laught Mex. Hykes as hey husband was a fitting opposite, a lawyer, easentially a man of affairs, and suffering from no "high falutin'" nonsense when it came down to making the more serious decisions which the plot eventually called for. His sketch of the character was convineing throughout. Mrs, Terry, as Mariort, the daughter, gave what one must suppose, in the absorce of more intimate knowledge of the species to be a typical young girl spoiled by money and parental indulgence. Bent on having her own way she eventually gets it, even wie she meets someone better than herself, all of which she portrayed with most pleasing skill.
Mr. Winter as Lord Rockmere gave a typical American characterization of the English dude,. He did it well throughout and deserves great praise for what was really an excellent piece of work. Mr, Walters, as Henry Mongan, chauffeur, and to Quote Lord Rockmero, animal trainer, was effective it the strong man réle—the servant with whom, the spoiled girl falls in love, tal earn that she has sometimes to consider other people than herself. It] was a convincing piece of work thoroughly well carried out.
Mrs, Clapp is an old favourite and as Miss Tate, the typist aunt of Alice O'Neill showed all the necessary determination demanded of her and in the end provided her own exquisite touch of comedy.
As George Grafton, brother: of Mrs, Bronson Lenox, another mem: ber of the effete aristocracy, Mr. Gardner Crane we think surpassed self, "He carried out his character sketch with absolute consistency and gave as' polished piece of work as did his wife. If Mr. Burrell as Bertie: Lenox wat not so convincing. at times, it was Deeatise of the inherent weakness written into the role by the author. It was not a pleasing part to pro-tray, and that he acquitted himself s0 well is a remarkable testimony to his ability. When we come, howeverjté the Milly Montgomerg of 'Mrs, Burdin' it is almost impossible to give her adequate
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.