Hide Article Text (OCR)
★ it THE it * PLAYBILL* * *8IRRAT”—A dram* In thr*# act* by Wright Eiur Prod vicedand directed by the author for Lamar Y. McLeod Poet of the American Legion.* Little Theatre, Jan. 20 through Jan, 23.It Is mere happenstance that the play which has been the most re-vital experiment In the Little Theatre in recent years should bebuilt around the theme of physical revitalization. At any rate, it fives this critic a chance to point a moral and adorn a tale.When the Little Theatre had ita beginning in Mobile a decade or more ago. the experiment had vitality. Many of the plays went on In those .happy days by main strength and awkwardness, but they were alive. As the novelty wore off and the depression came, knocking subscribers and player* alike back on their heels, the movement went through the col-drums. 8tlll the Little Theatre carried on. Last, night it seemed that we might all rise and cheer for the Little 'Theatre had again hit its stride.Berrat” Is the best all-round piece put on. at least within recent years. It found a most enthusiastic response from the audience and Little Theatre audiences here are not always warm.“Berrat” has the merit of artistic cohesion. The play Is an original script, written by a young English playwright in Mobile. It was. directed and produced by him for the Lamar McLeod Post, American Legion. It has a cast, each member chosen for outstanding ability and well typed. And it has. let it be remembered, that very necessary thing for dramatic success, audience support. The local post of the American Legion is sponsoring the venture. As a matter of fact,, the Mobile presentation is the world premiere of the play, for ‘’Berrat”' goes to London in the fall to be produced there. It goes with the good wishes of Mobile playgoers, that the gplay will have a cordial reception when it reaches the metropolitan stage.The theme is a bold one. the obsession, of a fanatic scientist. Dr. Berrat, to bring the dead back to life. How he tries to do this, using the head of a guillotined criminal, and how he fails is told in well constructed dramatic sequence, The purpose of Playwright Esser was undoubtedly that of all writers of horror drama—to chili the blood- and he gets his effect with a verla-multltude too convincing for comfort.The title role Is played by Fred Armstrong in what appears to this reviewer as the best piece of work he has ever done. A charter member of Little Theatre and for seven years a player in the Kiwanis productions directed here by Lang, Mr, Armstrong works his way from the quiet beginning of the play to the frenzied climax with genuine ability.Mason Cogswell turns in a great performance. He has the actor’s intuition before the footlights and has besides the discipline of many professional audiences behind him. One is quite able to lose one’s self in his desperation, his macabre finish as the guillotined malpractltloner and illicit lover.A fine character foil is done finely by Paul Chaudron, Jr., the ardent, hero-worshiping young medical student, devotee of Dr. Berrat. It Is not an easy character to play and Mr. Chaudron sustains his role with a closely-woven interpretation.Alicg Petronovich musters the personal resilience necessary for her difficult part, that of Lisette. the cast-off sweetheart of Mer-cal. Her shadings of feeling and voice are tremendously satisfactory.There are several more to the company and they all play their roles with competence. Leo Stadther as the underbright servant of Dr. Berrat. seems to be a discovery as an actor, and the prediction Is that he will be heard from further. Ruth Knud-sen as the cool unfaithful wife of Berrat brings talent and trainingto fruition In this part. Bill Sadler as the cheery American doctor; Bob Goss as the Parisian police inspector, and James Campbell as the gendarme, all deserve words of high praise.The setting remains the same throughout the three acts, with varied lighting effects. It Is a duplicate of a Paris medical man’s laboratory in which the playwright spent many interesting hours and was built by Ed Marty and Ethel Beck.The timing of the piece Is gratifying. The curtain rises at 8:30 and the play is over by 10:30. The music, appropriate to the atmosphere of the piece, is by the Little Theatre orchestra, under direction of J. La Rue Early —F. D.
Newspaper Details
The Mobile Times
Mobile, Alabama, US
Thu, Jan 21, 1937
Page 3
Full Page
Clipped by
Newspaper A.
NA, NA 16 Sep 2023
Other Publications Near Mobile, Alabama
The Mobile News Item
The Mobile Item
Sunday News Item
Mobile Tribune
Mobile Register And Journal
