November 14, 1984
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DT J. H. %R I III L I
(iroup ('ominK Here is One of Most Famous of Its Kind in America
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Detitlin^ that drama should feature its second
offering in the current lyoeum course, the Hryan-C'ol*
leKe Entertainment S«»ries will present the Hedgerow
IMayers, enacting A. A. Milne’s British comedy. “The
Romantic Age,” in the Assembly Hall, Tuesday, No-
vemlaer 20th.
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Professionally acclaimetl the most active theatre
group in America, and ranktMl only by the Prague Play
ers in world renown, the Hedgerow group is on its
first trans-continental tour since their‘initial produc
tion in Ro e Valley, Pennsylvania, twelve years ago.
During this ? eriod in which only the most representa
tive works of contemporary and classical play writes
have been \ resented, this organization has written an
impiring chi pter in theatrical history—one that has
perfection characterizing every production. Now, any
presentation at the Hedgerow Playhouse in surburban
Philadelphia is of significant importance, and Eastern
critics and first-nighters forsake Broadway to attend. .
Such famed actors as Ann Harding. Morris'Cfu*-
novsky and Eva VKJalleinne have appeared on the
Hedgerow roster, which,\at present numl>ers more
than six hundred, but nojie have ever l>een featured
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or given preference. A cast sheet in the foyer is the
only credit asked by the players. Thi$ perhaps is the
cardinal characteristic of the group, and undoubtedly
accounts for its ’remarkable success. The perfection
and ease of performance of any of its large repertory
of one hundred and eight plays can Ini credited to the-
common desire gf the cast to give its united liest in*
maintaining all the artistie Ideality of the classics and
interpreting most effectively the modern forms of
theatre entertainment.
Income an outatanding development in the evolution
of the American legitimate stage.
In 1928 Jasi>er Deeter, eminent director and actor,
lavamc dissatiafie<i with the commercial theatre. It
was his l»elief and firm conviction that the rapidly in-
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creasing commercial interests in theatrical productions
were stifling the artistic and dramatic abilities of ac
tors. He foresaw the death of true drama at the hands
of those who were interested in plays only tiecause of
1m>x office receipts; he visualized future years in which ■<
all acto-s would become mere robots reciting lines and
so distur l>ed. he made a distinct innovation in theatri-
cal circles. Deeter organized a theatre that was built:
Jasper Deeter has selected four plays from the
active lisl for his present mid-western tmir. Fifteen
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of Htxigerow’s most experienced troupers; headed by
Deeter and including such famous aiftors as Miriam
Philips. Francis Torchiana, Ford Nofef and CVitherine
Reiser are playing Milne, Glaspell, O’Nieill and Ervine.*
Milne, which the group wiill interpret here, is one of
England’s most popular modern writers,, ranking
with Sir James Barrie and Lewis (Patrol. Author of
such successes as “The Dover Road’i, ‘iMr. Pirn Passes
By,” and “Michael and Mary,” he is known as a writer
w^o portrays the contemporary scene with all the
humor, tolerance, and effectiveness of a civilized Brit
isher.
“by actors for actors and managed solely by actors."
No financial backing was solicited; no ballyhoo public
ity was made. Every method was employed whereby
the meml>ers of his casts would Ik* free frorrbthe com
pulsions of commercial contracts and routines. The ac
tors in his theatre would Ik* able to offer unreservedly
those dramas which all America should know and re
member—in the manners they thought most effective.
The success of Deeter’s theatre is well known.
From the inauspicious setting of a rented barn and !>or-
roweii church pews, for an audience that failed to ma
terialize at his first production, it has achieved^that
far beyond the ordinary.
Deeter has steadily demanded that strict attention
be given his performances, on account of the effortless
“The Romantic Age" is considered one of the most
delightful of Milne’s coitie<Ues. Depicting a search for
ami discovery of romance I in the twentieth century,
this light British play was a great stag< hit in Dondon,
and has Ikhmi presented more than ninety times by the
- Hedgerow players. Francis Torchiana, as the whimsi
cal Melisande, and Ford Nofer, as Gerva.se Mallory—
the practical man with irna^gination enough to visual
ize the lieauty and romance <if the world alsmt him—
again |>ortray the characters they created in the ori
ginal cast. .JasiH*r Deeter will appear as Gentleman
Susan, the travelling peddler of infinite wisdom. Har
ry Sheppard as the humorous husband and Catherine
Rieser as his sefni-hypocohdriac wife provide many
comic scenes. Others ifi the cast are Adriene Baucker,
Walter Williams, David Metcalf, and Miriam Philips.