CRIMSON PLAYGOER

Drums, a negro, and a jungle,--that was the raw material. O'Neill molded that material into one of the most thrilling plays America has produced. Countless companies have put it on. Last night the New England Repertory Theatre brought it back to life again at the Peabody Playhouse.

Admittedly given on a small scale, the production nevertheless did remarkable things with the materials at its command. The suspense, life-blood of the play, was well carried out and combined with a high quality of acting and vivid sets, to finish off the show, like the Emperor himself, in fine fashion. There were times, however, when the pace lagged and might have been quickened up to heighten the suspense. Frank Silveram, who, by necessity of script, practically put on a one-man show, got plenty of oomph into the part, though occasionally overacting it. The real laurels go to Edwin Pettet who gave the part of Smithers zest that it has seldom had before.