The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1907-11-24
NEW YORK THEATERS.

local critics attended the first perform
ance on any stage OF "The Witching
Hour" at the Hackett Theater last Mon
day evening. The other half lent It's pres
ence 10 the first night Of 1.-The Morals OF
Marcus at the Criterion.
Therein lies more significance than is
apparent on the surface. A few years
ago-even year ago-Augustus Thomas
name attached TO a playful was SUFFICIENT
TO monopolize the interest of those who
pretend 70 some discrimination IN thea
trieai matters. 1t was equivalent TO the
governments hall mark on one of its
1900 gold certificates on Monday, alas
Mr.. Thomas name on the bill Of The
Witching Hour" conveyed no more Of au-
thenticity than the phrase In God we
trust" on the Federal coinage since Mr..
Roosevelt pronounced IL ungodly. The
failure OF The Ranger" and the mere
announcement that Mr. Thomas new
play would deal with telepathy or some
thing equally abstruse or metaphysical
sufilced 10 send half the critics 10 rival
house presenting an English play by an
unknown author ard featuring a young
lady who owes her prominence as much
TO a pair Of large eyes as 20 any dramatic
talent-Marie Doro. 1 am glad TO cay
that William Winter was there and sat
out the performance, but large gaps in
the seating area Of the naturally small
Hackett playhouse made conspicuous the
absence Of many of his colleagues and
served TO remind US OF the great displsce-
ment OF the fraternity on opening nights
as a simple matter OF ayoIrdupois.
But such is fate. and fate made harder
by the reflection that # was John Ma
sons most recent debut as star. Candor
compels me TO say that The Witching
Hour" will not do much 10 advance Mr.
Thomas fame as a playwright, though
I hasten to give him credit for an enjoy
able evening II is not really drama,
though IL is rich entertainment, a preach
ment on the dynamic force Of generative
thought and an excellent demonstration
Of theories that We have all held IN some
inert form or demonstrated 10 our own
satisfaction IA our parlors. The Witch
ing Hour" Is a demonstration OF the fact
that one mind can operate upon another
IN manner winch some call Nl-UQEtduluEs
others hypnotism. and others telepathy
according 10 circumstances. So far as
character drawing and smartly pointed
dialogue goes. It was IN line with the
authors best work II he has failed IL
is in concentrating his material. new as
il IS. reducing Il TO a cohesive dramatic
action and leading up 70 a moment Of
oYerpOwering interest. As u IS. We are
cfr rrrtft-
position Of the thought theory theid by
many eminent SCIENTISTS through the
medium OF a number OF vigorous types Of
character and a story that loses its point
In a Tavel OF loosely articUIated Incidents
Here and there are touches Of sentiment.
and throughout We are conscious Of a
certain vitality Of Characterization which
proves the authors sane insight into life
and locality Nor do we miss the in
evitable leaven Of Thomas humor which
Eliminates the prosy stretches Of expOsi-
tory dialogue, with a mild and lambert
radiance.
The scene Of the play is Louisville. and
the greater part Of the action Is laid in
the living room Of Jack BroOkfeld's home.
Brookheld il a gentleman gambler. whose
poker tables are patronized by the elite
OF KenJUclIy's metropolis Outside Of
Louisville the scene and character would
be something Of an anomaly. The Goebel
murder is made to bear a lateral rela-
tionship to the action. but the plot di-
rectly deals with a murder committed in
Jack Brookfeld's room in the opening
act by a youth. the son OF Jacks old
fame. Mrs. Helen Whipple. who has be-
come a widow and Is manifesting a re-
rewed interest IN che man she loved in
her girihood days. This murderer rather
let us say homicide-is an unprecedented
act, due to an inherited monomanla Of
aversion for cats-eye jewelry. The fatal
blow IS struck with a large paper cutter
IN momentary resentment OF a drunken
act OF folly, In which the detested stone
set in a scarfpin is persistently flashed
in the young mans face.
Jack BrookAeld, the role played by
Mason, becomes a convert 60 the theory
OF telepathy accidentally revealed TO him
by a member Of the Supreme Court Of
the United States. Justice Prentice. and
Jack finds that he has been a lucky gam
bier because OF an unconscious possession
of the gift OF reading other peoples cards.
He and the justice step into closer re-
lationship through their mutual affinity OF
mind. and when the case Of the State vs..
young Clay Whipple comes before the
Supreme Court on a constitutional cues
ton involving the remanding Of the case
for a new trial Jack, who has now aban-
doned his poker rooms in Difference 10
the wishes OF Mrs. Whipple. his old IMAM
orata, determines the hesitation OF his
new-found affinity. the aforesaid Justice
Prentice, in favor Of "a decision remanding
the case. on the ground that the evidence
showing the lads hereditary traits had
been ruled out at the trial as irrelevant.
Clay Whlpple. IN the first act. gains the
consent Of Jacks niece. Viola Campbell
to become his wife. but has a rival in
Frank Hardmuth, the assistant district
attorney. who distinguishes himself in
the trial by a vindictive prosecution OF
Clay, and IN the retrial by gross
discourtesy 10 Justice Prentice who has
come from Washington TO testify 10 the
eligibility Of testimony tending TO prove
the theory of inherited traits Jack knows
that Hardmuth inspired the plot which led
20 the murder Of the governor OF the
State. and as the State convention meets
at Frankfort and IS about to nominate
Hardmuth for governor, he gives the
known facts Of Hardmuth's hand in the
murder plot 10 the press. with the inten-
ton Of preventing his nomination. so that.
in case Of an appeal for clemency IN be-
half OF young Clay. there may be no oc-
cupant OF the gubernatorial chair who
would be Influenced by personal reasons
to ignore the appeal.
Hardmuth threatens 10 kill Jack on
sight, and actually makes his appearance.
pistol In hand, TO wTeak vengeance upon
the man who exposed him and prevented
his nomination. and who now becomes q