Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-04-06
New National Theater.

The Call of the North" at the New
National Theater. is a clean, strong melo-
drama. 1t presents some characters quite
unfamiliar to this part of the world and
some that would be familiar in any part.
1t holds the interest from the time that
Robert Edeson. in the role of Ned Trent.
appears In the first act. until the end
offense punishable with death. folding his
sweetheart to his breast. 1t is a play
that many men a1ect not to like. but
their disarection does not count or. at
least. did not count at last nights per-
formance, for the wives, sweethearts and
sisters. yes, and some of the mothers
too. set their approval upon the perform
ance from the beginning. and at the end
curing a series OF curtain calls for the
star and his company by their vigorous
and continued applause.
Mr. Edeson gives virile fmpersona-
though some may criticise the strength
of his feeling Of revenge for the ruin
and death of his father by Galen Albret
the factor OF the Hudson Bay Company,
far north. where the scene Of the play
is laid Ann Murdoch, as Virginia AL
bret. the daughter of the factor, who
ultimately falls In love with Trent and
risks her life to aid him in his escape
from the vengeful clutches Of her un-
scrupulous father, plays her part we'll
Spottiswood Aitken and Seymour STRAIT
ton, barring their accent. made a couple
of amusing Scotchmen, and materially
added to the comedy Of the play. Kate
McLaurin. as Julie Bagneau. was quite
good, as were Percival Ayler. the insin-
cere clergyman, and Harrison Ford, as
Achille Picard. Albert McGovern's part,
as Rodman Rand. was well handled. al
though 1t Is a role of narrow scope
Stephen Wright. Galen Albret. the
stern, merciless. INSCRIPTIONS factor of
the Hudson Bay Company, presented a
splendid representation In every respect.
Stewart Edward Whites novel. Con
jurors House." and is we'll dramatized
by George -Broadhurst.
It tells OF the arbitrary rule Of the
after its rights had expired. Ned Trent,
under an assumed name. seeks to find
the man who had wronged his father and
bring him to justice. He is thrice ap-
pretended by the company's agents and
brought to the trading station. He knows
that his third offense means that he
must make what Is known as the Grand
Traverse" In other words. he Is to be
turned loose without provisions and arms
and sent to find his way back to civili-
cation. 600 miles distant. If he can, but
an Indian runner Is sent after him to see
that he doesn't. and those who make
the journey are never heard Of after
ward. Virginia Albret, the innocent
Trent. becomes interested In his character
and finally falls In love with him. Learn
ing just what her father proposes to do
she stealthly meets Trent in the forest
and gives him her rifle and ammunition.
His love scene with her results In de-
tanning him long enough for his pur-
suers to recapture him. In the council
chamber at the trading station, where
the factor is not trying him. but endeav-
oring to ascertain who gave him the
rife. that both may be sent to their
death together, he ultimately discovers
that it Is his own daughter and that she
loves Trent. He finds. too, that he has
wrenged Trent's father because of a lie
There is compromise. resulting. pre-
sumably. in Trent's marrying the daugh-
ter and agreeing to put wide distance
between himself and her father There
are many strong and many laughable
situations to the play, and despite the
fact that 1t Ia hated melodrama." 1t is
going to draw the people who like a
stirring. clean play OF that sort.