Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-11-30
A NJ U S E N E N T S j.,
Columbia Theater.

his opinions of New York police methods
as exemplitied in the so-called third de
gree, Charles X Elm this season turns his
pen i'll no complimentary vein TO the
methods of metropolitan lawyers whose
practice is allied to venal political sES-
tenn. His new play. Tine Next of Kin,
is an arrangement. but it is also an en-
tertainment So that even should his
efforts be without result in one direc-
ton they vi serve worthy purpose in
another. 1t is not alleged III Mr.. Klein
dramatic indictment that all lawyers are
wicked, but the fate which the high
minded and sCrupulous attorney meets as
contrasted with the prosperity of po-
htical pirate and oratorical bu ly does
not make an optimistic picture. So
much for what Mr.. Klein's conscientious
ba-rister would call the ethical aspect
of the enterprise.
AS drama the interest gets speedily
under way. The first act includes some
explanatory dialogue which does not
lend itself to easy recitation. This. like
other hardships. falls to the share of the
good lawyer. Once the foundation of the
plot is laid. the incidents unfold with
brisk rapidity up to a genuinely thrilling
climax II the close of the second act.
This climax is So vital in its interest. and
SO cleverly attained that it is slight dis
appointment in the third act to find the
author confesSing that it was but a bit
OF artificial craftsma nship, which he must
destroy in order to go with his story.
The escape of the heroine from q con-
spiracy to place her in an insane asylum
is too important an episode to have no
consideration beyond an offhand eXplana-
ton that she was recaptured during the
entr acte at the Jersey City ferry. There
is. too an Indifference to the appetite for
retribution. which the play has whetted
from the moment evil Vaccinations are
set in motion by as full-blooded a tribe
OF villains as ever set foot on the stage.
There is d threat of punishment lur
their leader, but he has established SO
much confidence in his resourcefulness
that ne leaves the scene there IS room
for doubt that he will exchange his silk
hat and fur-trimmed overcoat for prison
stripes. There Is a prejudice among
playWrishts of artistic inclinafions against
poetic justice, Just there is to some
extent against the happy ending. And
there are always SO many differences OF
opinion among auditors to the exact
punishment deserved by a stage villain
that 1t is perhaps just rs well to allow
the individual to work out the line of
vengeance that may best suit his imagi-
nation. There are but three acts to the
play, and the auditor. knowing that lovers
are united. can invent a fourth for him
self and supply boiling oil and molten
lead adj libtum.
Although the aVONed theme OF the play
is the perversion of legal procedure to
the ends of private greed, it's most i'm
portant element is the same as that
which inspired The Third Degree" The
susceptibility of the human mind to sug
gestion. the manner In which a person
weakened by fatigue or confused by cir
cumstanceS can he coerced and confused
into self-denunciation, is the point which
gives interest to the great scene of the
play. Here the heroine. portrayed by
Hedwig Reicher. who combines with rare
emotional talent and magnetism. the
charm of youth. is browbeaten until her
voluntary utterances bring upon her the
very doom she most fears a verdict OF
insanity The work of this fine actress
would suffice to claim enthusiastic interest
in a far less maritorious play with a far
less competent company. But the east
is one of remarkable strength through
out.
Mr.. Wallace EddinSer. whose efforts
have hitherto been occupied with 10 es
of small sympathetic appeal, blossoms
forth most genially into a glded youth
with an abundant flow of good spirits, a
breezy vocabulary and heart that is
in the right place. \ most admirabl
Frank Sheridan the lawyer and polit-
ica boss. who illustrates how unscrupu-
lous brain power may take the place of
brute force. The other characters are
we'll sustained.
At the close of the second act, after the
various players had responded to numer-
Gus curtain calls. Mr. X lein was brought
ed his thanks for the demonstrations of
approval.
Re1aacn