New-York tribune., 1909-12-28
DRAMA
The NeTt of KIN" at the
Hudson Theatre.

Mr.. Charles Kleins new play Is not one
some strong moments. but the effect has
to be spread too thinly over three acts.
The idea is old as the hills, or, at any
rate, about as old as Jurisprudence, which
Is quite old enough for dramatic purpose.
There is lovely orphan heiress. A wicked
uncle breaks. or tries to break. the will
which enriches her. He also seeks to have
the young lady pronounced insane. Mr..
Klein was inspired to write this play" the
advance notices say, "by reason of the re
cent addresses Of President Taft and other
legal luminaries criticising the modern
methods of procedure in the courts which
nave resulted in the calendars being
clogged and great injury done to litigants
through the delays in the adjudication of
their suits
This proclamation is promising, but it
promises too much. The play contributes
nothing to any question concerning the re-
form Of legal procedure nor could it be ex-
pected 10 do so and remain play. II
merely rings the changes on the old plots
relating to the heiress and her fortune the
viiianous lawyer and the virtuous one.
hirelins experts, and the whole tribe of be-
lngs, both rascaily and admiral Bile. custom
arily infesting plays and stories dealing
with this venerable theme. Mr.. Klein deals
with ii very well. but adds nothing of mo-
ment to the familiar strain
The heroine is enacted by Miss Hedwig
Reieher whose powers and attractiveness
nave Of late been praised in these columns.
But Miss Reichers work last night fell
short of the expectations which her admir-
ers, and they ara many had entertained.
In the first place she did not look young
enough for an orphan who needed a guard
ian' IN the second place, she dressed with
out taste and presented a rather dowdy
appearance; in the third place. she did not
carry herself we'll Nor did she get into
the psychology of the part She overdid
the excitement and the fear to such an
extent that there appeared to be good
ground for the adverse decisions of the
alienists engaged against the lovely hero
Inc, and were IL not for the fact that hero
ines in modern dramas do not go mad
the audience might have been justified
IN supposing the lady quite insane An
other defect is Miss Reicher's speech. 1t
Is altogether too foreign. Something Is
said in the play about this prosecuted fe-
male being American girl who has
lived long time in Germany. This is
probably crafty but ii is not convinc-
ing device to excuse Miss Reicher's ec-
cent 1t would seem that this really res
markable actress is attemptin to do too
much in too much of a hurry. She ought
seriously to labor for the conquest of those
foreign tricks Of speech which mar her
impersonations even in the language
of New York. They will become habit
ual with her and will check her advance
in this country If she does not persist
emily attack them. American audiences are
much too lenient with imperfect English
speech upon their stage, and Miss Reicher
should not rest in the belief that their lib
erality IN applause testiiies TO her mastery
OF the tongue which she has so courageously
adopted. She is an artist of great capacity,
but she lacks the finish that would entitle
her TO rank among the players of high dis
tinction. This finish she can acquire If she
will. She is well worthy of great pains.
The men in Mr.. Klein's play do the best
work. The favorite with the audience is
Wallace Eddinger. who relies, however.
more upon personality than upon art.
Frederick Perry does all that can be done
as Ricaby, the lawyer for the prosecuted
heroine. Ricaby is a feeble lawyer who is
given to thinking that his defeats are due
TO his fair dealing. OF course. If he is
right, and if Mr.. Klein is right, the trick
sters will always win against the honest
men, and the aoest lawyers will always
be on the side Of the longest purses
good many persons believe this to be true;
a good many others do not believe It.
Mr.. Sheridan and Mr.. Adelman should
be mentioned here for their presentation
of two we'll drawn characters. The most
interesting scene in the play shows Per
secuted Paula under examination by
commission of alenists. This scene was
handsomely received by the audience
which, however was inclined to appIaud
sentiment quite as much as skill Mr.
Klein was called for a speech which he
delivered in dozen words The curtain
hand was soN enthusiastic in his duty that
he raised and lowered the curtain o,it.
regardless of the authors oratorical intent
and hardly gave the actors time enough
10 arrange themselves in their most be-
coming attitudes for responding to calls.
And New York's naive custom of bestow-
ing the major applause before the last act
mas been seen was fondly induged last
night
II these tributes We're reserved for tho
nnal curtain, the verdicts of first NIGHT
audiences would have more merit than thev
now possess. There are few last acts that
can support the plaudits which follow the
preceding scenes. Last nights last act was
not one Of the few. The best thing that
can be said about this play is that such
teaching as it claims makes for honesty
and fair dealing. even if the work itself
commands no excess OF praise on artistic
grounds. Mr.. Klein is always sure OF his
sentiment. A w