The Newark star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1909, 1909-09-07
PAID IN FULL A
BIG SUCCESS IN
NEWARK THEATRE
e. Walters Powerful Human
Interest Story Is Splendid
ly Interpreted.
LARGE AUDIENCE OUT
FOR THE PERFORMANCE
Play With a Moral Reveals
Graphic Picture of Modern
American Life.
TT WOULD have been hard to find a

TT WOULD have been hard to find q
better play than Paid in Full
with which to open the season al
the Newark Theatre. The audience last
might was a large one and in an APP
preciative mood
paid in Full is a strong drama,
Eugene Walter, the author. in the pie.
sture that he presents, hits straight
from the shoulder. There is no quib-
bling, no beating about the bush, but
daring directness of speech. And what
{ picture it is. Here on the one hand
lie a wife of honor, contented with her
circumstances growing out of the mis-
fortune of her husband, and there, on
the other hand, is the husband, a de-
graded, hateful soul. selfish beyond de-
scription, immoral and Immoral, a de-
generate of the lowest type.
You cannot afford to miss this play.
for 1t possesses purpose and it is excel
lently acted. 1t had such "a long and
successful run In New York that its
story is well known. 1t may, however,
be briefly outlined.
Joseph Brooks has for years been
working for a pittance as a responsible
{ clerk in the employ of a steamship
company. He is married to a young
woman whose early life has been one CT
ease and comfort. She. however, bears
with him does the housework and is in
every sense a helpmate. Her family, al
ways opposed to the marriage. stirs UP
trouble by commenting on the small
1 ness of the fiat in which she lives and
OF the hard way in which she is forced
to work. 1t ends by her husband steal
ing from his employer. He tells his
wife that he has been given a big in
crease In salary, and they move into a
fashionable hotel. In these improved
circumstance be comes in for the smile
sof welcome and the eye of appreciation
nom his wife's relatives.
or course he Is found out nv the
grun sea captain who Is head of the
steamship line. Then he shows how
worthless he really Is. He has noticed
m the eyes of his employer the desire
of possession and he tells his wife to
2 TO the captains room alone. and at
night. He blames her for his theft
and demands that she save him from
jail. She hides her face in her hands
trying to shut out this hideous vision.
and he calls her a coward and up-
braids her. whining like the dog that
ne is. So at last she goes and the
scene that follows instead of being a
sordid one Is one of tenderness and
beauty. The captain tests her char
acter and finds her of sterling worth.
He h gives her a letter to give to
her husband. This letter Is a uaran-
tee that he will not prosecute Brooks.
Throughout the play the figure of a
friend-a man who had been rejected
by the girl before she married her hus-
band-looms big and beautiful. This
character is played by William r.
Lyons, and nothing could be added or
taken away from his Interpretation of
the character. Thomas Coffin Cooke,
as the husband, was excellent, and
Edna Brothers, as his wife, scored as
highly. Frank C. Burton took the part
OF the sea captain and gave an ex-
cellent portrayal, while Kate Fletcher,
as the girls mother; Mabel Chapple as
her sister and Jack Sheehan as the
captains Japanese valet were very
good.