Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1910-09-13
'ARSENE LUP|K IS
PLEASING At The
NEWARK THEATRE
Plot Brings Out Unexpected in
Each Situation and Holds
Attention.
III must be a very tired business
man" indeed. who could prefer

GI man." indeed, who could prefer
" a frothy musical show to a play
of the worth of "Arsene Lupin," which
provides brain exercise enough to keep
mildly e~xhilarated until the fall of
the final curtain. With subtle skill
Francis de Croisset and Maurice
Leblanc, the collaborators, nave hidden
their plot beneath a conversational
sword-play that is replete with double
meanings. There is an unexpectedness
about each situation as it develops that
grips the attention and holds it alert.
Lupin and the other. at war; a war of
wits. Until the climax of the third act
the watcher Is uncertain as to which
really Is Lupin and which is the other.
Arsene Lupin is a thief of uncanny
cleverness. Before robbing a house he
writes courteously to it's owner, ex-
pressing his admiration of his various
possessions and announcing regretfully,
not only that he intends to take them,
but at what hour. And, in spite OF the
alarmed owners complicated precau-
tons, he carries out his intentions with
~diabolical skill. always leaving his sig
nature staring from the walls in silent
mockery.
Monsieur Gournay-Martin, a French
gentleman of means, whose daughter,
Germaine, is bethrothed to the Duke
OF Charmerace. receives a note from
Lupin, telling of that PERSONS par
ticular fancy for a tiara of rare value,
which for three years he has been try
ing to get, and announcing his inten-
ton of calling at a particular hour to
secure 1t and several other objects of
his admiration. Gournay-Martin re-
members wildly Lupin's former visit,
and takes all sorts of precautions to
guard against the thief's second sue
cess. Lupin secures everything but the
tiara. Next morning, following the call
Of the examining magistrate, Guer-
chard. chief Inspector of the secret
police, arrives. In a masterful way he
gathers up his evidence uncS at last,
after a duel of wits that is a marvel
of ingenuity, he accuses the duke him
self of being Lupin, upon which the
duke smokers in a most undukely man.
ner and suggests that G%uerchard prove
his accusations.
Love story interviewer.
Lupin, in his letter, has promised t.
appear promptly at midnight and take
possession of the tiara, which is in the
detectives possession. The tiara lies
on the table between the detective and
the duke. They face each other, with
revolvers drawn. The clock slowly
chimes midnight, n Guerchard cries:
I've won. Lupin has not" He is
interrupted by the duke, who produces
a tiara from his pocket, announces
that the one in the case is merely so
much paste, picks up his top hat and
evening coat and escapes before the
astounded detective has time to col
lect his wits. How he Is trapped on
the following day, only to triumph
again and escape, brings this interest
ing play to a close. interviewer is the
story of Sonia, Germaine's companion,
who, too. Is a thief, n with whom
Lupin falls in love.
The second and third acts are of
particular excellence. In the fourth
the French love of farce asserts itself
a little too strongly. Lupin deteriorates
from a master of cleverness into a
practical joker. "A secret elevator and
a rubber bomb" detract decidedly
from the high standard that the other
acts have set.
William Courtenay interprets the
character Of the duke with a suave,
quiet dignity that serves to emphasize
BY contrast the ~spectacularity of Luz
pins exploits. In his bouts with the
detective he displays a malicious humor
that is infectious. The audience is
slightly s~candalized when 1t realizes
that its sympathies are with a thief, a
braze thief, that g~lories in his crimes.
Guerchard Is played by Sidney Herbert
with admirable skill. At all times the
detective is a foeman worthy of Lupin's
steel. Smooth, ever-watchful, he
crosses swords with the thief with a
cynical nonchalance that Is marvellous
ly convincing. Desmond Kelley makes
a wistfuI, albeit very self-possessed and
daring Sonia, END Virginia Hammond
is a pert Germaine. Arthur Elliott
makes a good impression as the over
pcmpous examining magistrate. Other
members of the cast are entirely ade-
quate.
Altogether "Arsene Lupin'' is one of
the most satisfactory plays the city has
seen in some time.
ADELINE STANLEY CARRICK.