Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1910-03-29
Brilliant Performance Stirs Audi
ence to Outbursts of Applause
in Charles Klein's Drama.
PR0CTOR'S AND AMERICAN
OFFER EXCELLENT BILLS
The B~urlesque Houses Attract
sThrOngs-'St. Elmo at COlum-
bia--Arcade Features.
= HAT Helen Ware deserves a place
among the foremost actresses of

among the foremost actresses OF
the present day is clearly
denlorstfated by the excellence of her
work in the role of Annie Jeffries in
Charles klein's splendidly constructed
'"Thc Third Degree" at the Newark
Theatre this week.
Annie Jeffries, wife of the son of one
of Manhattan's oldest families, is a girl
who has worked in a factory since her
ninth year. Her father was a SALOON
keeper who was 'railroaded" to jail by
politicians. Annie Is uneducated as to
books, but possesses a wonderful in
stinetive knowledge as to the value Of
things that count. When her husband
gets into trouble she puts her firm
young shoulder TO the wheel and exerts
every effort to get him out. Though
heartbToken, she keeps her grief Within.
and bravely fights against an opposi-
ton under which a finer bred" woman
would have lost hope.
TIL woman's fine courage; the years
of repression which have made it inn
possible for her to give vent to the
emotions that threaten at times to
oyerwhe1m her, and her ability to set
aside thoughts of self and do her duty
as she sees it are depicted by Miss
Ware with a sureness of touch. that
tells of long hours of living the part
She has made of Annie Jeffries a per-
~sonality that will live. Her type is
sketched by Miss Ware with all the
carefully perfect detail of a fine etch-
ing. Its creator realizes the full value
Of every one OF the excellent lines
Charles Klein has given her.
THE Third Degree is one of those
crisp, concise plays in which fiourishes
aare conspicuous by their absence. Its
story unfoids with all the practically
OF everyday life. Robert Underwood,
a young art collector and general
profigate, finds himself henlmed in on
every side by debt. Howard Jeffries,
jr., comes TO his rooms, tells of how
his father east him oft after he mar
ried Annie, who was considered be-
meath him. and asks for money. Under
wood refuses. Howard subsidies on the
couch in a drunken sleep. A little later
Mrs. Howard Jeffries. sr., who at one
time was engaged to Underwood. en-
tiers and asks how he dared to write Il
note to her, threatening suicide If she
refused him her friendship. He says he
meant just what he said.
Mrs. Jeffries. sr.. SCOTS at his threat.
and leaves. Underwood goes into an
other room and shoots himself. After
several hours young Jeffries wakes, and
is caught by the police when he tries
To- leave the house. Fol seven long
hours he is put through the third de-
gree" by the captain, in the presence
Of the three witnesses, and at last his
dazed brain gives way before the viii
Of the stronger man, and he repeats
after him his Confession" How Annie
Jeffries tights for him. and persuades
others TO fight, until his innocence is
made clear, and how at last, when he is
bone again, she is willing to let him
divorce her if it will be for his good"
holds the audience in tense interest
until the inal curtain. THE Third De-
sree'' was written by a master crafts
nan
James Seeley appears to excellent adj
vantage in INC role of the apparently
crusty. BIT really k~ind-hearted lawyer
whom Annie persuades to take her
case. Ralph Delrnore both looks and
acts ,creditably the role of the BULLDOG
ing captain who holds his Office through
political pull. rather than merit. The
other members of the cast are most
efficient.
The gallery audience last night was
decidedly different from the usual or
derly assembly that occupies the top
seats in the Newark Theatre. It's man
ner of expressing it's emotion by sundry
Kisses and ill-timed giggles suggested
the need of the Switches that are
used with good effect in the home of
the cheap melodrama.
ADELINE STANLEY CARRICK.