New-York tribune., 1912-01-30
"OFFICER 666" AT GAlEN
Nash and Eddinger in Farce by
Augustin MacHugh.

After watching even the nrst dtl % VI
fcer 6S6" YOU can tell in case farCe-hle,u ,,',,
drama should ever creep INTO i"" v"
Ufo that YOU have brought II on Eo'S'
This was MADE perfectly clear IN Nut uS'"
MacHugh's play, which was revealeu "
New York by the, footlights at the "d'e''
for the first time last night
From the actions of hero, heroine nero
hest friend herolne's cousin, heroines aunt
and the police in body, II Is the plal'''S'
thing in the world 10 see that, II you want
farce to come upon you, smnly suppress
all harmless information about NourS'',
and appear TO have something 10 Cohc'"'
when YOU really have nothing put ii Ho'
want melodrama added 10 the farce 'ahe
on your shoulders the shielding OF an inn"-
cent but strong -willed girl, who has got
herself into trouble through these two
charming qualities
These were the ingredients of last night g
play. and no sooner were they well mixed
than ebulition began.
II Is evident that when a millionaire,
who. finding some one else is impersonatinG
him in order to rob him, neglects TO make
known his own identity but prefers to bor-
row policeman's coat and cap and hny
nTODcTtN
down the villain himself. he is courting III"
encroachment Of farce-melodrama into his
private life. This is what young TraV@rs
Gladwin did upon his sudden return from
Europe in the first act of "Officer 656, ard
the to-be-expected result followed.
Taking their cue from Gladwin. the other
characters invited the same element into
their affairs, and before the second act was
we'll under way crystal maze expert would
have given up the intriCacies OF the busi-
ness as hopeless
For this reason II is hardly possible TO
tell the story of the play except TO explain
that as far as could be determined the I'M
nersonator was a connoisseur-thief- spe-
cialist in oil paintings and in good looking
women. His plan was TO rob Gladwin's s
house Of its old masters and TO elope with
Young dream girl whom Gladwin had
once seen eating grapefruit in hotel grill
room and with whom he had on that ac-
count fallen in love.
great many policemen help in the catch
ing of the rascal, and no band OF real
police could have been more clever In let
ting him escape them.
A play that has the speed aim and the
speed possibilities OF this one should not
let this tempo" flag. But "Officer 666
does so in the beginning OF the second and
in the beginning of the third acts. Both
acts could be cut TO advantage
Wallace Eddinger's work in the high
speed of farce had the same good natured
ease. quickly reused to enthusiasm and eX-
citement, that 1t had in the tragic-comic
meIodrama, The Only Son" Neither part
has given Mr.. Eddinger very much to do
other than be himself. But as nc has a
pleasant voice and personality, this Is
enough-especially when, added to these
qualities, he can look like millionare's
son. If necessary.
George Nash gave both shading and feel
ing TO his characterization Of the thief.
White Of eyes, crouching attitudes, bluster,
screwed up face, etc. the usual signs. be-
sides the cigarette and evening dress, by
which the audience can tell a villain, were
absent He did wear full dress, but that
was the only auxiliary he used
The rest of the cast played well