The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-01-02
ADJUSTMENTS
''The Havoc

In "The Havoc" the H. $. Sheldon play presented by Henry Miller and his company at the Jefferson theatre yestcrda A afternoon and last night, the familiar triangle" is again exploited, but in a somewhat original way; which makes the husband and not the wife the predominant figure. Of the two men who are concerned about the one woman, MT Miller plays Richard Craig, the wronged husband, while Paul He's sert, a thoroughly despicable person and successful home e-wrecker, is in- terpreted in an able manner by MT. Francis Byrne. Miss Laura Hope Crew, whose performances have won her dis tinguished notice, appeared as the err ring woman, by far the weakest figure of the trio, fact due to the play wright and not to the player. Miss Crews personation of Kate was thor oughly in keeping with the idea ex- pressed by the play. If the character of Hessert was anything but admirable, that of the woman was not much bet ter, although she had more moral stamina-the term being used advised ly-than her paramour
 We are so accustomed to seeing a dramatic performance which has to do with the struggle of two men for one woman-seldon the other way around that the first part of "The Havoc" seemed rather trite and affected, par ticularly the attitude of the wronged husband, who, instead of losing his temper as almost anyone would have done out of stageland. controls himself admirably, snaps up his adversary with neatly turned phrases and proposes a generous arrangement by which the wife and her lover are to continue their relations in the house the wronged husband has given her and the husband is to live with them as a sort of star boarder, until divorce Is obtained. It is hard to imagine such dispositions be- ing made in real life but we must re- member that modern life is considered very complex and maybe the dramatist had in view play that would stimu- late the interest first and conform to the verities later
 Anyhow, Craig, Hessert and Kate oc- cupy the same house with the inevitable result that Hessert becomes jealous, reveals his true character in very short while and disgusts the woman whom he has ruined. Craig in the meanwhile continues to enact sort of mephistophelian role, keeping sharp eye on what is going forward When Hessert has stolen money from the railroad by which he is employed and Craig, as his superior has the facts at hand which will convict Hessert of embezzlement, the latter is persuaded that it would be best fof him to go abroad. as he had intended doing by stealth. and leave his wife behind to pay his indebtedness. This she does by working as Craig's stenographer.
 The play is rather interesting and there are some gripping moments, as well as some terse utterances on the part of Craig that are rather stimulat- ing in their effect There are only three parts of any importance, the fourth person being merely secre- tary MT. Miller presented Craig with a great deal of quiet force and virility, after the modern style of acting called ''repressive.' He dominated every scene with the greatest ease Mir. Ryrne Mas hardly second to tine star in very successful and realistic DOT trayal of most detestable type. MT. Byrne acted so well that he actually looked like a cad who needed a good thrashing. Miss Crew was quite canal to the requirements of her part. her share of the performance being con fined largely to looking ''all wrought up" while the two men settled which one was to have her.