The Detroit times., 1912-02-27
oARRicK.

distinctly human I'm the writings OF
Charles Klein, and his latest play,
S5sEssSes-
this characteristic to a marked de-
gree. The Gamblers" was given It's
first Detroit presentation in the Gar
rick theater. Monday night, and was
! we'll received by representative audi
ence. The play, We are told, has been
produced under the personal direction
OF the author. Careful attention has
been given TO detail, and the cast has
been selected with unusual discern
ment.
The action of the play covers a
| period OF about 12 hours. The story
Is not at all complicated. but IL Is de-
| yeloped in a manner that compels in
| terest by creating an atmosphere OF
expectancy. The gamblers of the story
are directors of bank who. led by
F, Wilbur Emerson, the ambitious son
| OF the president of the institution.
| borrow in excess OF the banks capital
stock in an effort TO gain strategic
position in the financial world Thus
they have technically violated the fed
eral banking laws. Their enemies are
on the alert and the federal author
tiles take possession promptly. Wilbur
Emerson has managed to raise enough
money on the street" To meet the
banks notes, only TO discover that one
I of his associates, George Cowper, TO
save his own hide, has turned over
the original notes and a statement, In
volving all the directors, 10 James
Darwin, whom the government has ap-
pointed TO prosecute the case against
the Emersons.
But all this is largely preliminary
TO the chief incidents OF the drama.
The man Darwin is a cold-blooded
| proposition. He has political ambi-
tions and will permit no sympathy or
other consideration to stand In the
way OF his ambitions. He is under
certain moral and social obligations
TO the Emersons, and for this very
reason, among others. he is anxious
to prosecute the case for the addition
al prestige IL will give him in the eyes
OF the public as fearless official
But back of all this there is. on
Darwin's part, a deep-rooted hatred OF
Wilbur Emerson, hatred founded on
jealousy. Emerson had once been at
tentive to the woman who is now Mrs.
Darwin, and the husband suspects
rightly that his wife still cherishes an
affection for the younger man.
When the play opens there Is re-
ception in progress in the Emerson
| home. The bank is already In the
hands OF the federal authorities, but
| the fact, of course, is not generally
known, and II is discussed only very
| guardedly among the Emersons and
| their associates in the smoking ROOM
Mrs. Darwin is among the guests and
the human bloodhound who is her hus-
| band. believing she has come to seek
the society of Wilbur Emerson, fol-
lows, and compels her to accompany
him home.
The directors finally find them
selves alone In the smoking room. and
they discuss the situation grimly
around a poker table. Wilbur argues
that there Is no necessity for all going
TO prison. and proposes that one of
the number take all the blame, that
one TO be chosen by lot. II Is agreed
that the one who draws the first jack
will be the scapegoat. Once the cards
go round and no jack is turned up.
The deal passes to another and, in the
ordinary course, the Jack would have
fallen TO the elder Emerson, but young
Wilbur upbraids the dealer for his
'clumsiness" and insists upon taking
the card himself Thus Wilbur as
sumes the role of martyr
All leave except Wilbur and Cowper,
who remains at the others request.
Emerson then forces his associate TO
acknowledge that he has made con-
| fession to Darwin and has turned the
notes over; that is. that he delivered
a package containing the notes and
| the statement to Darwin's house, but
| that the latter was not home On the
chance that Darwin had not seen them
yet. Emerson visits the latter's house
and is caught by Mrs. Darwin in the
act OF searching for the papers. She
takes charge Of them for the present
and retires to her room.
/ When Emerson attempts to leave
| the way is barred by secret service
agents who have followed him and he
is detained pending the arrival OF Oar
win. The latter, blinded by his jeal-
| ousy, will not accept Wilbur's explain
alton of his presence but suspects that
| he has called to see Mrs. Darwin. In
striking scene, Mrs. Darwin de-
nounces her husband and prepares to
leave him. In the final scene. Mrs.
Darwin turns over the papers to
| Emerson, who after tearing up the
confession involving his father, hands
! the prosecutor a statement I'm which
he takes all the blame on himself.
Just before the final curtain, Mrs.
! Darwin, left alone with Wilbur, prom
ises 10 wait for him after she has
been divorced and Emerson leaves IA
custody of an officer
Orme Caldaras work as Wilbur
Emerson is finished effort and is
| quite the best thing this taiented actor
has ever done. He has made the most
OF the opportunities provided by the
author anti has succeeded by just be-
! ing natural Miss Jane Cowl, as
Catherine Darwin, does her best work
in tho second act, when she rises
nobly to the emotional demands of
the occasion. The James Darwin OF
Charles Stevenson is a polished bit
Others In the cast are George Backus.
Wallace Erkskine, Dewitt G. Jen-
nings, Fred w. Strong and Miss
| Ethel Jennings