New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-08-15
THE LURE"
George Scarborough's fIay at
the Maxine Elliott.
DRAMA OF UNDERWORLD
Brutal Facts Boldly Handled
Make Stirring Second Act
of "Uplift Play"

There is nothing so helpful as a testl-
monial. The thing has been considerably
overdone in this day OF publicity but
yet. as rule. 1t helps people to make
I'D their minds: IL assures them. and
treasures them. The audience that filed
Maxine Elliott's Theatre last night TO its
full capacity at the first performance OF
George Scarboroughs The Lure" found
neatly tucked in its programmes letter
10 the author from the Special Commits
soner for the Suppression OF the White
Slave Traffic at Baltimore to the effect
that ne has read the play with much
interest, and expressing his pleasure that
Mr. Scarborough kas undertaken to "em-
ploy the stage for the purpose OF edu-
eating the public with reference to exist
ing conditions" The play is. In fact,
dramatlzation OF the salient facts brought
out in the course Of recent Investigations.
II goes as far as this sort Of propaganda
can 20 on the stage. There is nothing In
il that has not all been printed in the
reports. but 10 see IL spoken, 10 see this
horror acted. is another matter. The
Special Commissioner opines that the play
hardly emphasizes sufficiently the utter
depravity of such creatures, but, then, he
read IT. and did not see IT acted.
Whether the theatre is the place for
such relevations is another matter. about
which there are two decidedly differing
opinions. sill. II has been long time
coming. and has eliminated In a sort OF
hysteria that no doubt will welcome even
this form Of crusade. AS for the play, II
emphasizes, after the manner OF the mo-
ment, the economic cause Of vice and It's
relation 10 politics. A shopgirl needs
money TO send her mother TO the country
after an operation. She resolves 70 apply
TO a woman customer. who has offered
her remuneratlve work. and within half
an hour finds herself a prisoner. She Is
rescued by a government agent inVesu-
eating the traffic-she and another girl
while a third lies dead in a room above,
dead by her own hand. Happy endings
We must have in our plays. Hence rescue
and marriage. But the real end OF white
slavery" is a hospital cot and the Potters
Field. However. the old love Of melo-
drama. OF virtue rewarded and the villain
punished by the brave young hero is
reused DN a sSfOOl act tlldl = diil'"i''s''
effective Electrically. strong" some Will
call IL: others will Judge II repulsive.
The first and third acts bear evidence OF
the haste with which The Lure mas
been made ready for presentation. They
need a thorough oyerhauling. The bed
side manner OF the German physician is
CHASTITY In its platitudinous cheerfu'hess'
bu, TO him fell the line most loudly APP
plauded that There will be no White
slavery when women shall have the vote.
The characters are types: The Mother
THE Girl" the Madam" the PoIIu-
clan" the programme calls them. MI.
Scarborough is not thinker. nor is ne
skilled dramatist. but ne has a story TO
tell. and succeeds In telling H.
The acting is good only. Mary Nasn'
a. the Girl. is unnaturaly seh-possessed
and unrurrled on her return TO the mater
nal roof Immediately after her narrowing
exner,ence. Vincent Serrano played the
hero as effectively as he usually plays
vulains. but overacted at times. td"lh
uolt's politician was Ike all recent poll
,lclsns on our stage. very. very smooth'
a smiling villain. Dorothy Dorr ala "ei
Win the part Of the politicians secret
mariner. but the honors OF the act'hs
Won, 70 George Probert. In the most re-
pulsive part OF all.