New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-01-01
" AL|b| BILL AMUSES
Underworld Play at Weber'S
EntertainS with Thrills.
RALPH STUART "AlIBlES"
But Silenced Pistol Plays the
Lead with Smoke
less Glee.

way down IN the underworld. at
Weber's. an elemental play was put on
last night. The programme called IL 'elc-
mental Perhaps primitive would have
hit off the situation "A shade nearer.
Programmes are sometimes hasty in their
terse critiques OF the plays they present.
But. nice distinctions in words aside. whas
has come over the playwrights lately?
| one would think they had all just es-
capped from Jail or were fighting shy Of
the law. 50 strongly and with such per-
! sOnal note do they plead with the public
to accept the crook as the ideal of heroic
manhood and pure womanhood. or do
/ the drdmatsts think that the public en-
| joys having its newspaper diet drama
tized? They are wrong The public dis
/ likes losing its Illusions.
'Alibi BIZ shows even the careless on
locker what inexpensive and inexpert and
honest fools gunner and the like are.
/ how easily they are enticed into going
square oy "skoit'; how only skin deep
their villaIny is Whereas, from our daily
reading we had idealized them into con
sisten. brutes-had imagined them as ut
tery different from ourselves.
Abb Bill goes square" for a "skot.'
Another "skoit." an upright. lifesaving
young female detective. gives Albi
/ chance 10 enter the government secret
service and win his way 10 universal es-
| TEEN, with deposit paid Oh halo. lie
wins the heart of society mission
worker. who goes about the Bowery blaz-
ing with jewels in order to bring peace
and good Will 10 them-and all that. one
member If the benevolent brotherhood Of
crooks Kills that pest 10 civilization. the
district attorney. and the police-bless
their innocence.-are laughed off the
stage for suspecting Abb BIZ Of a crime.
The leading role in the new underworld
piece was capitally played by the new
Maxim silencer. This instrument must
have been especially constructed for use
i'm the drama. as the cosby programme
explains that it is not allowed 20 be- SOLD.
The arm has superb polish. fine sense
Of humor. is level and direct ia its meth
DDS and Judging By results. Is sure hrr
hit If all leading actors were 80 accom-
plshcd,
Ralph stuart OF tender Murray HE
memories. returned TO the city of ms
early triumphs in the part Of MIDI BIZ.
lie did his gentle and discreet best To-
make his part and the play seem reason
able Even In his weightiest moments
however. audible amusement from an
audience bound not to be disillusiohel
drifted up over the footlights. Eleanor
Lawson strobe handsomely through the
part OF the federal detective. Her erect
bearing was q better proof Of her NOBILITY
than even her lines proclaimed her. she
was not only good. nut good sort. IN"
district attorney. cur that he was kne"
so few OF his lines that even the anna
tour crooks IN the audience recognized
him for a villain. He never opened his
mouth without wondering what he was
going 10 say.
Seeing Abb Bill'-whlch. by the way
is the work Of Joseph Byron Touen-Was
an amusing way OF ringing out the "id
wear. II only We had rung out this ana
all the rest Of the plays Of It's Kind with
1912. there would be some use IN "lshlhs
! the New York stage happy Ne" Year.