Evening star., 1913-02-25
New National.

| There are few situations in the realm
of dramatic possibilities more moving
than that of u young girl Offering her
pure love after n silence of years TO a
man who has looked upon her as
daughter, and begging him to wed her
that she may make him happy. But the
audience at the National Theater last
ton by Martha Hedman in her scene
with john Mason in 1.-The Attack, saw
| in it only comedy.
| The play. mounted and presented by
| Charles Frohman, is by Henry Bernstein.
author of 1.-THE Thief" Samson and
Israel" 1t made its first Washington
appearance last night. and is in three
acts, adapted in English by George fsser-
ton, its locale being laid in two small
cities in France.
Mason and by Sidney Herbert, who play
ed the two principal male roles. were the
features upon which the performance
must rely for its chief interest. Miss
Martha HedInan, young Swedish actress
OF much personal charm, seen here for
the first time. except for the avowal of
her love in the first act, is given but
ilttle opportunity in the play to display
her ability. Most of her scenes are
situations in which she passively but
man she loves
The play deals with French political
life of the present day. Alexandra
Merita1 (Mr. Mason) is a senator who
is in line for the presidency. In his
youth he stole 1000 francs from his
employer Antonin Frepeau OMr. Her.
bert. jealous of his political success
| and wishing him out of his own way
in the political world, inspires an at
tack upon Merital for this early of
fense. From this the play takes it's
name. Merital. who is obliged to sue
his accuser for libel, is in fear and
trembling for the outcome, until he
obtains possession of a, secret involving
Frepeau in bygone bribery and corrup-
ton whereupon he forces Frepeau.
upon threat of exposing him, to make
the principal witness in the case swear
he was mistaken. The scene between
Frepeau and Merital is the great
scene of the play. 1t comes at the
end of the second act. and is more than
satisfying-it is splendid
There is a fly in the ointment of this
| scene, however. One inevitably wonders
| why Merital should believe he has ac-
| his sufferings following his early theft
when it is remembered his methods OF
having himself ultimately acquitted OF
wrongdoing in the eyes Of the public are
| in the last analysis, the methods of one
| who is no better than thief and a
| blackmaier.
| The first act. which is for the usua
purpose of placing the spectator in touch
! with the situation at the. time the play
| opens, is spoiled by the too early intro
| duction of the love scene between the
| girl friend of MeritaIs daughter. who
| loves him and avows it. So that, last
night, at least, 1t seemed comical. The
second act stands by itself The third
act consists almost wholly of Mertars
explanation to the girl who loves him OF
how lie came to steal under the pressure
of necessity in his early youth. how he
suffered and made restitution and of her
reiteration of her unwavering faith in his
happily.
| Wilfred Dracott is seen as Garancier
counsel and friend to Merital; Frank
| Hollins as Daniel, and Clinton Preston
| as Julien Merital, the two sons. Daniel
| Fitzgerald has the role Of servant, and
| Charlotte Ives that of Georgette Merital,
| the daughter.
The scenic setting consists Of two very
| well mounted interiors.