Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1913-01-21
Frances Starr Scores at the
Newark in THE Case
of Becky"
HER ACTING AT ITS BEST
IN DIFFICULT DUAL ROLE.
Entire Support Attains Degree
of Excellence Seldom Wit
messed in Any Performance.

THE Case of Becky" a crisp, con-
else play in which those needless
flourishes are conspicuous by their
absence, that grips and holds an
audience from the first to the final
curtain. with Frances Starr in the
stellar role. opened for weeks stay
at the Newark Theatre last night.
Miss Starr, notwithstanding her past
achievements as the leading figure
in THE Rose of the Rancho" and
1.-THE Easiest Way" was never seen
to better advantage than in the
dual role she portrays in this strong
play by Edward Locke, emphasizing
the power of mind over matter.
Miss STAIRS versatility and native
talent are put to the severest test
in this dual personality--one minute
sweet, intellectual and refined girl
and the next rough, mischievous,
vicious little unframed child of the
slums, but she energies triumphant
from the ordeal
Her Interpretation a Revelation.
Her Interpretation of the character
was revelation, especially to those
who had not become accustomed to
her work in previous successes.
The play also is staged in true
Belasco style, being correct even to
the slightest detail. Then, too, Miss
Starr has the support of an excellent
cast, all of whom seem to fit into
the characters they portray like a
hand into the proverbial glove"
Miss Mary Lawton, as the nurse,
is rather stiff at times, and might
get better results from the part, but
the others make up for any def
cheney that might be noticed here.
Albert Bruning, as DR.. Emerson,
and Charles Dalton. as Professor
Balzamo, are excellent. The former,
who merges his own personality In
the part he plays. was especially
we'll cast
The play itself revolves around
Dorothy stone, patient at the house
of Dr. Emerson, a famous nerve
specialist. The girl has developed
two distinct personalities, changing
without apparent cause from one to
the other. The task for DR.. Emerson
is to drive OUT the Becky" element.
Not until the arrival in town of Pro-
fessor Balzamo, a professional hyp-
notist, who claims Dorothy as his
daughter, is the key to the situation
found.
HypnOtism Employed in Cure.
Now, having the key, DR.. Emerson
waits until the case is at its worst,
then drives out Becky through She
power of hypnotism, in a scene where
in Miss Starr displays an emotional
power that surprised even those Of
her auditors who had witnessed her
excellent work in her previous
vehicles.
The deep sympathy she creates for
the girl affects an audience and moves
many to tears, but this is happily re-
lieved when the act closes with the
better nature of Dorothy victorious
over the vicious Becky" How DR..
Emerson finally learns the true history
of his patient by Turing Professor
Balzamo to his laboratory, fitted up
with the latest contriyances known to
medical science, is graphically told in
q stirring scene.
Despite the psychological nature Of
the play the comedy element is also
strong and the heart interest deep
and appealing. There is a pretty love
episode in which Dorothy is finally
able to go to the man of her choice.