The Washington times., 1913-12-18
Conspiracy Has Many
Thrills of Underworld
By JULIA MURDOCH.
Copyright. 1913,
by the Press Publishing Co.

l- OLLOWERS of dramatic matters
H. generally recognize the fact that
fashions in plays change al
most as much as fashions in
hats and skirts. When the subject Is
given a moments thought, how few of
the popular fashions outlive the cycle
to which they belong. A season or so
afte- the styles have changed. the mass
OF plays that were the style yesteryear
are as hopelessly out of date as last
years chapeau or the skirt Of 1912
Now it is the style to have plays ex-
plotting the criminal types Of New York.
Tho Conspiracy" which is to be played
az the Columbia next week, is an exam
pie. within the Law" the play that is
being given in the Belasco this week, is
another. and even Mr.. Belasco himself
has succumbed to the prevailing mode.
and has given THE Man inside his
first Crook" drama, which he produced
some weeks since. A play spiced with
a BIT of white slavery. or with a sprin-
king of underworld characters Is in
high favor now, and until the vogue for
dramas of this type dies out we shall
have our fill Of them.
Within the Law" and ."The Conspir-
acy" ran all last season in New York
" friendly opposition. and both were 30
wei patronized that the managers saw
no reason why they should be closed.
With Marie Doro in the leading feminine
role. ''The Conspiracy" had q London
run this season. and In January 1t Is to
be produced in Berlin. with Germany's
leading characfer actor, Herr Krakauer,
in the part Of Clavering. which John
: t. Il
Heek-a character, by the way, which
he created
Crook Drama Which Police
Did Not Try to Suppress.
The Conspiracy is different sort
OF crook drama" from some Of the
others to which American audiences
have been introduced. II enjoys the
novel distinction of never having come
under the ban Of the police department,
that II So cleveriy portrays. Some of
the underworld brand Of drama have
had more trouble with the law than
their authors devised for the villains
in the cast. In fact, within the past
two weeks, the leading woman of a
well-known New York stock company
and her manager were arrested for pro-
ducing a dramatization Of THE House
of Bondage"
Contrasting experiences have fallen
to the lot Of THE Conspiracy" Dur
ing the New York run of the piece,
Judge Warren W. Foster. a Judge of
the court Of general sessions, went to
see the play, and then voluntarily made
the statement: Nobody can see The
Conspiracy without both pleasure and
profit. 1t conveys a needed warning
as to the perils that beset young wom-
anhood in our large cities"
Also because the play deals in a
measure with the white slave problem, |
the John d. Rockefeller. jr.. White |
Slave grand jury witnessed a perform !
ance and three prominent members OF |
the jury wrote enthusiastic letters to |
Mr.. Frohman declaring that all Amer |
leans having the best welfare of young \
American womanhood at heart should |
see the play, since the lesson pointed /
out is at present most vital one.
Fight Scene Properties
Cost $4,000 Each Year.
Altogether, The Conspiracy is a !
most unusual play. Having seen it once, .
the writer can vouch for this. II one
wants the exhilarating experience Of
having mis- hair stand on end and cold
chills chase one another up and down his
spine one should see the third-act fight
in the dark This thrill comes as the |
climax of a series Of smaller thrills, and |
while it Is not guaranteed to make you
! Hx,,tll Sa- ~ IL