The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-02-26
superb Company In Striking Play.

r'mpire-Ninfnture musical Comedy.
Lubin-Mininture Musical Comedy.
Superb Company In Striking Play.
Only week or two ago. David Be-
lasco set high mark upon tho sea
sons scale with his admirable produc-
ton of THE Woman; last night that
master producer presented ut the
Academy OF Music The Case Of
Becky" and with IT made a mark upon
our memory.
For at least two of the scenes in
Edward Locke's play, as they were
enacted last night, will doubtless be
long remembered by those who saw
and heard them with eyes, ears, mind
and heart And not only these scenes
In particular. but tho whole play must
be observed. thought of. and felt with
all these faculties. else much OF its
force and effect Will be lost.
Unlike The Woman" there is little
or the obvious, none of tho simply
apparent. mono of ordinary conyen-
uonai expression Of everyday cause
and effect. It's whole story and all of
It's collateral Issues, save one com
pletely subordinated and incidental lit
tie love tale, depend upon and are the
outSrowth OF "a study. science that
even yet Is believed to DO in its in
fancy-hypnotic suggestion and con-
troll.
ana so dcncatc. so refined, In the
chemical sense OF the word, is the de-
vclopment OF its idea that only the
most careful playing of competent,
skilled or gifted actors could unfold
1t plausibly or even intelligibly In
the hands Of any save such players
as Mr.. Belasco has supplied, The
Case OF Becky" would appear unreal,
exaggerated, even impossible
But these people make the unusual.
pitliul, fantastic little fala >,iyid
tragedy of what may be and doubt
less has been, If we are to believe
Stevenson. Du Mauricr and the other
men who have written for Iaymcn, to
say nothing of tho scientific search
ers whose books remain closed to most
OF us. Even Locke. in The Climax
made use OF the theme, but there a
girl lost only her voice; here she loses
her soul.
So much has been written about the
play that the bare statement that it
contains a study OF dual personality
SOUNDS tritc TO one who writes the
phrase, so trite indeed that he feels
inclined to use quotation marks when
he employs il. but 1t is the only ex-
preston that suggests itself with
which to Indicate accurately tie ba sic
theory upon which the play is built
There is girl who Is two girls
When she is herself. she IS Dorothy
a sweet lovablc creature-just a girl
In Its pretticSt sense. But when she
is under her evil control. she is Becky
very imp of perversity, profanity
ana wickedness-a girl OF the gutter
vicious and unrestraincd.
Fortunately, she has come under tho
observation of a wise and learned spc-
cialist in the study of minds diseased
and. from the beginning Of the play To
It's end, there is II continuous and siren
uous battle between the helpful science
OF TINS conscientious alienst and the
OWL power that Is Becky, which was
created by the malign influence OF a
magnetic charlatan who poisoned her
soul before she came into the world
This professional hypnotist and show
man comes carly upon tho scene, and
IN the STRUGGLE between animal mag
nctlsm and cold science that follows
the contact of the beast with tho man.
the girls salvation is wrought. And
with the girls redemption comes the
Eiad knowledge that she is not the
child of tho beast who seeks her. but
the daughter of the man who saves
her.
Frances Starr, for several seasons
triumphant in The Easiest Way"
plays the girl OF two sides, and, in a
part bristling with difficulties, again
trlumphs. Becky is a strong part a
line part, one that offers many oppor-
tunities, but 1t also lends itself with
dangeroua-facility to faulty, even to
ourlesquc. and that Miss Starr takes
advantage OF the opportunities with
mucn art and avoids tho dangers with
great skill warrants the use of the
word triumph" In "Dr. Jekyll and
Mr. HYDE" change was made from
ono personality to another but it was
always played upon n darkcned stage
ana with every accessory that could
DC supplied by lights and other con-
trivances. but, in 1.-THE Case Of Becky"
MISS Starr converts Dorothy into Becky
! before the very eyes Of the audience.
and In blaze OF light from borders.
lamps and footlights by the aid of art
alone. And this scene is one of tho
two referred to.
But, In spite of the name OF France
starr. IN spite of her highly admirable
performance, her work is practically
over with the second act. and It is
Charles Dalton that one thinks OF as
ne goes out of tho theatre. Mr.. Dial.
ton. always n fine actor since the DAYS
or The Sign of the Cross" and notable
| IN me notable company that played
| "Mid-Channer season or two ago
| was impressive throughout the even
Ing with the unctuous certainty o. hi,
| fakir, but, In the third act. when Inc
was conquered by the man OF science
and rendered helpless by mechanical
hypnosis. he was tremendous. Such 3
| performance as he gave In that scene
shoul'sn. Weird. and almost .errifyins
In his projection into an uncontrolled
self. was OF tho character that aids
in the elevation of profession int
an art. And that is the other seem
! mentioned.
Abort Bruning. Harry c. Browne
and Eugene O'Brien, all schooled ac.
tors, contributed performances suci
as We have learned to expect from
men in Belasco's productions. Mr.
Bruning, of course, the best known
of the thrce was intrusted witt
another most difficult role. that Of tn.
alienist Ills performance was con,
sistent and sustained throughout. that
4 1t seemed to me a bit lighter, les.
earnest, than one would expect from
him In such a part Is doubtless due
solsly to difference OF opinion ant
Mr.. Belasco employs him. not me. TIL,
ono woman in tho cast was very EVIL.