New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-10-08
18th STREET THEATRE
AT Bay" Geo. Scarborough's
New Four-ACt MeIodrama.
VILLANY AND SENTIMENT
Blackmail, Secret Service, a
Broth of a Hero, the Rough
Course of True Love.

George Scarboroughs new four-acl
melodrama. AT Bay" was presented last
night at the S9th Street Theatre
7, looked too easy when Captain Law
renee Holbrook. flibuster. Philippine vet
eran and a broth OF boy born in New
York. with a hrogue. stole the evidence or
the murder Of the Matchmaking lawyer,
Judson Flagg. under the very nose Of the
chief Of the United states Secret Service.
who had reached the dead mans offices
before the detectives Of the Washington
Police Department and was making pre-
llminary examination from sheer profess
sioral interest. To be sure, Holbrook was
friend Of the chief and was taking ad-
vantage OF his trust in him, but he had
seen at a glance that the woman he loved
was involved, and had. OF course. not hest
tated for moment. But, with all his
cleverness, that was only the beginning Of
their trouble and the real beginning OF
the play as well.
George Scarborough frankly describes
at Bay" as n melodrama. and as such
It must be taken Certain allowances
must be made in consequence, but, once
one has made them. the interest grows
stronger from act to act and does not
weaken until the very end. And II is clean
melodrama For the sake Of suspense.
you are led 10 suspect the heroine for
while. but. bless you, your suspicious are
proved TO be unfoIn led and you are glad
that ne gets her. He certainly deserves
her after such arduous and loyal service,
in which he puts his own life In Jeopardy.
One hesitates to tell the plot, since that
is the play. Suffice It to say therefore.
that there is very slow first act, in
which the leading characters are intro
duced and the initial situation is ex-
planned. but in which nothing happens TO
forward the story. Still, telephone call
al the end warns us that the heroine Is
going TO visit the Matchmaking lawyers
Office in the second act later in the even
ing And so IL happens. The man holds
a letter OF hers. dated six years ago. and
here after your recent experiences In the
theatre. you look upon her with suspi-
cion. Mr. Scarborough incidentally draws
upon his experience in the Secret Service
10 reveal the ingenious methods OF black
mailers with their prey. and their ways
OF protecting themselves. The heroine
offers TO buy the letter-she gives the man
all the money she has and her emerald
brooch, but IL is not enough. He insults
her-this episode is necessary TO lead up
20 his death-but before lie dies he has
time TO touch OF the iashlight by means
Of which he takes photographs Of all his
visitors.
The girl fees. unaware OF the plate IN
the camera leaving the brooch In the
dead mans clutch. II is here That the
Secret Service chief and Holbrook come
in. The soldier OF fortune is somewhat
Of a detective himself. he gets the
brooch out OF the dead mans hand the
plate out OF the camera and box Oh
papers from the top OF the safe. Ana ne
walks of with them unsupported.
Now things begin TO happen. The secret
Service man proves himself detective
Of parts. He establishes the fact that
the murder has been committed by
woman: he also discovers Holbrooks
little legerdemain. He follows him to his
lodgings. accompanied by the girls
father, United States District Attorney
for the District OF Columbia, whom ne
has consulted And there. in Holbrook
rooms. she is found Complications are
riled upon complications. Holbrooks Wit
is pitted against that OF the detective
secret marriage is brought 10 light ana
ingeniously turned 10 account. until. just
as everything seems hopeless melodraiha
that has a right to be stranger thah
truth furnishes the happy ending Ana
even here. one believes. Mr.. scarborough
..r ouc,a urec,dents In real life.
Much Of all this is not new, OF course
but IL serves its turn very well indeed
in the combination which the author Of
fers us. He has. moreover. given MS
Irish hero an Irish sense Of humor as
we'll as a brogue. and fine irish swag-
ger. 10 which Guy Standing does tulI
Justice His return 10 our stage AFTER
several years absence In England Is
welcome event. Chrystal Herne Is an APP
pealing. clinging heroine who does not
lack the courage Of her great love and
who proves her past 10 be an altogether
allowable one
George Howell, as the District Attorney
is a stern man OF the law. but not without
deep parental feeling. Edwin Mordant
plays the Secret Service man as detec-
tive supremacy sure OF himself. The black
mailing lawyer OF Mario MaJeroni Is
sinister figure. There Is also rather
superfiuous priest in the cast piayed COL
orlessly By Walter Morton. John Herne'
in the minor part OF Filipino servant.
deserves mention. The rest OF the long
cast MI their mostly small roles accept
ably.