The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-10-20
kick In at tho Lonsacr. Theatre.

Another playwright of tho underworld
came 20 tho surface last night at the
LonSacre Theatre. He is Willard Mack,
and Is both actor and author. Several OF
his plays are to be seen during the pres
ent season. though he was unhcard OF be-
fore Kick In" Is mclodrama in four
acts. with It's scenes laid in the office OF
a police commissioner and in the rooms
OF a pair of convicts in the customary
and difficult task of living straight
They are faithful to two OF their friends
who keep at their old trade. or at least
are supposed 10. When n diamond neck
lace disappears Il Is on these two that
suspicion rests. AS the police always turn
TO the friends of the suspected they are
brought TO police headquarters and put
through the third degree. There 10 not
the fate in store for them that the com
missioner threatened. His promised reve-
iation OF the young husbands former
criminal life to his employer does not
terrify them. That had been told in adj
vance So the first collision between the
police and the two that are trying 20 be
good ends In triumph for them.
But the law continues to Turk near by.
4
young couple. The thief is there. but
dead from shot. His sweetheart is told
OF the fato that has befallen him and the
stolen necklace Ia found IN the possession
OF the young wife's brother, He is q drug
fond. There must be at least one drug
fiend in every underworld play.
The third act has also its accumulated
incidents. The necklace Is taken from
the neurotlc brother, the police offer 10
call OF the prosecution IL II IL returned
and then break faith by ordering the ar
rest OF all the group. Then the joint
struggle Of police and crooks supplies the
most stirring episode OF the evening II
ends with the escape Of the aspiring
young couple, who tell the commissioner
the police have acted In bad faith. having
promised them immunity, then got the
necklace and arrested all hands They
are again al headquarters IN the last act.
They might have got the twenty years the
law Set aside for them had not the heart
OF the commissioner relented So their
path was ultimately smoothed.
Mr.. Mack, whose speech after the third
act established him 70 undisputably as
the author OF the play that nobody could
adventures of his crooks in the most In
tcrcsting manner. The scenes are ef-
fecuvely built, they never fail TO make
an impression on tho audience and the
swiftness OF tho action never halts.
Apart from tho dramatic episodes in
his story there was the humor of his dia-
logue to amuse the listeners. Indeed. II
Is not in tho least certain that the fun
OF Kick In" is not its strongest point and
that the playwright will not find his
greatest success IN farce. As II was the
play failed In no measure of success with
its first night audience. II there Is any
thing 70 make It's fate n matter OF un-
certainty II IL the lack of freshness In
its theme. Had Mr.. Mack's play been
the first OF It's kind. there could have been
no end 10 It's prosperity The underworld
has, however. become in It's various mani
festations comparatively familiar TO the
public, But OF tho new playwrlght's skill
IN presenting his fiction there can be no
doubt.
Kick In" was IN the main very well
acted John barrymore was most efficient
In the passages OF comedy. There ne
was himself, and II az himself that the
public likes him most. His style In serious
scenes lacks variety, to put the matter
as gently as possible. a perpetual frown
does not Indicate all the emotions that
were In the heart of this hero. Jane Grey
was sympathetic wife to tho honest
crook. Josephine Victor gave an emotional
scene OF genuine passion. and katherine
Harris chewed gum with virtuosity. In
all other details tho performance brought
out the best qualities OF tho now play.