Evening star., 1914-10-06
Columbia.

C0lumDl9.
Another smashing" melodrama has
been born into the world theatrical. And
In spite Of its suggestions of the under
world. of shifty crooks. Of chesty po-
lice officials and of clandestine deviltry
it is going to rank with the hits Of the
season, even with the dilettanti who
affect the immortal bard and the his
trionic effort that aims only at the up
lift Of the drama. For 1t has all the ele-
ments of a great play of its kind, and
wtthal it is intensely human without the
weakness of mawkish sentimentality.
While its humor flows spontaneously
and refreshingly at all times. its tenser
theme grips the attention at the outset
and holds the auditor in deep suspense
and uncertainty until the close, intensi-
Tying the interest with telling climaxes
at the close of each of the plot-weaving
three acts and leaving the audience
ootn humanity and morally satisfied at
the close of the fourth and final act
Strangest of all, it Is melodrama
~lthout villain, a crook play without
real crook in evidence. and the wicked
ness OF 1t all seems to be centered in an
tunsG;rupulous ta; and overzealous police de-
leStIVe ana very tough and conceited
ponce chief who has been badgered to
the highest degree of professional re-
sentment by the press because his de-
at ,,eht mas Tailed to find who stole
recover the gems. And yet, as the last
curtain falls, one is tempted to forgive
even tne much-abused police contingent
when the chief uncovers his heart at
the thought of his own Children and
nnas real pity and sympathy for good
woman who pleads that her babv NAV
"S SucS c5 iIroHgnt is to life in a, penitentiary.
In four acts by Willard Mack. both
ACTOR and playwright, which was pre-
sented by A H. Woods for the f,rs+
n lime on any stage at the Columbia
Iheater last night.
ana quite as much may be said in
praise of the splendid cast. headed hv
John barrymore and Jane Grey, which
presented 1t with such artistic f1nesse
as to lift 1t up to high elevation as
dramatic production
Deputy Commissioner Garvev-nlaved
with all the force and skill needed for
a perfect Characterization. by Edward
dillespie--pushed to desperation by the
.aunts OF the press because the per-
ppetrators OF a robbery have not been
discovered by his police. summons
Chick" Hewes, a former convict. who
mas married a good woman and led
an upright life for two years, to head
quarters quarters to put him and his wife
sary. to secure information as to the
robbers and their plunder. He does
not believe Chick is an offender, but
concludes, because he has served time"
and permits his former crook ac-
quaintances to come to his home, Chick
can furnish valuable information. His
bitterness grows the stronger when he
1a1ls and more so when his efforts at
revenge in having Chick discharged
from a good position comes to naught.
Then begins the cruelest sort of
police espionage and insult until Chick
finally produces the diamonds and he
and his wife are placed under arrest.
But although Chick knows who COM
thief lies dying during the police in
QUESTION and finally comes into pos
session of the necklace, both he and
his wife are absolutely blameless of
the sympathy of the audience for
them grows stronger until its breathes
q sigh Of satisfaction and relief when
at last they are permitted to go free
and continue to live their lives in love
for each other and at peace with the
world.
To tell the story in its entirety is to
rob the performance of much of Its in.
terest and charm. One feels almost
from the outset that the hero and
going to live happy forever after
ward" But the big interest is in
knowing just how it is going to be
shown that they deserve to.
supply perfect characterizations. Chicks
very manner and the shifting look OF
his eyes tell the story Of what he has
been. He Is never STACEY, never play
ing to the galleries. but always the the
wants to escape the police. and yet who
knows what a herculean task Is before
him. His every act and word tells the
story of his life and OF his one ambi-
ton.
Miss Jane Grey, as Molly. Chicks
wife, presents a very impressive char
acterization. A good girl. she Is de-
voted to her husband, even after she
dnds that he has been an inmate Of the
penitentiary, and with all her heart
and effort she strives to help him on
ward and upward. There Is nothing of
the melodramatic outburst OF emotion
and heroics to her. She Is simply what
ing ordeal through which she Is forced
to go, and one does not wonder that in
the end her simple. unaffected plea to
the police chief should melt his ada
manent manner and find its way to his
human heart.
The story is told naturally through
out, and all who help to tell it
contribute excellent impersonations.
Among the more striking are those Of
Annie Mack Berlein, as the good old
Irish mother, who Is drawn into the
maelstrom without knowing when or
how. and who is righteously indignant
at the police chief. whom she accuses
Of not having been to mass since he
had been on his job; Forrest Winant. as
the weak, drug-consuming brother of
Molly: Katherine Harris. as Mrs. Halo
rams trying daughter. and Paul Ever
ton and Lionel Adams as Whip"
Foggarty and Jack Diggs of the CEN
trail Office. Others in the cast are
Edith Browning, Edward J. Mack.
Maidel Turner and Noel Arnold
New National.