New-York tribune., 1914-10-01
LAW OF THE LAND"
IS PRESENTED
New BrOadhurst Melo-
drama a Play of Alarms
and Excursions.
JULIA DEAN is THE
HARASSED HER DINE
A First Act Murder Made Into a
Fourth Act Suicide by a
Father on the Force.

"The Law of the Land" a melo-
drama In four acts by George Broad
hurst AZ the Forty-eighth Street
THE CAST.
Arthur BroelSland. ,,,.... George Graham
NhttWooq -. .,.s......'.ss HARRY Lll!loru
Robert Harding. .........,.., Charles Lane
Nfs; Hardlne '.'''..''' MISS Jp, Jp,ls D9an D,,ia
Beunie. .....,..,....,....M Master Mscomber
Doctor whittridso....,,,., James seelGy
Police Captain PritchiSfdl walter craven
Policeman Burns. .......,.,, Thomas Gum
Policeman TaNlor. ........, Harry Dldrld6o
Inspector Cochrane, ,,..... George Faweot
As the chief function of melodrama
is to provide thrills and suspense,
George Broadhu SITS latest effort, "The
Law of the Lane presented last night
a. the Forty-oighth Street Theatre,
quite lives up TO les label. And that,
we take It, is ali that the patrons Of
melodrama ask We do not demand
tngt a Inelodrama be written with 8
view % It's literary quality we want
play constructed by craftsman. nc
want rapid succession of elarums
and excursions, with a ghastly at
mosphere of doubt and apprehension,
right up to the final curtain and within
a tick of the happy ending. Wen, we
have our wish. "The Law Of the
Land" is built upon battle, murder and
sudden death, and built by a play
wright who knows how 20 keep his au-
dience in doubt He succeeded so well
last night that nobody, not even iidgety
newspaper men, we're able TO guess the
denouement and leave before the end,
some time after IL.
Fir. Broadhurst presents a problem,
too, not always quite logical, but never
theleSs a real bang-up problem. FIRST,
he opens up q most amazing family
cupboard A wife whose lover has re-
turned from abroad after an absence
OF five years finds herself and the lover
obliged TO confess q rather stunning
secret, She tells her husband that he
is not the father of her little son. The
long absent lover is the father. There
ensues a terrific row, and when the
husband threatens 10 beat the boy with
a dog whip the wife shoots him dead as
the Drovcrbial nail, on the spot. No
body is at all sorry, their interest Is
entirely centred upon a means OF es,
cape for the murderess. The entire
household conspire to protect the wife.
devoted secretary cratuly places the
revolver near the dead mans hand, and
an equally DEVOTED butler goes him one
better and clasps the dead fingers
about the weapon. They await with
horrible apprehension the visit Of tho
police and the coroner.
Just as they begin to breathe IN re-
lief a doubt enters the mind Of the po-
1s.g A.f 1Inphto 1nfg n0llrn
captains minds with greater ease than
most things. When the wife has about
decided 70 confess tho lover pleads
with her to let him pose as tnc guilty
one for the sake Of their boy. Here
We have the problem in full force.
After much sobbing, heaving and fist
clenching she consents. Here we have
the QuixOtic hero going 20 certain
death for love aud his problem. The
suspense increases with a mighty wave
until the inspector Of police comes IN
and assumes charge OF the case. lie
is the happy father Of twin boys. Do
you see a great light? Could such a
man take a woman 10 jail for murder
If he knew the whole story? Mr.. Broad
hurst believes not. The mother cou-
fesses to the fatherly inspector, he
grayely turns to the audience and pre-
nUuncGG LnsSt hDINss AlanalAN8 gOUA
husband shot himself by accidently
dropping a revolver upon the floor. !
shall tell the coroner so myself"
Rather neat, is it no..
The play. while il shows spots where
the interest flags, moves on the whole
smoothly md undoubtedly keeps its
audience in that desirable state OF
anxiety and expectation so necessary
t. melodrama, The cast, particularly
in the minor roles, is we'll selected.
Miss Julia Dean had a very large order
10 ill in the role of the unhappy wife.
She was in a continual state Of tears
and agitation from $3.50 TO 11:l5, and
she murdered and wept with unhinch-
/ ing staadfastness OF purpose. Charlie,
/ Lane did a better bit Of work as tho
brutal husband than in anything We
/ have seen him play. Milton Sills played
I consistently and with his usual com.
posure the lover, Two exceedingly
/ welcome members Of the cast were
| George Graham and Harry Liliford, as
| the secretary and butler. Both Of
| these PLAYERS showed marked ability
| and got the fult value out Of their
! lines. The playing Of George Fawcett
/ is always pleasure to watch 9nd his
| simple, unassuming treatment Of the
police insuector's role made ore ready
/ 10 be convinced that police inspectors
with twins are just ss human as any