New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-12-31
BY HECTOR TURNBULL.


We cheerfully confess to a slight
weakness for good detective plays, well
acted and so battling that the climax
comes as a complete surprise. There
fore we mad a very good time at the
first performance Of Secret Strings"
last night at the LoTgacre Theatre, for
it is a most engaging thriller extreme
~ well played.
OF course, the hypercritical (who
should never go to crook plays may
object TO certain dramatic flaws more
or less apparent in the four acts, such
as a holiday feast that consists Of but
soup and coffee, punctuated by song and
recitation. This incongruity, however,
and one or two drags in the second act
may be easily eliminated or CLOSED
over by the director, and the play
should run more smoothly after the
operation. As II stands the play is
thoroughly interesting and has for its
crooked hero and honest heroine two
of the most pleasing players We have
seen together IN some time.
Lou-Tellegen is the super-crook
Rene. who plots 20 rob "a French
chateau of its hoard OF jewels, and
Mary Nash IS the woman who by force
Of circumstance must needs help him
i'm his dastardly deed. There is Sc
cret meeting Of the gang in Paris m
the first act, and the pot gets under
way when Ren6is seen az a guest at
the chateau, with accompllces sur
rounding the grounds. and Jeanette, or
Mary Nash. installed in the house as a
companion 10 the Countess.
We don't propose 10 tell the tale Of
Secret Strings" in this report, rs that
m ght take the edge of the surprise Of
the last act. 1t is enough TO know that
Jeanette and Rene were once mar
ried, but when she found out his
method Of acquiring money she left
him at once. How he induces her 10
help him. how she finds a long lost
lover, and above all. how Rene gets of
with the hoard Of jewels in spite o.
tremendous G Obstacles, Is all woven into
the plot and entertainingly unravelled
by the excellent cast, with full empha-
Sis on the thrills.
Lou-Tellegen, whose Grecian profile
and lengthy figure have thrown photog-
raphers into Ccstacies since he first
came 20 this country with Bernhard, is
admirably suited TO the role of Rene.
All of his gestures and movements are
shrewdly studied and lend fine air of
dark adventure TO his scenes. His
voice. too. is pleasing, and his dlctlon
clear. with hardly a trace Of accent.
Mary Nash is wholly charming as
Jeanette. This attractive actress seems
TO gravtate 90 roles that call for pity
ard sympathy and offer a great show Of
the emotions Of one who must fear
fully submit 70 the crushing demands
of cruel fate. In any other hands but
hers the roles Of this kind that she
has played for the last few seasons
would seem highly artificial and in
sincere. but Miss Nash seems able 20
give them by sheer skill as a player an
appeal that is Immediately felt and
consistently maintained. As the I'M
fortunate wife of Rene in her present
play, she appears to be better suited
than ever, and makes her scenes with
the crook effective and quite convnc-
ing.
Frederick de Belleville, who plays a I
bogus count, and who is distinguished
as owning one of the most magnificent .
corporations of any actor on the stage,
was very welcome in his rather meagre
role. Every line this actor speaks rs
worth hearing, and il is rather a pity
he has so few. Hamilton Revelle
beams many toothy smiles as the
lover, Victor, and pats q lady's hand in
really eloquent manner when he .
makes love.
Blanche Yurka plays the maid well,
and Marion Abbot is quite the Count
ess. The rest Of the cast are well
selected, particularly the Crooks ac-
completes, who are certainly a set Of
desperate dogs. On the whole. Secret
Strings should prove thoroughly
10 thea-regoers who Ike 20
see handsome thieves get away with
it, and beautiful ladies win happiness
in spite ot almost overwhelming OBJ
stacles