Norwich bulletin., 1915-02-15
KIRK BROWNS PRODUCTION
Of The Woman in the Case at the
 Davis Theatre.


 The Woman in the Case is probably the greatest work of Mir. Fftch's. The scene opens at the home of Mir. and Mrs. Julian ROlfe, 6 happy pair on their honeymoon. It is presently made known that Julian, some years before, had been for a. brief time infatuated with an adventures Of the genus chorus girl. meTcenaIy, vicious and vulgar creature, under the spell of whose arts com paTatiyely Gnsophis- LiCated boy writes compromising and foolish letters. which later return to a+Eer JuIal's eyes are opened to the EygrtlieSSneSS of the woman, SlITren- aers to what develops into an earnest aud overwhelming passion for her Julian, seeing the peril of his friend, eScrLs himself to make him see it also and obtains from him a solemn pledge t0 give over his purpose to marry her. That enTageS the woman, Claire Poster DE name. and although she doubles her efforts to hold him. he is a man of honor who will not break his word, once given. But he persuades himself tlat he cannot live without her and commits suicide in her presence. That i~ the maCdened and baff1ed wOman'S s cue for revenge, and she adTOitly makes 1t appear that Julian Rolfe mur- Gered Philip Long. BOlfe is arrested, imprisoned in the Tombs and tried for murder
 In the meantime his devoted and faithful wife, who never falters in her sure conviction of her husbands inno- ceuce of the crime imputed to him. has overheard an interview between IHl.ans attorney and the woman in tle CaSe,' and resolves that the only way to obtain eNculpaL-ng evidence is -D worm herself into the confidence of the she devil who seeks an innocent mans death. She cOnfides her plan to the lawyer, who gives il hIs prOfeS- slunai approval and encourages her to undertake 1t. seeing that nothing can aetleat her from her purpose. She dis appears rom her home, rents a fiat in tEe building where Claire has her lair, makes a cGnlidaTc and seeming friend of her. drinks with her. smokes cigar cites with her has jolly little suppers" with her and her gentleman friends" swears with her. practices the coarse speech that Is common on the tongue of the woman whose secret she is try ing to unveii, and, in short, lives in outward seeming the life the other 1eadss
 One night. and that the very night before the trial which can be delayed mo longer, the anguished wife, fearful that all her sacrifices must eVentuate in nothing but defeat, gives a little party. Champagne is literally bastoW- ed on Claire The Rolfe lawyer and a police detective are hidden in an ad- joining room. By an aEtfully con- trived expedient the guests except Claire are got out of the way, and in a. scene of almost tragic interest. grow ing momently more and more tense, lhe drunken drab is beguiled into con fessing the truth about the death of Philip Long. The words are scarcely out of her mouth when Mrs. Rolfe seizes her by the throat in q passion of fury and reveals the trick she has played to save her husband The law yer and the detective burst into the supper room and the self betrayed wantop, overcome by wine, falls back in a sudden stupOr, while her triumph ant enemy gives way to the joy that at last repays her for all the seif-infiicted 5Dd.gnitieS she has endured.
 This play is given a magnificent presentation this evening. For Tues day matinee and evening Iife's Show Window, a great play from q great novel, will be the offering.