New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-02-20
BY HECTOR TURNBULL.

When one considers the time that
has elapsed since 1.-THE Trap" first saw
the light as a one.act play in vsude-
Vile it might be supposed that the
authors would have removed all the
traces OF its elaboration. II appeared
last night at the Booth, however, that
they had omitted to polish the joinery
in many places.
II was "a though Mr.. Goodman. play
wright. had said to Mr.. Davis, author:
Richard, we'll have TO do thus and so
with the first, second and last acts to
| iibe with your third act situation
And Richard had answered.: Jules, you
said something; let's 60 70 it." And
then. in the heat Of the exciting mo-
ment both forgot to sandpaper the
cracks. Nevertheless, the new melo-
drama Is by no means uninteresting.
Its story holds, and IL is decidedly
we'll played by the excellent cast Mr..
! Arthur Hammerstein has provided.
The first act introduces the fair
daughter of a chronic prospector. They
! have lived In a shack in the Yukon
! for three years, in the hope that some
day dad would strike it rich and thu y
could bring wealth to the remainder OF
| their family in New York. The daugh--
ter, we also learn, has been betrayed
into a mock marriage by ne'er- dc well
and is being blackmailed by tin-horn
gambler of the mining camp.
Also, in the first act the girl Is COM
pelled to refuse two offers Of marriage.
/ One is from an Eastern agent Of min
/ ing firm, and another from the good
brother Of the very bad ne'er-do-well
Just as she refuses the good brother
she learns that her betrayer has been
kille', so she leaves for New York and
a wedding with the choice of her heart
none other than the Eastern agent.
Matchmaking Martin is not to be thus
easily foiled, however. He finds her IN
New York, and in the short space OF
two acts manages TO get her into most
devilishly ingenious situation. Her hus-
band believes that her betrayer is the
good brother, and goes a-killing with
, his revolver. She fees TO warn the good
brother of his peril. In the good
brothers rooms the two hatch scheme
to outwit the blackmailer and clear the
air of scandal generally.
Skipping the minute details involved
this is how it all turns out: The black
mailer is killed dead as nail by the
wife; the good brother wounds himself
and so clears the woman before the
Coroner's jury; the husband hears the
full story in the last act and forglveS
all; and the good brother is left by the
falling curtain to console himseif WIN
the younger sister OF the woman ne
saved.
Fortunately, the good brother was
Ill
firmly believe, could make the most un
interesting role worth seeing. His
commanding, forceful presence made
the ouixotic character not only real but
lastly interesting. Martha Hedman dld
we'll with the equally exacting part OF
the woman with the past. Her emo
tional outbursts were particularly con-
vincinr and showed her at her best.
David Powell, the young player VINO
came into notice recently for MS
splendid work in play at the Pm,
cess Theatre, did not appear 10 gooo
advantage until he struck his more I'M
,assioned speeches and scenes. PROB
ablv this was due TO very natural ner-
,,ousness. but the difference between
the fine sincerity of his acting IN the
enc tempo and the obvious artiiiciaiity
anparent in the other was clearly
marked. ,,,.
Elaine Hammerstein was a delight
,ul surprise. She is charming IN
oenue and lent n naive touch to the
little sister that made her appearance
welcome and refreshing. FULLY Mar
shall. who can look as wicked and I'M
gcrupulous as any player on the stage
cave the blackmailer a touch OF cum
hing and GOODNESS that added much to
| The force Of the character.
"The Trap" is undoubtedly depend
ont AZ present upon the force OF its
cast for its chief interest, but with a
little additional polish from its au-
thors it would easily slip into the class
OF melodramatic thrillers that manage
to stay on Broadway for long time