The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-09-02
WORK OF MAX MARGIN

Edith .............. Florence walcott
There was probably the same thought
In the minds OF most OF the people who
picked their way through the theatres
Of West Forty-second street last night
to witness the opening OF the new sea-
son at the Gambler Theatre. The pro-
duction Of Max Marcin's play, THE
House OF Glass" marked the beginning
OF this successful playhouse's second
year of existence. Its first was notable
for the performance of n solitary drama.
This was the work of the hitherto un-
known Elmer R~eizenstein, who with
ION Trial" showed himself the most
original playwright of the past season.
But before hat piece was acted he was
no better known than Max Mercin.
Would history repeat itself? was the
question that occurred last night to
many OF those who burden their minds
with such weighty matters as the met
ropolitan drama while they awaited the
rise of the curtain.
Mr.. MARGIN. who has come into the
realization of his ambition so suddenly
that q second play from his pen is to be
seen tonight at another New York
theatre. was a journalist employed on
various newspapers of this city before
he began TO devote himself TO the thea
tire. II is said that the two dramas
which will reach the stage this week
were written some time ago and post
poned in the dioheartening manner that
so many oun writers for the stage
must experience.
Mr.. R~eizenstein last year earned his
great success through a novel mechani-
cal means of revealing the progres of
a more or less conventional story of ir-
regular love. The young playwright
who got his first chance last night did
not depart far from familiar fields in
his fiction. The title Of his play refers
TO the DANGER to those who may have
crime somewhere in their own lives
while they seek to punish its existence
elsewhere.
story Of the Play.
There was an innocent girl with a
criminal record as the heroine of the
play last night. She had been deceived
into an engagement with a man of GRIM
lnal record. arrested with him when
about to start for the West. and. in her
loyalty to him. sent to prison. She is
released, out by going to the West and
working there as a stenographer. breaks
DtT DdTplt. buN sue Wits d lusDdIu III
her employer, who soon acquires an i'm
portance as a man OF railroad affairs
that results in his transfer to the East.
He Is noted in his administration of the
affairs OF the railroad company for his
uncompromIsing attitude toward all
those guilty of dishonesty. one of the
first to suffer under his rigorous prose-
cution OF the guilty is a boy who has
stolen money from the railroad.
II ha pnana that tha yCpth haS friapda
and one Of them is no less highly placed
than the highest magistrate OF the
State. But there Is to he no mercy for
the boy. No pleadings are to have any
effect. II happens hat the same detec-
tive who was concerned in the appre-
hension OF the railroad managers wife
comes to his house. lie. Of course. rec
ognizes the woman. Her husband knows
nothing of her earlier misfortune. But
the revelation has to come. since only
by allowing the boy to escape the con-
sequences of his crime Is II possible for
the oma to be pardoned for breaking
her prison parole.
.. When his wife is about to be arrested
and the Governor OF tho State calls at
his house to plead for the Young thief's
freedom, the railroad manager is able
to set his wife free through the action
Of the Governor as the price of allowing
49, - ~ 49, W
his false step, once out OF his house Of
glass the infexible railroad manage Is
able to throw stones In any direction he
may desire.
,, Audience Gets It's Answer.
There was a prompt answer to the
question uppermost in the minds OF the
audience before the end Of the second
act. The new playwright was not a
second Reizenstein. although Mr.. Mar
cin had written a play OF which any
young dramatist might be proud. IL
possesses the inestimable advantage OF
being most interesting in its closing
minutes.
So the audience left with an impress
sion OF dramatic force which was lack
ing almost throughout the play until
/. the tonguetied heroine was released
from the peril that impended. She might
have cleared up all the mysteries OF
, the situation and enlightened her stern
F, husband as to her altogether innocent
past quite as well in the second act as
she did In the last minutes of the third.
So she was not an interesting figure
until she had done what was reasonable
: to put herself right with her husband.
Then the audience for the first time
wanted to see her freed from the Inn
pending return to prison. The stiff
e necked husban nd here took his right place
In the affections OF the audience be-
cause he was willing, as he should have
been in the first instance, to forgive the
innocent woman who had been his wife
\ for eight years. II all Of Mr.. Marcin's
play had been as well devised to interest
= his listeners rs the few minutes IN
which its values were placed In their
!, right light The House OF Glass" would
nave taken a frmer grip on the audi
ence.
The arrest in the first act, devised In
n manner ENTHUSIASTICALLY that OF
. George VI. Conan, who produced tht
play. first stirred the pulses OF tn,
@ spectators. The second act, which
: showed the wife rather n prig In hei
advocacy of prison reform. was alto
G gether narrative and It's only m
d quality was impaired by the appear
c nee of the chauffeur 10 warn her no
TO return to New York. His presence
aid not serve to add strength to thu
scene, since It merely served TO cxag
rerate her lack of common sense II
keeping to herself a secret which sh'
might have impaired to the man WHIT
loved her and have avoided subsequen
u complications.
Final scene Absorbing.
The third act found the spectators M
more patient with this silent younl
II m in spite OF her Increased pallor
Then all hands were talking about nj
..-.I I,-. ana nh ~ "a ~