Evening star., 1916-01-04
New National.

AS the curtain arose on the first act
of Kick In" at the New National The
ater last night the observant portion
OF the audience noticed that the clock
on the book shelf in Inspector Garvey's
office registered the hour of 8, and that
it was real clock, keeping regular
time. This advance notice of realism
acted as stimulant upon those who
nave been watching painted clocks, and
prepared the nina for the things to
follow.
Willard Mack, the Washington man
who wrote the play, is nothing if not
tense and realistic. No more would he
allow deaf and dumb clock in his
play than he would allow an imitation
hypodermic syringe for Charles Carey,
his dope" fend.
Kick In" was at first Birds of
Prey and was introduced to the world
under that name in Washington. Since
then 1t has adopted an>alias; has be-
come famous and popular because it
works with perfect smoothness, so nec-
essary to melodrama. 1t is a first-class
example of the class of plays based on
the habits. morals and ethics of the
underworld as il comes in contact with
the police. The third degree, the brut-
al detective, the pig-headed police
chief, the bad girl. the x-convict, who
is endeavoring to live square; the dope
held. the real thief, the alleged thief,
d
Siedients, but. truth to tell, there is
scarcely more thrilling play OF
crooks and police to be round than
tnis same Kick In
Ii Is story of how a man who had
gonv Though the penitentiary and att
ei''d-o started life all over again with
a guvu wne finds himself mingiing with
Inc ir.~nd: OF his crooked DAYS simply
because other people shun him. OF
course. the police watch him simply on
theory .
and Is potential criminal at all times
How this man, Chick" Hewes becomes
enineshed In a great crime without ac-
tuaiy committing single wrong act and
now the police close in on him gradually,
with heinous malice in their operations,
make an extremely melodramatic story.
The plot is So filled with difficulties that
when Chick and his wife, Molly, appear
handcured In their evening clothes in the
poiice chiefs office there seems scarcely
amy known method by which they can be
reIeased for a happy ending by the time
the cur, ain goes down.
II there could be any complaint against
nick In it would be found in the fact
that the author. after having put his hero
ana hei oine through series of the mot
startling predicaments, finally rescues
them from Sing Sing because the wife
tells the police chief she hates to have
her child born behind the bars.
The company is excellent and evenly
balanced. George Henry Tilton, jr., as
Chick is convincing to the utmost.
Another interesting role is the cocaine
hend. played by Forrest Winant, who
is good enough to give any one "the
creeps. Maidel Turner, as Memphis
Bessie" cleverly impersonates a south
ern confidence woman. and Lillian An
dersen, as Myrtle Sylvester. sweetheart
OF a safe e-blower, shows knowledge of
the technique of meIodrama, and was
accorded generous applause for her ef-
forts. The Irish landlady in the play
is assumed by Lou Ripley. in a roliick-
ing. natural manner good to remember
and the landlady's daughter, gum
chewing fat-heeled, willow plume ed
'kiddo.' is excellently portrayed by
Beatrice Noyes. Margot Williams, as
Molly. the wife of Chick" plays
sweetly and with understanding. The
two rough-neck police officials are
John Sharkey and Joe Slaytor