The Washington times., 1916-02-15
NATIONAL.

s'on Trial which Oohan & Harris
brought TO the New National Theater
last night, IL remarkably ingenious In
presentation, Intensely melodramatic
and absorbing IN It's story. hawless In
its portrayal. and old only In the SUBJ
ject treated. "the eternal triangle"
Moving with a fwiftness that makes
its novel manner OF telling a delightful
surprise. the play OF Elmer L. Reizen-
stein was greeted by an audience. the
appreciation of which was eloUIently
expressed in tomblike silence EXCEPT
when the curtain lowered after each
act, when the theater hummsd and bug
red in unendlng comment on the thrills
offered.
Applause was minus. not from iaci. OF
appreciation, but from sheer excite
ment accustomed by the absorbing
story and the strilsinely original man
ner Of its narration. Not until the cur
tain descended on the surprising de-
movement did the audience relax sur
ticlently to bestow upon the. capable
pSe peri srs,, d m1od Of audible praise
In tho prologue Robcrt Strickland is
"On Trial for murder. The last juror
declares he IL not opposed to the an
district attorney states his case. The
wife OF the murdered man Il called 20
the stand and begins telling OF a tele-
phone call that Immediately preceded
phone Dell rang" shc says. and with
| stage dnrkened, the scene changes 10
the library of Gerald Trask whore the
vile enActs the rest OF her story. Each
some Important witness Is giving testi-
/ mony. and the second scenes are the
actual locale OF the testimony.
The author has provided big moments
| fpr all the principals. the first In tn,
committed, followed quickly by th'
murder; the second where the trustint
husband learns his wife has been be
/ trayed by Trask. and again hack to tn,
courtroom. where the defendant shakes
under the strain of his act and tn,
acute realization OF his wife's betrayal
and where his child offers reluctant bu
| damning testimony. Rnd the agonizinl
story of his wife In told the jury.
An epilogue shows the jury room. will
eleven jurors trying to convince the OBJ
durate twelfth man. and the finale 4
again In the courtroom, to which tn
Jurors go for further enlightenment OF
a disputed point. and where the judg
permits the Introduction OF new evi
dence that brings about perhaps tn
biggest surprise of the trial and send
the audience away condoning a cold
FLOODED murder because Mr.. Reizen
stems manner OF presentation permit
of no other verdict.
The Conan & Harris company 1
headed by Frederick Perry, who's
forceful. though repressed, emotion A
| the courtroom scenes was the pictur
OF distress. In the scene where h
learns the story OF his wife. Perry ros
; splendidly to his opportunity. OF Mis-
Marie Leonhard. as the wife. much wa
demanded. and she responded with cor
summate skill in her big scene befor
confession and with careful realization {
her lines I'm relating the sordid story Z
her betrayal In the courtroom. Eth,
Downie, In the role Of the child, CON
bned intelligence IN delivery with d.,
erection In stage presence. As the mul
dered man. Frederick Truesdell display
ed excellent work. and Hans Robert
demonstrated resourcefulness in III
, roe of the secretary. Neil Moran an
Gardner Crane. as the opposing attol
neys. and J. Wallace Clinton. Fran
Foster. AID Lawrence Eddinger
character parts added to the general e,
cellence OF the cast