Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-02-15
New National,

There are many unusual features in
che thriller ION Trial." offered at the
New National Theater this week These
are found in the story of the murder
trial which constitutes the basis of the
plot; in the manner of presenting 1t.
and in the conception of the principal
role by Frederick Perry, who PLAYS the
part of the defendant, Robert Strick-
land.
The first surprise comes within few
minutes of the first lines ThA au-
dience sees an ordinary courtroom
scene, with clerk of the court swear
ing in typical jury. The defendant at
the table with + counsel appears to
be in stupor. The first witness mounts
the stand, and begins to tell the story
of how Strickland shot her husband
when presto! the lights are extinguish-
ed all over the house, leaving stage and
audience in inky blackness: There is a
rush and hustle in subdued manner on
the blackened stage, and when the
lights are turned on full glare sudden
iy there is totally different scene
And then the audience understands that
the actors are now going through with
exactly the story that tho witness on
the stand Is telling. After that scene
there is the courtroom again, and an
other witness. the blackened theater,
the quick change, and again the actors
present something that occurred thir-
teen years previous to the murder, with
that interest which always accompanies
the artistic makeup and delineation of
the same people" in another decade.
This change of scene happens three
time, unfolding story of a self-con-
fessed murder, with incidents which
would give the CORY headline writer
one Of the best moments of his entire
career.
The twist which is given the story
AT the end TO make it have the proper
climax is a most unusual and interest
ing bit of work. II is brought about
after the case has gone to the jury.
This In itself is rarely done. but the
legal network of the scene is carefully
and properly woven and there is no
flaw, II is understood. on those grounds.
The scene in the juryroom. with the
one hard-headed juror holding out and
finally calling for new testimony,
which leads TO the uncovering Of the
states star witness as the only real
criminal, is the unexpected develop
rnent
The whole story tells how Gerald
Trask years ago ventured to coZen
young girl into a marriage that never
happened. for the very good reason
that Mrs. Trask appeared in time to
prevent II. Then, thirteen years later,
how Trask and Strickland fell into
business deals, and how, meantime, the
Young girl had become Strickland's
wife.
Mrs. Strickland again fell afoul of
the noisome Trask, and he threatened
to expose her to her husband unless
she did certain things. all of which
cause the poor woman to have the
worst sort OF Mysteries and tell many
yalpa BILE lies. ali to no purpose, because
Trask is shot dead in the middle of the
Eight by the outraged Strickland, just
second or two after the Trask safe is
robbed by the trusted Trask secretary.
These things may be said to contain
all the old-time stock elements of
melodrama. and that would be true to
a certain extent. There is. however, an
artistic charm to the presentation
which goes far toward overcoming
captious criticism.
Much of the interest in the play lies
In the sudden switches from the court
room scene, where the witnesses and
the defendant are tense and excited, to
the quickly changed scene where the
same characters are pursuing the even
tenor of their way. In one of these
scenes the wife. haggard and pale on
the witness stand, Is suddenly trans
formed to herself when q Jolly young
girl of seventeen years. The success
of this depends on the actors Fred
erick Perry. the defendant. is a master
at these sudden changes of style.
Marie Leonhard, as his wife, has more
than ordinary ability to accentuAte the
dramatic elements Of her role. The
other members Of the caste are entirely
competent