The Washington times., 1917-11-06

A laugh and a genuine surprise in
every line are the principal charac-
teristics OF Max Marcin's crook"
play, Cheating Cheaters," the offer.
ing at the New National this week.
The play possesses a charm that ap-
pealsJ TO the most fastidious playgoer
and furnishes a wealth OF clean
amusement and thrills.
In Cheating Cheaters." hr. MARGIN
has built up a fabric that keeps his
audience guessing until the last cur
tain, and while a trifie fantastic at
times, this Is more OF a charm than
a drawback. 1t deals with the efforts
of two bands OF high-class crooks"
to steal the valuable jewels each be-
Heves the other to possess.
The Characterization are all excel
lent. the cast working with a
smoothness and naturalness seldom
found In company OF more than a
half dozen. Each member has a good
part and each makes the most OF the
opportunities presented.
The opening scene shows the Brock
ton mob" or band of crooks, in
stalled in sumptuous suburban
home. Nan. a young woman. is the
leader OF the band and Is aided by an
other woman crook, who poses as her
mother. Other members of the band
pose as the father. a music teacher,
and the butler The Brocktons have
made a journey to Europe to get ac-
quAinted with the Palmer family.
supposed to be very wealthy, and liv-
ing In a mansion near by. They are
now awaiting a call from the Pal
mers, intending to angle an invita-
tion from them for Nan to visit in
their household.
The visit Of the Palmers. apparently
very wealthy and very aristocratic, is
full OF laughable situations and gives
every member. of the cast n chance
to do some excellent acting. The sec
ond act shows the Palmers in their
own home, where Nan has been In
stalled as guest Nan is shown the
family Jewel collection, and gets all
the information necessary as TO the
location Of the safe for the robbery
that Is to be committed that night.
When she leaves the room. the Palm
ers hold a family conference. and for
the nrst time the audience is ac-
Quainted with the fact that the Palm
ers, too, are high-class crooks, bent
on robbing the pseudo Brocktons of
the wealth they are believed to pos
sess 80
Fear OF. detective who has been
trailing them decides the leaders OF
both bands TO commit the robberies
that same night Plans also are made
for a "getaway" to South America.
The next act shows young Tom
Palmer. who, by the way. has fallen
in love with Nan. with his pseudo
butler. ransacking the Brockton home.
They are discovered and locked in a
room, while the Brocktons go to rob
the Palmer house. Both gangs finally
are unmasked and decide to consoli-
date They are squabbling over q
division Of the spoils from several
robberies when detectives arrest them.
The next surprise comes when Nan
turns out TO be the famous detective.
and for love OF Tom Palmer offers the
members of both. gangs g chance to
reform.
Edward Ellis. who will be remem-
bered for his work as "Blackie" Daw
in Get Rich Quick Wallingford,"
played the master crook to perfection,
while Cathleen, Nesbitt. as Nan. gave
an excellent performances. Anne Suth-
eriand' never had better part or
played one better. and James Mar
lowe as the ''low-brow" safe-cracker.
furnished more laughs than all the
rest Of the cast. composed Of Edouard
Durand. Martin l. Alsop. Frank Mon
roe, Winifred Harris, Gypsy OBrien,
Arthur Barry, ]. NJ Holicky, Fletcher
Harvey and John Sharkey.