New-York tribune., 1917-09-04
THE CAST

II requires a good play to compen-
safe for even single curtain speech,
but "The Masquerader" rose above
three at the Lyric Theatre last night,
and still had something to spare.
Thanks, first, to sore brilliant acting
by Guy Bates Post, and secondly, to a
workmanliHe, if elaborated, drama
tization by John Hunter Booth, it prob
ably could have stood Mt least eight or
ten more. Fortunately for all, the ex-
pertinent was not made, however, so
there was no doubt at all of the plays
success. To say nothing of Mr.. Posts
Katherine Cecil Thurston's novel was
n best seller almost decade ago, but
such is the vogue Of best sellers that
the piece probably will appeal to a
majority of theatregoers as a new play
At best a few persons will recall that
"The Masquerader" was novel in
which somebody resemble somebody
else. Then, too, Mr.. Booth has boz
stored up the story here and there FOR
dramatic purposes. In the main, he
has done an excellent job; the flaws in
the play are the flaws which inevitably
show themselves when such a story 10
darmatized, and are ineradicable.
Mr.. Booths play begins with the
meeting of John Chilcote and John
Loder in the fog, and there follow
eight scenes. which alternate for .he
most part, between the residence Of
Chilcote and the lodgings of Loder.
Mr. Post, Of course, plays both the
drug-soaked Chilcote and the sturdy
Loder. and the opportunities for tricks
OF substitution have not been over
looked. Occasionally it is necessary
to bring the two men momentarily
face 70 face, but in these cases Mr..
Post speaks fer both. The trick is
well done, OF course, but it remains a
trick which is easy Of detection. At
these times, as in "The Willow Tree"
one IS likely to become absorbed In
the mechanics to the exclusion of the
story.
Mr.. Booth has been wise enough to
take number Of liberties with Mrs.
Ihurston'S story, and one and all work
for increased dramatic effect. In par
ticular, he has advanced the action TO
the outbreak of the present war, and
by casting the suspicion of espionage
upon Loder he has contrived an in
genlous second act curtain. MIR. Booth
has endowed Loder with a scar. in lieu
or a strawberry mark, and il is the
impending discovery of this identified
ton mark which supplies the over
hanging catastrophe. II is true that it
never is made to seem very real, but il
is brought sufficiently close TO insure a
deft curtain.
As either Chilcote or Loder Guy
Bates Post was on the stage for the
entire evening. His performance
throughout was excellent. and not in
frequently it was brilliant. The part
of Chilcote naturally offered the more
showy opportunities, and he was at his
best in the early scenes as this char
acter, when the drug was just begin
ming 10 have it's effect. The death
scene vas also handled skilfully and
with becoming horror.
The piece was well acted throughout,
particularly by Louis O. Calvert. in the
role of a family retainer, and Ruby
Gordon as conventional cockney
housemaid. That's Lawton did fairly
well as the wife, but was miscast.
The piece has been well produced,
and Is altogether a creditable achieve
ment. The changes of scene are man
aged with a minimum OF time and eff
fort, and not the least noteworthy event
of the evening was the dropping of the
curtain before II o'clock G.. s. K.