Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-09-04
Bayard Veiller's Expertly Made
Melodrama Brilliantly Opens
Season at Adelphi Theatre
FINE ACTING CLINCHES HIT

A mystery melodrama that turns a whole
audience into amateur detectives is no mean
feat in stagecraft The failure of Inspector
Tin, Donohue to solve the riddle of THE
Thirteenth Chair" is so complete that the
individual spectator involuntariy and ir-
resistibly takes a hand himself. What he
recalls of the methods Of Monsieur Dupin,
Iecoca. Sherlock Holmes and Mr.. Bucket
Is pressed into immediate service. About
midway IN the entertainment slight and
subtle hint is dropped which, IL acutely pur-
sued, would disclose the secret of the two
seemingly nsoluble murders, which are the
mainsprings of series of adroitly planned
absorbing scenes That last nights large
audience taken as whole. missed this
delicate clue was triumphantly demon
strated in the audible rustic of excitement
which ran through 1t when the ma
chinery of Bayard Veiler's clever play
eventually wrought the pulse-tingling de-
nouement. 1t Is hard to recall footlight
surprise better handled than this one. To
find its parallel in the realm of fiction re-
course must be had to THE Moonstone"
wilkie Collins, however took two capaclous
volumes to build up and unravel his clas-
sic mystery. Mr.. WELLER expertly con-
denses his enigma and its answer In three
rather short acts. They actually seem
much longer than they really are In just
the same way as tense situations in life
Invariably appear to be imperfectly meas
ured by clock hands. A second-ip a crisis
can have the apparent duration Of a year.
'"The Thirteenth Chair has been called
a trick play. but since to create such a
work in its best estate was clearly the
authors intention, there can be nothing In
dict. Some years ago Mr.. WELLER tried his
hand at melodrama with sociological trim
mings. His highly successful within the
Law. had points of technical excellence,
but its philosophy or message was in no
wise notable Sheer entertainment through
the medium of dramatic dexterity Is his
aim now. The attainment of that ambition
eloquently serves to Justify 1t.
There is so much fun in keeping the well
padlocked secret Of THE Thirteenth Chair''
that the managerial hope that the critics
will keep mum about 1t must necessarily
be respected by any conscientious reviewer
who still loves the theatre. There can be
no harm. however, in saying the acumen
OF spiritualistic medium, driven I'd des-
perate measures when her own daughter Is
accused of being a murderer. triumphs over
the wits of an exceedingly keen and vividly
characterized police inspector. and that the
numerous seances presented, curiously COM
pounded as they are of trickery and sin
certify. vastly enhance the eerie alluremen,
Of the piece
TrippiEgly into type runs that ancient
phrase 1.-The acting leaves nothing to be
desired" Valid proof is In most instances
difficult, but Margaret Wycherly's realistic
restraint as the alleged psychic medium
temptingly invites high praise Not since
the Irish players came here has an "old
woman" type been so faithfully depicted.
Harrison Hunters years of Shakespearean
training are luminously manifested in the
clear incisive enunciation with which he
edorns his portrait of the baffied sleutn.
Eileen Van Biene is winsome and appeal
ing in the rather difficult role of the heroine
caught In the web of false accusation. The
other parts are in competent hands A
single setting Is the background for the
swift. compressed action. H.TC