Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-11-20

next evening. tScene - IL hcloCh'
Harlet's comprehensive listing CT the
forms { Z drama failed to include the crook
play. Omitting the genus, 1t could not wei
classify species. Among Those Present
is the "Raffles" species of the crook
drama" genus. Directly It heroizes gen
tleman thief" and dscloses the stupidity
of the detective caste. BY indirection II
satlrizes the inaninity of society leaders,
the chuckleheadedncss Uf clubmcn. the pan
handling of drinks by club mouchers, tho
petty excuses of able-bodied slackers from
army service and the vanglory OF sc!.-
advertisers through war charities.
But Larry Evans and Walter Perclval.
the authors, one a short story writer from
whose tale the play Is developed and the
other an actor, whose stage experience is
seen in the handling, particularly the frm
dor Nination Of the center of the stage by the
leading player, have not attempted to
chaster morals with ridicule. The irony
and laughter are only incidental to the pro-
duction Of a playa play of set formula.
The center of tho stage is not the only
accepted standard of old-fashioned theat-
ricals in the construction.
Overheard conversations, portentous
asides. preliminary exposition by protracteu
dialogue. even the solloquy are utilized In
fabricating the plot out of familiar stage
the stagy--dcvices. Yet outmoded Conven-
tlons are counter.balanced by some Of the
o.d-fashioned virtues. 1t Is refreshing after
so many plays with n cast of Il triangle and
n butler to welcome "a whole stageful OF
people outside musical comedy. 1t is re-
freshing to have revived sentimentality and
comic relief. 1t is refreshing TO be able, as
one sophisticated through sitting through
many plays which start nowhere and wind
UP in the same spot, to be rcintroduced to a
plot and be able to anticipate its next
move And all the more refreshing ii Is to
those Innocent of provision in theatricals to
tafc ingenious joy In the suspense and won
der what is coming next and how the
characters are ever to be cxtricated from
their difficulties.
For the unsophisticated Among Those
Present has suspense for the initiated II
has Its own interest. The plot pivots on
an up-to-date Rafiies's game TO lift" a
d damond necklace. A clever scheme is
wrought through his ingenuity to take the
loot at the rehearsal of a play written for
a war charity by one of the idle rich. His
scenario is prepared with his opulcnt host
as chief dupe and tho beautiful young girl
owner of the gems as another, and his stage
is set at the tyro playwright's country place.
He outwits the country police and the
seuths from Central" And romantically at
the finale he leaves the jewels behind be-
cause the girl had placed her trust In him.
The gentleman thief of the tender heart
and soft conscience vanshes. He always
does while the explanations are being made
A simple plot this, of worn material
obviously treated. Yet the sum total of il
is entertainment SO good that an enthuSi-
astic audience applauded vigorously and
gave the players seven curtain calls at
the end of the second act. That is where
and uniformly good. Shelley Hull will not
and uniformly good. Shelly Hull will not
extinguish cherished memories of kyrle Bel
LEWIS polished art as the original Raffles
He Is not so suave or subtle. But he is
debonair, nonchalent In crises and urbane in
manner and above all he has the inestima
BILE asset of eupeptic youth. He brings
the zest of personal enjoyment to his role
rot the routined perfection OF superb tech
nical art in acting part The literary
fussy millionaire of George Howell is
amusingly and believably portrayed. The
coke sniffer" of Eric Snowden is one of the
most realistic character bits" OF recent
theatrical annals. Their colleagues give
them spirited individual support and team
work backing that carry the play to sue
cess. w. r. NJ