The Washington times., 1917-02-06
WILLARD MACK Is
HIT In new PLAY
"AIias" Well Received At Its
Premiere At the Belasco
Theater.

II healthy determination to hiss
the villain IS any sign of whether a
play be a success or not, "Alias." now
playing its first week on the stage at
the Belasco Theater, surely has quail
ties which will make it a production
worthy of the money and attention of
many audiences.
Willard Mack, author-actor. in the
role of the Swiss counterfeiter who
refuses to go back to his business of
making plates. after his release from
prison, incites the deepest sympathy
and admiration.
Healthy Reaction.
AS a perfectly healthy reaction the
Vaccinations Of the rascals who were
the means of having him Jailed for
the best years of his life are received
with freezing enthusiasm.
David Belasco. together with the au-
thor-actor, made a brief appearance
on the stage and responded to the ac-
claim of the audience, which gave its
warm approval of the play.
The story opens in Auburn prison,
in the warden's office. on the day set
for the release of Strauss, the man
who went up" nearly lifetime ago.
First Act Best.
This first act is dramatically and
technically the best portion Of the
play.
The other three acts. especially the
last two, leave the audience in hope
that the intense and sympathetic
moments of the first act will be re-
peated.
Strauss, as the officer who follows him
after hisirelease has foreseen, is hunted
out by the two other men who forced
his downfall, and, threatened by them
almost despairs OF finding bis daughter.
This child was committed to the care
of Fralinger, the. leader Of the gang.
when Strauss firsx went to the pen"
Under the Impression that she died,
Strauss leaves the penitentary with the
sole idea of finding Fralinger and his
baby's grave
BIaekmaiI Efforts.
He discovers, however. that she is not
dead. is married. living in the same city
with him, and the mother Of children.
How the counterfeiters try to blackmah
the daughter and father in an effort to
force the old man to make the nsw
plate, and how the lost ones are brought
together form the remainder Of the
story.
While there is a satisfactory end.
ing to the piece from technical
standpoint, with the father and
daughter reunited, the last act seems
to miss much of the deep human in
terest and sympathy or the nrst
All Love Old Swiss.
As a direct result of the deep love
one harbors for the old Swiss, and
the delightful sense OF revenge ex-
perienced at the downfall OF his
enemies, one naturally wishes that the
final moments of complete happiness
for the old man be without flaw or
interruption. Dr..
His appearance as Santa Claus to
his own grandchildren in the last act,
while full of sweet moments, seems
to be theatrical and trite. But the
short story of John Morosco so de-
yeloped the idea. Minor roles in the
play are not only well cast but well
acted. Edwin Mordant, who used to
do such excellent work with William
Gillette, lives up to his high standard
in the short but satisfactory pre-
sentation OF the prison warden in
act one.
Restrain and Insight.
Annie Mack Berlein and Margaret
More1and played with restraint and
insight the roles allotted them.
The scenes are made with Belasco-
like faithfuIness to detail. 1t is re-
gretfuI that so much OF what should
have been the height of the action
and suspense of the play, takes place
in semi-darkness.
The usual Wednesday matinee will
be given on Thursday owing to the
engagement of the Symphony Or
chestra OF New York at this theater.
FLORENCE YODER.