The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-06-30
AT s:46,' DETECTIVE
! STORY PLAY OPENS
Brady Begins His Own Little
Dramatic Season to Play
house Audience.
SHOW FAILS TO THRILL
Presentation Would BE Far
More Exciting IL Told in q
Magazine
SHOW FAILS TO THRILL
"a. .,.r.-As IN. Playhouse.

The fruitful cinema. handmaiden OF
the Good as well as the Beauutui. mas
already taught youth some usetui les
sons. There Is no reason now why
everybody should not know why gl,Is
lsaye home and boys hit the scarlet
+rail or wrestle with the spreading evil.
But II remained for the poor old drama
10 show at the Playhouse on SATURDAY
what may happen II young men stay
home nights There were balefui con-
ssouences when Hotcdrd Clayton, prodi-
rai son of q fashionable family that
freuuented the Ritz-Carlton. probably
for the arst time in his adult life failed
to start out on his usual rouno Oh
nocturnal pleasure.
n NAV have been. although his In
tsntiou was not mentioned, that he set
tied In his fathers library to read rne
Education of Henry Adams" At all
events, he was shot by the hand OF
would-be assassin after short inter-
val--to be precise. at s:4b. Note tne
prompt consequence of such an abrupt
change in the daily routine OF fast
life.
After a while the audience that wit
messed the first production Of Owen
Daviss play wondered how this young
man had lived so long. He was not
popular. The family chauffeur wanted
to get at him for motives OF sentimental
origin his former betrothed was after
him for the letters he had kept and
threatened to publish to the world; her
lover wanted to finish UP a few mat
tiers that had begun in club brawl; q
French waiter was not sure but that
he was out too often with his wife, and
the family waitress was determined to
kill him unless he made an honest
woman Of her. Probably any insurance
company would have called this young
man a bad risk. But on his sick bed.
Just as the curtain was about to tall.
II was by no means sure he had not
survived the myster .sus attack. As
one of the characters observed, he could
stand q good deal of shooting. He did
not pass out with the drama: SO the
tale OF the young mans adventures
ended on an unresolved chord.
First Scene Of Play.
When the curtain arose on AT Q AS"
II not on the new theatre year, Mr..
Brady to the contrary, the audience
saw an empty library and heard the
frantic shrieks OF a woman struggling
TO enter the room. She was urging her
companions TO break open the door.
They did finally, and the group was as
tonished to annd the son of the house.
hold missing, His mother had heard q
shot and was convinced he was MUIR
dered. They sought him in vain until
the door Of closet was opened and his
body fell out.
But he was not dead This was quite
the most thrilling scene the play con-
tanned. The police were already in the
house. Indeed from that time on the
dramatic action was Uttered with cops
In theme Mr. Davis's play is not unlike
who Did It?' which was seen last
week at the Belmont Theatre. THAI
amateurish little piece was in some
scenes, however. more audacious ant
original than AT 9:45." The new
drama did not at least turn out TO bt
a cinema or rehearsal or anything els,
than chase for an assassin in posse.
Interesting Detective story.
Mr.. Davis has written tale tina
would be engrossing within the ten min
utes Of a magazine story. but is OF abys
mai triviality as an evenings diversion
for an adult. The hunt for the crimina
will be livelier hereafter, for the actor.
were sometimes meticulous of theil
knowledge OF his text on Saturday
John Cromwell as the chief cop spurred
on to suspicious by his fear of head
quarters, sucked sapiently on an un
lighted cigar for inspiration and his asso,
Gates of the force were abrupt and mas
terful In the accustomed way. Edit
Shayne indicated touchingly the des
peration of a terrified mother, whil
Idalene Cotton as a neighboring cool
was emphatic enough. to give their full
est value to the authors antiquate,
forms OF comic relief which were ap
propriately ornamented with a brogue
Edward Langford played the suspecte,
assailant with a profile that made al
his scenes romantic, and Marie Con a
his accomplice once more emphasized tn
cid truth that prettiness NAV cover NOR