New-York tribune., 1919-01-15
Drama
Woman in Room 13" Has
Thrills in Plenty at
Booth
By Haywood Broun

The Woman in Room 13" is an in
sehious and cnthralling meodama. 1t
mas the atmosphere and the incidents
which make the best of our murder
TRIALS interesting. These are mystery,
clrcumstantial evidence and scandal.
Inc play departs from the melodrama
technique Of the last two seasons by
allowing the audience to know more
than most of the characters in the
play and at least as much as the best
informed some little time before the
END OF the play. There is no lack,
however, of surprising twists and turns.
Perhaps the best tribute to the skill
OF the piaywrights lies in the fact that
any brief synopsis of the plot would
seem fearfully complicated, and yet
everything is developed with perfect
clarity in the play. Perhaps an excep-
ton should be made against the last
act, which Is by no means as exciting
as the rest of the play and leaves one
or two questions of fact and motiva-
,ion confused. But by the time the
~ 10 reached so cOnSlQeraDle a
contribution of thrills has been made
that complaint is ungrateful.
we understand that the greater part
OF the play is the work of Samuel
Shipman. Max Marcin is the collabo-
rator. This is the third play by Ship
man now in New York. His technical
skill shows to better advantage in the
present piece than in either of the
others. Virtuosity more nearly an
swers all requirements in melodrama
than in any other form Of dramatic
entertainment, unless it be farce. Close
observation of character and any con-
vlnclng philosophy are not needed. They
would be in the way. "The Woman in
are as interesting as needs be, but
not one becomes so cngrossing for
what he is that attention is distracted
from what is happening
AS matter of fact, with a few cx-
ccptions, the folk of the play are not
an admirable lot. The stage is fairly
cluttered with mastcrful men and
yielding women, but they keep NOV
ing so fast that nobody has time to
like or dislike them. Will Paul be ac-
quilted of the murder? is the question
beside which every other considerable
seems trivial. Even the manners and
morals of the crowd arouse only pass
ing attention. We were surprised for
instance to learn how freely business
men tell their salaries before company
II is not the custom among newspaper
and theatrical circles with which we
are best acquainted, or if any mention
of the weekly wage does creep in it is
softened by an optimistic inaccuracy
which banishes bad taste.
We do not intend to imply shat all
the characters are unsympathetic. We
cid not like the hero very much, and
yet we managed to work up consid-
cradle interest in his fate after the
villain had been shot. This may have
been due to the fact that the villain
was just little more evil than usual
The adventures also went to extremes
by wearing very much less than is eX-
pected of adventuresses. Here, too the
policy of keeping nothing from the
audience seemed to be followed
The many complications of the plot
are introduced in an orderly manner
This is perhaps the secret of the amaz-
ingly fine technique which has gone
into building the play. 1t is this which
prevents confusion and disaster to the
nderstanding. The method is very
like that of skilled worker in salad
dressings. Each ingredient comes in
az luSI tHe IlSNL Time.
A good cast succeeds in bringing out
all the values of the play Janet
Beecher, who is chiefly responsible for
preserving a necessary sympathetic
interest, is particularly good, but
Lowell Sherman ard Kenneth Hill. both
arrant villains, are also valuable in
promoting the evenings entertainment.
Miss Fay Wallace contributes an anus
ing bit. and Will Deming and Gail
Kane should also be mentioned. De
Witt Jennings deserves special atten-
ton, for tie does traditional police
captain role in fine, vigorous fashion
and participates in two Of the most
exciting scenes Of the play.
"The Woman in Room 13" is so good
a melodrama that it would deserve
praise in any theatrical season, but it
is more welcome than ever just now
after the long series of spy plays, in
which everybody turns out to be some
body else. The characters in this PLAY
stay put and since they are placed in
situations which make for excitement
and interest, that is an admirable
quality.