The Washington times., 1920-02-03
GARRICk.
Lionel Barrymore In
The Letter of the Law.


The Letter Of the Law"
II is difficult for even such an
actor as Lionel Barrymore TO nnd q
fully satisfactory vehicle AFTER Two
such tremendous successes as The
Copperhead" and more recently "rhe
Jest" such plays as thase-and
Barrymore's parts therein-iead one
TO look for much In his next play. And
after seeing that play. "The Letter OF
the Law" one Is forced 10 admit
that one expected too much, perhaps.
and so Bsrrymore's work In Brisuxs
play Of French politics, verges on
disappointment even though IL is a
mastery portrayal
But don't let that give anyone an
idea that ''The Letter OF the Law
which IL really Brieux's La Kobe
Rouge" trsnslatsd-is not sterling
drama. IL Is. IL 10 one OF the most
forceful, best played and finest plays
that has visited Washington this sea-
son. And II must be realized that few
plays can stand the test OF compari-
son with Barrymores two other re-
cent plays. SO to sum up brieily.
"The Letter OF the Law" Is fine play
and one that will prove a big success
but one can't help comparing.
THE CAST.
Bertha, vaxret's daughter .Lsona HosaIth
Russ whyt.i
Cataliena Josephine Wehn
Delorme. retiring examining magistrate;
Madame Bunerat .....M Maud Hosford
Bunsrst. mssi.trate OF the district court.
Frank Kingdom
L. pou.ulo. magistrate Of the ai..ris,
MSoson. successor to DeIorms as eSamin-
ing magistrate. .... Lionel Barrymors
Ardet, assistant attorney for tho Stale.
Benoit. Mouzon's clerk Jas p. Hagen
Mondoubleau, member lof the chamber OF
deputies. ..''''' .'Chsrios y, oIeene
Poiics sergeant: ,,.. Jacob 6os, XII knEsosfry pd
Etchepare. q peasant farmer. .chas White
Etchepare;s mother ........, Ada Boshsli
The story presents Barrymore
rather as the villain than as the hero
which may seem strange to many.
The basis of the story Is laid on the
political corruption. SO to speak. OF
the French magistracy system-a sys-
tenn wherein. to achieve personal ad-
vancement, magistrates seek convic!
tions OF accused men. rather than Jus
tice.
Blinded by ambition for higher hon.
ors. they close their eyes to any In
dication of innocence Of the accused
and instead bring to bear every arti-
nee, whereby they can secure convic-
tion, letting nothing stand In the way.
1t Is this type of man that Barrymore
portrays-a young examining mag
istrate who aspires to "the red robe"
Of a Justice.
There occurs a mysterious murder.
and the guilt must be fastened on
some one. Eventually Mouzon (Bar.
rymore) arrests a peasant. of whose
guilt even Mouzon must have some
doubt. But conscience does not in
terfere, and relentlessly he weaves
the web Of 1.-The letter Of the law to
force a conviction.
At the last moment. when convic-
tion seems in his grasp, the case is
turned by the sudden conscientious
attack Of Mouzon's superior, the
prosecuting magistrate, and the
peasant is acquitted. But too late,
for the peasants life has been blast
ed. his family ruined by the revsla-
tion of an unfortunate occurrence IN
his wife's past.
And 1t is this wife who finally
plays the role Of Nemesis. Demand
ing retribution Of Mouzon, she finally.
in a frenzy. stabs him to death
just after the red robe has been con-
ferred upon him.
And the curtain falls as. over Mou-
zon's body. a group Of his erstwhile
confreres stand, arguing among
themselves as to which has the bet
ter right to the red robe of which
death has cheated Mouson.
1t is a tragedy. with few light mo-
ments. There Is much talk, with lit =
tie action-and to Barrymore's great
credit, II must be said that In the
long passages of dialogue, ne makes
the play really attention-comp ling,
interesting. alive, where a lesser ar
tist might have failed; even as he did
In the final act of 1.-THE Copperheal" D"
In scenes OF great emotional de-
mand, Doris Rankin does some laud-
able work as the peasants wife. But
there was lacking ring OF sincerity,
there was a hint OF shallowness that
detracted from the otherwise praise
worthy effort of this actress.
In the other roles, actors Of more
than usual ability gave excellent
character portrayals, contributing I'M
mensely to the forcefulness of the
play.
"The Letter of the Law" Is a grip
ping play, one that Is made by stellar
acting to be even more notable.
II. C.>L
DnI I,C