Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-11-30
AT THE VILLA ROSE"
A "SH0CKER," REALLY
Otis Skinner Fattens Thin Role
With His Robust and Roman
tic Personality

Observation-Disclosures Hanaud. a super
policeman, Is the central fgure-he
doesn't seem heroic enough to classify
him as a hereof Major A. Il. w. Ma
sons detective play in four acts, AT
man, addicted to fancy raiment, 10 more
akin TO the airoit sctualities Of the OBJ
tective school of sleuth literature and
drama, as represented by the practical
dred to the subtle, subjective Sherlock
Holmes. His personal interest in
crime and his solution o. II provide n
series of exciting scenes for Otis Skinner
to dominate. They afford n role that is
pretty thin for such romantic talents as
Mr. Skinner possesses but the stars
robust and engaging personality decld-
edly fatten the frame and redden the
tive. whose holiday at an Alpine resort
b interrupted TO clear up a murder and
Jewel robbery at the vvia.
The mistress OF the villa Rose Is a
pretty dancer at L'opera, then the wife
OF an opulent provincial, and when Wild
owed monomaniac on rare gems. which
she Keeps by her always, not trusting
posit vaults She lives alone except for
waif of an English girl. once the other
half Of a thought transference and cabi-
net Illusion act, whom she has rescued
maid. whose envy and hate are aroused
on account OF displacement as the Jewel
fenatic's favorite. The maid, with soma
accomplices. among them .fortune-t"ll-
posed by the ex-illusionist, frame up the
girl as the perpetrator OF the murder
and robbery of her benefactor. Here Is
where M. Hanaud proves the adornment
and not mere decoration of the French
secret police and also proves more OF q
romanticist than one would believe from
his middle-aged rotundity and placid!ty
He had seen the girl as wistful child
In her Anna Eva Fay period and been
stirred by her beauty and sincerity. HIS
sk'l and penetration rapidly reverse the
ribbon Of plot and right the wrong done
to the heroine. 1t Is all done with many
unexpected touches and clever acuities
IN the detection of the criminals. and
these atone for the lack of suspense that
i5 inevitable In play in which the au-
o,ence is. as II We're. particeps criminis.
IT can't reasonably be expected that the
spectators will be mystifed by such fac
titious doings, but there Is entertain
visins OF the fable is followed by a de-
yelopment quick in movement and sud-
den in surprises AT the Villa Rose"
doesn't teach preach. move. prove or
do anything except divert like puzzle
and thrill like n dime novel
However, dime novel plays are seldom
produced with such a fine actor as Mr..
Skinner, supported by such a fine COM
pany and put on with such fineness OF
stagecraft All Of which may not make
q "shocker' any more shocking or
thriller" any more thrilling, but II does,
as In the current example, warrant Hft-
ing such a play out of the home OF
mellerdrammer and on to the stage of a
frst-class house.
Jeffreys Lewis. splendid actress Of the
old school, gave the only really human
characterization that the play permitted
She was the superstition-ridden gem COL
lector. Her work was marked by insight
and fnesse. Madeline Delmar as the
prosecuted girl had a deal OF personal
charm. and Octavia Kenmore gave
euriously disturbing study IN morbid
psychology as the vengeful maid. Tho
other principals were more than ade-
quate.