Evening journal., 1920-01-30

ter OF the Law" (From the "Red Robe"
by Eugene BrieuX)
CAST OF CHARACTERS.
Bertha, vagret's daughter. Leona Hogarth
Yagret, attorney for the State, Russ whytal
Deiorme, retiring examining magistrate ls en-"
Allan Kelly
Madame Bunerat ......... Maud Hosford
La BOuzule, Bunerat. magistrates Of the
District Court, Frank kingdom, Clarence
Derwent
Mouzon. successor 20 Delorme as examin.
ing magistrate. ...... Lional Barrymore
Ardet, assistant attorney for the State,
Charles COughlan
Benoit. Mouzon's clerk Jas. P. Hagen
Janitor ;..........;.....;.W Wallace Jackson
Deputies .............C Charles y Greene
Police sergeant ..........JacOb kingsberry
Bridet, a peasant farmer Goodwin Patton
Charles White
Yanetta ............... Doris Rankin
Etchepare's mother ............Ada Boshell
Attorney general Of France. Lionel Hogarth
Growing out OF a murder and ending
with a murder, "The Letter OF the
Law" is a grim and terrible play. II
Is a marvellous piece OF dramatic work
manship, ,one OF the few plays that can
rightly be called a great drama.
10 would be a mistake 10 call the
play gruesome. The murders have COM
paratlvely little to do with the tragedy
OF the drama. which lies IN the despair
and ruin OF innocent people caught In
the hands OF a black-hearted magis-
trate who uses his legal knowledge and
authority 10 convict them in order to
win glory and legal promotion for him
self.
The play IS so minute and truthful
a story OF human nature that II would
take several hearings to realize all the
genius OF It. As It was, last nights
audience filed out talking about people
and circumstances in their own eXper-
ience which the play reminded them OF.
and saying, 1T was certainly true TO
lots that happens IN real life"
Lionel Barrymore gave so powerful
real a delineatiOn Of MouzOn, eXamin-
ing magistrate and stone-hearted
scoundrel, that he fairly made himself
unpopular with the audience. 1t was
the greatest compliment Mr. Barrymore
could have received that the audience
sat and glared in indignant silence. in
stead Of applauding, when MOuZon went
through the tremendous scenes Of put
ting his victims through the third de-
gree. Without the slightest excitement,
or melodrama, the star enacted the
suave. elegant, polished scoundrel, and
pracliced his smiling cruelty in a good
natured man-of-the-world manner I'M
til the entire audience wanted to rise
II. h. NH
dered by his victims. Every hand in
the audience helped Yanetta to drive
in the knife. At times in the play, Mr..
barrymore touched the heights reached
by Sir Henry Irving. Richard Mans
field and others Of the worlds master
actors.
The Letter OF the Law" = quite
uninteresting for the first tSenty min>>
utes, merely a lot Of .dlk hy layers
and their wives about chances ><0r pro-
motion, and the injustice >Sfiich gives
the good legal jobs to those with in
nuential relations and a political pull.
The stupid talk Is vital to the rest OF
the play, though, as it shows the mo-
tives which lead the lawyers 10 be-
come blind TO justice, in order 10 Sc
cure their own advancement.
When Mouzon decides upon the peas
ana Eichepare as the victim upon whom
with almost no evidence Of guilt. he
will fasten a recent murder, the drama
springs into palpitating life. Every
moment, Etchepare's innocence and
MouZOn's determination 20 have him
convicted become more apparent. The
conviction will place upon MOuzOn's
shouldensa the red robe OF a Judge
Steadily the climax builds up. Charles
White as the peasant. and Doris Ran
kin as the PEASANTS wife, are TO be
congratulated upon their wonderfully
vigorous. intensely vital acting Of the
two roles. Mereilessly and cleverly
questioned by Mouzon until they have
hOpelessly tangled themselves in a
mass OF cont dieting stories and lies, |
the two peasant still make the fair
minded believe in the innocence Of
Etchepare. There Is a side incident in |
which Mouzon's despicable character is !
further shown. His resignation IS asked !
by his superior because OF a disgrace
full wine. woman and song affair In /
which he has been mixd mp. But pO- |
litical pressure is brought to bear upon !
the superior and the result i5 Mouzon's |
promotion to the red robe instead OF /
his deserved dismissal from thsbar.
Now that he has the coveted Judge
ship Mouzon cares no longer whether |
Etchepare is convicted or acquitted |
Asquittal follows the plea Of another |
conscience-smitten lawyer who cannot |
see an Innocent man condemned TO
death.
Etchepare Is acquitted. but life Is ruff |
ed for himself and his family. In order |
TO get Etchepare TO break down. Mou- !
zon has disclosed TO the unhappy man.
a girlhood in discretion Of his wife. long /
ago repented OF and atoned for by a /
noble life. The peasant repudiates his
wife. Driven TO desperation. Yanetta |
confronts Mouzon as he is packing the
red robe Of judgeship in his suitcase.
what more do you want? Isn't he
acquitted? Do you want us 10 pension
him also?" sneers MOuzOn, laughing
and Struggling his shoulders. The eyes
Of Yaneita fail upon a knife on the
table. a gruesOme relic Of a former Gel
ebrated murder case. In a few seconds,
Mouzon is a lifeless mass upon the floor
while above his dead body, HIS brother
lawyers quarrel and argue over who
will get the red robe Of judgeship now
that Mouzon is gone.
The genius OF Brieux is shown I'm the
fsct that he leaves unsolved the murder
for which Etchepare was tried.
Il Is not a cheeful play. even the
is bare and grim. but it is
n masterpiece OF dramatic art wonder
fully acted. "The letter Of the Law