The New York herald., 1922-08-08
BY LAWRENCE REAMER.

This years Book of Mystery opened
at the first chapter last night. The
Shuberts produced at their Forty-ninth
Street Theater Whispering Wires"
which Kate McLaurin made out OF
short story by Henry Leverage. The
triumphant 1.-THE Bat" continues to har-
row the nerves of its audiences, while
THE Cat and the Canary has not
wasted an evenings activity all sum-
mer. In view of this desire of the pub
lie to have it's emotions so played upon,
| mystery is to be. the note OF the early
seasons drama. The first shock was
felt last night
Mrs. McLaurin has kept close to tradi-
ton in placing two-thirds of the action
Of Whispering Wires in a library. In
these days, libraries are mysterious
rooms to the majority OF theatergoers. 1t
seems as If anything might happen In
them. There could after all have been
nothing more surprising than a message
over the telephone that the owner OF this
mysterious apartment was going to die
within a short time. Such communica-
ton might readily shock the hearer any
where. 1t might concievably be more
disquieting than the sudden succession OF
one wrong number after another. Tele-
phones provide much of the excitement
of the prevailing mystery plays. They
are even able to accomplish something
on their own responsibility In every day
life.
Mrs McLaurin had other elements for
the creation of the Indispensable agi-
tation than a library and the telephone.
The wealthy object of the whispering
wires had made his fortune by ruth
lessly sacrificing his competitors. He
was even in the late years OF his life
planning to revenge himself on the one
enemy that had escaped him. even If
this vicarious satisfaction was to come
through his son. Maybe his own daugh-
ter would be involved in the sacrifice
and she was even condemned to death
by the same mysterious powers that
pursued her father II the old mans
guards did not save him the girl es-
capped.
Mrs. McLaurin was able to manipulate
her wires with skill enough to make the
result after the first act absorbingly
interesting in every speech and gesture.
Unknown figures dashed through the
iooms that mysterious hands had dark
ened. Shrieks sounded behind the scenes
and unknown intruders drew the fire
from the gats of the private detectives
who were In charge Of the ease" Moth
ing was more inexplicable until the last
act than the shot that killed the man OF
affairs.
Certainly spectators of the scene last
night, who happen to possess a guilty
conscience. will hesitate to answer the
telephone to-day. Indeed the memory
OF Whispering Wires and their mys-
teries are likely TO remain in the minds
of those who saw II. The play is an
uncommonly absorbing specimen of the
detective tale In the terms of the drama.
Last night it did everything that any
efficient play of its kind could possibly
be expected to. but chill the spectators.
1t confused them and kept them guess
ing. frightened them and amused them.
But 1t cannot be truthfully said that 1t
sent chills down any sensitive spines
All the murders of Macbeth" could not
have done that last night.
The Shuberts had provided an admir-
able troup of players who never de-
parted from the histrionic idiom of the
thriller for any mere effort at life. Ben
Johnson was as hard as rocks and met
an apparently deserved death without
relenting. George Howell was an eff
cient detective from n private bureau
and William Webb impaired to his
scenes the air OF Importance that al
ways attaches to the family lawyer on
the stage Alma Tell and Paul Kelly
were a comely pair OF lovers who had
the full sympathy OF the audience.