New-York tribune., 1922-12-05

Moor. rfeaf1fed ~ the htoo Infhief III
DER the STAGE direction q Ia Hards. with
the foiiowinE east
Jonathan Cumberland. Dotson Mitchell
Ar. Morrison. 0iorgio Maieroni
Miriam Adrian. HELEN Flint
Janet Van Sloan. n.......... Minns 0onbeii
dehn Coon ter.. ...t... .Lrnesf eiendi1nins
llaffJ van sloan sss.tt Harry STUDS
william Archer. ..-.-.. William Keighuey
Dr. Errh Bachnisn. ...... Frank Andfe~s
To1as Mcketson. Prank HirE
-letatnttfs .t.s...ft. .teofEe Naeton
Nrs oraes fsab.ssos. asrSsrs, Laden
HTrlnald fembericn, william Davidson
tsteuftl ..... .s..s.s..s4 ..h1fall otopp
rolics Officer. ............C. T.. Emerson
The elderly spook who haunts the
plot Of Listening IN" 10 one Of the
most ssrvieeabls Of the spirit visitors.
His communications 70 the material
world are not the vspid small talk
common 10 ghostly conversations, but
helpful messages about the stock mar
het, real estate and kindred topics. As
he sits IN his great chair, silent,
green horror. he dictates his informa-
don 70 his granddaughter (Mr. Ernest
Clendinning). who acts upon Il with
rood results. Instructed, for instance.
20 sell Cobalt Copper st 70 and 70 buy
AZ IS. the young man does 90, earning
thereby a check from bis brokers. Ap-
prised that a railway train Is In peril
OF being wrecked. he causes II % be-
stopped on the rim Of disaster. These
and other bsnefaetions (if not the play
ssself) may cause you 20 regard the
venerable spparition Of Listening In"
as your pet ghost.
II isa pity. then. that at the end Of
the drama the old fellow 10 exposed as
fraudulent lie turns out 70 be merely
the creature Of an expert In mesmsr-
ism, who. aided by much paraphernalla
nad a eredulous audience, eounterfeits
the miracles and phenomena. That the
explanation Of HE tricks and methods
are onerous and lacking in ingenuity
adds a little to your ohagrin. in case
you arc open to feelings Of chagrin
while attending the mystery plays.
Mr.. Glendinning as the young me-
dium through which the impostor
transmits his tips and omens manages
20 impart interest 10 the role by q
graceful and sincere impersonation. A
difficult Job, we should think, since Mr..
Moore, the author, has not bothered
much 20 make his motives and actions
credible. The second or "big" act Of
The play Is a wild accumulation Of hap
hazard situations ranging from jealous
husbands with pistols 10 pseudo-mur-
der and exhibitions OF great self.sacri-
fce. In this act Mr.. Glendinning is
bothered By news from the upper
spaces to the effect that death will fol-
low the attempt Of a certain unidenti-
fed person 20 leave the haunted house
before sunset. Since the place becomes
popuious with guests during the day. it
Is Mr.. Glendinning's task TO keep them
al there without explaining his rca-
sons for 20 doing. Only one Of them
disregards the warnings Ian assistant
district attorney, and he pays the pen
atty, such as il is. OF being scared half
20 death as the curtain falls.
The play is the customary collection
Of thrills and tremors. containing some
rather ingenious ideas elumsily set
forth. and mussed up at the end By
lsborious definitions and explaining. Mr..
Glendinning gives the performance
needed touch Of light and gracious
comedy; as his associates, many OF
them, help TO make the effort seem
more adult than Il really Is.