Evening star., 1942-02-17

Angel Street" which once was
called "Gasnght," Is q slim little
play wearing one Of the most effec-
tive fright wigs since Night Must
Fall" Like that memorable ac-
count Of a charming young man
who loved to strangle his best
female friends, its shortness on
story is made up by its accent on
character and its carefully built
mood of terror.
Author Hamilton's villain Is not
q charming young man. He is tall,
dark, handsome and surrounded by
an aura of evil. He also is sur
rounded by q wan and lovely wife
who seems to be disintegrating
mentally at . tragic pace, q lady
who has mysterious spells, and a
couple of those excellently drawn
servants who always are to be
found in English plays instead OF
in the employment agencies where
they belong.
The fifth and final character In
this frightening fable is whimsical
detective, a gnomelike little man
with powers of deduction as strange
as his taste in shirts which runs
to gaudy pinks.
It is unethical, Of course, to inti-
mate what goes on in mystery
dramas such as Angel Street" The
reviewer in such cases Is compelled
to consume space by sly illusions to
such vagrant details as five-minute
interlude in the second act when the
audience wants to scream to the
gusty little detective that he is
about to scotch his crime hunt by
making one of the stupidest blunders
of a lifetime.
This and a dozen other passages
demonstrate that the playwright,
producer and cast have a superb
notion of what can be done to .
nervous system II you only know
the right tricks. They know them
all and never miss q one.
The general mood Of Angel
Street" is that murderously quiet
one which Is characteristic Of Eng
lish melodrama. Its finest Speci-
mems of insanity, complex and
simple, rarely lift their voices. Their
most violent and deadly emotions are
concealed in liquid speech, icily
liquid. On the rare occasions when
they do explode, it makes a fine
break in the excitement, quality
that makes Mr.. Traube's direction
such an important adjunct to
Author Hamilton's writing.
The comedy of Angel Street" Is
neatly built up, necessarily in the
characters Of the little detective
and the servants. Each Of them has
been rewarded with some drolly
subtle things to say, especially the
bloodhound and the young house,
maid. Between them they take
care Of whatever breaks In the sus-
pense are deemed indispensable to
the health Of the audience.
Whatever weaknesses are to be
noticed in "Angel Street" are to be
found in the needlessly slow move
ment which occurs spottily in the
second act and an ending which Is
a few minutes later than 1t need be,
the latter a concession to the need
for gliding virtues triumph.
Angel Street" is blessed with
superb Interpretation, as flve-char-
acter play should be considering the
number of actors at liberty. Miss
Sidney admirably resists what must
have been profound temptations to
go completely mad under the strain
of her husbands personality. Mr..
Jory, who plays the husband, is
equally effective as the cold, crafty
practitioner Of homicide and Ernest
Cossart is excellent as the capri
cious detective whose brain Is the
most solid one in the play. Judy
Parrish as the 19-year-old maid
who has been graduated cum laude
in the facts Of life, and Elfreda
Derwent as the more sedate and
kindly servant also turn In pair Of
engaging performances.
Lemuel Ayers devised fine set
ting for the added antics Of these
dwellers on Angel Street"