"THIRTEENTH CHAIR"

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 310, 25 September 1918, Page 8

"THIRTEENTH CHAIR"

A DRAMA OF STRANGE THRILLS "The Thirteenth Chair," a play in three acts, by Uayard Veiller. Cast: Helen O'Neill Lizctte Parlcos Will Crosby Kawdon Jjlnudi'ord Mrs. Crosby Ethel Morrison Hoscoe Crosby Gaston Meivale JJdward Wales Mary Eastwood Naiieyo Stewart Helen Trent '-I ien Ilcgue Graco Stondish Maisie Carte Braddirfh Trent Leslie Victor Howard Standish Frank Alliinby Phillip Mason Sydney Stilling Elizabeth Erskine Eileen llcbinson 'Pollock Thomas Sidney Kosalie la Grange ... Margaret AVycherly 'I'im JJoiiflhiio liriMsli-y Sliaw Sergennt Dunn Carleton Stuart Doolan • H. I'aultoii

J. C. Williamson, Ltd., have sent to New Zealand a remarkably strong dramatic company to give life to Bayard Veiller's weird play, "The Thirteenth Chair," and it was not without interest that the large audience present at th-j Opera House last evening noted the unravelling of tho mystory which the play diffuses. One'cannot with honesty 'say that the play is largely built upon psychological phenomena "in that'aspect of the mystery of the life beyond so assiduously cultivated bv the spiritualists, nor docs the author, claim any such intention, for thn central figure of the play, that of the pseudo-medium. Rosalie la Grange, admits that she has used tricks all her life, and, to uso her cv/n expression, has been a "faker." 'Ut despite that admission interest m Veiller's play largely depends on tho ■ belief in Rosalie as a mystic, which is disconcerting and perhaps a little dissatisfying in the end to lovers of "mystery ten thousand fathoms deep. If 'one dismisses the spiritualistic seance as an accessory, "The Thirteenth Chair" becomes a well-written detective story, adapted for the stage, with false clues cropping up like weeds in the spring, the old "third degree' business in full swing, and a surprise ending. 'Die play is well written, and rather ingenious in construction; moreover tho "mystery which surrounds the murder of Spencer Lee and Edward Wales is well maintained to tho end, but that it should end as it does ,is tho weak spot, as the motive for the crimes has nothing whatever to do with anyone in the play save the guilty party—it does not concern any combination of the people represented in the cast. There are thrills in plenty, but' one cannot dissociate them from that taint of theatricalism which has a discounting influence. Spencer Lee has been stabbed to death in his rooms, and the police cannot place the guilt. Edward Wales, the murdered man's friend,-is doins his brst to unravel tho mystery. He "succeeds in introducing Rosalie la Grange to an "evening" at the house of his friend* Roscoe Crosby, as a diversion, believing that the woman is possessed of occult powers, and may bo able to make disclosures. After" this is explained, a weird old lady, with a wintry and an Irish brogue, enters the drawing-room, and fiooii establishes herself as an oddity with a rich vein of humour that is not made the most of. This is Rosalie la Grange, .the famous medium. A seanco is arranged. All join hands in a circle, the lights go out, anil the medium begins to speak in the child tones of her control, "Laughing Eyes." Wales questions the control as to the murderer of his friend Lee, and just as it seems imminent that the secret is to be told, there is a eroan, the lights are switched on, and Wales is found lying stabbed in the back precisely as was his late lamented friend. Crosby is tho first to recover from the shock of liorror, and orders the room to remain locked until the police inspector arrives. Tim Donohuo soon gets to work, makes everyone uncommonly uncomfortable, and then settles on Helen O'Neill (to whom _ Will Crosby is engaged to be married) as the suspect, and so works'unon the girl that she is frightened into" revealing the strange fact that the medium is her mother. It would destroy the interest to trace out the story to its conclusion, but Donohue is not the first sleuth who has made mistakes, and his errors in deduction are not without their own peculiar fascination, whilst his ruu<rh bullying manner is that of a type n'laile familiar to us by several American dramatists of the realistic school. Miss Margaret Wycherly is an arresting fitrure as Rosalie !e Grange. She adroitly suggests the uncanny, as she slips from the smiling old Irish woman into the white-lipped, entranced medium. There were times when her high-pitched sing-song tones did not make for audibility, and she made too light of her opportunities for- comedy in the opening act. Miss AVyehcrly was perhaps most effective in the emotional scone, where she fights Ifor her child, and begs her to speak the whole truth about her visit to Lee's rooms on the night of thjj murder. Her work was interesting if not always deeply compelling. The cast, as before stated, is an admirable one. There is no weakness in it. Miss Lizettc Parkes is wholly effective in the emotional role of Helen O'Neill. Her performance was instinct with girlish charm, and in her bi«; scene with Donohue she magnetised the sympathy o!r the audience by her tearful agitation. The faultless elocution of Mr. Gaston Mervale as Roscoe Crosby, was as pleasurable to hear, as his finished acting was good to see. Mr. Krinsley Shaw played with proper weight and assurance the role of Tim Donohue, but many of his lines were rendered incoherent by his over-rapid utterance. Tho role of Edward Wales was 'well played by an actor whose name the programme did rot give. Miss Ethel Morrison made a charming Mrs. Crosby, and Miss Nanoye. Stewart was deliciouslv cattish as Mary Eastwood. Miss 'lien lloguu in the part of Mrs. Trent has claims to more than beauty, and Miss Maisie Carte both looked and acted well hs Grace Standish. It is a long .time indeed since so many beautiful womon havo graced the local stage as those appearing in this company. The important role of Phillip Mason -was skilfully handled by Mr. Sidney _ Sterling; Mr. Frank Allenby was admirable as Howard Standish'; as were also Mr. Leslie Victor as Brad'dish Trout, and Mr. Bawdon Blandford as Will Crosby. The whole of the play takes place in the Crosby drawing-room, a handsome and well-furnished interior, with decorations in tho best of taste. An orchestra, under the direction of Mr. J. F. Woodward, provided excellent entr'acte music. "The Thirteenth Chair" will be played f or a week to come.