COURT MELODRAMA

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 428, 9 August 1928, Page 15

COURT MELODRAMA

“THE TRIAL OF MARY DUGAN” A NEW THEATRE THRILL "The Trial of Mary Dugan,” a court melodrama in three adjournments, by Baynard Veiller. Presented at His Majesty’s Theatre last evening by J. C. Williamson. CAST: Clerk of the Court ------- Les King Assistant District Attorney - John D Arcy Judge Nash Charles Wheeler Mary Dugan - -- -- -- - May Collins District Attorney Galway - Leon Gordon Pauline Agguerro - - - - Elsie Willing Doctor Welcome Campbell Copelin Edward West ------ Prank Bradley James Madison ----- John Fernside Police Inspector Hunt - - Edwin Lester Dagmar Lome - -- -- -- - *'5 oel Loyd May Harris ------- Eva cine Royle Jimmy Leyland Hodgson Feme Arthur ------- Nancy Atkins Mrs. Edgar Rice Daphne Bairn Patrick Brady ----- J. B. Atholwood Marie Ducrot - - Henrietta Cavendish After witnessing “The Trial of Mary Dugan” we have come to the conclusion that there must be an astonishing amount of amusing “copy” - for the newspaper reporters in an American criminal court. Fortunately the programme points out that court procedure in the United States is entirely different from that practised in New Zealand. This must have saved several well-known Auckland lawyers in last evening’s audience from a battery of shocks. But it is good melodrama. Mr Veiller, author of several courtroom plays, including “Within the Law,” knows his business. Added to this every advantage is taken to make the proceedings as realistic as possible.

“The Trial of Mary Dugan” is a sort of half-cousin to a thriller, except that a nasty murder has been committed before the play begins. The theatre, during the play, becomes a huge courtroom with the audience as jury. Charwomen and court attendants, wielding feather dusters and buckets, create the right atmosphere, as the audience takes its place. No curtains are used. Odds and ends of court officialdom, newspaper folk, policemen, etc., wander in and take their places, and the trial begins as one can only suppose any trial begins in the land of Fords and fortunes. Mary Dugan is the mistress of the man who has been found murdered in her apartment. The evidence against her is dangerously convincing, and the district attorney seems to be ungraciously biased. Her defending counsel displays an apparent weakness, ar.d things look black for Mary until the unexpected arrival of her brother, who decides then and there to take over the defence of his sister.

Some amazing evidence is then disclosed. Mary had been leading a life of easy virtue to obtain the money with which to educate her brother. He, of course, knew* nothing about that! All this is told with brutal frankness, and causes the more tender-hearted of the audience to sob for Mary’s sake. So the trial goes on. Each witness is metaphorically torn to shreds by

prosecuting and defending counsel. It would be unwise to tell why Mary was innocent of the crime—therein lies one of the surprises of the play Sufficient that she was proved “Not guilty,” and a sympathetic audience sighed with relief. Mr. Gordon returns with the glamour of ““White Cargo” still around him. However, he spared us nothin? in the relentless prosecution of Mary There is a compelling forne about Mr Gordon’s work, even if he does crossexamine with his back turned to the particular witness. His role is an arduous one and a remarkable memory feat. Mr. Hodgson was the surprise of the evening When last we saw him he *was trilling merrily in musical comedy; now he shows us what he can do on the dramatic stage. It was a well-adjusted performance. Miss Collins handled her scenes of hysteria very agreeably. She does not unduly harrow the feelings of the audience, but manages to convince them of her mental anguish. Mr. Bradley, whose excellent work with the Cunningham Company will be remembered, crave a sound performance. Miss Boyd brightened the atmosphere of the court with delightfully irrelevant commentaries on the case. She and the other girls of the Follies fortunately relieved the nerve strain of the audience. Miss Cavendish, a most capable actress, achieved much with a small part. Wreathed in sombre veils Miss Bairn brought an air of mystery into the trial. In a large cast good character studies were given by Mr. Copelin, Mr. Fernside, Mr. Atholwood, Miss Royle and Miss Atkins. Auckland’s playgoing public will, no doubt, rush to the theatre to act as jurymen in “T" I '© Trial oi Mary Dugan.”