"WITHIN THE LAW."

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVI, Issue 203, 25 February 1914, Page 4

"WITHIN THE LAW."

A PLAY WITH A PURPOSE. A "Vt'iit social evil laid lmrej n fool's paradise oi cant and hypocrisy ruthlessly turn down; a piece of cruel, biting cynicism piercing the armor of the most smug—that is the played called "Within the Law," played Ik fore a. crowded house by the .1. 0. Williamson Tonipany last night. The centre of tire piece, was Hiss Muriel Starr, ;i* .Man- Turner, an as-:*l-ant in ii large American department store. .Miss 'Shirr had a hard part to play, yet from her lirst appearance Hie held tile audience spei!-'ii»;ind with the force, of her teni'>iy-r< i.is i- lu-tinsr. Forcibly and biting!;., she drove home the, purpose of the play; naturally and with infinite skill she handled the' cruel pathos of the character she represented. It was a, tine piece of work. The force of Miss Starr's acting is directed against the practice among the Now York police of treating a discharged criminal as a person with no rights—a subject for continual humiliation at the hands of detectives. Mary Turner, the heroine, has been imprisoned for a theft she did not commit. She is a girl of mind and education, and the effect of wrong is to make her an enemy to society, from whom she seeks to recover compensation for the wrong done to her. In spite of her actons she is at heart a pure and honest woman. Miss Starr has embodied all this in her acting. Mr. Eric Maxon, ai Biehard Gilder, the son of the man whom Mary was accused of robbing, has a totally different part to handle. He is shindy a lovable and care-free young American, who falls i» lore with Mary Turner and marries ber in all good faith, unaware that to marry him is part of her scheme of revenge against his father. Tn the final scenes, where he is brought face to face with Uie crisis 0 f his life, when he lias to choose between his father and a woman whom he is told is a criminal, his acting was especially fine, and he displayed a deep knowledge of the purpose of the part he was called on to plav. Miss Mary Worth, as Agile's Lynch, a confidence woman, gave, ,-n attractive and breezy presentation' of a cirl without education, and with little brain, but with an abundance of native wit and a bitter knowledge of her world. Miss Sylvia Bremer, as Helen Morris, had a small part, but flic plaved it well and feelingly. Mr. Winter Hall, as Edward Gilner. hypocrite and cynic, was entirely satisfactory, and Mr E. W. Morris played the tragic and emotional part of Joe Porston, a "crook," cleverly and tastefully. Mr Lincoln Plumer had a great deal to do as Police Inspector Burke, ami succeeded in making his personality in that capacity cordially detested bv the audience, which is a sufficient tribute to his acting. The remaining parts i„ a lengthy east are all well taken, and the scenery is perfect .As a problem play, "Within the Law" will be long remembered bv everyone flli 6i,w ; , it -„. wt nisbt - u ™ n^»» Hashes of brilliant humor, sparkling diaogve tragedy, and pathos. It is ,vithal typically American in tone. The ironv of its situations. is simnlv delightful. Ihe play ,s tragic, yet to those who can see it, the h nmm - of k is p , Aboye all, it is ~ play with a purpose.'