Some More About the American Players' Success "Within the Law" is more than melodrama. Like another well known play "Kick In," it is an indictment of certain' aspects of Cot New York life, the law and police. The District Attorney—a part. played by Mr. H. D. Rodger with quiet conviction that went very. well—sets the keynote when he says, "We have courts of law, not courts of justice." Mary, the innocent but imprisoned shopgirl, takes advantage of this, when she sets out to avenge herself on gociety in general and Gilder, her former_employer, in particular. You can do anything with the law if you have money, she holds, and it doesn't matter what you do if you keep within the law. Inspector Burke, when Mary appeals to her, constitutional right to see a lawyer, retorts "Here—in my office—the' constitution don't run." Burke was played by Mr. Gardner Crane with his sual command, but rather too stridently. The part is a brutal Jone but would be more effective i€ taken more quietly. Mr. Doughty, gave a very good sketch of Cassidy, the detective. Certainly one's sympathies are not on the side the police. Their tool, the loathsome Griggs, was excellently played by Mr. Cooke: the meretricious brilliance of his clothing was a specially good touch.
At the end,! the author rather switches off from his, main theme to a new interest in Ganson's act of renunciation. The closing scene between Mary and young Gilder would have been an anti-climax, if it had not been played with such admirable feeling and slowness. Mr. Walters has a hard part as Dick Gilder, but he made. it sympathetic enough and his acting in the was good at a very crucial moment. Mrs. Phillips was above criticism. The way she sustained so long and varied a part all through was wonderful. She has a subtle way lof conveying her feelings without speaking: one knew that she was really in love with Dick from the outset, and the entire womanliness of her character was always! visible, even when she is most apparently hard and revengeful. Mr.
again, was splendid, the nobility, seen in his appreciation of Mary which transcends even his love for her, in his hatred of the life he has' to lead, even in the breaking of his promise to her, shiningly in his confession and exit. Mr. Hykes as Gilder senior was excellent. A hard man of business, not without streaks of humanity, his hardness mainly due to hi that" property "rights." "He earn our sympathy by his obvious dislike of being' {involved in Burke's trap to catch Mary and her friends and his! parting look at Burke, as much as to say "I have to help you but I }don't like you," was inimitable, Mrs, Lizee has a difficult part as Helen Morris, the real thief, and one much admired her natural ' and effective! rendering of it, Mrs. Terry, as Aggie, the confidence woman, must have another word of appre her del il society" manner, rudely broken bs sudden lapses into the natural Bowery, gave us all huge delight Mrs. Clapp has a quiet part Gilder's secretary, which she played very naturally and Mr. Bland and Mr. Snyder were good in the small parts of floorwalker and Inw-yer. The remaining parts were all adequately played to supply the necessary atmosphere. The scenery ]was really beautiful. This has not always been the best part of Ameri Jean Players' productions and Jdeserves notice accordingly. The! whole play will be remembered. An excellent story, full of good lines, ig scenes and clear-cut characters, it was in every way admirably rendered with a general distinction such as we have rarely seen.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.