Robert Edeson and Co. (4).

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18 Mins.; Full Stage. “Apartment 309.” A rather commonplace story molded into a semi-strong, but exceptionally well staged bit of drama is “Apartment 309,” in which Robert Edeson is being featured. The scene shows the handsomely appointed apartment of Nora Truman (Jane Haven) sister of Nat Truman (Mr. Edeson) a young newspaper man. It’s midnight and Nat, out on an assignment, drops in unexpectedly. He is scheduled to interview Amos Broadback, a local political pillar. Nora exhibits considerable nervousness over Nat’s presence and finally induces him to leave, just as Broadback is about to enter. In a few minutes Nat realizes the circumstances, both Broadback and the girl admitting their relations. He has ruined the sister who is understood to be 18 (but who looks much older from the front). Nat decides to kill him, and do as so after some plain talk, the shooting being done in an adjoining room. Broadback’s brother (Edward Wonn), who had been previously summoned by phone, arrives and is calmly told by Nat of the murder and as calmly arranges for the removal of the body. He in turn calls the family physician and they have the lighting system temporarily disconnected while the corpse is carried out. This allows for a weirdly dramatic situation and gives the turn a unique finish. Meanwhile the brother has advised Nat that the affair will be dropped to avoid any unpleasant notoriety, although this seems to peeve Nat, who evidenced a desire for arrest and revenge somewhere. The sketch carries a capable cast, but Edeson has little opportunity to display his acting ability, since the punch is but a tap in this instance and the climax as aforesaid but semi-strong. There are several interesting situations, but no really big moments, the piece reaching its dramatic pinnacle hen the brother, in discussing the affair with Nat, suggests the murdered man could have paid, to which Nat replies “He has paid.” Without a star “Apartment 309” would hardly carry but being equipped with one, it just about reaches.

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