Belasco produced “The Case of Becky” for the first time, October 30, 1911, at the New National Theatre, Washington, D. C., but it was not until October 1, 1912, that, at the Belasco Theatre, the piece was first made known in the metropolis. It is a psychological “study,” in dramatic form, based on a play by Edward Locke, entitled “After Many Years.” Locke (who entered Belasco’s employment to study stage management and who for a time acted a small part in “The Music Master”) read his play to Belasco,--who, perceiving in it possibilities of novel and striking dramatic effect, at once accepted it, with the understanding that it should be rewritten under his supervision. That stipulation was agreed to and partially fulfilled,--the rewriting being (as in a great many other similar instances) done largely by Belasco. The members of the company which eventually acted in the drama could conclusively testify to this fact, since much of that labor was performed in their presence, at rehearsals. The name finally bestowed upon this piece is “The Case of Becky.” It is in three acts, requires only two scenic settings, implicates seven persons, and is an ingenious and interesting play on a painful but important subject,--namely, disease or disorder affecting human personality. The chief characters in it are _Dr. Emerson_, an eminent physician who employs hypnotism in psychiatry; _Professor Balzamo_, an itinerant and unscrupulous hypnotist of extraordinary power, and a girl named _Dorothy_. This girl is the victim of a dreadful metempsychosis and is often mysteriously changed from her normal, lovable personality,--in which she is sweet-tempered, affectionate, gentle, and refined,--into a common, mischievous, vindictive hoyden who is designated as _Becky_. _Dr. Emerson_ is laboring to reëstablish her permanently in her normal consciousness by means of hypnotism,--an object which, ultimately, he attains. It is incidentally revealed that many years earlier _Balzamo_, exercising his hypnotic faculty, has compelled _Emerson’s_ wife to leave her husband and travel with him, as a subject for use in brutal and degrading exhibitions of hypnotism. While in that helpless bondage the daughter, _Dorothy_, has been born (her psychic disorder being attributable to the prenatal effect of abuse of her mother) and the miserable woman has died. Chance has installed _Dorothy_ as a patient in the home of her father, who, while ministering to her in affliction, does not know her [Illustration: FRANCES STARR AS _BECKY_, IN “THE CASE OF BECKY” Photograph by White. Belasco’s Collection. ]