The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-01-28
"a oANrINa sooUNDREL."

A Rather Pointed and Comioal Faroe at
Growers Aloazar.
The Growers have made a hit with IA
Canting Scoundrel
This peculiar play that seems to be with
out an author and which at the same time
has so much local color drew a packed
house, and at the conclusion, as we'll as
between the acts, created no end of com
ment regarding its purpose and evident
meaning.
AS the plot goes Mr.. Andrew Nixon, a
nervous and excitable gentleman, played
by Francis Powers, exhibits himself as a
righteous and respectable financial pro-
moter who leans heavily on the shoulder
of the church and reels off sections from
psalms and the catechism. He begins his
Christian work by Financing" George
and Helen Woodleigh out of something
like $50, 900, which is but mere exercise for
him; something in the nature of pastime
or like occupation, so to speak. The next
play he makes is to fall upon one Osmond
Allen. retired theatrical man, and loot
him of $4,000 for stock in what Mr.
Nixon's stepson calls the Anti-Alcoholic
Mineral Water Company, that has Mrs
Davidson for its Eastern representative
and one DR.. Brown for director.
Mr.. Nixon, while on reforming expedi-
ton along in the second act of the play, is
suddenly exposed by his stepson, Nor
timer Snow, who discovers his picture in
the Police Gazette IN connection with a
story about his getting tossed out of a
resort by strong and big-jointed woman
upon whose cheek he had attempted to
administer an Alameda kiss. Strangely
enough, the picture In the sporting paper
looks like him, and in the course of
events the entire cast of characters, IN
Guiding Mrs. Nixon, knew the scandal
and the "Canting Scoundrel" is frequently
cut off in the middle of Biblical Quota
ton to be reminded of an escapade at some
beer joint. He sees that so far as he is i'm
mediately concerned he has got to
prepare an effective defense or go down in
a sea of gossip and suspicion. He attem pts
to do this by figuring on the possibility of
the gentleman at the resort being some
one else who looks like him. "If there
only was somebody who resembles me,r
he said, then | could avert the impending
calamity
The evidence, however, is too convinc-
ing and his misfortuneS are increased by
another wife, who rises out of the past and
pounces upon hin, whereupon he takes
a steamer for Honolulu and leaves his
reputa don behind him. Previous TO de-
parting, however, he is forced by Osmond
Allen to restore the Woodleighs their
600 which he does reluctantly and
Osmond Allen is "blackmailing him out
of his small savings and doing him up
brown"
Altogether the play is one of the best
things the Growers have put on at the AL
cazar, and, with few changes. will be one
of the most successful drawing cards at
that theater. TIL ere is considerable love-
making outside of the regular plot by the
eminent and respectable Mr.. Nixon !;
and Fannie Young, as Mrs. Nixon,
is one of the best characters on
the boards George Woodlelgh, the
part handled by Clyde Hess is character
istic of the young man who has a poor sis
ter, while May Noble, as the impoverished
relative, makes all that is possible of her
part.
The play suggests great many local in
cidents, and deals rather pointedly with
that class of men who are Christians for
what there is in it.