The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1896-11-13
The G|LDED FOOL
Nat Goodwin Scores a
Hit at New Hawaiian.
House Crowded to the Doors and
the Large Audience
Delighted.

The presentation of 1.-The Gilded
Fool by the Nat. Goodwin Company
Wednesday evening was one of the
happiest events Honolulu theater- go
ers have enjoyed in many a year.
Notwithstanding the short notice CIV
en- that the company would appear in
the Opera House, the house was packed
and if Nat Goodwin is dubious over
the reception given him in Australia,
where the appreciation of American
plays is not the highest, he has no
reason to complain of the prejudices
of Honolulu people. The Gilded Fool
is not a heavy piece; there is no deep,
dark plot, with an attempt to keep
the audience on pins and needles of
JOY and despair. 1t is an easy-going
piece. displaying the vicissitudes of
Young man with plenty of money and
a small amount of brains-the former
left 10 him by rich uncle, the latter
the misfortune of his own inheritance.
He spends his money freely and
shows the ''boys" that he is one of
their number Then there appears
upon the scene a woman who takes him
out of his wreckIess mode OF life and
instills him with a desire to reach
out" and make something of himself
to prove worthy the love which he
bears for her.
The young ladys father is a partner
in a large firm, one of the members
of which is a scoundrel who is appro-
priating all the money. The young
man is persuaded to go into the firm,
and finally consents, with the assur-
anee from the young lady that he shall
receive her help. He tells her of his
love for her, and she gives him hope.
He puts all his money into the enter
prise, and is tricked by the slippery
member of the firm. The young lady
knows that by signing certain papers
the one who loves her and her father
will lose everything.
ing by telling him that he need hope
for her love no longer. Notwithstand-
ing this, he does sign the papers, and,
having learned of the shady transac-
tions of the slippery member of the
firm. determines to make the name of
"Gilded Fool'-one given to him in
derision-a terror to him. He plays
his cards carefully, and by clever man
euyering in the tolls of Wall street
against the firms enemy, succeeds in
making twice what he had lost. This
he uses to place the firm on sound
basis again. However, with all this
success, he is filled with suffering on
account of cruel words of the woman
he loves which took all sunlight out
of his life.
But the sun shines again, and she,
having learned of what she believed
were sacrifices on his part to save the
firm. when in reality he was immense
" rich. comes back of her own accord
and tells him that she does love him.
Happiness reigns supreme, and things
turn out we'll for all except the slippery
partner. who goes back to England
with a detective to call on people who
have wanted him badly for a long
time
As a comedian, Nat. Goodwin has no
equal. and so much more praise is due
him since from the comical he can
suddenly throw into his acting and
speaking an intense degree of pathos
that has power to move any audience
10 tears. One of the strongest points
in the play is just where, after hav-
ing been told by the woman he loves
that he need no longer hope, he walks
slowly to the back of the drawing
room. repeats the words: 'Gilded
Fool" two or three times, and then
falls on a table with his head buried
between his arms. The whole action is
fraught with such intense suffering
that one cannot help but suffer with
him.
Then again, earlier in the play,
where he tells of the death of his
mother, of his poverty and attempt to
get some money wherewith he could
take his beloved parent to health
giving cline 1t is all done so quietly
and yet so forcibly by Mr.. Goodwin
that every word strikes home with tell
ing effect.
Miss Maxine Elliot played her part
with ease, grace and with remarkable
force. but in the opinion of many who
have seen Nat. Goodwin before, she
did not come up to Blanche Walsh,
former leading lady of the company.
Mr. Goodwin was supported in the
play by a very strong company, who
helped him materially in giving the
large audience present most enjoy
able evening.