The Indianapolis journal., 1904-03-31
Nat Goodwin i'm "a GiIded Fool

Nat Goodwin i'm "a GiIded Fool"
The bright, breezy personality of Nat
Goodwin was once more in evidence last
night at Englsh's, when the favorite Amer
lean comedian. after several seasons OF
semi-serious stage work, came back to In
dianapolis in his old comedy success, "A
Gilded Fool" Almost on the eve of ALL
fools day, it was quite appropriate that
local play-gOers should be given an appor
tunity to see the most delightful fool that
ever trod the boards, for in the role of
ChaUncey Short Mr.. Goodwin is at his
best. And when Nat Goodwin is at his
best he is irresistible. There are many
kinds of fools-look out for them to-mor-
row-but if all of them were as kind of
heart. as noble in nature, and withal as
interesting in general makeup as is the
hero of Henry Guy Carleton's attractive
play their friendship would indeed be well
worth cultivating.
Just why Nat Goodwin. of all actors in
the wide, wide world, should ever take to
the more serious side of stage work is a
puzzle that could only be worked out by a
thinker possessing the brain of a chess
player. Nature has endowed Goodwin with
such rare talent-one might say genious-
for making people laugh that he simply
has no business in wandering from his own
hreSide of mirth-provOking comedy. 1t has
been several years since play-goerS have
been given chance to see him in light
comedy part, so determined has he been
TO wear a more Somber gaTb, and it's 10
to l that there were precious few per-
sons in the audience of last night that
were not far more entertained than they
ever had been with such plays as Nathan
Hale and The Altar of Friendship"
Goodwin is by nature humorist. just as
Mark Twain is a humorist. Other come
dians could play the part of Chauncey
Short, and play it well, for it is a capital
part, but no other actor on the American
stage-or any other stage-cOuld play ii as
Nat Goodwin plays it, He portrays the
role in a manner that is peculiarly his own,
accentuating the fun in the lines immeas-
urably. and making his Chauncey Short a
delicious characterization. There some
serious scenes IN the plece-nOt too many
and they are Of the kind that Goodwin knows
how TO handle better than any other Amer
lean comedian. There is no gainsaying the
fact that he is good in serious work when
there is comedy behind it all, but to accept
Nat Goodwin in a serious play that does
not have comedy as its keynote is impossi-
BILE. The comedians press agent, writing
induStriouSly, has been submitting an
ticle TO the newspapers in which he de-
clares that y. c. Goodwin (not Nat, mind
you) is studying Hamlet" with the inten-
ton or eventually appearing as the melan-
choly Dane If this should happen to be
fact-press agents occasionally tell the
truth-the comedian has not yet taken to
the public at the opening of the present
season, when New York and Boston re-
fused to go to see him in "A Midsummer
Nights Dream" No indeed Nat Goodwin
is too good a comedian to be spared from
comedy. Let him stick to just such plays
as THE Gilded Fool" and continue TO give
pleasure to everybody who witnesses his
performance.
So much for Nat Goodwin himself The
comedy in which he appeared last night is
so we'll known that detailed review of ii is
quite unnecessary. And for the come
dian present supporting company, il is not
with but three exceptions worthy of him. 1t
spoke we'll for the stars great ability that
he could provide an evening of such en-
tertainment with so little assistance from
his associates. His new leading woman
Chrystal Herne. failed to uphold the repu-
tation of the celebrated Herne family of
players. Strange to say, this daughter of
the late James "A. Herne who was famous
for his naturalness on the stage. proved to
be very artificial. To all appearances she
has made Maxine Elliott her model for
her acting continually suggested the meth
DDS of Miss Elliott, although it was lack
ing In the grace and finish that character
ICES the work OF the more experienced
actress. The other women of the cast
Helen Davidge, Estele Mortimer and
Susette Jackson-were not convincing in
their respective roles.
The best work among the male members
of the company was done by Hugo Toland
in the ungrateful part of the rascally Ban
mister Strange and William Burress, as
the English detective from Scotland Yard
who masquerades In New York as a minis
ter These two actors handled their parts
very creditably, and Fred Tiden who is
well remembered for good service rendered
in The Altar of Friendship" made the
most of his limited opportunities in the
small part of Jack Duval +. j. Mcintyre
did not give the necessary distinction to the
character of the Wall-street banker,
Matthew Ruthven. The minor male roles
were played only fairly well.
Fhn Vafa