Los Angeles herald., 1906-09-11
THE NOMINEE IS
A CERTAIN WINNER
POLLS AT H0TCHKISS CLOSE
AND HE HAS MAJORITY
His Election by Unanimous Popu lar
Vote Never in Doubt--Novel and
Clever PlayIet at orpheum.
"Knighthood" at Belasoo

THE Nominee" which the IIotchkiss
is offering this week, is as much a
travesty on the mother-in-law as 1t is
on politics. It is the same old Nom
inee' with Goodwin's part played by
an admirable substitute. And the audi
ence last night enjoyed the Offering
with so evident a relish that q two
weeks run Is altogether probab BILE If
the management accedes to the wishes
of the public.
Apparently It does not take swastika
pins TO remove theater hoodoos. A
good play and a good company with
good presentations is the real swastilSa
in Los Angeles. The Howard-Ham
ton stock company has tried this COM
bination and found it admirable, as the
box Office receipts show.
"rhe Nominee" is merely type of
the moneyed man whose fool friends
inject him into politics, and poll
tics into him, mainly because he
wants to get to New York with its
merry throng. Country life pals on
him, and politics affords the easiest
safety valve. Apparently 1t isn't the
garish life that lures him as much as
the prospect of release from nagging
at the hands of his charming wife's
mother.
Medford of the play Is a good fellow
of the rich, happy -go-lucky type, who
hasn't the heart to put down his foot
in his own household, and regrets his
indecision later His flirtations, viewed
in 1906 callousness. are merely Incl
dents which could have been brushed
aside easily and forgotten but for the
repugnance aroused by the strong
minded female who dominates his fam
lily circle.
Yet, having entered on q career that
does not follow the narrow matrimo-
NAL path too closely, Medford finds that
two or three of his friends must share
in his deviment, and they share it all
right-to help out the play. The play
wright sees to that.
Cutting a pretty plot short, for re-
viewing purposes, Medford induces his
private secretary to represent him as a
candidate for congress in a mill town
district while he goes on to New York,
and all the time Medford's family
thinks he is stumping and campaign
ing, whereas he is rather near the
Rialto. Unfortunately the make believe
Medford wins and the newspapers get
home before he does, telling of the po-
litical victory by proxy, making any
amount of complications.
When the secret of the scheming is
out Medford and his wife make up,
peace is made and Medford consents to
one of the conspirators marrying his
wife'S sister only on condition that he
shares the mamma-in-law too.
George B. Howard is the man who
steps into Goodwin's shoes. and he does
not rattle around in them, either.
Howard has the devil-may- ways
that are needed, has the recklessness
| of a man who believes his wife trusts
| him beyond the shadow of suspicion
| and exhibits the inbred refinement OF
| the husband who puts UP with domina-
| tion from his wife's mother because he
detests to make hard feelings.
Natural at all times, with a hearty
laugh, heartier handshake and an
| impelling magnetism, Howard makes OF
Medford likable fellow despite all
| his slips from morality's path.
The support is excellent. Guy TIitner
| plays the private secretary who falls
| into an adventures hands, Edmund
Murphy plays the good friend who
helps Medford out of scrapes, and c.
E. Murphy plays the amateur politician
who means well but fails
Miss Flora Dorset is fine as the
trusting wife who finally cuts loose
from maternal apron strings, Miss
Katherin Bond is the mother-in-law
and works effectively, while Miss Isa-
bell Rollas- Bailey is the sweet thing
| who maintains the love interest.
After Stage Manager Arthur Mackley
| gets a few crudities smoothed out and
| Miss Louise Averill makes the adven-
| turess a more natural character, 1.-The
| Nominee" can run for anything in this
| town and win