The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-01-23
CHECKERS"

See Checkers" and be happy!
1t is a play that enlists ones sympa-
thies from the start and draws him ire
sistibly along because 1t is true to life,
because 1t is human and a story that be-
longs to the American people. As rule
book plays are unsatisfactory but no
fault can be found with Checkers" 1t
is a charming play, brisk in movement,
rich in character drawing, vibrant with
feeling and infused with the most re-
freshlng comedy. 1t is a heart-play In
every sense of the word. While laughter
is plentiful and comedy abundant, there
is an undercurrent that runs more deeply
and pulls at ones heart strings In ne
unmistakable way. At the very beginning
of the play the spectator feels that he
is with Checkers; whatever Checkers does
Is right There Is the aroma of the race
track about him, he comes from gilt
tering world where fortune holds sway
and the rich man of today may be poor
tomorrow, but he is pure gold and at
bottom character that grips all hearts.
Checkers the man and Checkers" the
play are equally delightful, equally capu-
waiting. Checkers the man, former plum
ger. man of the world and gambler makes
a fight for a girl who Is worth winning.
He meets her in Hot Springs. Ark, and
for her sake buries himself in a little
country town in Arkansas where he clerks
in store just across the street from
her home. There is another man in the
case but it develops that he does not
really count and his villiany gradually
NJ 70
crosses.
But why recount the events of the play,
when the book is so familiar and so many
people have already seen Checkers" on
the stage? Checkers makes noble fight
for the girl and wins her. That tense mo-
ment when he stakes the $50 gold piece
which she gave him on a 100 TO shot and
waits In an agony of suspense for the
hand of destiny to decide his fate makes
gamblers of us all. If Remorse had failed
to come in first last night the situation
would have been deplorable. But he
does win, in one of the most stirring
scenes Imaginable and Checkers gets his
$4,000 stake which he had promised to
earn before the year was ended In order
TO claim Pert He did not keep his prom
Use to earn it by legitimate means but
Pert is essentially feminine and since
he did not lose she is satisfied. Succeed
ing events in which Checkers saves the
bank of Perts father reconciles the old
gentleman, somewhat crusty, to be sure
and they are happy ever after"
IT is seldom that one has an oppor-
tunity of Witnessing such clever play
presented in such admiral style. There is
not poor player in the entire company.
Rather, they are all good The character
drawing of the play is one of its most
enjoyable features; there are types that
George AIDE could net surpass, and they
are so close to real people whom nearly
every one has seen that they make an
instant appeal, bringing forth laughter by
the comedy which is in them and creating
* deeper interest by their more serious
traits. Hans true blue"-just the sort
of chap that everybody wants TO win.
Too much praise cannot be given Dave
Braham. Jr.. for the skill with which he
portrays Push" Miller. the tout. The
stage has seldom had better drawn
character or one played so aptly. Mr..
Braham was one Of the most pleasing
figures in an array of clever performers.
1t is hardly necessary TO enumerate the
long list of characters. All were presented
in most entertaining way, but Miss
Lydia Dickson as Cynthy the maid, was
absurdly funny. and Miss Katherine Null
kins as Pert Barlow was the sweetheart
we would pick out for Checkers. She is
a pretty woman and makes the part suf-
ficiently girlish and naive to charm every
one.
The minor characters were well placed