Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-04-06
A N U S E N E N rs.
Columbia Theater.

OF the plays previously presented with
Thomas W. Ross as star, some eminently
successful. others short-lived. none has
possessed the wealth of genuine comedy
and the simple directness of human in
terest that distinguish The Fortune
Hunter. which was given before large
and enthusiastically approving audience
at the COLUMBIA Theater last night. The
rura, farce Is either highly entertaining
or utterly bore. 1t depends on keen
insight into human nature. Caricature
may be employed. but il must be with
def, intelligent strokes which heighten
characteristic qualities without producing
tional In Its wonderful fidelity in dis
cussing the wholly commonplace. The
fortune hunter is not a foreign nobleman
who greases his hair and proves to be
a waiter in disguise; neither is he a
heavy-browed villain who shoots his cuffs
and keeps the soles of his patent leather
shoes enameled He is a plain, bustling
young American who has been left be-
hind In the practical business world. and
who. rather than sponge on his friends,
yields to the temptation of a worldly
wise youth and decides to marry for
money.
His instructor provides him with set
OF rules as to morals and manners which
are guaranteed to make him the ideal
young man of small community. He
follows out the Instructions becomes en-
gagged to the rich girl. only to find that he
has lost his heart elsewhere. BY a
deception he tests the affection of his
fiancee and leads her to break the en-
gagement. All this is managed by the
playwright with a dizziness that prevents
the hero from falling under suspicion of
being cad or bounder. On so slender
foundation has been constructed a COM
edy that abounds in humor which defies
analysis The laughter springs from
countless sources: the shrewd insight of
human nature displayed by some charac-
tiers. aptness of repartee, the pithy vari-
cites of mankind-it is a little philosophy
unto itself. The characters are depicted
In such way as to preserve the atmos-
phere of country town: yet they are
we'll contrasted. The author. Mr.. Win
chell Smith, has produced a work which
as an exemplification of stage humor
should enjoy a popularity equal to that
of anything written by the late Charles
Hoyt.
Mr. Ross work has the charm of sub
tlety. Other comedians might score more
laughs. but 1t would be at the expense
of sympathy and sentiment. the qualities
which lift the character out of the ordi-
nary rut of comic representation. Yet
there are laughs and to spare from the
broad grin at some grotesque makeup to
ton Of quiet satire. Mr.. Ross methods
are as agreeable as they are exceptional.
combining good sense of fun with per-
sonal poise.
characters that 1t is impossible TO cover
the list in comment. The most important
feminine role is assumed by Miss Ryan.
In the first act childish virago. later
gentle and lovable young woman. Both
these phases she realized. the first with
perhaps more emphasis than skill, but
the latter certainly with undoubted deli
cacy and charm. Hale Hamilton, as
rising financier. gave a most agreeable in
depreciation of well-drawn character.
Mr.. Forrest Robinsons picture OF the
gentle silver-haired inventor, to whom
the fortune hunter proves a good angel.
had the kindliest sentiments of the au-
dience enlisted before 1t had been in evil
dence five minutes. And in addition there
are bits which scarcely figure In the
story and yet are convincing as they are