The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-10-17
"Rrewsters MilIions.n

BT6WSLeTS MiiIlOHS.
'Brewster's Millions a stage version
of George Barr McCutcheons interesting
novel OF that name, will be presented here
at the jefferson theatre E riday and Sat
urday nights and Saturday matinee, by
the Cohen and Harris comedians. The
decentralization was made by Winchell
Smith and Byron Ongley and has met
with the most emphatic success. 1t IS
now being played by two companies In
America, two in England and one on tho
continent 1t will be presented here with
all the striking stage effects invented and
conceived by Frederic Thompson, a mas
ter mind in this particular direction. The
story has a great deal of ingenuity and
the side-lights of humor and pathos which
the author throws upon 1t emphasizes
its human interest.
While departing in detail now and then
from the written story. the adapters have
kept to the main theme and preserved
most of the incidents of the book. Re
lated briefly, the story recounts the Ell
forts of Montgomery Brewster to spend in
one year his Inheritance of a million dol
lars, In order that under the whimsical
will of an uncle he may como into be-
quest of seven millions.
The conditions of this will stipulate that
the original million must not be dissipa-
ted In reckless gambling, indiscriminate
endowments or the erection of memorials
and that absolute secrecy as to the
whole affair be maintained. How Monty
Brewster manages to work off his million
under these circumstances everybody who
has read the book remembers well enough.
AS he enters millionairedom the problem
presents itself on the threshold. The
million came from his grandfather. who
permitted his mother to die in want. His
uncle, who hated the grandfather, leaves
the much greater fortune to Monty, but
with the stipulation that the grandfath-
er's money shall be disposed of first.
Monty. remembering his mother. accepts
the contract He must keep the matter a
secret. =
Thereupon he enters upon a career Of
extravagance. There are restrictions that
make 1t hard for him. He loves, but
such entanglements are forbidden him.
His friends come to his aid, not to help
him squander 1t, but to try to save 1t for
him. bank fails and brings him joy
He finances an opera company that 'has
no possible chance of success" and makes
a hit One OF his friends robs him in or
der TO retrieve Monty's falling fortunes
and loses. Brewster, frantically trying to
get rid of the money, buys heavily on a
falling market, and stocks bound upward
at once He bets on a long shot and
wins. He tries Montc> Carlo, and breaks
the bank. But eventually the coHIact a.
fulfilled and he is a pauper. The efforts
of Brewster to relieve himself of a for
tune keeps the audience in a constant
state Of laughter. 1t is one of the most
delicious bits that will be offered this
season Yet it is not without it's pathos,
and there is an undercurrent of human
interest that occasionally rises to the sur
face, and is given with excellent dramatic
effects.
The cast which Messrs. Conan and
Harris Introduce is composed of Carl
Gerard, Gus Christie. Frederick LOOMS
Franklyn George, Louise Sanford, Rich
ard Webster. Arthur BRAINS, Ben Wilkes,
Kathrine Raye. Edward C. Howard, Ma