The San Francisco call., 1909-10-10
DRAMA TELLS AN
ABSORBING STORY
"The Great John Canton" at
the Valencia Comes With
Stamp of Approval

New York theater goers have put the
'eesl OF their Endorsement upon The
Great John Canton" a new drama by
y. Hartley Manners, which comes to the
Nslencis theater for one week, begin
ming tonight, direct from the Lyric
thester in that cry.
The Great John Canton" is a drama
novel OF business, Canton & Co.
which has been enjoying a wide sale
throughout the country. If Eddy had
taken the measure or George Fawcett
ne could not have provided q character
10 fit Fawcett's personality more neatly
than that OF John Canton, the central
figure in his narrative. When the play
Was submitted TO Lee Shubert. he i'm
medistely named Mr.. Fawcett as the
star Of the production, and its success
has been due in large measure TO the
wonderful portrayal this actor has Civ
en- the title role.
The locale of the play is the Union
Etockysrds in Chicago. John Canton is
.1he king of the packing industry BY
powerful effort. INSCRIPTIONS business
methods and a disregard OF all legal
and moral obligations, he has risen TO
THE pinnacle Of commercial success.
graduate, who goes in for society with
Ear more zeal than he brings to the
responsibilities which naturally fall to
him in his fathers Offices. The young
man is, however, filed with new ideas
IN which business decency is the prin-
cipal ideal. These ideas are naturally
sbhorrent to the old man, and the in
evitsble conflict between father and
son results in the young man being
-Fh ,f = fcfr
herited.
Into this somewhat sordid story of
business is woven with delightful deli
cscy love theme in which figure Will
Canton and May Heating. John Gan
ton opposes this alliance, chiefly for
the reason that May Keating's father
was at one time his most powerful
business opponent
one OF the big scenes in the drama
occurs when the young woman boards
the lion in his stockysrds lair and up
brsids him for his treatment OF his
son. The situation is a tense and alb
xorbing one.
In the final scene John Canton has
been stricken by a dangerous malady
and is in charge OF corps Of physi-
clans Their consultation demands an
operation. Slight hope is held out for
Ganton's life. In the approach of death
The stern old man softens and attempts
10 make amends. He calls back his
son. transfers TO him all of the vast
holdings Of Canton & Co. in all parts
of the world and gives consent TO the
boys marriage with Miss Keating.
Fswcetts great art Eliminates this
scene with a realism that has seldom
been obtained in any similar produc-
fion. The last scene OF all shows the
old man tottering from the room on his
WsV TO an ante chamber where the
surgeons await him. The audience is
left in doubt as to his fate. Upon none
OF their many productions have the
Shuberts lavished more care than on
the preparation of this play. The
scenic effects are costly. the costuming
is most elaborate. and the cast sup
porting Fawcett is made up of many
names familiar TO Broadway play goers.
Thurston Hall appears as viii Canton,
John Webster as Alien Borlan, Allen
Fswcett is Browning, Ganton's secre-
tsry, and Lucius Henderson as Law
renee Delaney. The difficult role of
May Heating is played by Miss Fan
chon Campbell, Miss Ruth Tomlinson
appears as Hester Canton, and Miss
Elsie Scott as Mrs. Jack Wilton.