Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1909-12-29
WINS FAVOR IN HIS
NEW MODERN COMEDY ROLE
Interesting Interview With Famous Actor Telling Why He
Was Led to Desert Shakespeare for the Modern Play,
1.-The American Lord in Which He Appears Here, January
10, at EkS' Theater.

Mr.. f. Lawrence Walker. manager
or Mr.. Charles Il. Iianford, whose
name Is a household word with thea
tergoers, 0 only in Albuquerque, but
throughout the country, arrived in
| Albuquerque yesterday to Conclud de ar
rangements for the appearance OF MIR.
Hanford in the Elks theater January
10, in his new comedy The American
Lord, a piece which, sharp as Is the
contrast with the lays, Mr., tlanford
has presented for years past, is win
ming him favor everywhere 1t has
been presented,
1T is a little difficult for his old
friends to imagine Mr.. Hanford in
modern comedy after his years of
Shakespeare said Mr.. Walker yoster-
day, yet We find from the very cor
dial receptions everywhere and the
equally cordial criticisms that he is
being received with even more thar
the enthusiasm which has been ac-
corded him in Shakesperian roles. 1t
is quite true that 'The American
Lord" is modern comedy, but it is
good comedy and Mr.. Hanford, Miss
Drofnah and the rest of the cast an
unusually strong n make the Very
most of ii.
THE American Lord is the story
of a self-made energetic American,
John Bruester, n Nirsinian by birth,
and a North Dakotan by adoption, n
of those typical characters which are
found all through our western
try. and who form the bone ana sinew
of it's citizenship. He is the proprie-
tor of a hotel and the owner of a
large ranch, the chicf Of a volunteer
fire company, q leading and popular
citizen of his town, whose people are
enthusiastically determined to send
him to congress. At this point he
finds himself heir to q title ANA Estates
in England. At first his dislike for
all things pertaining to the aristroc-
racy makes him refuse to accept he
lordship, although the rent role is
1916, 900 a year. out finally for the
sake of his son, he decides To put
aside his preiudices, refuses the nom
|ination for congress and starts for
England with the determination TO
Americanize at least one corner of
it, and show the world how an Amer
lean would run a l%ordship. Arriving
III E4IiEidild tt llilNl1 Alibi Wynn
erly. whose estate adjoins his. and the
Bruesters have been at odds for years,
with "A lawsuit and a bitter family
feud existing between the two. To
complicate matters, Lord Wycherly's
son falls in love with Bruester's
daughter. and Bruester's son with
Wycherly's daughter, while John
Bruester himself, a widower, becomes
n victim to the charms of Mrs. West
brooke, Il widow, sister-in-law of the
head of the Wycherly family. The
complications that ensue are delight
fully amusing and the Strengthening
out OF all these affairs, principally by
the shrewdness and self-saCrifice on
the part of BruestGr, furnishes some
very entertaining complications. A
strong comedy element is introduced
by an old negro servant who follows
Bruester through the play, and by the
visit of two of his Dakota friends,
typical characters, to his English es-
tate. There is in the play a vein of
satire which the audience viii find
delightful. 1t is fun OF bright lines,
comic situations, and beneath all, Il
strong foundation for manly and pa
triotlc sentiment