The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-09-13
THE NATIONAL.
"Get-Rich-Quick waIIingford.p

The name OF George NJ Conan used in
connection with a theatrical venture
would ordinarily invoke visions OF bril-
liant scenic effect. lively music, and noise.
but in the case Of "Get-Rich-Quick Wal
lingford." the latest venture bearing his
stamp. the signs fail He defies augury
by directing his talents toward another
field. and only in the first act are remi-
niscences evoked by the entrance of a
brass band and the display OF flags
The play is an adaptation OF the story
by George Randolph Chester. detailing
the complete regeneration Of couple OF
crooks by the influence or woman's love
and startling run Of luck This duo OF
confidence men light on a dead Western
town with the deliberate purpose Of max
ing division with the Boob" inhabitants
Of the money Of the section. for there is
plenty there. although withdrawn from
active circulation and business use BY
boarding in various receptables, ranging
from safe-deposlt vaults TO antiquated
tea pots. About the time which they had
fixed upon TO make their getaway"
however. they both discover themselves
10 be hopelessly In love with good women.
which fact. together with some remark
able happenings IN the way Of luck. turns
the course OF their career and transforms
them, not only into mere honest men, but
into two honored millionaires.
a scheme for the manufacture OF COW
cred carpet tacks to match the pattern
Of the floor covering. Matched for the
purpose OF shielding their nefarious trans
actions. turns out to be a legitimate and
stupendous success. A right OF way for
fake trolley line. which they had ac-
quired. fits exactly into the system OF
great corporation. and nets them a cool
million. while every other crooked plan
connected with their campaign turns into
stream of honest gold. While improb-
able, these happenings are good enough
for stage purposes. There is decided in
terest involved in the story, the incidents
are clever. the comedy is plenteous. and,
above all, there is a moral to the play,
succinctly stated IN the last words OF
the leading character Of the play: What
d-n fool a fellow is for being
crooked The production bears the pre-
monitory signs OF success.
The chief character in the play. that OF
J. Rufus Wallingford. king confidence
man, is played with great success by
Hale Hamilton; he gets about everything
possible out Of It, and Is ably seconded
by Edward Fills, in the capacity of
Blackie Daw, his able pal in both crime
and rectitude. They are both effective
comedians, and have the faculty Of sue
cessfully delinsating the character ele-
ment Of the role assumed, as well as
merely participating in the action and
speech Of the story.
Another effective bit or work rs con-
tributed by Frances Ring. as Fannie Jas
per, a typewriter, whose womanly intu-
ition at first gives her correct insight
into the characters of these two men,
but whose love for one OF them blinds
her to the truth until she learns it from
the lips OF her husband. all OF which
above Miss Ring charmingly and intelli-
gently elucidates. The principal figures
are surrounded by a host OF minor ones.
including Grant Mitchell. as Eddie Lamb;
J. E. Marlowe. as Andy Dempsey. Fred
erick Seaton, as c. W. Battles, Grace
Goodall. as Bessie Meers. /Purnell Pratt.
as Clint Harkfns; George J. Henry, as
Judge hampton; Spencer Charters. as
Tim Donahue, Marie Taylor, as Mrs.
Dempsey. and a long list Of others
equally competent.
While the comedy Is neither remark
able for the tone Of it's theme nor the
politeness Of its manner, It has con-
siderable satrical strength and fidelity
to nature, for the woods are full Of just
such halfway crooks who, with just a
little luck would be tolerably honest, and
the exposition Of such plain and bene-
fetal moral atones TO a great degree for
some of the depreciatot.' elements of
the play.