Los Angeles herald., 1910-11-15
: THE FORTUNE HUNTER"
IS WHOLESOME COMEDY
Abounds with Merriment, with
Here and There a Touch
of PathoS
by SHIRLEY OLYMPUS

You should not miss seeing 1.-THE For
tune Hunter at the Mason opera
house. There's q tonic in the play
which no physician could possibly pre-
scribe and which no drug store could
ever fill, although two of the acts take
place in a drug store. This play of
Winchell Smiths Is clean and whole
some. There are no problems to per-
plex ones mind. There are no viii
lains to thicken the plot. No adven-
turesses to bob up and make life mis-
erable for some sinner. This is de-
licious comedy, bubbling over with
laughter and yet not farcical; natu-
raj, with no horseplay. Here and there
is a touch of pathos, the sort which
makes UP life as 1t Is lived every day,
in every year. But the comedy which
follows such pathos makes ones smiles
dry up ones tears. 1 doubt II any per-
son, even the most cynical old mis-
anthrope in all the world, could see
''The Fortune Hunter and keep from
smiling. One leaves the theater feeling
refreshed mentally and physically.
In basic theme 1.-THE Fortune Hun
ter deals with the development of the
Individual. But the theme is not so
, obtrusive at any time as to bother one.
How the theme is worked out is more
I1dI IU6 IIlGIlS llSSll- ~ SSC a man
grow from a neer-do-weIl, fortune
hunting failure into an honorable and
respected worker, and to see him get
his Just deserts, Is about the sum total
of the theme and lesson of the play.
Fancy a man whose life has been a
brilliant" failure suddenly making up
his mind-or rather having 1t made up
for him-to go to small country town
for the avowed purpose of getting a
xutFo x.,tkd n than epOtnp IN the
town, getting engaged to the daughter
of the towns richest banker, and then
finding that it is not the bankers
daughter he loves but another. And
then imagine that this same failure
not only learns to like work but makes
his work successful. Just as final
picture imagine this same failure be-
coming a great success, getting the
girl he loves, along with the fortune
he has sought, but which, through
his efforts largely, has come to the
girl. Such a series of pictures does
not give any adequate idea of the
wealth of comedy which sets off the pic
lures, but 1t suffices.
There are so many human elements
in "The Fortune Hunter" that there Is
no wonder it is a success. Not single
character, not O situation, not a speech
in all the play Is overdrawn. Winchell
Smith knows well the people and their
goings and comings in small towns.
Consider the various characters be-
ginning with Nat Duncan, the failure,
SO exuuisitely enacted by Fred Niblo.
Duncan is one of q million "down-and-
cutters" to be found in any big city.
What he does is what every man in his
class and position will do If given the
opportunity. Mr.. Niblo has illumined
the role of Duncan with the creative
mower of an artist.
How lovable is the character OF Sam
Graham. the village druggist whose in
ventions have kept him so busy he for
got to make money. Is there not one
such in every village? We must thank
Frank Bacon for Sam Graham and we
must give our deepest thanks. Mr..
Bacon has made this character one of
those gentle souls who, by their gem
tleness and kindlinesS, make the world
seem brighter and better for their hav-
ing lived.
There is a Lockwood in every viii
lage bank. AS the song runs:
HE goes on Sunday TO the church to pass
around the contribution box.
But on Monday he's as cunning and clever
a fox"
Edward Saxon is the Banker Lock-
wood of 1.-THE Fortune Hunter" and
he's a mighty good one, too.
Francis Conlan plays Pete Willing,
q matrimonial cynic, in such delight
full manner that he simply forces one
to laugh. Nothing could be more
comical than his scene in the drug
store in the third act, when he tries
to persuade Nat to give up all thought
of marriage. Roland Barnett, the viii
lage bank clerk, played by William
Lyle and Tracey Tanner, the livery
mans son, real country pumpkin,
played by Phil Bishop, who looks and
acts the role to perfection, are types
one may see in any village. Robert
Lowe enacts Henry Kellog of New
York in bluff and hearty manner, and
William Granger is fine drummer"
There are just three women in the
cast. Each in her way is perfect.
Alma Belwin shows exactly the vary
ing phases of a country girls life in
playing Betty Graham. And when
she is the drudge, Miss Belwin is just
that And when she Is the educated
young moman with all the rough cor
ners worn off by boarding school
education, she shows what possibi1i-
ties there are in any country girl who
remains unspoiled by her contact with
the fashiness and frivolity of the city
Lento Fulwell Is excellent as Josie
Lockwood. She gives a true picture
of the country girl who, though she
has money and social position" lacks
the charm that should go with them.
Regina Connolly makes an ideal Angie
Tucker.
A review of "The Gay Lord Quex,"
which opened at the Belasco last night,
will appear tomorrow.