Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1910-10-29
THE SPENDTHRIFT
A VITAL STORY
Of EXTRAVAGANCE
Stirring Drama With Strong
Cast Comes to the New
ark Theatre.
TOM NAWN COMES TO
PROCTOR'S THEATRE
Many Fine Attractions Are
Booked for Coming Week
at Local PlayhOuses.
,<THE sPENDTHR1FT," the play

that will be seen at the New
ark Theatre next week, is a
p%ulsating, vital drama of American life
of today. Its theme is extravaganza.
Written by In observing, skilful play
wright, who has just arrived at the
height of his power. it emphasizes the
almost criminal w%astefulness which is a
characteristic of the daily lives of many
persons-men as well as women-of a
certain stratum of contemporary So
ciety. But the play is not a preach
ment. 1t teaches its lesson in an at
tractive fashion. The strongest stu
ations-those which impress an audi
ence Immediately with their purpose
and truth-are developed in an atmos-
phere of high comedy. While "The
Spendthrift'' has aroused more serious
discussion than any other play pro-
duced in several years, there are still
10s laughs" in the first act,
The story of the play is that of Rich
ard and Frances Ward, He is a pros
porous stock broker of working, saving
and home-loving instincts; she IS q
butterfly, to whom a new motorcar or
a new gown are matters Of more nm
portance. BY 'humoring her %extrava-
CANT whims Ward brings himself to the
brink of ruin. Severe r~etrenchment is
necessary, With his eyes opened to his
foolish course he prepares to make the
necessary sacrifices and demands them
of his wife. Frances, ignorant of tho
simplest rudiments of comparative pow
erty which threatens, attempts to res
cue them by seeking aid of a man
friend. She borrows money and by so
doing earns the distrust of her hus-
band.
From the chaos that has been pre-
cipitated by the wife's foolish action
there takes shape a new condition In
their life. Frances is taught an awful
lesson. The experience is beneficial.
The final curtain shows a woman trans
formed. Folded in the arms of her for
giving husband she sees the prospect
of real happiness for them both.
One of the elements of "The Spend
thrift's'' tremendous success is the
skilful manner of its presentation.
Frederic Thompson is gifted with rare
Judgment in the casting of a play, and
he has never selected to better pur-
pose. Edmund Breese has the role of
Richard Ward. and the part might
have been written for him, so well does
1t fit his methods. His portrayal is
unquestionably one Of the triumphs of
a brilliant career. Thais Magrane plays
to perfection the difficult role of the
luxury-loving, extravagant, frivolous
minded. yet lovable wife. Her charac-
terization has given her a place among
the %country's leading actresses. Il.
Daniel Frawley and Matte Ferguson,
in distinctive character parts, score in
diyidual hits, and the work of the re-
naming members of the c~ast-Sumner
Guard. Gwendolyn Piers, Robert Cain
and Alice Kelly-is all that could be
asked.
The production of "The spendthrift"
is t~ypically "Thompsonian, which means
that no detail has been overlooked that
could add to the impressiveness and
accuracy of the picture as a whole. The
costuming evidences the same careful
attention. II is necessary in order to
usually convince an audience of
Frances Wards -extravagant tastes for
Miss Magrane to have a gorgeous
wardrobe, and she appears in a number
of beautiful gowns. There is one in