The Bridgeport evening farmer. [volume] (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1866-1917, 1911-04-22
REAL BLOOD LENDS
COLOR TO STAGE
BURGLAR-CAPTURE
Unexpected Realism in Pro-
duction of Douglas Fair
banks New Starring Play
E'The Gentleman of LEISURE
at Park Theatre, Last
Night, Proves Delightful
ly Diverting. Comedy.

Realism quite unexpected lent color
of a CORY hue to a thrilling scene in
the first act of the new starring play
Of Douglas Fairbanks, "A Gentleman
of Leisure, presented at the Park
Theatre, last. evening
, After a wager with a party of guests
that ne can commit a real burglary,
just to shame the actor-friend who
boasts Of his housebreaking lore CLEAN
ed for theatrical purposes, Robert Ed
gar Willoughby Pitt (Mr. Fairbanks)
drops off to sleep in a chair before
his fireplace. A real burglar enters,
and is fair way. to clean UP when
he is taken unawares by the sleeper.
All this happens in the play
The struggle that ensued was real
ly terrific, and the audience was at
a loss as to whether the crash of
breaking glasses and the overturning
of furniture in the darkness were part
Of the stage directions or matter of
chance, until real blood was seen drip
Elmer Booth, who played the role of
the genuine porch climber, "Spike
Mullins Spike spattered his light
trousers with blood for a moment,
then thrust his injured member into
his pocket until an opportunity was
SiNeIl IlIil 10 UdnodSe cne WOund OH
the stage. Despite the mishap, or
perhaps because of it, the encounter
was one of the most realistic strug-
giles the stage has produced in many
a dav.
Mr. Fairbanks play is a delightful
comedy. He has the role Of a wealthy
young American, who at the opening
Of the story ie yearning- to get the
opportunity to WOO and win a girl
whom he has worshipped all through
a voyage across the Atlantic, without
having had chance to be present
ed
Chance acquaintance with the bur-
glar leads him upon opportunity to
win the bet But his burglar-pal, be-
Hevfng he has directions leading him
to home occupied by defenceless
women, leads the venturesome young
man into the home Of a New York
deputy police commissioner, big
Phip' CreedOn. The genuine porch
climber has been led to believe that
his accomplish is a scientific burglar
from abroad. Big Phil's daughter
discovers the two, holds them up with
a pistol, and then she and Pitt dis
cover they are the shipboard acquaint-
ances. The pair were duped into en-
tering Creedon's home by supposed
friend Of Spike who took this means
to pay an old grudge.
In the complications that follow,
Spike poses as Pitts valet, and Pitt
is mistaken by Creedon to be the
clever London crook he posed before
Spike" They are allowed to go.
But in Creedon's absence, Pitt be-
comes a visitor at the Creedon home,
with Spike" at his side, and Spike
valued at $40, 600. Spike makes a
getaway, and Creedon's return serves
ito fasten suspicion upon Pitt, whose
suit for Molly Creedon, the commits
sioner's daughter, is progressing ia
mously.
With any number of delightfully."- hui
morous situations, Molly follows the
chain of circumstances through q
maze of suspicion until she finally
solves the problem Of the disappear
ance of the jewels. To save Spikes
hide, Pitt has to take the jewels him.
not the real article, he keeps his Sc
cret well, using it only when the
knowledge of Pitts guilt is employed
by Sir Thomas Blunt, whose wife lost
the gems, to force Pitt to withdraw
from his rivalry with Blunt's anus
Dreever, for Molly's favors.
Mr. Fairbanks gives to pitt a
Characterization quite in keeping with
his excellent efforts in other plays.
His sincere and vigorous impersona-
ton promises, with it's strong support,
to carry 1.-THE Gentleman of Leisure
through a successful career Ruth
Shepley as 'eMollie'' added to a wealth
of personal charm delightful por-
trayal of the wholesome daughter of
Commissioner Creedon The latter
was capitally played by Wilton Tay-
lor, whose idea Of a policeman comes
pretty near making the role the most
human characterization Of that much
abused personality that the stage has
welcomed in many moons.
Another vigorous character portrayal
was that of Elmer Booth, as Spike
Mullins Spikes" vernacular of the
sluIns rolls from his big square jaw
as naturally as do the prettiest poetic
sentiments from Maude Adams pretty
mouth. Spike is a prime factor
Notable among the others are Jeffreys
Lewis, as Lady Blunt; E. H Kelly,
as Sir Spencer; H j. Carvill, as Sir
Thomas Blunt; and Orlando Daily, as
Clarence Macklin, the actor-burglar.
William A Brady has given Mr. Fair
banks the advantage of a capital
scenic equipment. Unfortunately the
waning season brought an audience
all too small for a play of such
merit.