The Detroit times., 1911-02-21
oEIaolr OPERA HOUSE.

The fact that ricn man, poor num-
beggar man, thief each and all Is
interested. In learning the secret OF
how TO make a fortune, attracted one
of the largest audiences of the sea-
son TO the Detroit opera house, Mon
day evening, to see "The Fortune
Hunter" The attractive bill board adj
yertisements OF the play gave the In
formation that "The Fortune Hunter
would tell you how TO make a million
within q year III you follow the
rules" and evidently several thou
sands OF persons In Detroit nave
made up their minds to learn the sys-
tenn OF THE Fortune Hunter dur
ing that persons stay, in the Detroit
opera house, this week.
The piece II a comedy in four acts,
with all but the first, which Is la the
nature OF a prologue. taking place
in q village hamlet up Pennsylvania
way, called Radville. The first scene
10 In New York city, In the bacheior
apartments OF Henry Kellog, who out
lines the system" for making MIL
lion In q year, to his friend, NAT
Duncan, the SON OF q once rich man
but now reduced to nothing In the
way of income, with no inclination
or training for business life, but with
q healthy appetite and rapidly dl-
minishing and shabby wardrobe.
Henry's scheme IL for Nat to go TO
small town, pose as studious,
church-going young man OF exemplary
habits, "cop out" the richest girl In
town, marry her and live In ahluence.
II not romantic happiness, ever arter.
Henry has lived in q small town and
knows the ropes. He offers to stake
his friend to the necessary outlay In
the way OF clothes and $500 cash. Nat
TO pay him back the money, with an
additional 81 900, when he marrtes the
girl. Nat accepts because there seems
nothing else to do. Radville, Pa. IL
the place selected and the ensuing
three acts are devoted to life in that
dead-and-alive burg with Nat sliding
his way TO fortune on his good looks
and a position behind the soda foun-
tain In the town drugstore.
The characters introduced and the
events that follow show that Henry
knew his small town. Judging from
the roars OF laughter and the loud ap-
plause that frequently broke forth
from the audience there were q whole
back home" in memory at least, by
the depletion of life In Radville. Even
the dyed-in-the-wool city chap saw the
humor Of the thing. As matter OF
fact most people have come In con-
tact at one time or another with just
the sort of three-corners village types
that inhabited the mimic Radville.
The citizens, from the bibulous sherin
and the doddering Oldest inhabitant,
to the prettiest girl OF the countryside
and the village cut.up, are all In
The Fortune Hunter" and as In most
plays of the kind, as well as in actual
life, their happiness" Is as humorous
as their simple, kind-heartedness Is
touching and their shrewd honesty to
be admired.
THE Fortune Hunter" is good,
wholesome fun all the way through.
At times II gets into the farce class,
but as It all makes for hearty laugh
ter, nobody cares anything about
the rules" In this respect, 1t least
Fred Niblo has the part OF Nat and
he invests II with breezy, good humor.
He made happy little curtain speech
that made everybody like him all the
more. Frank Bacon gave an excel
lent characterization OF Sam Granam,
the town druggist, who gives Nat the
job at the soda fountain, a lovable
old inventor who is SO concerned with
his inventions that he allows the drug
business to sink into a ruin that only
Mats arrival saves from utter de-
struction. Miss Alma Belwin was the
attractive daughter OF Sam who wins
out In the race for Mats affections
against the bankers daughter, Josie
Lockwood, which latter part was very
well taken by Miss Lento Fulwell
Miss Fulwell Is q Detroit girl, the
daughter Of Mein Host Fulwell, of the
Hotel Normandie. She has decided
stage ability and acted the part Of the
silly, gushing. spoiled Josie with much
cleverness. The fact that Miss Full
well has been on the professional
stage but few months, and that she
is already so wellpoised and at ease,
holds out the prospect of more than
ordinary success In her profession.
Robert Lowe was the Henry Kellog
and the remaining members OF the
large cast were all capable.
There will be Wednesday and Sat
urday matinees during the weeks en-
gagement of THE Fortune Hunter
ELLA MAE HAWTHORNE.