The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-04-25
pon,t Ills. ..Thc I,nrtunc Iiunicr..


Don't MISS .'Thc Fortune Hunter
For TWO seasons Fred Niblo delight
cd constantly growing audiences at
the Academy Of Music with his won
Travel Talks; last night he appeared
in the leading role of Winchell Smiths
famous comedy. The Fortune Hunter"
and completed his conquest of Rich
mond's chronic theatre gocrs. He is
even more delightful as an actor than
he was as lecturer. IL that be pos
sible. Easy, natural. and utterly un-
affected. he made tho light. quick
comedy of his part a thing OF JOY. The
part might so easily have been spoiled
by the least bit of horseplay the
mercst suggestion of overacti'lg. that
Mr. Niblo's deft and skiiful treatment
OF It's humor commands the utmost adj
miration. His performance was of the
character that allows those who en-
deavor to observe closely the work
of those on the stage to settle down
into their chairs and simply enjoy
every minute of it, confident in the
knowledge that there are no flaws TO
pick
And that Mr.. Niblo's work stood out
so prominently speaks volumes for
him, when one considers the unusually
"
surrounded with a few changes ii Is
the same company as that which ran
in Chicago, and II is so big. and so
generally excellent that It is impos-
sible to mention individually all those
who deserve it.
Everybody knows the story-of the
young man, failure. down and out,
who is "staked by a friend and goes
TO a little country town with system
by means of which he Is to Win the
village heircss-plain. dark clothes, no
smoking. no drinking. no swearing.
but hard work, drab duliness. system.
attic and conspicuous church going: OF
how he faithfully carries out his plan
until nc becomes man and loves the
work for its own sake, the dullness Tor
its quiet. and the church because II Is
the church; of how the heiress does
propose TO him, and his consequent
misery, until an honorable and happy
way out of his engagement offers it.
self. and he is free to marry the girl
who is not rich The story is well
known. but even full recital of II
would convey no idea of the Wit the
clean, wholesome comedy and the pure.
honest fun that its dramatic version
develops There is also. here and
there, touch of pathos, but only for
an instant-long enough to make the
play even more alive. not long enough
to cause choke. And the moral of
it-think of a pure comedy with
morals so naturally, SO humanity, SO
practically. suggested that. without be-
ing priggish, 1t Is the sort of play that
almost everybody ought to see. II is
sugar coated sermon full of fun.
The author drew n number of types
and the management provided actors
who presented them to life Robert
Lowe was excellent as the successful
Wall Street man; Avon Breyer as Ro-
land. was Il typical village "cut-up';
Edward Saxon, with his wink, gave a
good performance as Lockwood; Phil.
Bishop. as Tracey. the fat boy, and
Francis Y. Conlan, as the drunken
deputy. were both artistically funny;
Lento Fulweli was unusually clever In
portraying the unattractive heiress,
and Alma Bclwin was charming as
Betty. after she had been schooled and
dressed. But Frank Bacon. as the
pathetic. dreaming old druggist and
inventor. shone next to Mr.. Nfblo. Ills
performance was as convincing and
artistic an example of what character
work can be as one often has an OPP
portunity to witness. E#,
Several OF the waits were very long.
but the scenery is heavy and the prop
critics almost nnumera ble really
big production" and then the first
performance Is always slower in the.
setting. And. besides, all OF 1t was
worth waiting for-even the final cur
tain when the man and the girl stand
in each others arms, utterly oblivors
of the pouring rain.
There will be three more perform
ances, all of them as well worth sec
Ing as was ''rhe Country Boy"
W. D. &.
Strong Card Mt Bijou.
THE Wolf" by Eugene Walters,
author of paid In Full" and "The
Easiest Way" was presented last night
at the Bijou Theatre by an unusually
strong cast The scene OF the drama
Is laid In the northern Canadian for
ests. and the plot is repleto with thrill.
ing climaXes. From the bell. which
sent up the first curtain until the final
scene, the unbrokcn attention of tho
audience was riveted upon tho stage,
and the house responded with repeated
oncores TO the more than creditable
rendition OF the performa nee.
AS the hero. z. Fernandez. in tho
role of Jules Bcaubian. young
French Canadian, easily took. first hon
ors. The acting OF MIR. Fernandez was
both nntura! and graceful; nc pos
r. M.