Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1912-12-10
Audience at Shnbert's Is Held
SpeIlbOund by Ready
Money"
FOLLOW FAST ON
HEELS OF ONE ANOTHER
Laughter Gets Mixed Up With
More Serious Matters in
Tangled Skein.

Fresh from a highly successful run
at the Maxine Elliott Theatre in New
York, where it was proclaimed by
New York critics as the first genuine
hit of the season, Ready Money" a
three-act comedy, from the pen of
James Montgomery, was given a
rousing reception when it made it's
initial appearance in this city at the
Shubert Theatre last night.
The play itself has a remarkable
history. Written by a comparatively
unknown author, the original manu-
script made the rounds of severa
offices before the diamond in the
rough was recognized. 1t finally
reached its present producer. II. H.
Frazee, who saw a novelty In the
story. The play was first produced
in Chicago, where it ran for twenty
weeks, when it was booked for New
York.
TrOuble-speed Spelblnds.
The action of the play is wonder
full and the rapidity with which
stephen Baird, the central character,
gets out of one difficulty, only to get
into another, holds the audience SPELL
bound throughout. The production is
excellently staged by the same CON-
pany that contributed to its original
success.
The scene of the play is laid in the
rooms of Sam WEIGH, in New York
city. The time is New Years eve.
Stephen Baird, who is the owner Of
the Skyrocket mine, in Arizona, is
broke. and refuses to attend a dinner
party which has been arranged by
WEIGH at his home. With not a cent
at his disposal, and James E. Nor
gan, the owner Of a mine adjoining
his own. about to foreclose on a loan
which is due on January 2 Baird is on
bitter terms with the whole world at
the prospect of all his plans going TO
smash.
Enter, a Ray of Sunshine.
At this Suncture a ray Of sunlight
appears in the person Of Jackson
Ives. an International character, and
n of the slickest counterfeiters ever
known. ives induces Baird to accept
a loan of $4,000, takes him into his
confidence, tells him to flash the roll
on his friends and watch the effect.
TIE effect is wonderful. His ac-
quaintances, who know that he hasl
been short of funds, seeing him with
a large sum of ready money on hand,
conclude that he has struck it rich
and hasten to buy stock in his mine.
Soon he has SO much money on hand
that he does OF know what to dc
with it. He repents of his action in
accepting the counterfeit money and
tries to induce his friends to take
back their money.
Falls Into the Meshes of the Law.
Through his association with Ives
he falls into the meshes of the secret
service men of the government, who
for years have been trying to get
Ives. whose right name is Walker.
The in which the govern
ment men are outwitted is wonderful,
and to narrate it here would only
spoil it for those who wish to see the
play.
Suffice it to say that ever after the
secret service men get the money in
their possession they are unable to
detect the difference from the real
and Ives remarks that it was
best money he ever made" At
this point word comes from Arizona
that the foreman. Riordan, has dis
covered gold, and Baird finally gets
out of his difficulties.
And lest we forget, there is a pretty
girl in the story, who remains true
to Stephen, even in his adversely, and
who contributes not a little in helping
him out of his difficulties.
Finished Actors, All.
The entire company acquitted them
well. AS stephen William,
was excellent, while as
Ives. the counterfeiter, Joseph Kill
gour seemed to have been just made
the part. His portrayal of the
'money-maker," who considered it a
greater honor to be regarded as the
greatest counterfeiter than
to be the ruler of the country, called
for considerable applause. others
who did well were Scott Cooper, as