The Washington herald., 1912-05-28
LAST NIGHT AT THE THEATERS
PoIfs THEATER.
ssrhe Fortune Hunter"

Ehe Fortune Hunter
The same qualities Of winchsll smiths
company. which hlled the Columbia
Theater the week Of November 20 last 70
its capacity, viii draw stock patrons to
Polls Theater this week 70 see The For
tune Hunter"
In the frst place Il Is a dear story,
touched with tender humor and flied
with quaint philosophy, with just the
sort Of loo interest that makes one glad
TO know about, because Il Is both pure
and sincere
In the second place. The Fortune
Hunter" Is admirably suited for stock
production. and IN the third place. the
Poll Players iit into each role Gas they
are cast this week. with e nicely that
was last night enthusiastically applauded
by large audience.
The role Of Nat Duncan, the hero OF the
story, played in the company seen here
last winter by VIII Deming lost none OF
Its appeal In the capable hands Of A. II.
Van Buren. who gave both a manly and
sympathetic Characterization Of the part
last night.
He is first seen in the beginning Of
MS unique pursuance Of a fortune In the
apartment OF his friend. Kellogg, who
proposes stalking him again, and after
ward, when finding that Nat will take
no further advantages OF the generosity
OF a successful friend. proposes 10 him
new way Of winning a fortune, which
Is none other than via the marriage
route.
He suggests to Duncan that he settle
in a small town: create something OF a
mystery about himself; go IN strong for
church, and marry the heiress Of the
village.
Being quite down on his luck, Duncan
accepts the proposition and Kellogg
foots the bills, all Of which might have
worked out according to prediction had
not Cupid interviewed. for It was no
difficult matter for the young city chap
to become the idol Of the little Penn
sylvanla town which was selected for
the experiment, nor TO persuade one
Sam Graham, q druggist, who was a
genius at everything except making
money. to accept him and his capital IN
a business that had been formerly
marked with failure.
Under Duncan's management the drug
store thrIves and becomes the most popu-
lar place In town for soft drinks. par
for Josie, the heiress Of the
wealthy banker.
Thus far KeIlogg's scheme works out
admirably, but It is not to Josie that
Duncan's heart goes out, but 10 Betty.
the little daughter OF the druggist,
brought up in poverty until the coming
Of Duncan. who sends her to school and
transforms her into a most bewitching
and magnetic young lady.
Then, too, the new life, in which his
own work and sndeavor has counted for
has succeeded in developing
character and instilling new ideals
IN the young man. and filling him with |
bathing for the bargain made with his |
friend, who now claims that Duncan |
keep to his part Of the agreement and |
marry the bankers daughter. who pro- |
posed to him Just as Betty comes home |
from school
The Fortune Hunter" eventually |
svades the heiress after a laugh-provok- |
ng flight, which furnishes one OF the |
most humorous bits OF the play. and mar |
Hes the girl OF his choice, much to the |
OF those who follow him |
through the learning Of his lesson that |
lfter all nothing is worth the having that |
We do not work to get.
IEetta Jewel made a most winsome and |
Betty, giving a totally salts
'actorY performance as the druggists |
and Charles Fisher as the /
ginking banker. who drinks a pint OF |
soda water at each performance, kept
he audience in a roar OF laughter with /
lis rich Characterization OF delc!ously /
'unny village character.
The Fortune Hunter" Is a clean and /
comedy. The small town char
lcters are distributed with a success
which does Director Socola credit, for
.aCh was well drawn and well played |
asst night by the Poll Players.
The original production was faithfully
ollowed in the matter OF stage settings,
wen TO the downpour Of rain IN the last
Ict. in which the young lovers stand
10 completely absorbed in each other as
o be oblivious OF the shower until the
Iindly druggist Cplayed admirably by
dark Kent comes out with an um-
,relIa and holds # over them.
J. o. MANI.