New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-09-03
BEST SELLER STAGED
Rex BeaCh's "Ne'er Do WeII'
Dramatized by Charles Klein.
BOOKS SPIRIT PRESERVED
Hale Hamilton Feels His Way
in the Role of a Millionaire
Football Hero.

lor Hghl summer reading X often goes on
the stage to 90 heavy winter work as
drama Sometimes the spirit OF things is
changed when the book comes TO life on
the stage. Sometimes. as in last nights
production OF Rex Beach's THE Ne'er
Do Well at the Lyric, the rebirth is
effected without any transmigration OF
soul. II Charles Klein set himself tho task
OF putting a best seller on the stage so
that the spectator would have all the
same feelings that he has in reading the
book, he has succeeded.
The Neer Do Well has four acts
one Of these is I'm three scenes. The cast
is big enough TO present Christmas pan
tomime at Drury Lane. The spirit OF
heroism, Of hero worship and OF Uncle
Samism Is fulsome. There is a love
thread and hate thread. and there are
any number Of fearful moments. All this
is what sold the book In thousands over
this light-spirited land about a year ago,
so there is no reason 20 suppose that tho
play will prove less attractive. Very like
~. however, II will get in its best inn
ings on the road as New York is becom-
ing VIGOROUSLY sophisticated.
The story OF the young football hero
who is dsowned by his millionaire father
for his profiigate behavior and who is
smuggled of to Panama without money,
there 10 make his way as best he can,
is no doubt generally known. Tho advent
ures both in love and war OF this young
man. who describes himself as two-thirds
matter and one-thlrd mind, are as Va
red and abusive as were those OF the
snowstorm heroines OF old. He is doped'
thrown on a ship senseless. penniless ana
baggageless. his very existence, even' ID
denied by his father. lie is made 20 work
for his own living at mental toll. Is false
Is accused OF murder and is about TO be
hanged when his omnipotent father at last
discovers in himself the smouldering en-
bers OF humanity and comes TO claim his
much mauled son. The final scene IN
which the father. with the aid OF a meg
aphonic voice, few sailors from ms
yacht and an American flag. rides over
the government OF Panama and carries
his Imprisoned son of 10 New YORK saie
and free. is a triumph FOR the eagle such
as has seldom been equalled even In best
sellers.
Hale Hamilton. as tVo-thirds mass and
one-third mentality. was-it Is hoped nc
will not take the praise amiss-fairiy
successful. Mr.. Hamilton lacked the
supposed spirit and dash OF the COLLEGE
youth. but as his role consisted for the
most part in receiving blows rather than
In delivering them, there was little op-
portunity for him 10 show spirit. katha-
rine Kaelrod. as the married woman
with whom the hero was innocenily IN
love. and Of the murder OF whose hus-
band he was falsely accused. was not
DISTINGUISHED figure I'm last nights per
Torrance Her voice was so uneven that
she rarely spoke a whole sentence Loudly
enough 10 be heard. while her acung was
linn TO a degree. Orlando DAILY. as the
husband. had the one opportunity IN the
play-the denunciation OF his wife az MS
urivate dinner party. This scene was riie
with heavy excitement and Nj. Day as
the nerve-ridden, choleric husband. made
the most OF II in a melodramauc way
with gray face and trembling lips. Rob
ert Fischer, as the American Consul IN
Panama, was not bau' Ih'I' "'c "'""'
such fat-witted. petty politicians repre-
sentng this country in the various
cities belonging 90 other governments.
Macy Harlan. as the hostile Panamanian
police Official. had more spirit than the
other principals OF tho cast with the eN-
ceptlon OF De witt Jennings. VINO play 20
the hero's strenuous father
Among the minor parts carmen he
Gonzalez lent grace and distinction 70
the little role Of the orange gri III tue
town OF Panama. and Francis y Con!oh'
as Allan. the outcast whose father dis-
owned him before he was born hau Il
humorous manner OF speaking ana NOV
Ing himself about the stage that won
more attention than most actors would
have been able to get In the part
CAST or "THB NEER DO WELL