Evening journal., 1913-12-30

DON'T WEAKEN"-AN Optimistic
Comedy in Three Acts, by Walter
Haokett, at The Playhouse.
Duncan .............. Earl Brown
jim Meridith ......... Robert Kelly
Alexander Travis e.. Joseph Brennan
Roland Kent .... Wallace Worsley
DICK steele ........... Charles Lane
VIII Cannon ........ A. Hylton Allen
sam Mervin ..... Charies Wyngate
Ethel Travis .......-.. Renee Kelly
Nus. Kent .......... Marion Lorne
prs. Cannon ........ Rose Lubonn
Maid ................ Eleanor Hines
William A. Brady. lessee Of the
Playhouse, frankly announced at the
opening night performance of VIII
mington's new theatre that many new
productions would be given their in
iual performance there. but he as
sured Nilmingtonians that the plays
would be presented as smoothly, as
capably and with as elaborate scenic
investment as If they had been staged
publicly for many weeks. That is
now an old story
Don't Weaken an absorbing op-
timistc comedy. was given its initial
performance publicly on any stage at
the Playhouse last night. 1t is a
new story, but Il bore out once again
tue truth OF the old story enunciated
by MIR. Brady when he first bowed
before a Wilmington audience at his
newly acquired theatre.
So absolutely assured was Mr.
Brady Of the instant success OF
Don't Weaken, when unfolded be-
fore a discriminating Wilmington
audience that personally he guaran-
teed that it would please II was
somewhat of a risk for a theatrical
producer TO take, but Mr.. Brady with
his keen perception and discrimina-
tiOn that has counted so much in
his successful career knew that Wal
ter iackett's new play contained the
elements to interest and grip the
public. When Manager Hale of the
Playhouse on Sunday night saw the
dress rehearsal of the new play. he.
too, instantly realized that il would
Win public favor, and he did not hesi-
tate TO say so yesterday to all I'M
Quirers
Don't Weaken was presented jointly
by Mr.. Brady and George Broadhur-t.
The latter now figures .as "a producer as
we'll as an author. Alr Brady, Alr
Broadhursl. Walter Hackett the author
and delegation of other men OF promi-
nencc in the theatrical world were at
The Playhouse last night to see the
performance and all were OF the opinion
that Don't Weaken "went strong" TO
use that expressive term that saves
a. At. Int
cc'ues from ono of tho features OF the
story--a college yell-whieh is given
twice very imprcssively IN the
course of the action. Don't. Weaken
won out Tor the title in competition with
"Thc New Idea
incidentally Wilmington last night
lifted itself out of the class of "a
"showme' city, thcatrically speaking.
IL has been a saying among theatrical
men for years that Wilmingtonians
must first be shown. But last night
Wilmngtonians. open-minded, took AIr,
Bladv'- assurance at high value and
comfortably dlled The Playhouse II
was an audience fashionable as we'll "a,
critical, and is verdict of unboundcd ap-
proyal goes to confirm the belief that
don't Weaken like "The Mairiae,
Game.' will prove another wonderful
New Work success. IL moves TO New
York from Wilmington
BUT of the pay itself-it is an en-.
crossing story Of optimism, with nat
ural comedy. enough of the love skein
compelling dramatic situations and
withal, a psychological theory to be
worked out to engage attention from
the start and to clutch it to the hn-
ish, There is college spirit bubbline
out. too. and the fresh story Is eN-
plotted admirably by Mr. Hackett and
interpreted by a high-class company
that will cause some comparatively
unknown names, histrionically, tC
shine on Broadway. Briefly the story
] hinges about Duncan Price, younl
man and college graduate, who ha.
not been so successful as his fellows
They are having a class reunion, ant
/ recall their famous old yell "Dou
Weaken" which is given intensely
Price walks in upon the party, tells o
his hard luck. his loss of job an'
spirit. Jim Meredith is a great be
lever In the value of mental sugges
ton to upbuild a mans spirit and re
store his confidence He puts his idei
into practice with Price, causes hin
10 be told that three years later he 1
to inherit two million dollars from al
uncle who died In Alaska Price ask
Meredith for loan OF S5 600. Mere
dith consistently lets him have tn
money. Meanwhile Duncan reache
an agreement with Miss Ethel Travis
daughter of Alexander Travis, a
auto tire manufactures. with whom n
is in love. for her TO wait until h
makes good" SO he can marry hei
. Ethel tells her father, who is he
"chum." He convinces Price the fai
thing for MIN TO do is to recall tn
agreement This Price does in
tense scene with Ethel. Price the
disappears in the meantime. Die
steele. another tire manufacturer an
one of the college alumni. insists tn;
a combination shall not exclud
Travis from being taken into il, whe
his exclusion would mean ruin. Steel
is in love with Ethel, who still Ions
for Price, despite his strange partiu
from her She refuses Steeles on,
of marriage. Steele tells her what
has done for her father is really +,
her sake, and that he has it with
his power 10 ruin both. He boas
that that night he is TO acquire COZ
troll of patent that will make hi
master of the auto tire business. an
he can crush all rivals whom
chooses TO. Price appears at Il