The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1913-05-06
POLL PLAYERS OPEN SEASON
 AUSPICIOUSLY. "Get Rich Quick. WaIIingford'' Gives Promise of Delightful
 Stock Season Big Audience Witnesses Fin ished Enactment of Great Comedy Success at
 the Plaza

man eye. TO such, a qOWer may. the
 offering of Get Rich Quick waIling-
 ford'' at the PoH Plaza theatre be
 Iikened.
 Conceived in imagination, born in
 drama and attaining it's youth through
 the efforts of the greatest modern ac-
 tors, yet that indefinable attribute of
 maturity, reality or actuality which
 ever you, friendly reader. may wish to
 call it, remained latent until called
 forth by the PoH performers in
 Bridgeport.
 To the large audience which last
 night sat through four acts in almost
 mute admiration of the master mind
 who with but a little tack evolved a
 business project behind which were
 millions, only returning to. the con-
 crete when forced to. applaud the fre-
 Quent humorous situations so judici-
 ously Injected into the plot, it was not
 nummery which they witnessed but a
 reality:
 Wallingford was personifed-he
 was one of the community. Andy
 Dempsey was a real hotel proprietor. Blackie Daw was the smooth, insinua-
 atfng adventurer and Fannie Jasper
 lived as the unassai1abIe wall which
 protected her townspeople from the
 craft and wfles of the swindler.
 To epitomize the opening perform ance of the Po1i Stock company last night is to say that Get Rich Quick Wal1ingford" is a rare, rational and rapturous realization of sterling sa- tire.
 Not alone in histrionic talent does the production excel, but in quality of setting, costume and stage direction 1t shines. While seldom considered the staging of such a remarkable produc- ton is a stupendous task and the greatest credit for such pIeasurabIe minutes is due the guiding genius Gtunio Socoaa-wao unseen by the public steered the ensemble to last nights genuine success.
 The play is almost too generally known to need elaborate recapitula- tion- Suffice to say that the plot re- wolves about J. Rufus and Blac1zie Daw, confidence men of the greatest prominence, both known to the police, vous at Batt1esburg. The time is the present.
 The scenes, in four separate acts, depict the hotel, Wal1ingford's apart- ments therein, WalIingford's office and finally the handsome residence and thriving manufacturing town estab- Iished through Fannie Jasper's une1- pected influence in 1egitimatizing Wall s nnisdirected genius.
 The action of the pay begins when BEack1e Daw arrived at the Battles burg hotel, where appreciating the iop- portunities for victirnizing the welI-to- do but fcreduIous natives he wires for J. Rufus, heralding his appearance in such terms that the entire town is agog. J. Rufus is greeted by the prom inent citizens with a band and inn medfate1y secures the confidence of all about him. In mament of indect- sion as to his plans he conceives the idea of a covered carpet tack He promptly acts upon the impulse and af I2c1xf1p al
 His designs are penetrated by the local stenographer, who alone resists his blandishments and attracts his ad- mfratfon- She is engaged as his pr1- vate secretary and as4such bides 'her time until betrayal Of his plans means of her friends Through a series of which contribute to the unexpected success of the venture, and with her aid Wallingford and Daw are enabled to secure an honest footing in the community and to push thedr scheme to a. successful conclusion = Waiingford and Fannie Jasper are marr5ed and Blackie Daw becomes a model whom fond mothers point to- | wards as pattern for their children to emulate.
 Paul McAI1ister, the we'll known ao- tor, last night portrayed Wa1lingford | with vividness, resstveness, and l which displayed his | talents to remarkable advantage and | carried a conviction of the powers of | the wel1-groomed, we11-feds and UT pane swind4er-magnate. His coming | 70 Bridgeport is treat and he is as- sured a, successful stay here.
 William Forestene, as Blackie Daw, was the personihca&ion of the unctu- 0us, smooth and suave confidence l man. His acting and conception of he part was superb in it's ref1uement and places him high in the ranks of stagedom.
 Brenda Fowler, as Fannie Jasper 1lsp1ayer that pleasing personality, n- senous frankness and deep schooling n her art which procla1ns her an actress not only possessing the quail fcations for straight present day parts, put one of wide range. and great yer satility. In her present role she was beloved by her audience and created a marked impression with her easy, nat 1rally, and one might almost say. breezy grace ;
 Arthur Griffin as Andy Dempsey, lotel proprietor, enacted a most diff ance and dignity which enhanced the seeming reality of the offering to a arge degree His characterization affords an example to rising and am 2ittous members of his profession. Marguerite Starr,s whose reappear- tHce Tn Br1dgeporC was the occasion or a continuance of that tribute which Ter audiences have already shown her work, essayed the role of Bessie Meers. She was a. charming repre- entation of turbulent character and her marked individuality and splendid work has seldom been seen Q better advantage.
 As Judge Hampton, A. N. Hartman was eminent1y suited to. the part which he portrayed with that loren tic, judicial and commanding bearing which conJured actual fear of the law n the hearts of his meho1ders. His professional talent is far above the av- sraga-
 Cast as G. W. Battles, the rniserly holder of great wealth, Arthur Bu- shanan's conception and acting Of thel