Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1913-01-31
WILDFIRF IS
FAST AND CLEAN
RACING COMEDY

"Wildfire" was the offering Of the
Worlds Fair Stock Company at the
Bijou last night, and a bet much
surer than any m,de on the stage is
that everyone who saw the p-oduc-
ton went away we'll pleased with the
evenings entertainment. Like the
near-food that's made at Battle Creek.
there's a reason" and in this case
it's because the play is clean action
and clever comedy throughout. with
no mawkish problems to add 10 the
troubles and worries of everyday
life
"Wildfire" is play of the race
track, and while it is amusing and en-
tertaining to the uninitiated, it has
a special significance to those who
knew the turf in the days before state
legislatures knocked the props from
under the sport, and downed the
whole complicated mechanism of the
race game. AS mentioned before, the
audience is allowed to sit quietly and
enjoy itself, without having its feel
ings narrowed with a long-tooth rake,
and its nerves rasped with a rat-tail
file, as seems to be the theatrical
fashion nowadays. The play is by
George Broadhurst and George V.
Hobart, which is sufficient guarantee
OF the cleverness of the lines.
Virginia Brissac takes the part of
Mrs. Darlington, who has been left
a string of race horses by her late
husband, but who wishes to remain
1ncognito and under the name of the
John Duffy Stables, because her sister
is engaged to the son of DR.. Wood
hurst, reformer who is working for
the abolition of the race track. The
play centers round the running of the
big stake race, in which Mrs. Bar
rington's horse, "Wfldffre" is the
faVorite. The real John Duffy, an un.
scrupulous bookie, trades on the coin.
c1dence of names to pose as wild
fires" owner, and gives the jockey in
structions to pull the race. Mrs. Bar
r1ngton, by her woman's wiles, out
tricks him, and of course "Wildfire"
brings home the money. 1t certainly
Is popular win, for half the inter.
ested parties win their sweethearts,
and the rest win all the coin that they
need to recoup their losses and live
happily ever after.
The part of Mrs. HARRINGTON was
created several seasons ago, when the
ahtl-bet1ng campaign was on in New
York, by Lillian Russell, and the
t'meliness of the play gave it a great
success. However, the hit of the
original cast was the midgit who play
ed the part of Bud, the stable boy. So
great was his success that the follow
lrg season he was starred. on the road
in the play. John Wray. played the
difficult role in good style, and to
those who saw the play for the first
time, his conception of the part is
plea sing.
Of course Mrs. Barring on, being a
charming widow. has love story Of
Ter own to work out. and as the win
ming sutton, James Dillon. who plays
John Garrison is excellent. All the
parts are strong character presenta-
tons, and it can be truly said that
all are handled with unusual skill by
members of the company.
Chappie Roster. the colored Jockey
with the valet and the lordly airs. was
one of the big parts of the original
production. and Edward Ewards sus-
talns the role in good style, even If he
cid forget to tuck the tails of his rae
ing colors inside his breeches.
Howard Nugent, as Matt Donovan.
the faithful trainer, deserves a word
Of special mention. especially for his
work in the second and third acts. His
lines include some sage bits of advice
and philosophy, couched in the Jargo2
cI the track.
Il hive a system" says Donovan.
81 always play nv own business
,st,aight, play and show
The whole play radia'es the atmos-
phere of the turf, and some Of the
fine points didn't get over last night
many in the audience being rather