Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1913-01-28
THE Old Homestead Ever
New, Captures Audience at
the Newark.
JOSHUA WHITCOMB JUST
AS COMICAL AS OF Y0RT;
Edward L. Snader a Worthy
Successor to the Late Den
man Thompson in Role.

Dear old Joshua Whitcomb. Genial,
good, kind old soul! What a wonder
full hold he took of the hearts of
those who sat and watched his funny
antics and listened to his simple,
homely, soul-ennobling philosophy, at
the Newark Theatre last night,
As long as humanity. has tears TO
shed or risibles to respond to tickling
The Old Homestead" will no doubt
continue to q favorite, and Joshua
Whitcomb continue to remain the
idol of young and old alike
No wonder the play has not abated
little of its success in all the
twenty-seven years or SO that it has
been filing theatres ITO capacity" in
every part of the globe 1t mirrors
human nature exactly as it is Its
plot is as simple and artless as is
the life of those it portrays on old
Joshua Whitcomb's farm in Swanzey.
New Hampshire.
Joshuas son. his only child, has
gone to New York to make for
tune For awhile he writes home,
then his letters become scarcer and
finally cease. Joshua begins to have
disquietiig dreams. He decides to
go TO the big village" to look for
his boy"
Joshua Decides to Go to y. Y.
1t falls out OPPORTUNITY that the
son and daughter of his old-time
friend. Henry Hopkins, come to the
farm and Joshua determines to
accompany them back to New York,
where their father has grown to be u
millionaire.
The tenderness of Joshua's charac-
ter discloses itself in his conduct to-
ward a tramp, Happy Jack, who
happens along about this time AL
though sodden in drink. Happy Jack
shows in various ways that he is
honest. truthful and sympathetic,
and when Joshua learns that he has
mother still living he offers him
So to go home to her and abandon
drink
The scene then shifts to the home
of the rich Hopl5inses in New York
Joshua's Malaprop remarks and odd
conduct cause Mrs. Hopkins much
embarra ssment but likewise much
merriment for the company. And
Mr.. Hopkins proves himself a friend
of the true-blue style. Joshua has
expressed a desire to room some
where within easy reach of the side
walk, as he is afraid of FIRE, and
Hopkins assigns him to his office
adjoining the parlor And. in the
absence of a bootjack. lends his own
hands. that are accustomed to clip
ping coupons, to take off his old
friend Joshua's boots.
Uncle Joshua Gets Scare.
After Joshua has retired, Mr..
Hopkins requests a visitor to sing
ere departing. The song depicts a
words fire, fire!" are repeated,
Joshua believing that there is real
blaze, rushes out among the com
pany in his nightgown.
The beautiful scene in front of
Grace Church, Manhattan, furnishes
the pathos. Joshua here again meets
the tramp whom he had befriended.
Happy Jack has ceased to drink and
become a fine gentleman. Through
him Joshua is enabled to find his
son. who has become a rum-soaked
outcast. And from that point on
the unfolding of the plot is inevita-
BILE. the play ending in laughter and
happiness.
The Playing Is Lifelike.
The role of Joshua Whtcomb is
played by Edward L. Snader. His
performance is so finished that one
should rather say he lis" Joshua
than that he plays the part. The
same is true also of Mrs Maggie
Breyer, who enacts the role of sweet,
old Aunt Matilda. Joshuas sister
Her part, although not essential to
the development of the plot, is never
theless by no means superhuous, for
she serves admirably to bring out
the traits and peculiarities of the
other characters, and thus lends an
additional charm to the play. Nor is
there single actor or actress in the
performance whose work is open to
adverse criticism. Each actually is
the character which he or she de-
picts.
In conclusion, ii were base ingrati-
tude not to mention the splendid
double quartet whose soulful singing
was encored time and again.