Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-09-22
Belasco.

Charles klein'S new play. The
Moneymakers," which had it's first pro-
duction in Buffalo last week, was pre-
sented at the Belasco Theater last
night A large audience of Washing
tons representative theatergoers fol-
lowed it with deep interest through
out and at the close of each act gave it
the Endorsement of marked applause.
Even during some of its most inter-
esting phases, when Miss Alexandra
Carlisle, the charming English actress,
was endeavoring to put the impress of
her individuality upon golden Oppor-
tunity, an overexhilarated and me1o-
dramatic contingent in the balcony
seemed willing to force it's verdict
without listening to the evidence.
Whatever may be the fate of Mr..
Klein S play, the memory of those who
saw 1T last night will always recall
Emmett Corrigan as it's really big and
commanding feature. 1t seems diff
cult to imagine more unsympathetic
character for hero than James Rod
man, n multimillionaire. who has made
his. money by robbing butchers, bakers.
Iradesmen generally, and widows and
orphans, who has raised family of
children with even less to commend
them than his own merits and who
caps the climax by tempting a young
girl engaged to another to become his
wife because of his money. Hard as
nails. Il quotation from the play in de-
scribing one of it's characters. does not
body James Rodman was at the outset
let Mr. Corrigan by the splendid force
OF his characterization made him seem
human.
The first act opens i'll an atmosphere
OF thrilling suspense which later
proves 10 be on account of the fac!
that Rodman has had Il stroke of some
KIND from which the doctors say he
viii never recover. although possibly
ne may live a year Immediately his
eIdest son. James lr-. proceeds to as
sumo his place as head of the family
and to get control of his fathers bust
ness, u move which is promptly check
cd by the appearance of the sick but
STUBBORN father, who does not propose
TO die, but begins to sum up what his
NE and his millions have brought to
him individuaIlv
y sad inventory of the virtues of his
children and the discovery through an
intercepted cablegram, that his wife is
just waiting for him to die in order to
marry the young man from whom he
stole her, convinceS him his game |
mas not been worth the candle. Dis
missing his children and forcing a full |
confession that she does not love him |
from his wife, he conceives the idea of |
returning his millions to those whom |
he has robbed. and then proceeds to |
do II. He means also to divorce his |
wife-but she blocks that and flies to |
his defense when she discovers that |
his children and his business partners |
and associates mean to check his vir- |
SuOuo ny having MIN C6ClaFeu
by the courts insane and unfit to con-
troll his property. The plot fails or
rather is foiled by a countermove by |
the young wife, and the last curtain !
falls upon really united husband and |
wife, and a poorer but wiser family.
The play seems the tensest kind of !
unsympathetic drama, but so complete |
1y is Mr.. Corrigan master of his role, |
lending to it shades and phases of |
brilliant finesse here and there. that ir- |
resiStibly the audience seems moved to |
side with him, and even feel real salts |
faction when he wins out at the close. !
Miss Carlisle, as the wife, even if she |
did marry for money, gives SO delicate |
portrayal as to make her the one !
lovable character of the play. Her |
scene with her husband, when he
compromising cablegram, and later, |
with the children and his business
partners. when she defes them and de- |
clares she will fight for him, are finely !
acted and show real dramatic talent |
and power.
The role of James. jr., 1.-The human |
bunch of fishhooks,' is ftfully and |
forcfully played by Felix Krembs. CAL |
vim Thomas. as Keith Rodman, the |
younger son, gives promise. but he has |
not yet realized the possibilities of the |
role. Burton Churchill makes a domi !
nant, bul1doggy.sort of fnancjer, who /
does not propose to give up his mil |
lions for conscience, sake nor to go |
to prison because he gained them dis
honestly. The other roles, except, per-
haps. that of Vansittart, the impecu- /
NOUS son-in-law, droll English |
Characterization by Echlin Gayer, do !
not seem impressive
One does not doubt that master !
full q playwright as Mr.. Klein wrote i
the play, but there is strong temp !
tation to the audience to suspect that |
if any dramatist of less ability had at |
tempted to plant romance in the Rod |
man family, it would have resulted in |
iguomniouS failure.