Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1914-05-08
AMUSEM ENTS.
Nat Goodwin and Company Appear in
Farce Comedy at tho Odeon.

Nat Goodwin and Company Appear in
Farce Comedy at tho odeon.
: After an absence Of a little over ten
years Nat Goodwin returned. to the
Odeon Thursday night in q bill that,
while not as pleasing as "A Gilded
Fool" his last offering locally, proved
a very satisfactory bit Of farce comedy.
Never Say DIE" Mr.. Goodwin's
latest vehicle. places the comedians
character Of Dionysius Woodbury., an
American millionaire nave, in posi-
ton in which he has only few weeks
to live. He knows that his days are
numbered because two celebrated ply
sicians have told him. Daring not to
eat. to smoke, to drink. or "stay out
nights" Woodbury. attempts to solve the
finalcial problem that confronts the
Honorable Mrs. Stevenson by propos-
ing to her only daughter Violet, al
ready the fiancee Of Woodbury's friend,
| Hector Walters. Woodbury. proposes
because he has been assured that he
has only few weeks to live, and that
by marrying Violet he can make her
his heir and thus retrieve the Stevenson
fortune and allow Walters to carry out
his matrimonial plans.
In order to speed up the process of
dissolution Woodbury. starts out to en-
Joy himself. He eats what he pleases,
drinks all he wants, and smokes to his
hearts content. Instead Of dying he
regains his health. Regaining his
health prevents him from carrying out
his promise to the bride to die within
a few weeks, He plans on working up
evidence against himself so that his
wife may obtain a divorce, and the
<i@<
Quite naturally all ends happily by
Violet announcing her love for her
husband
While the large audience expressed
its appreciation Of the production, and
extended a hearty welcome to the
comedian and his company, there was
an undercurrent of mirth among the
players themselves that was not COM
pl!mentary to the audience. In at least
one instance this marred the lines. Had
the audience been in position to enjoy
what the players saw that was so fun
ny, the sallies might have been ex-
cused. AS it was the stage fun be-
came somewhat Of bore before the
performance had finished.
Mr.. Goodwin has not changed ma
terially, either in personal appearance
peared here. He carries his 81 years
well. and the presentation Of his dry
style of humor is mirth- provoking.
His support, for the most part, was
good. Leading it is Margaret More
land, the fifth and "lastst" Mrs. Good
win. Dennis Cleugh's Griggs. the valet,
and Lutte Vrohman's Verchesi, the chef,
were both very satisfactory. The only
weak spot among the principals was
Stanley Harrison's Hector Walters.
Harrison is too stiff and STACY" and
his mannerisms are not pleasing.
In working out the plot Of his farce
William H. Post has injected to a
noticeable degree the doctrines Of
Christian Science. The effect Of mind
upon matter is dominant theme In
supposed life Of Woodbury.. who thinks
himself Ill because he Is told that he
is sick man. In the closing act
woodburys valet presents his master
with copy of the Christian Science
manual, as a. guide to- health. That
this fact has been exploited in Chris
tian Science literature was indicated by
the liberal sprinkling Of Scientists tn
the audience.