New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-10-12
The CAST
By HAYWOOD BROUN.

ny HEl W OOD BNOtN.
"The action occurs in a small king
dom of Europe. The time is the pres
cnt.'
So much the programme gives you,
and it is hardly necessary to look a,
the cast of characters TO make sure
that "Nhat Money Can't Buy" contains
an American. his son, king and queen,
a prince and n princess. The kingdom
is bounded by Graustark. Zenda and
Ruritania. Mr.. George Broadhurst's
new play, which was produced at the
Forty eighth Street Theatre last night,
is trivial. IL is described as being an
other telling of an oft-told tale I'm
fortunately, this story has been told
better than in the present instance.
There have been better times for the
telling of Balkan romances. In the
days before we knew the strategic I'M
portance OF Belgrade and the number
of men in Bulgaria's standing army an
author or a dramatist had more chance
TO create success sfully fictitious king
dom in that part Of the world. Eight
column heads have all but destroyed
we think, the story book possibilities
of the small kingdoms of Europe.
We will wager that Mr.. Broadhursts
play was written at least two years
ago. II is kin to Hawthorne OF the
L. S. A. and no distant relative OF
The Man from Home" Such plays de-
mend upon the delightfully."- insular no"
tion that an American can do every
thing. from fighting duels 10 making
love. better than any European com
petitor.
There has been not little about Eu-
rope in the newspapers OF late, and II
cannot have failed to alter the view
point of the theatre-going public. when
JofTre won the battle of the Marine he
not only saved Paris but struck serious
blow at the comic Frenchman who has
so long ornamented our musical come
dies. Before the correspondents are
done with Serbia we may begin to doubt
the ability of a young American to win
throne or a royal princess IN TOUR
acts. even if he did go to Yale and per
haps play OF one Of the elevens when
held Harvard TO a comparatively low
score. =.
Admitting the present difficulty OF
the task of creating atmosphere for a
kingdom where anything may happen,
we are still of the opinion that MI
Broadhurst has not told his romance as
skilfully as other explorers IN Rur-
tania. For our part, We accept Grau-
stark or Zenda only on the condition
that things go at furious pace.
'What Money Can't Buy" is not so
fast For instance. Mr.. Broadhurst
uses whole act to explain that the
Princess Irenea is betrothed to a prince
she does not love and that, as matter
Of fact, her affections have been capt
ured by young Hale. who has Just been
graduated from Yale. Almost any vls-
tor to Ruritania would be willing 20
assume that much as soon as he
crossed the border.
Things pick up in Mr.. BroadhurstS
second act and move along Just AS
everybody thinks they will. Neither
. "Hamlet" nor Lear" is a. inevitable IN
its development as "A story about Grau-
stark and the ruling house. No sooner
does the prince meet young Hale IN the
garden than every one prepares hlmset
for the alteration and the challenge
which is sure to ,ollow. This scene IS
good fun.
The best work Of Broadhurst comes
i'm the third act The man who wrote
Bought and Paid For" knows d mum
Der of tricks of the theatre. and one
device he uses to good effect Whlie
Young Hale is engaged IN hghtlng
duel his father is busy raijiAg SsV,,
400 coo 10 save the Transcontinen'al
Railroad. When the boy goes out he
tells his father that the duel viii soon
be over. a. the meeting ground Is only
. a short auto ride down the lOaG. lie
PROMISES if he comes out OF the anaif
All right TO blow the cars horn twice
quarter of mile from nome ana
again as he turns up the ROAD 10 ms
fathers house.
The duelling hour is early enough to
give an auto horn chance 10 ne
heard. The old man tears INTO the task
of raising SS0,000.000. lie telephones
TO Paris. Berlin, Vienna, London ana
other places where he has reason 10
beIieve there is money and asks for
some Of 10. He dictates cable messages
and letters TO various captains 81
finance all over the world. commendlng
or censuring them as dividends ana the
quotations of the New York stock EN-
change may warrant. But III spite OF
his furious toll his ear is cooked all the
time for the horn. The audience IS
listening for IL. too.
BY and by there comes toot-toot,
but your hopes and those OF the mead
az the house of Hale are dashed again
AS the car passes by the house ana
honks itself away. il is only an carry
morning supper party. returning from
a Ruritania roadhouse. Finally, the
boy comes in unhurt and unheraided
because the auto broke down. There
upon the father does likewise.
This is an act Of good dramatic value,
and George Fatvcett played II for all
II was worth. lie was ably assisted by
william b. Mack, who took the part of
a secretary half dead from sleep. Cal
win Thomas was an agreeable young
Hale.
In the last act old Hale gets the last
instalment Of his $50, 100000. ana there
by saves his railroad. Young Hale gets
his princess.
The play is we'll acted on the whole.
William Devereux in particular was
suave and distinguished as a mean
fnancier who wanted to make old Hale
wait twenty-four hours for mere
matter of S10,000,000. Anne Meredith
was a nice young princess and Frank
Kemble Cooper a very good sort Tor
king. Robert Cain was quite IN the
picture as the prince.
"What Money Can't Buy" is cheer
fully recommended TO all those who
carry chocolate creams into the play
house.