The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1917-03-05
Francis Perry EilIott's Story Drama.
tIxsd Pieasss Eastern Audi
enees apd Gets Good
Notices.
NEW STYLE CROOK PLAY
Hun,or Of Original 10 Maintained In
the stage Version and Theatre
Goers Get Some Real
Thrili0.


liott's pals First" which was pre-
sented on the stage there last Mon
day night for the first time. The
New York papers give the play
good send Off and the dramatic
critics consider 1t one of the best OF
the crook plays" into which class
they are putting it. The humor OF
tho book Is well preserved n the
stage version, and the dramattzatlon
he's kept all of the strongest features
Of the story in hand.
The following is from New YORK
paper concerning the premiere:
Thomas A. Wise and William
Courtenay scored pronounced sue
cess in a new crook play. PALS
First" which j. Fred Zimmerman.
Jr.. produced Monday night at the
Fulton theatre.
Francis Perry Elliott's novel OF
that name, dramatized by Lee VIII
son Dodd, makes a play of absorbing
interest which should make strong
lid for popular favor during the re-
mainder Of the current season.
In it Tom Wise does some OF the
best comedy work which has Deen
seen at q local theatre IN many
months. and Mr.. Courtenay shows
| that he has lost nothing of the skill
which has won him enviable dlstinc-
ton in pa st productions.
| The two stars are cast as Danny
| and Dominic, pair of lovaDie ras-
/ calls. who reach the gates OF an Ola
sonthern estate in Tennessee Win
The minions of the law close upon
tteir heels. The colored caretaKers
fancy that Danny is their master ana
III hot
the owner os the house; VINO mas oeen
absent for two years.
His resemblance is so marked tn'i.
Judge Logan, the family lawyer anu
lean. his niece, accept Danny Will
out question. And Jean, moreover, Is
| the ayowed sweetheart OF the ions
missing owner ~,
Danny as clergyman. ana mn ous.,
Gus efforts to enact the iole az
amusing in the extreme. There is
suI,.aedged villain in the person or
nr Chiffon. the missing owner 8
cousin who is plotting to acquire the
h, H. estead for himself.
To this end he burns the Will
which bestows it upon Miss Jean:
Rnt his wicked purpose is thwarted
in the end-as wicked purposes al
ways should be-and everything ends
cutie happily just as the audience
has come to believe that Mr.. Dodd
has brought things to such pass
that nothing Of the sort can reason
ably be expected.
The fact of the matter ID that
Danny turns out not to be CROOK
at ali. but the really. truly owner OF
tWinnecrest, which is the name OF
the estate where everything happens.
In view of this it is easy to see that
IL was not so very strange, a1ter all,
that every one in the play mistook
him for himself.
Francis X. Conlan was admirable.
as always, in the role of The SOUR
rel. and Ann Macdonald was entirely
acceptable as Jean. The other mem
hers of the cast were well chosen
without exception.
"Pals First" has more humor than
the usual play about criminals, but 1t
also has all the thrills that are ex-
nected when such gentry are dealt
with upon the stage. 1t furnishes a
rafting good evenings entertainment
la fact which last nights audience
seemed fully to appreciate. Both Mr..
Courtenay and Mr.. Wise were forced
to come to the footlights and make
short speeches.
The cast:
Danny. ........-.. william Courteuav
Dominie, Thomas A. Wise
| Pals.
Uncle Alex, a servant at Winnie
| crest ........-.. Harry LeWeIjyH
The Squirrel, a tramp.
| Francis X. Conlan
Aunt Caroline, servant at
| y1r;ooo,rocf Marion Eerhy
Judge Logan. ....-...- ben Johnson
Jean. Judge Logan's niece. -.
Ann Macdonald
DIR. Chiffon. .Lyster Chambers
| .uo. Alicia AuroI 90