"READY MONEY."

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2237, 25 August 1914, Page 7

"READY MONEY."

9 NEW AMERICAN COMEDY. "Ready Money," a comedy in three acts by James Montgomery. Cast— Jackson Ivcb Charles A. MJllwarfl Stephen Baird William llarrigaii James E. Morgan : Georgo Bryant Sydney Eoeentiial Harry B. Burchcr Hon. John 11. Tyler ... Hobcrt Whyte, jun. Sam Welch ."'. Nicholas Joy William Stewart Lowden Adams Sumnor llolbrook Carlcton Stuart Captain West Arthur Stj-am Hammond. J. 11. Nunaij Neil ; Charles Brown Mißs Grace Tyler ...: Sylvia Bremer Misa Ida Tyler Ncllio Bramloy Mrs. John Tyler Maggie Moore lites Margaret Elliott Stella Paytcr Money is tho dominant theme of half the American plays that have been written during the. past decade. Tho almighty dollar appears to have burned itself on to the brain-pan of most of the modern writers of the _ United States, and monoy in combination 'with some extraordinarily successful disciple of orookedness. who knows how to got it quick has become as common as'the wronged villago maiden of tho old-time English melodrama. '.'Ready Money," tho comedy produced hy a new Williamson Company at the Grand Opera' House, just falls snort of being a very good oxample of that typo of modem American play that is sacred to tho oasy money religion, and glorifies as its chicfest idol a vory delightful "Orook." There are'places hero and there "where significant points are mado a little too obvious, whore the imagination is left to idlo ; bo to speak, and the.love interest is not very strong.' On ttie other hand there are some very entertaining scenes that hold tho attention, and cause, much - hearty amusement, notably the one in the last act, where the artistio counterfeiter fools the secret servioo men by the cool audacity of his methods. '"'.-■■

Stephen Baird. a young man with lota of friends, nice manners, and presentable looks, but no money, is half-owner of the Sky-rocket gold mine in Gallup, Arizona. He acquired that interest for 30,000 dollars. The mine, which 'he believes in, has produced nothing, as he and.his partner have not had the capi'tal to develop it. It is ; New Year's Evo, and on January 2 James Morgan, is going to close down* on the mine, ovor which he holds a mortgage. Steve is staying with his wealthy friend, Sam Welch, aud at tho latters rooms he meets Jackson Ires, occupation unknown, who wishes to assist him. Pledging Baird to secreoy, Ives introduces himself, as a master forger, and invites Steve to take a wad of bogus notes, not to spend them, but just to show them. With ruin staring him in tho face, Steve accepts. "At the first glimpse of the money, .Steve's friends, fancying he must have struck it rich, crowd in to buy the Sky-rocket stock, without listening to any explanations. His hitherto antagonistic mother-in-law-to-be calls him her dear bby, and his fiancee promises to read, the circulars concerning the mine, which she stuffs into.her bag, which is left behind. Morgan,, not knowing of the sudden rise of his young friand,. lends him 500 dollars, Vnioh Steve sends to' his partner, who puts on a double shift to dig-for gold. Then follows an amusing game of Muff, in which the police detectives are baffled. Subsequently the word comes that gold has been struck at the Skyrocket Mine, Stove' pays off the niortr gage, and Ives, destroys the bogus money, and resolves to load a loss crooked life; Tho performance, taking it by and Large, -is a good one, notably' good in some instances. Mr. Charles A. Millward earned the respect.of the 1 audience at once by the cool, suave manner in which he represented the tactful counterfeiter Ives. Ho has a full measure of that repose and finish which oharacteriso the actor who real : ise» tho .value of technique. With him there-' igy; 'never'■ a' superfluous "gesture, ; each inflection of tho voice is tuned, to convey the full sense of the words, and though,always placid and.ever urbane, there is authority and a modicum of magnetism in his personal outfit. .Mr. William Harrigan ,was rather colourless as Stephen • Baird. Ho was too inert and colourless during the first act to suggest'the eager young New Yorker who was dabbling in mining stock, but imI proved slightly as the comedy advanced. '■Mr; Harry B; Burcher Was delightfully brisk and vimful as Sydney Rosenthal, one of the stock-rushers, and made a minor role easily one of the best played, in the comedy. Mr. Geo. Bryant was satisfactory asi James Morgan, and Mr. A. S'tyan as Captain West, the detective/was as loud and uncouth as he was expected to be. Mr. Robt. 'Whyte emitted a few gleams of comedy as .the Hon. John Tyler, which made one re* grot the restrictions of tho part, and Mr.. Nicholas Joy was fairly satisfactory as Sam Wolch. Miss Sylvia Bremer, acted with maidenly charm and bright intelligence as Grace Tyler, making the most of her limited opportunities.. That old favourite, Miss Maggie Moore, was bright and breezy as Mrs. Tyler, arid Miss Nellie Bramloy as, Ida Tyler, and Miss Nellie Payter, as her friend Margarot Elliott, holped to make the picture. "Ready Money," which is' ably presented, will bo played again this evening. ; To-morrow night the company .will produce the very latest sensational American drama,' "Tho Argyle Case." This play is an intense and absorbing exploitation of the American detective 6ystom of tho solution ■of crime. It is in no sense a "shilling shocker," for, while the story is ah engrossing one, it has a, sane aud sequential constructiveness that removes it from tho sphere, of melodrama, and makes it a play to be remembered for its very certitude of action. '• "The Argyle Case" will be staged for two nights only. Tho. box plan is open at the Dresden, and'day sale tickets for tho stalls and gallery can be obtained at Miss Lennox's, Grand Opera House Buildings.