"THE FORTUNE HUNTER"

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2990, 30 January 1917, Page 7

"THE FORTUNE HUNTER"

CAPITAL COMEDY REVIVED _ "The Fortune Hunter," a corned}', by Winchell Smith. CastBobbins Mr. Douglas, Harris George Burnam Mr. Colville Dunn Larry Miller Mr. Charles Coyne Nathaniel Duncan Mr. Ronald Riley Willie Bartlett Mr. Sydney Wynno Harry Kcllogg Mr. Fred Coape Betty Graham Miss Madgo Surtees Tracey Tanner Mr. Reg. Collins Mr. Lockwood Mr. Haroourt Haie Ronald Barnette Mr. George Hewlett Sam Graham Mr. Gerald Haroourt Josephine Lockwood ' Miss Margaret Linden Angie ....; Miss Mildred' Carlton Mr. Sperry Mr. Threadwell Poto Willing Mr. C. B. Throsby When "The Fortuno Hunter" was originally played in Wellington by the Williamson Comedy Company, headed ,by Mr. Fred. Niblo, it charmed everyone who saw it. It was played ajjain last evening by the Royal Dramatic Company at the Grand Opera House, and without any doubt gave a creat deal of genuine pleasure, for it is intrinsically a good comedy, smart and highly original in idea, well written, and containing more than a modicum of those heart-reaching elements which the American -writers for the stage or the screen are so apt at conveying. Sometimes they overdo it, but that is not the case in "The Fortune Hunter," which is commended to all lovers of good comedy. The story positively tickles with interest. Harry ICellogg is a Wall Street operator, who is able to make money instinotively, and in Nat. Duncan he has a friend, who fails to make good at anything. Having boen dismissed from his last job, Nat arrives at Kelloger's rooms down and out, sick of work, and sicker of himself as a failure. Kellogg, a man of schemes, thinks of one that will make his friend a million dollars in a year. The recipe, that he'must seek out some little town well off the beaten track, which all the bright boys have deserted, -where he is to dress quietly but well, forswear drink and tobacco, go to church and work. The argument is that if he does so he will not have any "difficulty in landing any local heiress that may be lying round.loose. Nat accepts the proposition, selects a town, aid puts the plan into execution. He quietly but persistently asks for work, without being pressing or ostentatious, i 6 polite when turned down, gracious and amiable to all. At length he finds Sam old store, with failure -written all over it. The proprietor is a dear old fellow, who has wasted his substance on riotous invention, and' with his daughter Betty is down to the husks of ( life. Nat offers his services free, pays' off a bill that clogs the old man's finances, furbishes up the store, and soon has all the girls in the town dropping in for ice-cream sodas, just to parley with the smart New Yorker. Among them is Josie Lockwood, the local. banker's only child, and heiress to much that glitters. So keen is the competition. for Nat that, the business booms fend blossoms, and Josie falls in love with the Echemer, and at length actually proposes to him. So far Kcllogg's scheme has worked like clockwork, but at this stage there is a clog in the wheels. Betty Graham has been sent to school on the of the rejuvenated business, ana roturns as pretty as a picture to -upset all Kellogg's arrangements -regarding Nat, who is smitten all over. At a loss to know how to break with Josie, Nat is about to brace himself for the effort, when it conies naturally, through a rival accusing Nat of being an absconding bank clerk. Before any explanations can be given old Lockwood has denounced him, and Josie breaks the engagement, leaving all clear for a happy .ending. The comedy even without the flair of an electrical personality such as Mr. Niblo's -was very evenly played. Mr. Ronald Eiley was nicely ingratiating in manner and speech as Nat Duncan, and was never at a loss in accentuating the many excellent comedy tit-bits that fall to the part. Mr. Fred. Coap was- satisfactory as Kellogg, 'and Mr. Colville Dunn was well suited in the role of George Burnam. There was no better performance than that of old. Graham by Mr. Gerald Harcburt, whose mild and 'sympathetic amiability and shiftlessness were made part of a very lovable old man. This performance, coming after his Lively in "Sunday," will increase the public's Tespcct for Mr. Haroourt as a character actor. Mr. H. Hare was also good as lofty Mr. Lockwood. Miss Jjn.dge Surtees made an appealing little Betty Graham, and Miifl Margaret' Linden was well placed as Josie. The comedy was well mounted throughout. "The Fortune Hunter" will be played for the next three nights, and will be followed by a Tevival of "Are YouaMason?" on Friday and Saturday.