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In “The Defaulter.” Robards was our heavy man during the summer stock season. At his entrance this afternoon he received a round of applause that seemed to last a full minute. “The Defaulter” is a dramatic sketch by Dudley Clements, the scene being laid in a bank. The cashier of the bank is a defaulter and is in the bank late at night attempting to cover up his defalcations. Finding it impossible to do so he enters the vault and shoots himself. A moment later a burglar enters the bank and discovers the suicide, whom he recognises as a boyhood acquaintance. In an attempt to make it appear that the cashier has been murdered and the bank looted, the burglar starts in to wreck the office and destroy the books. A plain-clothes man has seen him enter the bank and as the burglar attempts to escape he is shot. Both characters are played by Mr. Robards, an exceedingly quick change being made from the cashier to the burglar. The story is gripping and Mr. Robards gives a masterly performance of both characters. The act should prove a strong dramatic feature of any bill but should be surrounded on both sides with sure-fire comedy. Five curtain calls were awarded at the finish of the act. Own set in 3. Time 15 min.
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University of Iowa, Keith-Albee Vaudeville Collection, Manager Reports, 13 June 1910-20 February 1911