“Uncle Sam”

The three-act is by Ann Caldwell and James O'Dea. The story relates to the adventures of a wealthy Nevada mine owner who is touring Europe while on a visit to his nephew in Germany. The "Uncle" has been entrusted with the care and education of the young man. A young, attractive American girl accompanies him on his trip. She is his selection for the wife of the boy. The piece opens in the court yard and entrance to a public inn near Heidelberg, where the nephew is enjoying the society of an actress and adventuress named Kitzi Von Tromp. Robert Hudson (the nephew) learns of his uncle's matrimonial plans and prepares to circumvent them. He assumes an unnatural air of femininity and foppishness calculated to disgust the intended bride. The young man's actions have a disgusting effect on the uncle as well. He plans to return to America without the nephew. However, the boy falls for the charming American girl and wishes to delay the departure. He proceeds, stealing the magneto point from his uncle's auto. To make Gunnison (the uncle, played by Wise), becomes enamored with Miss Wright's aunt and chaperon, Grace Eiliston. He takes the advice of his chauffeur, assuming the same foppish manners previously portrayed by his nephew. The story has a happy ending, the boy races to replace the stolen auto part, his uncle unconscious to the situation, welcomes his return with a burst of appreciation. The cast is rather large: Cyril Blddulph essays' the part of Ethelbert Anstey, an English student, with artistic cleverness; John J. Scannell is an ideal Cavanaugh, the American chauffuer; Juliette Dikes proves to be an able dialectician in her role as the Viennese adventuress; Josephine Brown plays Amy Wright; Katherine Blythe plays Wright's sister, "Pinkie"; Ida Darling plays the aunt; Louise Muldener gives a pleasing performance as Frau Vogel, the hostess of the "Beliende Wurst" inn; Emmett Whitney as Gordon Wright, Amy's father; Eugene Hohenwart, Kitzi Von Tromp's husband; Albert Roccardi, a French nobleman; Pauline Whitson, a bread woman; and Hans. Hansen, Kurt Worhie, Paul Arnold and Richard Bosch as German waiters.

It was only necessary to announce the joint appearance of Thos. A. Wise and John Barrymore to draw a capacity at the house. Each of the co-stars, both well known to Chicagoans, received a warm reception as they made their respective appearances. At the conclusion of the second act they were forced to respond to a vigorous curtain call. Barrymore modestly sidestepped the speech thing by declining the honor to his partner. The latter gracefully responded. Everyone was expecting something out of the ordinary; no one went away disappointed.

The Wise-Barrymore combination were at their best. Their support was glit-edged. If there was a flaw in the acting, it was not in evidence. The offering was cleverly and appropriately staged. It ran along with the smoothness and regularity of a newly oiled clock. Perhaps the only flaw was in the last act when the automobile was made to move off stage by hand instead of its own power. The lines are bright and sparkling and the situations irresistibly funny. The effects were so funny that even the orchestra convulsed with laughter. It will be very strange if "Uncle Sam" does not habitat at the Olympic for the entire season.

Variety 24:1 (09/09/1911)