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Dialogue.
"The Junior Partner."
Rupert Hughes is the author of William Gaxton's latest vaudeville vehicle and, as might be expected under the circumstances, there are some exceedingly clever lines in the playlet, which is of the farce variety. Hal Jepson (Gaxton) is married to Dot. He is the son of a man who was very rich, but died poor and Hal is earning $25 week and making a'"front" to his wife
on their honeymoon that he is still possessed of means; when in reality he is about to be dispossessed by the landlord and the furniture removed by the installment house. But he has the faculty of laughing off such trifles, despite their imminence. All his father left him was the controlling stock in a bankrupt railroad. His aunt visits and tells him a great railroad magnate
is to call for her and wants to marry her. Hal figures it out that if he can persuade the magnate to amalgamate his road with some others his fortune is made. Bell rings and Hal goes to welcome the rich man, only to usher in an old college mate, who reminds him that ever since the old days he owes Hal $900, whereupon Hal embraces him, only to be asked
to lend another $100 and make it an even $1,000. Chum opens his coat, revealing his dress shirt which can be illuminated as an advertisement for a chiropodist. The chum is broke and
doing that stunt for an existence. They "frame" for the magnate who comes, is shown the scheme for amalgamation and when reluctant to go in on it the chum is introduced as a big financier who wants to carry out the scheme. They trim the magnate for $1,000 for a cash option, which the culprits split and the farce culminates in uproarious laughter. Alphons Lincoln, as the chum, and Guy Kibbee, as the magnate, are competent support, but the wife, as played by Jane Elliott, and the aunt, enacted by Bertha Holly, are weak. Gaxton does more for the act than the act does for him.
Source:
Variety, 54:5 (03/28/1919)