Fresh, the American

Fresh, the American (1881), a play by A.C. Gunter. [Park Theatre, 63 perf.] Ferdinand Nervy Fresh ( J. T. Raymond) is a brash, somewhat uncouth but likable Yankee. His attempts to corner the market on Wall Street and other grandiose schemes have failed, but he has always found simple, practical ways of extricating himself from the trouble and of rationalizing his failures. Fresh's wanderlust takes him to Egypt, where he falls in love with a harem beauty, Erema Almi ( Laura Don). Despite the machinations of the Egyptians, he manages to marry the girl, remove her from the harem, and escape the dire revenge the locals plan for the couple. Written by Gunter at Raymond's request, this loosely contrived farce provided the actor with a major hit for two years, and he returned to it occasionally later in his career. Next to Colonel Sellers, it was considered his best role. Harry B. Smith recalled a different origin for the play, stating that it was first mounted at McVicker's Theatre in Chicago as a serious piece but that the audience laughed so much at its patent absurdities that Don, McVicker's leading lady, persuaded the producer to play it as comedy.