The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-01-10
He MADE A HIT.
VIM. Collier Greatly Pleased a
Topeka Audience.
"On the Quiet" is Certainly an
Excellent Comedy.
HAS ASTRONG COMPANY
There We're No Weak Spots in
the Cast.
HAS A STRONG COMPANY
Comedian Given Four Curtain
Calls After Second Act.

Robert-"And I can't see her all the
time L am in college?"
Ogden-.'It will only be four years
Robert-'Tell that to Bryan"
There are many bright lines and say
ings by Willie Collier in ON the Quiet =
and the above is only one of a hundred,
but fiat as it may seem to some in print
it is the remark that has gained more
applause in the comedy than any TWO
or three others. Scores of actors might
say it and secure Zephyr-hke current
of merriment but from the lips OF COL
lier it produces a storm OF applause ana
a whirlwind of laughter.
William Collier-''WiIlie'' it used to be
before his half-year run in New York
has found his best vehicle in Augustus
Thomas new comedy. In every way
the production of ION the Quiet at the
Crawford last night was deserving OF
the prize cup. The play is good and full
of witty lines and humorous situations;
the staging of the piece was elaborate,
every part was well taken, the coStum-
ing was excellent. There has not been
a comedy here this season in every re-
spect the equal of Golfers. unless II De
Tim Hurphy's. Certain it D. that Stuart
Robson and Harry Beresford failed to
secure the same amount of hearty ap-
plause that Was awarded Collier. 1t was
that genuine applause, too, from the
first floor which is given by Topeka au-
diences only now and then when the
richness of the humor the stage
works the usually peaceful audience
into a frenzy and dignity is forgotten
Topeka'S first floor theater-gOerS do not
usually ruin many kid gloves or redden
their hands by applause, so Collier may
feel assured that he was entitled to ali
he received. He was given four cur
tain calls at the close of the second
act.
There are a few incongruities about
the play. The construction is a little
lose. The tie which binds the acts to-
gether is not in a hard knot by any
means Golfers opportunities are
abundant. He makes the most of them
The individual scenes make Thomas
comedy a success, not the working out
of the plot. The lines do not drag. The
movement of the play is rapid. Espe-
cially in the second act the witty say
ingS follow each other with the speed
of gatling gun. Collier says many
things which if spoken by others might
be considered inane. Golfers acting is
easy. He assumes nothing No one
could charge him with being affected. It
is his ease, naturalness and enunciatfon
which marks him as superior to the
common run. To sum it all up, "On
the Quiet might be quite fat without
Collier, although the company was ex
cellent. 1t is meant to be vehicle for
the exploiting of Collier. He is the
king pin of the whole affair. Collier and
the play together are a great success
The company was strong. Louise Allen,
self a thoroughly capable actress, although
the part Of Agnes Colt" Craniey Doug
lass as Duke of Carbondale'' was the
best Englishman seen on Topeka stage
in many day. He was of the right sort.
His conception of the character was hui
T-leIous but not disgusting. George w.
Parsons played the part of the rollicking
Hyde Ogden in capital style. George A.
Wright was a really sd nctified looking old
rector. John Saville as Judge Ridgeway''
made much out of his part His acting
was almost fawless. The Horace Colt"
of Richard Malchien was a little bit
mushy but it was probably meant to be
that way. NJ. l. Heckert as ''McGeachey''
was a typical race track tout Sachiro
Oida, a Japanese took the part of Sat
suma," the valet, in a humorously squint
eyed manner.
There is one severe criticism to be made
of ION the Quiet The mercurial record
of the comedy shows the mean in the first
act the maximum in the second act ard
the minimum in the third act. After see
ing the second act outshine the first act