The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-10-09
Why ARE YOU NY FATHER?"
THE COLLIER NEW FARCE MIGHT
he CALLED "RESURRECTION."
The Old Bones Of the Marryst Novel Rattle
GrewsOnely All Through It-Really .
Search for = SituatiOn-Willie - His
Old Self Would he Welcomed Back.

Inc Old Bones Of the Marryat Novel Rattle
GrewsOn,ely All Through It-Really =
Search for . SltuatiOn-Millie - His
Old Self Would he Welcomed Back.
The operation Of extracting sunshine
from cucumbers goes bravely on in the
dramatic world The latest exhumation
from the catacombs Of fiction saw the light
at Ina Bijou last night and with the aid
of William Collier the old bones of Capt.
Marryat's "Japhet in Search of His Father
were ratified to the title Of Are You My
Father?" Ernst Lacy was the resurrec-
zionist The result was almost grew
some.
Marryat's fun was Of the athletic and
breezy variety. He dearly loved a practical
joke and the rougher it was the better.
In this he is the lineal descendant of Samuel
Smollett, substituting caricsture for char
acter, broad farce for comedy. The tri-
angular duel In one of his tales-isn't it
.Midshipman Easy2'-is the top notch of
Marryat's delightful humor. And then
he loved to poke fun ct the phrenologists
and physiognomists .Japhet in Search of
His Father is one long gibe at the human
nose.
Are You My Father" may be described
as one long search for q situation. To be
sure, the novel affords few, but the adapter
knew that In advance. So did Mr. Collier
His audience knew It when the curtain
fell after Act Ill. on the most extraordinary
combination Of happenings outside Of
frank. crazy farce comedy.
Perhaps the joke was on the house. Mr.
kov inJ,, tvn NJ
his mystihoations, for he played his part
OF the apothecary's apprentice as though
Tragedy had been his school, melancholy
his daily nourishment.
He could not help being funny. He
was born 50. But it was fun crowned by
despair, for the curtain had not risen long
before he saw the material with which he
had to work. Frankly, Are You My
Father?' is a series of disconnected cpl
scdes, some comical, many dull. few
sad. There were several speeches Of the
broadcast possible pattern-reai CONVEX
satonal checks and there were also
several crusty oaths roundly delivered In
the old school style.
Mr.. Lacy has assembled an apothecary.
a bowling swell, choleric East Indian
General. bishop with past, a noble dame,
with a secret, a farcioal Irishman, tmid
young heroine and good natured bachelor.
These come and go erratically and In the
middle OF matters Mr.. Collier wanders
looking for the nose Of his long-lost father.
There indeed Ia a book for co nic opera.
There were some bright lines inimitably
delivered by the star and his simulated
madness was one Of he few sane moments
of the evening. Louise Allen has been
better cast Marion Abbott carried of
the honors as Lady Maeistrom Her scene
with Japhet when she reveals the secret
Of her youth was excellently acted.
George Nash was the beau; Hugo foland.
noisy East Indian; Herbert Ayling,, the
and john saville wasted In a col oriees
character There was laughter In the
audience, for without the night was bleak
simplest speech was received 18th the
gratitude Of the stormbounS,
Are you William Collier Willie, we
have missed you. Come back in any one
Of your old characters and all will be for
given.