The Washington herald., 1906-11-20
OPENING NIGHT AT THEATERS
William Collier EXpIOdes Countless
Squibs in Caught I'm the Rain"

William Collier EXpIOdes Countless
Sguibs In Caught I'm the Rain"
Only a person hardened by success in the
ways of the impertinent farceur like Mr.
William Collier would presume to present
to his admiring constituents a splutterine
string of laUghter-stuffed squibs and far
Cical incidents wound in and out and
about and around such a crudely melo-
dramatic plot as that which makes uT
the framework of Caught in the Rain,
the new Collier comedy presented for the
first time in this city at the National
Theater last night But the squibs were
packed almost as close together as fire
crackers in the bunch, and as they splut-
tered and cracked and exploded on the
stage there was a steady reverberatjou
of responsive laughter from the good
sized audience. which was thus left little
chance 10 use its critical faculties in re-
tecting on the raw absurdity Of the sup
pOsiUtiOUsly serious subStratum OF things
on which the play was based. No doubt,
if the audience had had the opportunity
for reflection, IL would merely have taken
another and longer laugh at the we'll
known unpredictableness of the eccen-
tricity Of Collier genius, and let it go al
that. For what's the use OF getting Sc
rioUs about pleasant nonsense that really
has no pretensions TO be anything else
and that serves TO while away an evening
or an afternoon in an innocent. if profit
less, manner? The story of Caught n
the Rain but that isn't necessary.
II is all about a noble and benevolent
and heroic young mining engineer who
is supposed to be hOpelessly bash
fUl and scary TO the limit when
il comes 70 dealing with women
in love, or IN business, or in any
other way. This young man is Mr.. Col
uer but. Of course, he is inconsistent as
10 his bashfulnesS, as in everything else
and stands through a scene in supposed
embarrassment-and rain-with the hero
inc. working of some Of the brightest
and most explosive of the squibs with
which the dialogue is sOwed. II is these
pUns and gags and epigrams that carry
the piece. aided, OF course, by the clever
quiet, neTvously tOuch-and-go work OF
the star and some Of his assistants
There Is, of course, q love story in the
piece. or there wouldn't be a melOdra-
matte plot, and this gives Mr.. Collier the
opportunity FOR some especially neat and
pleasing work with the pretty and grace
fuI and vivacious heroine. Miss Nanette
COmstock. in the last act The setting in
tnis act shows the interior Of a hunting
club in the Rocky Mountains, a very at
tractive scene.
The second act takes place in a hand
some reception room during and after O
80 sHf l.r
pauy have the opportunity 10 display
some very pretty gowns. The first act
shows a street in Denver, where the rain
storm which gives the piece its name
Overtakvs the hero and heroine. But so
far as the audience could see last night.
il wasn't rain at all, but just a gentle.
dusL-laying shower that need not have
detained any one from going about his or
her business.
As Mr.. Mason, the very obliging father
Of the heroine Mr. John Saville wasn't
bad. nor was Mr.. Grant Stewart. CO.
author of the play, as Sir Bryce Forres-
ter. the Englishman astray in Colorado.
who seemed to have left his insular preju-
dices as well as accent at home. AS the
villain. Mr.. George Nash was as brutal
and Objectionable a person as his lines
called for. Nothing could be better in its
llliN li4ci4l Nllt ASDD liN iESttH tL " dtAdtt
EddinSer He was a delightfully."- CHEEKY.
brisk, and likable young deadbeat. with a
great capacity in the cocktail and high
ball line. Miss Jane Laurel, as Violet,
was likewise clever and engaging. The
play went with reasonable breeziness.
considering that this is its second week
In the audience were Mr.. and Mrs.
Charles Poor, Col. and Mrs. Denny, Miss
Denny, Mr.. and Mrs. Jack Biddle. Miss
Evelyn Chew Mr. and Mrs Horace West
colt. Mrs John Rodgers, the Misses
Sheridan, Mr. and Mrs. Glazebrook, Mrs
Laurence Benet, Mrs Hibbs and Miss
Hibbs. Mr. and Mrs. A B. Browne. Mr.
and Mrs. F. B. Moran, Mrs. Walter Far
we'll Miss Terry. Mr.. and Mrs Frederick
Chaplin. Miss Williams, and Prof. Willis
L. Moore