The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1912-02-05

Looking back over tho list Of farce
comedies That have appeared on tho local
stage during recent years. no Offering
Of this type is revealed that more nearly
parallels in genuine comedy and laugh
rmalSinS EXCUSE Nc" than Seven
Days" aud "Raby Mine and neither OF
these excellent comedies arc quite as
substantial, nor serve their purpose as
completely as the Rupert Hughes Pull
man comedy. which opened Il, the Co.
louial thcater SUNDAY night
The network of plot and counter plots
is slight--as sauzy, In fact, AS the "rea-
sons for The two previous farces above
named-but it contains great possibilities
and il would seem that every opportunity.
no matter how small, had been taken
advantage of by lis resourccful author.
Every gap and crevicc has been chinlted
with snappy comedy situation or bril-
liant line Laughs arc provoked with re-
markablc frequency. lt is n rare mo
ment indeed when one laugh does not
overlap another during the creating and
untangipG OF the udicrous mxups
which. in the composite, make Excuse
Nc"
The fact that Harry Mallory, a young
lieutenant In the army, has to reach san
Francisco in time 10 catch transport
to the Philippines; that his sweetheart,
Marjorie. is to eope with him; that NAL
iory intended 10 stop at a Clergyman's
house on the way 10 the train; that tile
taxi broke down. and that they only had
time enough 10 catch The train, without
MIR Hughes his inspiration for the farce.
In Justice 10 Marjorie, let it be said that
her intentions were good Sho was de-
termimed to see her sweetheart on the
train and then so home 10 wait for his
return in three years. The train pulled
Out while she was aboard.
The next best thing Is to find a min
Istcr on board the train and get him to-
perform the ceremony. But no minister
is discovered, though there is one on the
train with his wife; both having tired of
the dreary clerical life, are off on n holi
day trip determined to make the most
OF IT,. lie refuses 10 reveal his identity.
Another couple. who had tclcgraphed
ahead, succeed in getting minister OH
the train, hut after performing the cere-
mony lie makes a hurried Set-off with
the train going al fun speed. leaving
desperate Mallory. who makes q heroic
attempt 10 detaiu him. Then two ban
dts hold up the train. After the pas
scngcrs yaiuahIes have been taken from
them. Mallory seizcs the opportunity 10
turn tho tables on the robbers when
their backs are turned He oyerpowers
one, takes his gun away and trains it
on The other before he can got into
action. In tho miXup. the preacher re-
veals his identity, and that opens the
way blissfuly To ihc future
Unexpected happenings arc sandwiched
profuSeV through the development OF tho
piece. The troubles OF the Pullman por
ter ave exposed in many entirely posi-
bic WAYS. y society woman is on board
the train, bound for Reno. Her husband
boards the same train, bound TO he Re-
uoed, Too. They arc brought happily to-
gether before their journey ends An
old maid finds her long-lost sweetheart
in the same car. They lose no time in
having the ccremony performed. There
les tho genial, suavc 1irl who dovctsils
into the plans of the female ncar-di-
Yorcccs. There Is an fGnelishman who
thinks the American system of railroad
ing is II bundle Of ''bally rot So many
small bits Of business are so we'll in
serted, and so many amusing incidents
result from "A mixing of the very differ
ent people. that a complete recount would
be unsatisfactory and we'll night impos
slble.
The piece Is finely east for not sin
Gle type has been neglected and all
play their parts in "a way which makes
1t difficult to single out particular ones
for particular praise. Willis Sweatnam,
as the polite good -natured. loqua cious
porter. deiies comparison, Ann Murdocls
like whom there IL but one other Billy
Burke-plays charmipgly tho role OF Mar
jorie. Other. members OF the company
who played In the original New York
production are: Harry Carter. Edwin
Evans, T.. II. O'Connor. Frank Manning,
Frank Dee. Rita Stanwood. Lottle Alter
and isabel Richards: The fact that they
PLAYED in tho original company should
he praise enough, Let it he added that
they. as well as the other members of
the company. arc all artists,
The first act Of Excuse Me" shows
the interior of a Pullman car under full
speed. The sccond act an observation
car. AT the beginning of the third act
the exterior OF the Pullman car is shown
with the faces OF the occupants beam
ing through the windows. Here Is an
opportunity for splendid scenic effect
which has been worked out with start
ling realism.
Colonial attraction up TO and including
Wednesday night, with a matinee We'd
nesday afternoon.
Everybody knows the Count OF Monte
Crsto' and most everybody who is out
OF his teens remembers James ONciI,
the veteran romantic actor, In connection
with the PLAY: For this reason five
in the title role. proved Of more than
ordinary intercst yesterday. when the
now bill for the week opened at the
Orphcum.
Edmond Danies's escape from In.
island prison. Chateau d'Jf is depicted In
I'll lirst scene. In the second scene, the