New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-02-06
BY HAYWOOD BROUN

Clare RUNNERS second play this sea-
son marks her as a figure 70 be recA-
oned with in the American tLeatle'
a Successful Calamity produce ~
the Booth Theatre last night, Is a de-
cided advance on Good Gracious, IN
nabelle." The new play shows that the
author has a keen sense of character
as we'll as line. In "Annabelle' there
were Just so many amusing speeches
distributed without any searching re-
gard for the personality OF tn Ihdl-
yidual who spoke them. Here the
lines are funny not only in themselves
but in a higher sense because they are
err inently fitting and appropriate Mss
hummer also shows al ability - reach
70 20 the heights Of comedy where the
laugh is tempered by just the shade"
of q SOD.
But this amazing and astounding
woman, who writes better dialogue
than Langdon Mitchell and has some
thing Of Fitch's knack for quick define
alton Of character, contriyes plots as
loose as mama. This dear, delightful
dramatist has so little sense OF the
unity Of mood that after an act entire
~ in the spirit Of light comedy, she can
threaten her most attractive man with
death by poison and set the stage Tor
a most unwelcome elopement by her
leading woman. Miss Hummer, for all
her great skill and promise, is still a
more accomplished collaborator than Z
dramatist.
Possibly IL Is little unfair TO speak
Of the plot Of "A Successful Calamity
as altogether inept. The first act Is
capital light comedy. Here and there
10 teeters on farce, but always there
is that careful Characterization which
keeps the humor OF mere happening
at It's proper distance. The story IS
casual. but not IN the least aimless.
10 concerns the subterfuge OF bust
ness man who is anxious 20 put
check upon a gadabout family and does
it by imparting the information thar
he has met business reverses and Is
ruined With his ruin comes his nrst
touch of domesteIty in months. All
this is developed carefully and with
exceeding humor The first act Is mare
than the usual first act. IL IS two
scenes, and comprises something more
than half the play, which has only two
acts.
With the opening OF the second act
comes a sudden change. Miss Hummer
seems TO have felt that her story need
ed speeding up, and so the quiet casual
plot, where nothing much happened but
always for the best, Is suddenly ami
mated BY surprising food of incl
dents melodramatic and NAL On. There
Is even a hint that the hero OF the
piece may lose his mind, and Bloom
ingdale Is mentioned lightly FOR pur-
poses Of Jest.
Probably we violate no confidence in
saving that things DO not turn out as
badly as they seem. There is what IS
known as a surprise" at the finish.
Miss Hummer is 100 promising play
wright TO NEEDLE with such trlckery.
Surprises are all right for Max Mar
Gin and serve exceedingly well IN farce
and melodrama, but they have no place
in light cOmedv Particularly they
have no place when they stand out
theatrical and labored in a product
which is almost entirely natural and
charming
In this review lndue emphasis has
been put on certain weaknesses or
a Successful Calamity" This is done
because much will be written in which
Miss Hummer will be told that she de-
vises delightful stage entertainments
because she spins such irresponsible
stories. Pray Heaven she will not be-
lieve these wolves in white paper. Just
so soon as Miss Hummer realizes the
responsibility Of an author not 70 fool
his audience and not 20 Jump It from
mood 20 mood in a single flicker, just
so soon she will be dramatist OF the
rarest distinction.
The charm of the play at the Booth
lies with players as well as playwright.
william Gillette is master or the
quiet. repressed school II acting which
the comedy den ands. He IS slngular!y
happy i'm giving the impression that
the words he speaks are something he
thought up and not lines learned from
a script He makes the humor Of the
playwright his own. In those moments
when he was called upon TO play melo-
drama he did 10 with all the skill! that
might be expected from Sherlock
Holmes and Captain whatever his
name Is in Secret Service In speak
ing Of Gillette one can only repeat
what has been said so many times.
Seemingly IL must be said again and
again.
There is in the company player
seen only once before In New York, and
about her much must be said which Is
new. Miss Estelle Wnwood, briefly on
Broadway as the heroine Of Hush Is
back again, and, oh, the difference 70
those who love the sound OF voice
which never brings 70 mind the needtui
functions OF the Nose and Throat Hos
pitaIi Miss Winwood is as buoyant
Young person as the town has seen IN
a plav all season. Most certainly she
can float and probably she can hy. Al
anv rate. If she fell she'd bounce.
She was an admirable team mate for
Gillette. and inspired hln 20 make love
lust a little better than we ever saw
him do before. Il is really an extraor-
dinarily accomplished cast which Ar
thur Hopkins has collected. We can
remember no such delightful ensemble
this season. IL is necessary 10 give
particular mention 20 almost every
body. Certainly IL would be monstrous
10 neglect the skilful and humorous
work Of Miss Katherine Alexander or
the playing OF Richard Barbee as the
Young man who creates a panic IN the
street by going TO work.
Richard Sterling is one OF the fiances
OF Miss Alexander and Roland Young y
the other She chooses Young. but real
Iy IL was Veiiuish standOh between
the two. ManarJ Kippen contributed a
vivid bit as an Italian portrait painter.
In fact. he was applsuted al the end OF
each Of his brief scenes. William
Devereux was a good butler. and had
the privilege OF explaining Now that
my sisters husband is dead she doesn't
ned M heln any moren