Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-01-22
NEW GILLETTE PLAY
LIGHT AND BRIGHT
"A Successful Calamity Shows
Clare Runners Improve
ment as Playwright
GOOD ENTERTAINMENT

SUCCESSFUL CALANITY-A play r,.
hre kummer Staged by Arthur Hon.
Adelphl Theatre Cast:
Henry Wilton, who Iongs 10 spcpd
quiet evening at home. William Gillette
I.II9lle' .II59llle' ms young, second wife Louise Ruttor
Msrgueritc his daughter NFFfI6G6MigwY
''"rse Siruthers' Marguerite,s aancc,
Clarence Rivers. another Nance u '''''''S
Julie rartlnsion. Eddie,s aanGsS, iSSo'F' i''"u''
Pictro RaSncroo c ouDiSr 1n william DsyereuN
''''' '''''e'0' an ltalian p9MTsit pM nainntt,Gr.
Dr. hroodIc. the family physician. hiiiS'' N''p'"
John heldon. Mr.. wnton's partner. 5f'' h'S''
Al,or,iu. Charles Lane
AEct lI,Living room at Wiiton's Scene - i
nei"ie Inner. rr. Scene .. After dinner
n'At day. Scene ., An hour later. "'
comedy lingering in the lap Of farce
Is as convenient and CharacterizinC a
label as any for Claire Runners "a
successful Calamity" It's next 70 impos.
t!ole TO categorize a piece that hovers be-
tween the two forms Of drama, but no
reviewer at midnight need lose much
steep in quest of the exact classification
Oh hghty amusing piece, which seeks
10 ulNert and succeeds. The unities of
'le Hfeek dramatists and the Catharsis
OF pity and terror Of Aristotle are tests
which need not be applied 10 calibratc
the merit Of an entertainment which
simply wants TO get over and by-by
It's brightness. The reaction of the tired
/ business man and his ennuied spouse
on a coalless and workless Monday, ex-
| pressed in terms Of laughs, to the bright
/ ness Is all the test demanded "a Sue
cessful Calamity" was abundantly re-
sponsive to this simple but satisfying
criterion 1t does not force praise as
a work of art, but II does command
. commcndatun as a clean, lively, divert.
ing, wcll-acted entertainment
Miss Hummer is n prolific but not
/ very successful playwright. This is her
third endeavor the present season on
the local boards. The Rescuing Angel
could not be billieburked into success,
and Goodness Gracious!! Anna
belle -. met with no more favor. Bet
she is improving in her grasp of dra-
/ matte requirements. "a Successful
| Calamity" reveals a flrmer technique
and more adroit handling of situation
and character, even though it begins as
farce and winds up as comedy of senti-
ment. The practiced playgoer knows
instinctively that it is not to be farce
throughout: there are not enough doors
for n farce. And It hardly requires
more than the provision of an infant
for the average theatre patron to on
ticipatc the evolution Of the plot.
Mr.. Gillette plays the part Of bis
iinancier who yearns for n little quiet
ness and hOmelikeness. lie is the Consid
erably middle-aged hero Of an Indiar
summer romance with Il young, naive
and pretty second wife and couple OF
grown-up children, thOughtfully pro
vided in view of the stars long stag,
career in order to avoid any false pre-
lenses that would set him up as younl
and impassloned lover, sort Of par
he no longer tries to look. In order e
enjoy quiet evening at home and tt
keep his family from bridge parties
dances and dinners, he tells them he l.
ruined in business. of course, they rail-!
about him and in very delightful
scene cheer him with the most imprac
ticable but loving suggestions. How th'
Calamity" turns over profit OF teN
millions Of dollars on the street, nov
It puts new ideas of life into the head
Of the boy and girl and how it dispel
certain suspicious in his mind raised b.
circumstantial evidence, concerning hi
wife's interest in young painter, ar
factors which turn the story into II
, comedy ending, through series
agreeable and fairly plausible situa
tions and dialogue of dry wit and droI
twists
Mr.. Gillette is 50 adept and resource
full an actor that he has no\trouble j
making his part belevable for the tim
, being He points" his speeches wit
! crispness, even Curtness. but they ar
often touched with tenderness. Rut
Ins lao InN
I Rutter as the wife are charmingl
feminine and clinging, and Norvi
\ Keedwell as the butterfly son and Wi
D liam DevereouX AS a faithful family II
e tainer stand out In n capital cast.
W. r.. NJ.