The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1919-08-05
Pile CAST

Somehow or other, despite occa-
sional and various learned disserta-
tions to the contrary, the idea seems
to persist with us that an audience
quate Judge Of what IL wants and
and what 1t likes. Now and. than a
coterie OF highbrowed gentlemen dis
course doiefully on the dement's Of
certain plays, whereat q. large audi
ence promptly goes to said play and
enjoys itself hugely.
All of which is merely a prelude 70
reporting that a house full Of theater-
goers at the Nationals reopening last
night applauded and cf1eered thor
ougl1Iy at the first showing Of Mark
Swans "a Regular FelIer."
Some may sheer at the plot, but
none can deny that It has always de-
lighted audiences. Others may ele-
vate' their noses at the patent hokdm
Of mechanical effects. but even, they
cannot deny the fresh appeal OF their
novelty. oh, one could go on euumer-
ating things/certain of the elite may
find fault with, but the fact remains
that
"a Regular FeIIer'' L. q regular
play, and a play that went over dig
last night, and shows every indica-
ton of doing that very thing for
many more nights to come, here and
elsewhere.
The. story is that of q young fsiler
who has run-in with his wealthy,
tire-making dad in a country town.
Fireworks. and then the young man
is left there to shift himself. He
finds another young chap who has
invented a puncture-proof tire, and
essays to sell it. Enter first young
feller's fathers rival, another tire
manufacturer. Enter also villains.
And. likewise. a double love element
in two young couples who want very
much to be a quartet OF spouses.
Oh. there's all sorts Of good oppor--
tunities. you'll have to admit. And.
add TO that. few dasfes of amusing
buOolic character work, and let the
plot develop into the borders of
mefodrama, with the hero beating ua
the villain and taking the papers and
getting somewhere or other in the
nick of time and saving eyerythins>-
We gods! why shouldn't the play
please?
To tell about all the delightfulv-
amusing situations-and all that
would consume too much space. Suf-
flee it to say that one feels practi-
cally safe in promising an evening
full of satisfactory entertainment to
anyone contemplating a look at this
latest Of Mr. Cooks productions.
And nov for the cast. headed by
Ernest Glendinping, who will be re-
membered as Youth in Experience"
His role in this play is one eminentlv
suited to his personality. and one
netic charm essential to a complete
sympathy with his, audiences. Everett
ButterheId. Washington stock favor
lite, came in for a big hand last nigh:
both for old memories and for his
work in "A Regular Feller"
The character work of James Brad
bury was a scream. II Is delicate
burlesque OF a rustic type that IL
very, very famiiiar-but burlesqus
done 50 finely that there's a laugh in
his every word and move. Dudley
Clements. as Butch Hawkins, Is
enough, roseately happy
enough; and altogether able enough
to make the part much bigger than q
lesser actor could have.
And all the others in a cast OF thir-
teen were such that one could hardly
imagine the play without them.
Miriam Sears. Margaret Greene and
Charlotte Granville, in the leading
feminine roles. must come in for extra
mention, not forgetting Kittie O'Con-
nor, who takes q wordless part and
makes it eloquent.