"Rollo's Wild Oat" is a farcical comedy in Clare Kummer's most trivial manner. When we leave the theatre after the performance, we do not feel that we have come away with any lasting impressions. Yet this play entertained Broadway for a large part of last season, and as a sweetmeat to whet the palate it is a tasty morsel. The action, although a little slow in starting, is brisk throughout the play, and the dialogue is often sparkling. The one real drawback is the lack of reality both in plot and treatment, but this quality is the privilege of the farceur.

The story concerns the doings of young Rolo Webster, who has great aspirations to act Hamlet, and accordingly employs the services of Mr. Stein, a theatrical manager, in order to produce Shakespeare in New York. His sudden attraction for Goldie MacDuff, who is cast as Ophelia, and a grandfather who would much rather see Rollo interested in air-brakes than in acting, cause complications in the plot; while the attempt of Rollo's company to produce Hamlet brings in the farcical element. In places the farce is carried a little too far, and the unreality of it makes it less effective than if it had been more moderately treated; added to this the author has written dialogue that sounds at times like vaudeville repartee, giving a note of artificiality. But this fault is not very serious, and is felt only here and there.

The acting is noticeable excellent throughout. Mr. Gilbert, as Rollo, is a successful model of the young man with great ambitions to become an actor; and Miss Moores as Goldie was sufficient explanation for Rollo's attachment. Mark Kent did a fine piece of work in portraying Rollo's man, Hewston. The role of Horatio Webster, Rollo's grandfather, which was played by Ralph Remley, was a little overdone, but at least consistently in character.