Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1885-08-15
THE FORREST CLUE.
Sketch Of the Organization Named for
the Great Trngedian

Sketch Of the Organization Named for
the Great Tragedian.
A CLUB WHICH DURING IT'S BRIEF EXISTENCE
PRESENTED LARGE NUMBER OF PLAYS
THE RICE DRAMATIC COMBINATION WHICH
SUCCEEDED IT, AND THE SAD FATE OF ITS
FOUNDER.
In September, 1873, number Of ladies and
gentlemen who had dramatic aspirations
organized an association which they named
the Forrest Dramatic club and elected the fol-
lowing officers: President, John Clarke; vice
president, Miss Leila Redd; secretary, Miss
Annie Mcdaniel; treasurer, Miss Emma Arthur:
and stage manager, Arth ur B. Anderson. The
members entered upon the work OF rehearsal
with energy. and through the skillful conduct
Of Mr.. Anderson they were enabled to give
their first public performance on November
I'd following, when the amusing farce
1.-TWO Flats and Q Sharp" and Tom Taylor's
two-act comedy "To Obifge Benson" were pre-
scented at Odeon Hall. In the first Mr.. Anderson
Ra , M1 Tsa E E asa Ms: I RaSS
Mrs.. Minor tB Snarpl The cast Of the comedy
was as follows: M. Benson. Mr.. VIM. Arthur;
Mr.. F. c. Griffin; Mrs. Benson, Miss Ourand;
Mrs. &sfhdours, Mrs. Miller. The performa nee
was In every sense enjoyable, all the ladies and
creditable manner, and as only one of the num-
Der had had any previous experience the gen.
acting DYOIniSQ
much success 10 the new association.
THE SECOND PERFORMANCE
was at Tallmadge hall, on December 18th, and
took place under the auspices of Harmony
council, s. of. The program included repe-
tition Of the farce played at the former enter
talnment, and mt the 81. drama IN two acts called
luxe Hardy and Dix C%"5bacx his '" c.erH,
rs,ure Nj Clarke; Julia 4Sae1. G KISS oar n nd
and Nctite, Miss Williams. Marked improve
ment was exhibited at this entertainment, and
each performance was warmly praised.
Then followed series of performances at in.
teryals OF about month, during which there
the Coed for fp
"a Husband to Order, "In Possession" moe
mic" who's Your Friende" "a Mysterious
Disappearance" and A Wonderful Woman"
THE NUMBER OF PLAYS
presented and the excellent manner of their
representation evidenced not only the ability
Of the individual members of the club but also
theSenergy and capacity OF the stage manager
Mr.. Anderson, for all the plays were cast with
Discrimination and placed upon the stage in an
formance. The value Of Mr.. Andersons efforts
in behalf of the club was recognized in testi-
Is, 1879, at Tallmadge hall. when the attend
ance was very large, and the plays, "Who's Your
Friend two act comic drama, and the sketch
rendered, and introduced the following MEM
beers OF the club: Misses Myra Ourand, Fannie
Bennett, Leila Redd, Annie daniel, Florence
Harrison, Fannie Rice, Mrs. a. B. Anderson
and Messrs. F. G. Saxton, j. ii. Grady, ". F.
simons, +; II; Tabler, Geo. w. Rice, F. N. Mar
IN the meantime the club had been formally
Incorporated on the 4th OF February, l $40, and
the new officers elected as follows: President,
t.ry, W. +. simons treasurer, Arnie MCDANIEL
stage manager, A. B. Anderson, with L. NJ. Bah
COCK, +. n; Marshall and a. b. Anderson as
kfl rf n 10 1, ~ c-a6
out OF existence at the end of its first season,
and was succeeded by new organization
known Us
HIcEs DRAMATIC CONVERSATION,
the head of which was Mr.. Geo. w. Rice, who
had acquired considerable reputation as an
amateur actor. and who intended to make the
dramatic profession his permanent business
MIR. Anderson was the stage manager Of this
combination, as he had been OF the Forrest
club, and took the same interest in its welfare.
The first performance of the new organization
was OF Talimadge hall, on October II, 1879,
saa efe nS were
the former Mr.. Rice played Mr. augustus FGtz-
herbert; Mr.. simons, Straps; Miss Amy philip,
Rose, and Miss Corinne Helm. Miss Je,niosa
was sustained by AR. saxton; LORD Horace
Fannie Bennett. and Mary, Miss Ella Lemon
was at Laurel, Nd. where the "Noemie'' and
Two Flats and u sharp were given to a good
audience, who testified their appreciation OF the
performance in the most flattsring manner.
Two years later the Rice Dramatic Company
under the management of Mr.. A. Il. Anderson
opened Rixey's New Opera House at Cuipeper,
Va, playing two nights engagement, and pro-
ducing Robertsen's Home .'Noemie.'' and
"Nan, the Good for Nothing The performances
We're successful and the papers OF that city spoke
in high terms Of the efforts of the members of
the company. These were Messrs. c. w. Darr,
John a. Jewell, Fred. l.. Siddons, Clarence
G. Waters, j. 7. hawkins, Misses Florence +.
Jewell. Clara II. Cunningham, Hattie f. Waldo.
and Mrs. 4. Il. Anderson. Though it was called
after the name of the man who headed
the organization when1t started
POOR RICE WAS STARVING
to death in the frozen north with the Greedy
expedition.
at was Rices Intention said Mr.. Anderson,
in speaking on the subject. "to eventually make
this combination professional company. He
had good abilities, and even after he had agreed
to 90 with the Greedy party received lucrative
offers to go upon the les legitimate stage. lie had
signed for the Arctic trip, however, and could
great deal Of him, and his sad end has cast "a
shadow upon every one of his associates"
"Have any of the members gone regularly
into the professions"
Mr.. Hawkins is now a professional actor,
and you know / shall manage MI Downing
this season in his play OF Hank Monck." The
play has been rewritten, and We believe 1t will
prove great success. We open In this city, rs
you know, on the oath inst, and have about
forty weeks Of time filled up already
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