Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-05-12
Prominence Attained by the Carroll
Institute Club.
SKETCH OF The ORGANIZATION
Members Who Have Gained Fame
Among Professionals.
COMING f ERTA l n NJ E n T


given many successful actors and actresses
to the professional stage, all of whom grad
uated from one or another of the amateur
organizations. The most notable of these
was the famous Lawrence Barrett ORA
matte club. from which Wilton Lackaye.
Charles b. Hanford. Tim Murphy and a
host Of others passed to the work in which
they are now engaged. a work which the
world seems pleased to applaud
When this organization was dissolved, on
account of the gradual withdrawal of its
members, the city was left without YES
tige of an amateur company which could at
tract more than passing attention For
years the young people did not seem 10
care about theatricals except in desuitory
way Finally. the Carroll Institute. desir-
ing to broaden its scope and educate its
members. authorized several young men
and women to form an organization which
would give the best plays in the best pos
sible manner. To give this club full sway
an excellent theater was fitted up when the
new institute building was erected. The
officers of the institute enjoined upon the
players that they should only give the best
plays in the best possible manner. They
We're furnished with instructors from the
professional stage, and were given every en-
enlargement in their work.
The result has been the upbulding and
enlargement of one of the best organiZa-
lions of the kind in the country. The Car
roll Institute Dramatic Club has become IA
nous everywhere. certainly in the south.
for its finished and elaborate productions.
The club does not take up the plays that
are often attempted by ambitious amateurs.
There has never been a production of
Hamlet" or Romeo and Juliet" nor yet
have they taken up with stock pieces that
require no little ability beyond the average
elocutionary efforts.
A Serious Business.
All the young men and women who have
entered the club from the time of it's forma-
ton have been impressed with one thing
most of all-that the work of acting a play
is serious piece of business and not a
frolic. They rehearse their plays in a care
full. painstakng manner and they have had
the services of the best instructors imag
Unable. One of the most distinctive fea-
lures of the performances is the utter lack
of Jealousy among the players. They all
take pride in their individual endeavors. but
not one of them begrudges another the APP
piause he or she gets for a particularly fine
piece of work or a nice word from critic.
They have presented some of the best types
of dramatic literature extant and have been
given unqualified praise for their efforts.
Alabama David Garrick." "RosedaIe'
and host of others which have been sue
cessfully exploited by professional enter
tanners have lost nothing in their portrayal
by these amateurs.
Since the organization of the club many
Oh us TtmDsTS nave 1OrSaken the anna
teur for the professional stage and have be-
come successful in their chosen work. Miss
Helen Lackaye and Percy Leach are the
most notable of these. the latter having left
here to enter the dramatic profession per-
manently only short time ago. A. T.
Seaman, one of the old members of the
club is now the manager of Frederick
Warde. and has been giving an excellent
reputation to the CAROLS in exchange for
the training they accorded him.
Clubs First Effort.
The club appeared for the first time in a
regular dramatic production February %.
1899. when "Still Waters Run Deep was
produced. under the direction of Mr. James
A. Mahoney, well-known actor This
was SO well acted that the club was called
upon to repeat it in the summer. OF the
original cast there remain in the company
only four members. A system OF giving an
nual benefits to the institute was inaugu-
rated after the first year of the clubs ex-
iStence. 1t never appears except in the
interest of some charity. none of the mem
bers receiving penny In compensation.
This year there will be two performances
to be given at the Columbia Theater next
Friday and Saturday nights. The one Fri
day night will be given for the Carroll In
stitute and the one Saturday night for the
Southern Relief Association.
On these occasions Augustine Days COM
edy, "A Night Off" will be presented. The
club has been rehearsng the piece for sew
eral months. and is able to put up a per-
feet performance. The cast will include al
most every member Of the organization, as
follows:
Justinian Rabbit, professor of ancient
history in the Campdown University, Will
II. Conley; Harry Damask his son-in-law,
John J. Nolan: Jack Mulberry a seeker of
fortune. under the name Of Chumley. Geo.
III. OConnor: Lord Mulberry. seeking
Jack. ". S. Mccarthy: Prowl. usher at the
university F. w. Romaine; Marcus Brutus
hx. L. u H.,
Xantippe Rabbit. her husbands wife. Miss
CAVALIER: Nisbe. the youngest of the house
hold. Miss Eichelberger; Angelica Damask,
the eldest, Miss Chambers: Susan. sym
phony in brass" Mrs. Cocker-B agnam:
Maria domestic, Miss Grundwald
Messrs- Walsh. Nolan. Mccarthy and
Mrs. Bagnam are the only members of the
original play who will be seen with the or
bers. who are not included In the piece but
a majority of those who were associated
with the institute in 1895. have left the
dramatic end of the institutions branches.
Many of the ladies have been married and
some of the gentlemen have removed from
the city.
Personal Sketches.
Edward J. Walsh, the present president Of
the club, has been with it since its organi-
cation. He is perhaps one Of the most
painstaking actors in the company and Is
cast this time in comedy part which just
SUITS MS aplity- he prayed the name part
in David Garrick. and Col. Preston in
Alabama" Before associating himself
with the Dramatic Club he was well known
as an elocutionist. He is graduate Of St
Johns College and Georgetown University
and Is at present employed in the Post
Office Department.
John J. Nolan has also been member of
the club since It's formation. He has re-
ceived unstinted praise from dramatic
critics for his portrayal Of what are known
as "heavy" roles. He has an excellent part
in the production Of "A might on" and
will undoubtedly give a good account of
himself Like Mr.. Walsh, Mr.. Nolan Is
graduate OF ST. Johns College
William s. Mccarthy is known as the
''old man. Of the company. He Is treas
urer OF the club and a prominent musician.
His speciality lies in the roles called char
ac.er' parts. He has the most wonderful
makeup box of any member Of the COM
pany. and though tall and straight, can be-
come a bent old man on moments notice
In the forthcoming production he has the
part Of a nervous old English lord who is
hunting for his son. and he Is said to be
prepar ring for the hit of his life.
Mrs Nora Cocker-Bagnam was Miss Nora
Cocker when she first played with the Car
rolls. and when she was married she re-
tired from the company. This year. how
ever. Mr.. Walsh succeeded in persuading
her to take part. and she will be seen as
Susan, the maid. Mrs. Cocker agnam