Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-10-27


but as Hamlet is a long performance. one
night after l had washed Off l managed
to see the last scenes. The grave yard IS
the only memory Of the event 1 have"
Tim Murphy is demonstrating practically
and forcibly that an artist hampered by an
UNI euphonious name can win high stellar
honors; even mount to the pinnacle of his
profession.
Tim, despite his name, which seems in
congruous and inharmonious when applied
to one of his artistic temperament, has won
for himself a high place in the esteem of
theater-goers. The name Murphy is, ev-
erybody knows, a good old Irish one, a
name whose poSsessor need not be ashamed
to wear it at any and all times, whether an
actor or not Murphy explains that his is
not the only untheatrical name, for many
others are worn by actors that are. to
certain extent, bar to their success. For
instance, could a man who played foppish,
dude parts ever hope to secure the support
and cooperation of theater-goers if he
We're blessed with such a name as Ole Ole
son, Ike Schurtzleberger or Pat Malone.
when such names Clarence Beaumont or
Chauncey Ponsonby would be in perfect
harmony with the part? Could an audi
ence take seriously a big burly, athlete,
playing gladatorial parts. who bore a
dudish name? Would Julia Marlowes
classic beauty be IS appealing. did she bear
less euphonious prosaic and meaningless
name? Could you imagine Ada Rehan in a
Shakespearean play if her, name were
Bridget Flanagan?
Lawrence Barretts name. while and be-
fore he was "A ,strug Cling young actor was
Brannigan. and William Florence's was
comm. Dorothy Morton, the opera singer,
in girlhood was known Nellie Mccarthy.
and the majority of the well-known the
atrical celebrities bore names that would
give confirmed theater-goera the nightmare
he lin
"A new acquaintance told me the other
day said Mr.. Murphy, that he asked his
wife to g" with him to see Tim Murphy
play, and her answer was: NO, John l
don't care to sec those Irish comedy
Dramas The man Insisted and when his
wife saw me made up in my old-fashfoned
costume she refused to believe that nv
name was Murphy.
Mr.. Murphy has set at rest all rumors
about changing his name. He explains the
cause of his determination not to monkey
with the buzz saw. There is in Aesop a
fable concerning the sad fate of the man
that tried TO please everybody. Tim has
learned to apply it. Ever since he took up
the stage his friends have besought him to
adopt name for the theater Some have
suggested Reginald Murphy, others T De
CCurcey Murphy. One frank friend told
him that he was a fool-that he had on
the stage a brother named O. Rafferty,, but
that his stage name was Montmorency
They reminded him that John r. Raymond 5
real name was O'Bren. Henry Irving
Broadrib, W. ]. Florence's Conlin. etc, So
in despair Tim decided to act upon the
advice of his friends. After many anxious
weeks he hit upon the plan of making 1t
lynn Murphi.
There" he exclaimed triumphantly
That looks foreign enough to please the
truest hearted American
The new scheme telegra phed to
Tins printers and the comedian waited for
the expected congratulations of his friends
They came with rush. There was gen
eral howl of Indignation. His Irish friends
''allowed' he was becoming stuck up and
thus poor Tim crushed between the
upper and neither millstoneS. He has taken
an oath to continue Tim Murphy till the
end Of time, and he VIII never, never again
try to fake an Italian ancestry.
It will be noticed that one of the bill
board posters his name is still spelled
"Murphi.'
"washington contains more talented ANA
tered" said Mr.. Walter Clark Bellows,
stage director of the Lafayette Square
Stock Company, few days ago. ION an
average during the past two weeks twenty
people. mostly young women, have come
to me anxious to get a chance for small
parts in the Lafayette company. l have
talked with these people, and discovered
for myself what each could do, for with a
stock company you never can tell how soon
you may be in need of extra people l give
you my word l have never before been so
surprised on matter of this kind. The
girls anxious to adopt stage career were
for the most part not only unusually pref
ty. but extremely capable well, though
few of them had ever before been behind
the footlights except In the most informal of
amateur footlights. | have rehearsed stock
companies in Denver and San Francisco
and during my career l have had to weed
stage-struck girls in New York but. as I
have already stated, for undeveloped talent
Washington stands far ahead. | do not
pretend to know why or how this is posi-
BILE, but from what know Of Washington
L gather that 1t Is composed largely of
brainy people from all parts OF the country.
Brainy and intelligent people always make
the best players, provided all other things
are equal. We have not yet had a fair
chance to show off all these ambitious piav
ers here in Washington, but very likely a
play will soon be done which will afford
them an Opportunity Of doing something
else beside walking on and off as was the
case with The Masqueraders last week.
OF course these amateurs will not be given
important roles. but expect that they will
assume the minor bits in an extremely sat
1Sfactory manner.
Connected with the Lafayette Square
Company is large auxiliary force Of plav-
ers, who cast for the smaller parts and
who include some of Washingtons best
known amateurs. In Countess Valeska"
next week the local contingent will consist
of William H. Conley. 7. E. OConnor,
Louis Ewing, Francis NJ Ball, H. H. Luns
ford, b. Niemeyer. Vincent f. Lynch. H. w.
Parker, Charles Scott and r E. Clarke.
All except the last four named were in the
cast of 1.-The Masqueraders" In addition
to the above there are about twenty others
from the local contingent included in the
peasants. soldiers. Polish Jews grenadiers.
Russians, servants, etc" Those mentioned
have parts which call for their names upon
the program. 1t so happens that the frs;
two plays produced by the company do not
call for a large feminine cast and hence
the fair members Of the auxiliary stafr have
not as yet come mo prominence. Among
the local players pc! haps the best known Is
William ConIey. Billy is known all over
the city as a character actor of exceptional
ability, and no dramatic production of any
proportion whatever has been made here
In late years without the name Of Mr. Con-
ley in a prominent role. His "Brinkler,''
the landlord, in THE Masqueraders" has
added to his popularity, and large number
nf nd