Evening star., 1901-12-21

and hold our right positions and trust to
luck"
There are a number of people in Andrew
Mack's company which concludes weeks
engagement at the Columbia tonight in
whom Washington playgoers have been
variously interested in from time to time.
First among these, perhaps. is Myron
Calice, who is remembered for the heavy
villainous work he used to do in the stock
company at the Columbia several summers
ago. Mr.. Calice has had quite a villainous
career on the stage, having played the bold,
bad man practically all Of the while. In
Mr.. Mack's production Of Tom Moore,
however, he steps out of the field of
straight stage badness into the part of the
Prince of Wales and is the gentleman to
the fullest extent.
Theodore Babcock, who plays the part Of
the good friend and patron of Tom Moore,
Lord Mora, is best remembered for his
work in that caloric starring tour arranged
for the PilarMorin. Ma Cousine," the
play was called, and in it Mr.. Babcock
made the most frantic love possible to the
little French woman. The venture was
grandly launched forth one dark and turbu-
lent night at the National Theater in this
city. The action of the stormy elements
outside was prophetic. The enterprise soon
went down to oblivion on the rocks of am
ply justified adverse criticism. 1t not
Mr.. Babcocks fault that the affair proved
a failure. He played the part assigned to
him with a vivid, fiery realism. He was
strenuous extremely. When he grasped
Pilar-Morin in his loving embrace there
was shock which felt all over the
house. 1t was such a terrific hug that the
house could not restrain its laughter. The
humor sped to the stage and the principals
in the little scene had to struggle hard to
suppress the laughs which tried hard to
get out, indicated by the smiles which
would not down.
One of the prettiest parts of Tom Moore
is in the first act at the village school in
Dalky, Ireland. A dozen little boys and
girls are shown at school. They are
likely lot of youngsters and make things
exceedingly lively during the time they are
on the stage. The children do their parts
so well and join so enthusiastically in the
singing and playing of games. that one is
led to believe they are regular members of
the companies and carried from city
to city with the other principals. AS
matter Of fact, however. only four children
are carried. These take the leading juven-
lie parts and have number of lines to say.
The others are secured in the cities where
the company plays and are carefully
trained prior to the first performance
X x X
Harry Clay Blaney was once a farm boy
with no other thought than following the
plough for the remainder of his life when
an Uncle Toms Cabin, company visited
the town and inspired him with the yearn-
ing to act. That real histrionic tendencies
were his is evident from the fact that
''U. T." show could bring them to the sur
face. but, however, Mr. Blaney is author
ity for the statement.
Yes my father was a farmer and very
religious man, in consequence Of which l
had never seen anything like a theatrical
performance, not even a circus, until the
advance agent Of an Uncle Tom show
came along, and with the customary enter
prise of such individuals began to coxer
every available bit of fence in the place
with glaring pictures illustrating Mrs.
Stoves story. I became very energetic just
about that time and insisted on helping him
in his work, and my reward was pass to
the performance. My heart did all sorts OF
queer things In anticipation of the event,
chiefly SO. probably, because l didn't know
just exactly how l was going to get there,
for l knew that my father would never
consent. The eventful night came, and.
just as luck would have it, father and
mother went to visit some Of the neighbors
and l stole out to the show. 1 felt pretty
much as I imagine David Harum must
have when he borrowed time from his
father and stole away to that wonderful
circus. AS in David's case so it was in
mine. that the show proved the turning
point in my life, for from that night re-
solved to be an actor. 1 left home with the
company. although they did not promise
that I should play the star part. 1t just
happened that the dog-they only had one
died and they engaged me to do the bark
ing behind the scenes. Now, that does
sound funny, I'll admit. but If you remem-
Der, thes barking Of the dogs in Uncle
Toms Cabin is very essential to the sue
cess of the play, so I don't feel that be-
gan so very far. down the ladder after ALL"