The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1902-01-20
THE PLAYER FOLK.

Grace Elliston, pictured herewith, was
leading lady with Charles Dalton when
that actor made his first attempt at star
ing at the National Theatre a month OF
so ago At the time Miss EIIston was
very generally praised for her good work
and when Mr.. DaIton's play, The Helmet
Of Navarro" was produced i'm New York
the metropolitan reviewers said many
nice things about Miss EIiistou's talents.
When The Helmet OF Navarro" vas
abandoned and Mr. Dalton went back 90
mist first success. The Si-n OF the
Gross. and Olive Nay went 90 London
with the English production Of Arizona. A."
Kirk LaSheIIe engaged Miss EIIlzfcu TO
play Bonita In New York at the Academy
Of Music.
During the engagement OF E. S. VIII
lard az the National Theatre in February
he viii present David Garrick" AT the
"Wednesday matinee. and VIII turn over
the entire box Office receipts TO the Car
field Hospital
One Of the best bits OF acting in The
Henrietta" ut the Columbia last week
was done by q washington young woman.
Laura Thompson, who has had but a sin
gle years experience on the stage. but
who actually ecIipsed the work Of any Of
the other feminine members Of Stuart
RObson's company
Miss Thompson appeared last season
on one O. two occasions with the Lara--
cite Square stock company but did not
reveal any particular talent and her
Lady TrelaWHey in The Henrietta" came,
therefore, much In the nature of sur
UFi-a 20 even her most INF ina 70 f~fauFe
The bits or conversation INDUCED in 5y
matinee girls. though not always char
acIerized by lofty intellectually. at least
belong to a class of so-calIed small
talk" all their own. 1t is not only anus
ing. but a study as well to watch the
young feminine matinee attendants. and
listen to their chatter as they line up on
either side Of the alley to the stage en-
trance Of the Lafayette Theatre Wedncs-
day afternoons. waiting 60 get q glimpse
OF the separate members Of the stock
company as they leave the theatre.
Last Wednesday afternoon three girls
stood on the steps Of the theatre patiently
waiting-that is, two OF them were pa
uent. while the third made strenuous eT-
forts 10 convince her companions that il
t.
It's absurd 10 wait, for they won't come
this way-at least WyugaIe won't"
How do you know asked one OF the
trio.
well. he doesn't come this way"
Which wa does he gC2'
"Out tho back WAY and across that lot
He can't for there's a fence"
We'll. he climbs the fence"
"A most unidentified thing for an actor
10 do 90
lie docs IT,. just the same. and goes up
Fifteenth Street. and then around by the
Arlington"
How 20 YOU know ne does
wei, I know. because followed him.
"Fortaae knocks once AT every mans
door" says the old proyerb. but often he
does not hear the knock. although 70
brings luck just the same
Such was the case Of Frank Keenan,.
who. since the retirement Of Sol Smith
Russell has been touring the Middle
West in Mr.. RusseITs repertoire. and
casting longing eyes toward 81 ,ldway
For. while it was no small achieE ement
TO win popularity and petuniary success
in the territory that Sir. Russell fairly
owned for so many years. every new star
is ambitious TO try his luck IN the me
trOpOlis. But with SO many stars and
plays striking for time al the New York
theatres Mr.. Keenan, considered ia vain
even to hope and accordingly settled
down to giving the best possible perform
snce OF Hon. John Grigsby."
Here's where he won.
The reputation Of his performance had
reached New York and. all unknown 10
him. Manager FIskp OF the Manhattan
Theatre, seeking an attraction to occupy
his house while Mrs. Fiske is on the road
decided that Hon. John Grigsby'r would
be worth looking over.
Accordingly Mr.. FIske quietly took 10
the trail OF the keenan, COMPANY and
came up with them in the quaint. old
fashioned college tOEn of Wooster Ohio
DOdgiug the man in front" Mr.. Fiske
secured a seat, and watched the perform
ance. He found himself surrounded bv
one Of those plain looking. but highly in
telligeut and appreciative audiences for
which Ohio IS celebrated
Hon John Grigsby" tells a quaint love
story Of an old fashioned Illinois LAWYER
in the strenuous period Just preceding the
war. Thoroughly familiar with the char
acter types and atmosphere Of the pIay.
the audience gave themselves up to I'M
alleged enjoyment and Mr. Fiske soon
found himself appjauding as heartily as
anyone present
After the performance he FASTENED back
Of the curtain TO congratulate Mr. Kee-
Dau, and the prelIminaries Of the forth