The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1902-04-22
THE PLAYER FOLK.

In the good old days OF the drama the
most famous of the thrilling scenes that
created sensations was the wild horse act
in 'Mazeppa." The animal cantered twice
across the stage with its rider and dis
appeared from view at height Of from
eight to ten feet. The up-to-date act.
as seen Under Two Flags is said to be
much more of a thriller
Blanche Bates is from out the Wild
West is an expert horsewoman. and Is full
o. nerve She believes in doing thing
for all there is in it. She argued that If
horse would ascend a run eight feet
high it would climb fifty more. and as a
consequence the wild ride she makes in
the CheIlala Gorge scene takes her across
the stage six times and ends at height
OF sixty feet
ITS all a matter of confidence in each
other" she said in a recent interview. 81
led the horse up and down the run and
gave him sugar at each end Of the route.
He got so anxious to make the run that
finally had to give him sugar to keep him
quiet till our cue came.
Il remember the last dress rehearsal
the horse was most anxious to get down
to business. and he played ping-pong with
two or three of US who we're trying to hold
him. Mr.. BeIasco was directing the re-
hearsal, Mr.. Frohraan was sitting in
front, and Paul Potter. the author, was
pranci1g up and down the Hobbies saying
things TO himself.
Finally Mr. Belasco. in Despair. came
on to the stage to show US how to manage
the horse.
You must be firm with horses he
said, as he seized the bride. Before any
Of US knew what was up it was all over
The horse simply took Mr. BeIasco
half way up the I'm, dropped him, and
continued on to the top. where he waited
til! climbed up with sugar
James K Hackett last week finished his
Southern tour with run Of three days
at AeCauley's Theater, Louisville, KY
Mr., Haekett's Southern tour in The
Crisis" WIS undertaken with some doubts
as to the manner in which this Northern
war play would be received south OF the
Mason and Dixon line.
IN New Orleans, where perhaps the feel
ing was most intense over the discussion
OF anteDeiluEl politics, the audiences were,
nevertheless, most enthusiastic in their
appreciation OF the play. Ten years ago
the Crisis" could not have been safely
produced in the South and its present
success there is evidence of the recon
strGcted" Southern country
Harry Corson Clarke made his first ven
ture as a star in What Happened 20
Jones" with his own company and every
where he has appeared in the title role
ne mas made a good impression His i'm
personatfon is so artistic, so humorous
and altogether SO intelligent that two dra-
matte critics who witnessed his perform
auce of Jones grew enthusiastic over his
work and offered to write him a comedy
that would bring into play the full range
Of his versatile talent
TIE result was what Did Tomkins
Dor and it is no secret that the title
came TO MIR. Clarke as mama from
heaven No less certain is IL that his
practical knowledge of the stage has
proved to be at once the motive power for
his dramatist.
Mr. Clarke and his company OF clever
comedians viii open for an engagement IN
What Happened to Jones2'' at the Col
Umbia next Monday evening. appealing to
shat class Of theatergoers who delight in
his productions as they do those OF his
colleagues. William Collier, Nat Goodwin.
William H Crane. Stuart Robson. and
other comedians. Eater on Mr. Clarke
expects to present What Did Tomkins
Dor" at the Columbia
henry B. Harris, under whose manage
NEXT Percy HasweIl will appear next sea
son in Captain MarshaH's comedy, "a
Royal Family - is authority for the state
ment that the prize play -WorIdlinZs"
has never been intended as a vehicle for
her starring tour It has been presented
By her company in Baltimore for one week
and it may be produced IA New York In
this event Miss HasEeII viii not be as
ISOLATED with it
Her season under Mr.. Harris manage
ment in a Royal Family" viii begin at
the Columbia Theater, Washington, en-
September Is.