Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-04-16
ROX OFFICE DIPLOMAT-N

A BOX-OFFICE DIPLOMAT.-Willie
Fowler sat placidly behind several bundles
of money in the box office of the National
last night. a good half hour after the cur
tain had risen within the theater. when a
well-dressed man. accompanied by his wife,
approached the window.
WHATS the bill?" inquired the man, as
he dshed into his pockets for the price of
two tickets-apparently.
IT'S Ingomar,' answered Mr.. Fowler.
Yes, | know" continued the prospective
purchaser; but is it comedy or tragedy
Well began the box-office diplomat,
somewhat taken aback and thinking hard.
lit is not exactly what you would call
light comedy" disappointed look began
to creep over the purchasers countenance.
The trained eye of the treasurer was quick
to notice the impending danger But
lie added hastily, there is some comedy
sprinkled here and there
Il guess I'll try it anyway" concluded
the man, as he handed over the green
backs and go two yellow DIS OF paste
board in exchange.
IF they don't know 1ngomar, and you
don't know what they want, it doesn't pay
TO be too positive one way or the other,
sseeIy remarked the treasurer to his fair
haired assistant as the couple disappeared
within the auditorium.
A NEW WASHINGTON PLAY.-Word
comes from New York that Claiming Pol
lock. formerly of this city, is at work upon
a new play for Grace George. 1t is to be
three-act comedy of life in Washington.
The heroine of the romance is the daughter
of western member of Congress and the
hero is an attache of the Spanish legation.
Mr.. Ponocks long residence in this city,
and his thorough acquaintance with local
affairs, should especially fit him for the
work he has undertaken. There have been
many plays written with the scenes laid
IN Washington. but few, IL any of them
have borne any resemblance TO life as &C
tually found in the capital city. III MT
Pollock's more recent residence In new
York has not robbed him entirely of his
Washington memories and ideas. he should
produce play well stepped in local color
One OF the mos successful plays OF the
season has been Mr.. Pollock's dramatiza-
ton of 1.-The Pit" in which w ilton Lackaye
has been featured.
SOCIETY AND THE STAGE-'Tt is inn
possible to mix society and the stage" says
Clara Bloodgood Acting is not only art.
but work too, and the faithful devotee to
histrionic effort has no time for social en-
gagements. 1t is a choice of variety or
veracity when / was asked to give my
opinion of social experience In stage ca
reer. AS to the value of social experience
Is more nearly a two-sided question. I'm
doubleday a knowledge OF what is really
done will help one to reproduce good man
ners mimically. And yet breeding is. to re-
duce IL to a sentence. principally matter
OF repression. or consealment. of ones true
feelings and emotions. The stage requires
the opposite of this-the accumulation OF
every thought, visible expression of every
emotion. II a woman were to repress her
self TO that quiet grace which had made
her the mold of form. In the drawing
room, she would probably be regarded on
the stage as a rather awkward supe.
Acting Is an art, not matter of person
atty, and the sooner the stage aspirant
whether from society or the coal yards
realizes IL, the better. 1t is just as much a
matter of art to appear the casual lady as
to enact an emotional scene. i don't have
to be uncontrollably jealous. you know, In
order to portray the green-eyed heroine
realistically.
Seriously. though. my advice to the wo-
man who contemplates the stage as o c.