Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-05-21

had associated with him Mr.. Percy F.
Leach, now a professional: Mr.. George H.
OConnor, too well known to need any
comment; Mr.. John J. Nolan, Mr.. Matt F.
IIolloran, Mr.. Con T. DAILY, Mr.. John S.
Moran, Mr.. John F. Pearson, Mr.. ]. Travis
Cocker, Miss Nora Cocker, now Mrs. Will
liam Bagnam; Mrs. Gay Robertson. Miss
Helen Lackaye, sister of Wilton Lackaye;
Mr.. William s. Mccarthy and DR.. Paul
Evans. Some of these were associated
with the first venture and some came into
the organization during the few months
that followed its organization and preceded
it's first public appearance. The Carroll
Institute turned over it's hall to the actors
and the services of Mr.. Vincent E. Lynch
were secured as instructor and stage man
ager.
The production selected for the initial APP
pearance of the club was the most am
bilious. 1t was determined to put on a
series of Shakespearean scenes, and Julius
Caesar" Hamlet" Twelfth Night and
the Merchant of Venice" were chosen as
the plays from which these scenes should
come The performance was successful and
taught the amateurs the lesson of expert
ence. Shakespeare has not been produced
by the club to any great extent since. 1t
was the established policy Of the organ
some well-known play at least once each
year and to lend aid to charitable enter
priSes with one-act sketches and the ike
during the season. This policy was con-
success of the club from an artistic stand
point was the production of Still Waters
Run Deep" by Tom Taylor, in April, 1895
This play was put on In the best style and
showed what really capable actors the Car
rolls were Miss Anita Hendrie, who APP
peared with the company at this perform
ance for the first time on any stage, has
since become very well known as profess
sional. In November of the same year the
club appeared in Robertson's three-act COM
edy, Home" This production was given
under the direction of Mr.. Percy Winter,
one Of the most capable professional stage
managers in the business.
"David Garrick."
In February of TIE following year the
club appeared for the first time in a thea
ter, producing David Garrick," preceded by
the one-act sketch, Barbara" The per-
Torrance was highly creditable, judged
from any standpoint. and was especially
gratifying to the members of the club and
their friends The late Mr.. Augustin DAILY
became interested in the organization about
this time, and without solicitation on the
par. OF any member thereof sent the Or
ganza ton the play, "a Night on" which
had been successfully produced by his own
company and which he thought would be
suited to the talents of the local people.
After rehearsing this play under the drec-
ton Of Mr.. James ]. Sicily Of Philadelphia
for many weeks the production was made
at the Lafayette Square Theater in Janu-
airy. 1897. and the company made distinct
success. The work Of the amateurs had al
ready attracted some attention from the
professional stage, but their artistic sue
cess in this play brought them more than
usual attentions from people well known in
the theatrical profession.
In May of the same year David Garrick"
and Barbara" were again produced, and in
November Lester Wallack's famous Rose
dale was put on. The success of Rose
dale" was repetition of the former tri-
umphs of the company.
During the winter many new members