Waterbury evening Democrat., 1906-11-19
POLI'S
SELMA HERMAN.

III queen OL Lue COuvlcto WHICH Selma Herman presents at Polls to-
 night Draga, afterwards Queen of Servia, Is shown first as peasant girl roaming in the fields where she at once attracts the attention of the king while he is riding to the
 hounds; then how her marriage to
 him is opposed and plotted against
 by the scheming bureaucracy. Then
 comes desperate, likewise daring
 attempt to decoy and kidnap her, a
 trap which is defeated in a startling
 clever manner by the quickwitted
 Irish-American. The subsequent
 scenes show Draga's ascendance to
 the throne of Servia where the ma
 chinations of those in high places are
 still working against the peasant
 queen, during brilliant court ball
 Queen Draga Is innocently com
 promised to the eyes of the king. Her
 defiler, however, weakens at the
 psychological moment and she is saved
 only to be forced to dishonor ser self and child, the heir to the
 throne" or see her aged mother put
 through a most narrowing torture.
 When Draga is about to sign a state- ment abdicating the throne and dis
 honoring herself and child, her
 mothers heroism at enduring tor
 ture fires Draga to a frenzy, during which she murders her tormentors, and in accordance with Servian law she and her husband become con victs, hence the title Queen of the Convicts". The first scene of the last act shows the Queen of the Con- victs" in prison where the author for the first time resorts to fiction other wise known as stage license." Draga impersonates an aged prisoner whose term is about to expire, but she glad ly forfeits her freedom to the queen. Once free, with the aid of her Amer ican friends, and much money, she overcomes many obstacles in the way of regaining her husband and her throne, vanquishing her enemies and arriving at the happy climax all au- diences love SO we'll, where virtue triumphs over all in the end. Prices are 25, 35 and 50 cents. Tel. 1084.
 THE VOLUNTEER ORGANIST."
 Not many years ago actors actresses and all those who perform ed on the stage for their livelihood were eschewed by society in general. It was no uncommon thing to hear of a prominent player. man or wom- an, held in suspicious light by the whole world, subjected to ridicule, scorn and even contempt. Of course, in some instances the slight was merited for in all professional walks of life there are some people who de- serve no encouragement, much less sympathy. But with the fast grow ing intelligent public, all this was changed until to-day, the ties which bring us all closer together and make the whole world kin are stronger than adamant. It is even more so in the relations between the stage and the people. Playgoers realize that much pleasure and knowledge can be gained from pure, wholesome dramas. Old and young are en- frightened, entertained and amused by the doings of the much abused and despised actors. The drama has advanced considerably during the last century and this fact has much to do with the popularity of the thea ter. But as Hamlet said The play is the thing" and he wisely knew whereof he spoke. A play must be the real thing these days before a manager will deign or even dare to produce It. The days of unwhole- some shows are past and any drama to be successful must be human as we'll as interesting. One play which can really boast as being the best of its kind is The Volunteer Organist" which is to be produced at Polls afternoon and evening. It is absorbing from the rise to the drop of the curtain and is certain to live longer than the clap-trap pro- auctions which have surfeited our theaters of late. It is pastoral in yet 1t tells human, en- crossing story. The characters are true to life and with every tear there Is laugh. Sunshine is blended with gloom and 1t teaches moral which | goes straight to the heart. A cast of prominent actors have been engaged | and the chief character. a Methodist | minister, is said to be we'll drawn and | Prices are 25. 35. 50, 75c.