The Washington times., 1906-06-17

Under the introduction OF Guy stand
ing and the members Of the Columbia
Theater Company. Neptune, the gay old
salt. has been brought into close fellow
ship and communion with Thespis. the
guardian genius of the playhouse 1t
has all come about through Standings
love Of rowing and yachting dating from
his college days in England a genuine
lover of clean sport an expert oarsman.
and clever manipulation OF yachts. Mr..
Standing. who has won scores OF cups
and trophies on the dancing waves law
ing the shores of England. well as
this country. has inspired in the men,
bers Of his stock company such fond
ness for boating that the result has been
the informal organization Of a canoeing
party which visits the upper Potomac
almost every afternoon for participation
in the pastime OF boating on the river.
The public only sees the player. for
the most part, from the front OF the
fCotliChts- The personal side Of a dra-
matte organization. composed OF play
ers % marked Individuality, is always
interesting but II IS something TO which
few members Of the public. and they only
intimate friends and acFuaintances.
have ;he open sesame. Mr.. Standing and
his company of players are no eNcep-
ton to this general rule. The public
may enjoy their work from the front
of the house" but cannot enjoy that
other pleasure which comes only through
association and friendship with them off
the stage
Players would be better understood,
perhaps. If this were not so. but. in the
nature Of things. the work of a stock
company, with regular performances
eight times week. and study most Of
the time between these performances
and the six rehearsals. which. perforce.
must be held every morning at 10 o'clock,
would make II impossible FOR the player
TO meet the public in close Fellowship
even II other things failed to intervene
to prevent its accomplishments
II the public could see the Columbia
company at rehearsal it woIld per
haps be most forcefulIy struck with the
spirit of harmonious fellowship which
really constitutes II a big. good-natured
family Of co-workers from the leading
man down to the youngest player in
the personality Of Gilbert Miller. the
son of Henry Miller, the weIl-known
player. who is to manage the staging Of
the plays in which Mr.. Standing Is TO
star in the fall under the management
Of the Shuberts.
The personality of Mr.. Standing has
proven to be exceedingly attractive TO
his fellow players. He has been so con-
siderate and gentlemanly in his atti-
tude toward them that he has inspired
a unanimous desire to contribute as much
as possible toward the general effort to
perfect the performances. Rehearsals
always mean work. but Mr. Standing
has throughout his engagements here
in the past, as during the present sea-
al audaaTrprCd n No
work-a-day phase OF the rehearsaIs as
agreeable as possible.
He unintentionally hit upon an original
and novel method Of aiding his players
in their preparation this summer His
love Of boating took him carly in his
engagement to the upper waters of
Potomac-west OF GeorgetoWn-where he
was to oe seen every fine afternoon in
Nav. wearing the racing colors of his
yacht club seated in a canoe testing his
own proven ability with the oars. 9th
er members Of the company formed
canoeing parties every afternoon. ex-
cept Thursdays and Saturdays. when
intervening matinees. of course. made it
impossible for them to make the journey
10 Cumberlands boat house.
\ number OF canoes were engaged reg
ularly, and each afternoon, the weather
and absence OF matinees permitting
most OF the members of the company
after the formal rehearsals at the thea
ter each morning. would start for the
boathouse- The start was usually made
shortly before . o'clock. The balance OF
the day would be spent along the banks
or on the waters Of the stream. Most
of the time those in the party have been
Mr.. Standing. Miss Dorothy Hammond,
Malcom Duncan, Hall MeAIIster, and
Gilbert Miller. These parties had not
been in daily progress long before some
one suggested that they might be turned
to advantage as well as pleasure, for
the public, the company, and individual
players. If each canoeist would only take
the manuscript of his or her part 'up
the river" for informal readings of their
Tines" The suggestion was considered
= splendid one. Accordingly, the canoe