The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1908-05-24
THREE COMPANIES
AT THE BELASCO
Chrystal Herne and Other Pitts
burg Players Spend Week in
Washington.

With three companies rehearsins
throughout the day in various parts Of
the building, the Belasco Theater last
week passed through the busiest period
IN its history and for the time being
became as great a center OF theatrical
activity as one OF the producing play
houses along Broadway in the strenu-
Gus days that precede the opening Of
the regular season.
II passerby happened 10 look into
the Belasco any day last week he
found the stage OF the theater occu-
pied by Guy Standing and the members
OF his company preparing for their pro-
ducuon Of the English comedy Caste, p"
which they viii present tomorrow even
ing. AS IS the custom with the organ
ization at the Belasco the rehearsal be-
gins daily at 10 o'clock in the morning,
and the players rarely get through their
drill until the middle OF the afternoon.
The time elapsing between their de-
parture from the theater and the time
for them TO appear for the evening per-
Torrance Is utilized in studying the
lines CT the parts they are 10 play the
following week. A sim lar scene of re-
hsarsals was being enauted In the large
hall on the sixth floor of the building
where a dozen other players we're per-
fecting their work for the performance
OF The Marriage Of Kitty with which
they win open their summer season AT
the Nixon Theater, in Pittsburg. to-
morrow evening. The stage direction
of this latter company is in the hands
of Percy Leach, of washington, whose
recent staging Of THE Prince Of Par
= "a al -.
the success Of that amateur produc-
ton. Inasmuch as Mr.. Leach had an
Unusually limited period OF time IN
which TO bring his company Up TO the
required standard he was obliged 10
call extra rehearsals at night, and as
the audience filed out OF the Lafayette
SQuSre playhouse last evening after
the farewell performance OF sherlock
Holmes his tired and weary charges
were gathering their costumes and
baggage prior 10 embaTlLing on sleeping
cars for Pittsburg. where they are to-
day holding a dress rehearsal. The
most prominent member Of the Mar
riase OF Kitty" company is Miss Chrys-
tai II srne. who is well remembered by
local Jheater-goers for her work at the
Belasco last summer in the capacity
OF leading woman for Edwin Arden.
Among those who viii support Miss
Herue during her season in the Smoky
City and who themselves may be seen
here later IA the season are Frederick
Lewis. who last winter played Romeo
10 julia MarioWe's Juliet. Hazel Lowry,
Jane Govt. said TO be one Of the most
beautiful young women on the Amerl-
can stage, Ralph kellard, who was
prominent IN the company which sup
ported Charlotte Walker in "The War
rens Of Virginia" Helen Wilton and
few others. These actors and actresses
were seen almost nightly last week IN
the lobby OF the Belasco.
While Mr.. Standing and Miss Herne
and their companies were az their tasks
last week still another organization was
finding room in the Bel8sco 10 prepare
Tor its summer activity, and this is the
company that viii open its season AT
Fords TheateS in Baltimore. one week
from tomorrow night This orsaniza-
tion, because of lack OF room. was
obliged to press the roof of the the
alter into service as a rehearsal han,
although rainy weather Interfered
somewhat with the plans on one OF
TWO occasions. The Baltimore company
is headed by Miss Willette KershaH.
The company will complete its re-
hearsals here this week. using the hau
vacated by Miss Herne and her sup
porting players