Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-03-15
is little poem by Eugene
Field. almost colloauial in its
humorous unrestraint, as most
of Fields productions are. en-
Out To RrQNi-

Aence and Try IL on the boS- IL SAiO''
strong sympathy and an understanding Oh
rage things on the part OF the gehtie
Chicago poet. Every generation mas It's
doc-town and in Fields day, Providence
was IT, Now Providence is scarcely men
Toned save now and then by George Nj.
Cohan's press agent and then in terms
of opprobrium. 1t seems that Providence
was the scene of Mr.. Cohan's earlier
youth-Mr. Conan will always be young
and fails to recognize his achievements
as merting either red fire or. brass
band The author comedian is not con-
tent to wait like Homer, for cities 10
contend for the honor of being his birth
place. He resents the Indifference OF the
old folks at home. and lambastes the
Rhode Island metropolis every chance he
gets Possibly the weight of his infiu-
ence has helped to diminish. the impor-
lance of Providence as a first-night CEN
ter. The poem, if written for today,
would have to read Take it Down to
Washington and Try it on the Dog.
The Capital city is the recognized head
quarters for crucial experiments In mat
tiers of dramatic art as we'll as oratory
and pure food.
The latest novelty to blossom forth in
the appreciative atmosphere of this city
is Girls 1t had a fairer test than is
usually given preliminary performances
here. in that it had been played out of
town sufficiently to insure a smooth and
confident presentation. 1t was finished
product that audiences at the Belasco
witnessed and permitted an evenings en-
joyment, with no apologies to be offered
on one side Of the footlghtS nor allow
ances TO be made on the other. 1t is a
dainty study of simple human nature I'M
tainted by suggestion and unembittered
by cynicism. None of the young women
whose heart throbS were being measured
into merry rhythms by the playwright
had a past There wasn't a possible CO.
respondent in the entire cast of charac-
tiers. The audience on Monday night was
delighted. 1t called for everybody that
had appeared on the stage. 1t called
for MIR. Fitch, and if it had thought
OF it would no doubt have called on
Manager Will Page and Manager l..
Stoddard Taylor in order to make sure
that nobody was sighted. 1t is not
the fashion to call for managers on the
first night of success; yet some such
recognition of their efforts might not
be amiss. A. M. Palmer did not hesi-
tate to go before the footlights and ex-
press his Acknowledgements The modern
modesty of Charles Frohman may be re-:
all participants in a theatric occasion
whose work is not done entirely behind
the footlights.
Salomy Jane. as interpreted by Eleanor
Robson. is not the romping hoyden of
the Sierras that Bret Harte traditions as
exemplifed by 'M'liss'' might have led
auditors to expect. 1t was the recollec-
ton of ancestral dignity rather than the
buoyant freedom of the mountains that
appeared to animate Miss Robson's char
acterization. 1t was sedate, even unto
primness; but forceful and human for all
that The note of tragedy was sounded
quietly but effectually, and the b1are of
comedy which resounded so tumultuously
through the play could not drown it out.
More in keeping with Miss Kobson's
patricianly poise was Nurse Majore''-
another evidence of the abiding faith
which George c. Tyler. manager, has in
]. Zangwill, author. The play was given
at the matinee yesterday and proved
delightful bit of sentimental comedy 1t
is an exposition of the same chivalry
which in Merely Mary Ann" insists that
social differences do not count when the
personal affections are concerned. And
III little play the
same dizziness of treatment is called in
to prevent the story from becoming alb
surd by arbitrarily demanding a reforma-
ton of social principles as at present es-
tablished.
Mr.. Zangwill condescendingly introduces
an elaborate series of mistaken identitie S
and practical. exigences which make the
marriage of a leader of the labor vote
proper from the viewpoint of either aris-
tocrat or plebeian. In captivating to the
demand for a happy ending, value which
the play might have had as social study
is destroyed, but its prospects as r
popular bit of entertainment are UNI
questionably enhanced. Miss Robson
plays the role of Nurse Marjorie, who
is really a lady of title in disguise. charm
insly. The Interpretation of the role of
the popular young leader Of the people
by III. b. Warner strengthened the high
ly favorable impression this actor MADE
earlier in the week. E. NJ. Holland gave
capital picture of the sturdy manu-
facturer. lifting the role into all the
legitimate prominence it could possibly
enjoy. Ada Dwyer. as the make-be lieve
mother of the young lady of noble birth,
demonstrated anew that she is one of the
best character women on the current
stage.
The Saturday afternoon presentation
a welcome contrast to the atmos-
phere of soapsuds and firerms to
which Miss Robson was doomed for the
other performances.
William Collier, quick-stepping and we'll
sroomed, goes on making people laugh
heartily and letting the problems of the
'drawma" take care of themselves. Mr.
Collier is one of the most resourceful of
our comedians. II his play doesn't hap
pen TO suit him, he readjusts it according
TO his own ideas. Occasions have been
known on which he has composed new
scenes as he went along during the per-
Torrance. His snappy repartee has the
charm of personality. His role in Caught
in the Rain" suits him finely. And it ought
to. since, to a large degree, he made i,
himself Mr.. Collier5s air of easy self-re-
straint prevents a full appreciation of his
versatility. He is not only an author and
an actor, but is one of the most accom-
plished base ball players on Long Island.
Sometimes a play comes along which
claims consideration for it's endurance
rather than for its novelty. Some o. the
so-called dramatic authorities il there