The star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1908-1909, 1908-12-01
"PoD Of the Circus" Graceful and
Charming, Puts All Under Her SPELL
Miss Edith T~aliaferrO Shines as
Star in Popular Play at
the Newark.
Amusement Seekers Enjoy Show
at Proctor's-Amelia Bing-
ham at Lyric.

MI ISIS EDITH TALIAFERRO was
just built for h part of Polly
OF the Circus, in the play of
that name, which visited the Newark
Theatre for the first time last night.
Petite and graceful, with a wistful.
~changeful little -countenance that helps
wonderfully to make her role real, she
rode right into the good graces of her
audience with her first entrance.
Like the play in which she stars,
Miss Taliaferro is decidedly theatrical
in spots, but most times she is so nat
ural and apparently unaffected, you
! forget that she's not really a Circus
ridin' girl" and that is the way with
the play, too. In the first scene of the
third act, the rear of the big tent is
depicted, with the dressing-rooms and
prop wagons just visible. In the dis
lance is heard the b~ang-bang music of
the circus band, and the big voice of
the AS the show goes on
clowns, and trained dogs and trick
ponies and workmen pass in and out as
their various specialties are called n
executed, In a most business-like man
ner.
Frederic Thompson has succeeded in
placing genuine circus atmosphere in
that scene. It's realism shows the Greg
tors masterful genius. And, then, right
on top of 1t. when the scene shifts to
the main tent, Polly runs into the ring,
crying to mount h horse on which her
rival is performing, and falls uncon-
scious In the centre of the stage, with
the minister's arms around her.
Never was a sunny autumn day bet
ter depicted on the stage than in the
second act Of polly of the Circus"
Brown and golden foliage everywhere,
and Polly in a white dress in the centre.
This 10 Miss Taliaferro's strong act, and
she makes the best of it, handling with
great skill the scene wherein the dea-
cons tell her hat her presence in the
minister's home is creating talk, fol-
lowed by the entrance of the pastor, to
whom she has to say good-by, pre-
tending that she's glad to go, so that
he will not be grieved. A pathetic,
brave little figure she made of Polly,
whose heartbreak was heard in her
voice and never Yeen in her smile.
Well hear moro of Edith Taliaferro In
years to come.
Earl Brown as the Rev. John Doug
lass looked the part, which is more
than most stage ministers do. Excel
lent character work was done by Miss
Matte Ferguson as Mandy Jones, the
negress h~ousekeeper. One of the finest
bits Of work was done by John Findlay
as Uncle Toby, tho clown. He was on
the stage only for a short time during
the first act, but his work made a de-
cidedly favorable impression. In a
pathetic voice, with the attitude and
gesticulations of q grief-stricken old
man, he told the minister of the inner
side Of circus life so convincingly that
one forgot his clown makeup. Big
Jim, the boss canvasman, gruff and
sometimes surly, but all tenderness at
heart, was admirably portrayed by Jo-
seph Brennan. Miss Jennie Weatherby
made a thoroughly detestable old maid.
which was just what h aimed to do.
But after all Polly was the main at
traction, and a dear little attraction
she a
I'm sure the b~ox-office receipts will
testify to the merits Of the play. Go!
ADELINE STANLEY CARRICK.