The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1909-05-04
Capable Actors Make Up
Stock Company at Co
lumbia Theater.

The Columbia Players inaugurated an
interseason stay at the Columbia thea
ter most auspiciously last night, present.
ing The Three of U.s. creditablv. con-
sidering that it was the first appearance
of the whole company.
For the first night the playhouse was
given over TO the annual benefit Of the
Potomac Boat Club, the members of
this rowing organization and their
friends serving to swell the audience
until practically ever seat in the house
was taken. The boxes were coupled by
parties of erstwhile canoeists and oars
me1i who were most generous in Their
appreciation of the efforts of the stock
company.
THE Three of U.s. is by Rachel
Crothers and was produced with
marked success by Miss Charlotte Mill
SON Washington theatergoers had an
opportunity to see the play when II
showed here last season. 1t is rated as
a drama, but has decided melodramatic
tendencies. Its four acts are centered
about a mining camp in the hills of
Nevada, with most Of the characters
searching for gold veins. The whole
plot revolves about the dickering of the
honest prospectors with the unscrup-
uious representatives of capitalists from
other sections and the battle for the
hand of a young woman between a
scheming but wealthy ana educated
Fastener and native of the highest
instincts.
The company is headed by Miss Julia
Dean, who takes the part OF Rhy Mac
Chesney, the sister who is left by the
ntimely death of her father shortly
after reaching the gold' fields TO care
and direct two brothers. both younger
than herself.
The opening acts do not give Miss
Dean much OF an opportunity to show
her true worth as an actress, but in the
third act she rises to the height of the
dramatic climax IN most Impressive
fashion when she is discovered at night
IN the cabin of her unprincipled sutton;
Despite the situaton-contrdTy TO all
conventiOns-the actress makes a most
impressive defense OF herself, removing
even the semblance of doubt as to the
motives of her midnight visit.
Manly. brave, forcefuls and of at
tractive appearance Thomas Chatter
ton, as Stephen I'ownley, makes a
most Acceptable hero, winning his strug-
with Louis Beresford, As played clever
~ by Alexander Calvert. Mr.. Calvert
should do even better in some of the fu-
ture offerings when he is given more to
~-@--AA
Ernest Butterfeld plays Glenn Mac
Chesney, the older brother. II is a diff
cult part but. on the whole, Is well
played.
Mrs. Dix is a mIddIe-aged, good, ma
tured character inclined TO gossip and
give gratuitous advice on love affairs,
and as played by Miss Pdth Blake
proves one OF the wittiest and most en-
ioyable persOnages on the~stage. kIex-
ander +. Frank, as Mr. Blk: Clara Sid
rey, as Maggie, the housemaid and
cook: James W. Swan, as Isorimer
Trenholm: Laurence Eyre, as Hop
Wink, and Jack Smith, as Sonnie Mac
Chesney. are the other members Of the
company. the last named doing espe-
c.ally well, who, in the Juvenile part.
is always ready with some excuse TO
evs.de any task that presents itself.
The play is produced under the stage
direction OF Frederick A. Thompson,
for a stock company, the living room
In the Blk house being especially good.
In the matter of detail. however. there
Is something 10 be desired. Electric
lights ia mining camp in the hills OF
Nevada would be rather an expensive
convenience. while Rhy MacChesnav' 8
constitution would have had to be Of
a most rugged nature had she kept her
engagement to go horseback riding on
/ a winters day wearing a white lawn
waist while others hurried about
bundled up in fur-lined coats.
While IL is an accepted fact that
the Sunday edition of The Times has a
wide circulation, II was hardly expect
ed that II had already reached the far
Western states, and read before break
ever, these are all but minor details
that will be perfected as soon AS the
roughness incident To initial produc-
tons, is worn OF