Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-03-28

the Teredo Club. Explanatory note. A
teredo is a small shell fish which bores:l
OF course we know that Booth was
great actor and that Shakespeare was
great poet. but the player who molds
his ambitions on classic ideals is ilkely
10 put i'm much time in agency ante
rooms When you speak OF palmy day
ACTOR a smile of sympathetic toleratlon
is likely to cross your lips. Recently
rather cruel press agent story was cir
culated about a bustling manager who
for the mere sport of ii offered an old
time actor situation in one of his roar
ing spectacles if he could promote
stage illusion under contemplation by
learning TO bark like dog.
But now and then a palmy-day actor
comes 10 the front in a way that makes
the average run Of stage folk look like
members of an amateur dramatic club.
The traditions of the theater, which a
generation ago demanded close study.
hard work and genuine artistic enthu-
siasm. in addition to mere superficial i'm
prcssiveness and vocal energy, found their
vindication al the New National Theater
Iast week. Jack Straw" is the second
play by that prolific author. Mr.. Maug-
lese of seeing. 1t is inferior both in
smartness of conversation and III plot
complexity 10 Lady Frederick" but it
gives Rose Coghlan opportunity to
remind the public of the respect that is
still due the traditional actor. Miss
Coghian as she appears in the company
of Mr.. Drew. to whom the theatergoer
las learned to turn with so much con-
fdence for pleasant plays well performed
makes role. which in less efficient hands
would be commonplace and even often
sive, d gem of comedy. She gives the part
the benefit not only of a magnetic per
Sonality. but of the experience which
shows just where to draw the line be-
tween legitimate comedy and broad farce
and vitalizes production of rather
anemic tendencies into robust humanity.
Her work is a striking contrast to the
style of acting which now dominates the
stage: one which regards the personal
appearance of a player as the most i'm
portant test of his fitness for a role and
then sends him forth like an automaton
TO repeat the authors lines and follow
the stage managers Instructions Miss
Coghlan'S work was not only delight
in itself. but reminder that the actor
who is well grounded in ''palmy-day" ex-
perience is the one to whom the public
still takes off its hat whenever producers
afford the opportunity
1t depended entirely on the auditor 5
viewpoint whether The Blue Mouse
cured the blues or promoted them. 1t is
one of those hustling farces in which the
agility of the actor in opening and shut
ting the doors which separate intriguing
families has as much to do with the
story as the spoken lines. In the first
act the doors take stellar precedence of
the players, and in the second the furni-
ture that is auctioned off by the humor-
Gus adventures assumes similar i'm
portance. 1t is one of the pieces in which
character drawing is Of little account
the mechanics of plot being the one sus-
tanning essential. y railway president
who behaved with the lecherous freedom
of the principal comedian in this cast
would be frozen out at the first reor-
sanizaticn and the slangy .Saloamy
dancer would be recognized as a bogus
lady before she had uttered half dozen
sentences. Mr.. Fitch has taken little or
no trouble to readjust the European
character types TO the American atmos-
phere in which he places them, and the
performance appeals to sheer sense of
the ludicrous with rather unpleasant
situation it's basis
fritzi schens new musical play serves
as vehicle for her graceful personality
and fine vocal gifts without adding any
thing of great value 10 her repertory
The Prima Donna" lacks spontaneity
saw in the scenes of promiscuous gayety
show n
IL is work OF personal specialization
rather than a dramatic or musical in
PHILANDER JOHNSON.
KID" STORY.-Robert Edeson has
a collection Of kid stories. The fol-
lowing he considers gem:
Two little youngsters shambled peni-
tently into the classroom long after the
school had opened for the morning Sos
sion.
BOYS. come 10 my desk Immediately"
said the teacher.
The meek little lads walked to the
teachers desk and stood looking help
lesSly at their feet.
Tommy, why are you late this morn
ing? asked the teacher
n OVERSIGHT myself ma am" began
Tommy. You see. teacher. ] dreamed
just got 10 the station when | woke up
an found II was way past school time :
Freddie, why were you late?" inquired
the teacher. turning TO the other boy.
Please, MA am, replied the trembling
Freddie. Il went TO the station 10 see
Tommy Off"
DR.. BOWkER.-Dr. John c. Bowker,
tie travel talker at ChaSe's this week
Is on OF twenty Americans VINO have
been honored by an invitation to be-
come a fellow Of the Royal Geographical
Society OF England. DR.. Bowker has
lived altogether in seventy-two countries
situated all over the globe. lie pas had
the "wander-lust" ever since youth II is
claimed he has covered more miles in
getting the material for his lectures than
any other travelogist. His latest SUBJ
ject. which he will present at Chase's. is
Albion in Africa. IL is said To be time
~. as II illustrates many of the places
which Will be traversed by former Presi-
dent Roosevelt Before entering vaude-
Vile Or. Bowker was under the man.
agement OF the Redpath I.yceum bureau
and his wide sympathies and impartiality
in dealing with foreign peoples have been
highly commended. In speaking of Col
Roosevelts itinerary DR. Bowker says
that only gross neglect of the most or
binary rules of living could occasion the
dire effects that have been predicted from
his trip.
DISAPPOINTED ADMIRF,R -Victor