The Washington times., 1910-05-03
Columbia Players Present
'BreWster's Millions" Be
fore Crowded House.
PERFORMANCE GOOD
DESPITE HANDICAP
Excellent Organization Seems
Qualified TO Reach Standard
Set Last Season.
By L.R. HILDEBRAND.

An audience that filed every seat in
the Columbia Theater and stood be-
hind the chairs IN orchestra, balcony,
and gallery, welcomed the coming OF
2 wholly new group Of actors under the
title OF the Columbia Players The at
tendance was a deserted tribute 10 an
organization that last season furnished
the Capital with probably the best stock
season II ever had
Before inspecting "Brewster's MI
lions" from the front It is worth while
TO look behind the scenes
An audience isn't much interested in
a Jhea1er's troubles L pays its money
and wants its moneys worth. No ex-
cuse IS acceptable # the performance
is marTed and no amount o. trouble IS
taken into account If the show is a sue
cess. Perhaps this IS as II should be.
for If You buy a bad piece Of merchan-
disc you can get IL exchanged Not so
AZ the theater-
Behind the Scenes.
Anyway, on this special occasion We
are going behind the stage
-Four o'clock yesterday afternoon
Scenery. delayed and boxes piled high in
every available space Workmen jost-
ling about IN the wings and the com
pany attempting 10 rehearse-
Six O'Clock Most OF the boxes opened
No time for rehearsal with scenery.
Company dismissed until 80
This is merely a deserved recognition
Of some Of the haudicaps under which
the Columbia Players gave a compare
lively. smooth and highly enjoyable per
sformance of ''Brewster's Millions" last
night
# the wait between the acts was long
II should be remembered that the
scenery was being buiIt-not set II a
player occasionally could not ind an
exit oE-hand one should consider that
he was playing in new surroundings
The production Of the Wincheu Smith
play was daring from a scenic though
not. from histrionic viewpoint Its sue
cess was higher tribute to the stage
manager. Edwin Il Curtis, than 10 any OF
the company It would be useless 70 Cry
10 gauge the strength OF the organiza-
ton from the performances this week,
since none OF the women. with the pos
sibIe exception OF Miss LenOTe Halstead.
and few Of the men have an acting
chance The true test VIII come with
The Great Divide" and even Girls
should afford a better criterion
Cast Is Large.
But the company did prove that It
was not amateurish and though none
can vet be charged with emotional depth
they are, as a whole. gifted with q
pleasing stage presence The smooth
ness Of the production was all the more
remarkable because Of the large number
Of persons who held the stage at various
times
Paul AIcAIIister, leading man. was cast
as the spendthrift. Monty One was
forced TO suspect that his experience in
comedy work has been limited. He
showed admirable repression except
when he tried 10 bring laughs then his
methods occasionally were 100 fOrCible.
Miss HaIsread- had the rather passive
role Of Peggy- She has an attractive
personality and she seems likely 10 run
Tor hOn0Ts IN the subsequent prOduC-
tons Miss Phyllis Sherwood was well
cast as Barbara. Drew. and Miss Pearl
HaVlIn vas a highly acceptable tngenue.
Principal Male Roles.
Showing ability in the principal male
roles were James H Morrison, Robert
EcGroaty and ATahlor Hamilton
There were half dozen other minor
parts that might deserve mention in q
smaller cast There are q few mem
bers who may be eliminated. and the
comparative importance Of the parts as
signed several players may have 10 Be
resdjusJed-
But the average strength Of this years
organization is equal 10 that OF last sea
son. and the success or failure VIII
Le largely with the stars