The Washington herald., 1910-12-11


service of Frank Burbeek, actor. whose
hair has turned gray, like that OF the
grizzly old warriors Of history, while
still fighting the battles of Menus. He
is sim doing duty and as sprightly in
step and action as actors much younger
than he II was in 1880 that Mr., Bur-
beck Joined Charles Frohman. He ap-
peared IN many of his most important
productions, and viii be recalled as be-
ing IN the original casts OF "Sheuan-
doah, 'Charley's Aunt and David
Harun" Mr.. Burbeck Is now appearing
with ]. E. Dodson IN THE House Next
Door his first engagement outside Of
the Frohman management in thirty
years. He was born in Boston His
nrst professional appearance was with
the Boston Theater Company. a famous
dramatic organization OF its time, and
next he appeared with the Boston Mu-
scum Company, an organization from
which graduated many OF the greatest
actors OF the century. During his Bos-
ton engagements he appeared in these
memorable productions. The Silver
King" Youth" and 'Harbor Lights.
Frank Losee, the Sir Isaac Jacobson
in THE House Next Door" Is now in
his third season supporting J. F. bod
son in this play. Mr.. Losee was once
star himself and for three years
starred under his own management.
Prior to entering the cast OF The House
Next Door" he was with David Belasco's
company in 1.-The Rose OF the Rancho"
appearing as Padre. and before that
played m Dorothy Vernon OF Haddon
Hall" Born in Brooklyn. his first the
as
NJ Hooley, the Chicago manager OF
years aso. who had companies playing
In Boston and Brooklyn, n. Y. For
period OF fifteen years Mr.. Losee was
a member OF the Boston Theater Com
pany, in which company he played all
the heavy parts. OF late years he has
appeared in many notable successes.
mostly under the management of Charles
Frehman.
J. E. Dodson, who will appear in the
role of Sir John cotswold in ''The House
Next Door at the National Theater this
week, was born in London. After some
years OF the most exacting service un-
der recognized masters OF the English
speaking stage during which period ne
created many important roles, he came
10 America in 1889 with the remarkable
Kendall company. touring this country
IN a repertoire of Pinero and other
standard plays. An engagement OF FIVE
years with Charles Frohman's Empire
Theater stock company followed, and
among the roles he created with that
famous band Of players was that of
Riehelieu in Under the Red Robe"
Next may be mentioned a prolonged
starring engagement in Because She
~
lowed by a distinct individual success
as the twenty-year-old cripple, Pierre,
in the an-star cast OF THE Two Orph-
ans. The eXacting role or the Wander
ing Jew IN Lew Wallace's Prince OF
india next enlisted his services. HIS
last appearance prior to 1.-The House
Next Doer" was as Stephen Roland m
Clyde Fitchs Truth"
Mr.. Dodson made his first appearance
on the stage at the Princes Theater
Manchester, England. in a small part
in play called THE Spelling Bee" in
support Of J, L. Toole. the English CO.
median. and Mr., Toole advised him 10 re-
main on the stage. At that early period
IN his theatrical career. theaters through
out England maintained regular stock
companies and the great stars OF the
day toured the country playing with
these different stock companies. not
having companies OF their own IL was
Mr.. Dodson's good fortune "a be able
10 support such famous stars as Samuel
Phelps. Charles Mathews, Ellen Terry
Adelaide Nelson, Barry Sullivan, and
many others, and he gained much yalu-
able knowledge OF acting from this init
mate association. Some American stars
whom Mr.. Dodson supported abroad
We're Joseph Jefferson, J. X. Emmett. and
Genevieve Ward. Mr.. Dodson was play
ing Shakespearean roles az the Theater
Royal. Worcester. when Mr.. Jefferson
saw his performance of Bottom in "A
Midsummer Nights Dream and secured
his services for his entire English tour.
May Robson, who is starring in the
new comedy. THE Rejuvenation of Aunt
Mary" Is at the Columbia Theater. Miss
Robson was born in Australia near the
Nurembidgee River, and came TO this
country twenty years ago. At first she
made china painting her study and ex-
celled in that art to a marvellous de-
gree. Her dramatic instincts being SO
great she turned her attention to char
aeter parts In drama. When a young
gfri she received her education in Rrus-
sells. and finished her studies in Paris.
for II was there she took the prize OF
the red cross, the highest form of gradu-
alton at the School Sumboiselle, in that
city.
Her first appearance as an actress was
in The Hoop of Gold" produced by
the Mallorys at the Madison Square The
alter, New York From there she went
70 the Lyceum Theater under the man
agement of Daniel Fohman and finally
with Charles Frohman, whose manage
ment she has been under for many sea-
sons, and always in the line OF charac-
ter parts. Miss Robson's success has
been won entirely by original character
roles. She stands out alone among all
the pretty women of the professional
world as having entirely submerged her
own attractiveness IN a deluge of lines
and grease paint and being content TO
win recognition by grotesqueness. eccen-
tricfty, ugliness, even deformity. She
started as a slavey, and the public has
never seen exactly the brand of slavey
which she presented. Yet with one ac-
cord people acknowledge that May Rob
sons slavey was absolutely true to life,
So has every siavey been true that she
has played since. Without giving the
typical slavey as that individual is most
known. Miss Robson has always sue
ceeded in depicting a savey, whether
white or eolored, Yankee, Coekney,
Swedish. German. or Irish. for whom
every one could call to mind a ready
prototype. So it has been with all her
other characters. Fidelity TO real life
has sounded the key note In every one
OF them, whether queen or slavey. merely
funny or frightfully grotesque. 1t Is to
be doubted whether any one actress has
in the same length OF time slipped in
and out Of more varied and alarming
eonglomeration of clothes. From rags