Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-04-10


ton for out-of-town managers
was suspended last week, the
attractions being varied and
representative each being a production
with record. With Viola Allen as the
White Sister. IMPLYING the serious, and
George Evans as the minstrel honey
boy. embodying the ridiculous Mr.. Crane
occupied a safe middle ground with a
farce which permits legitimate acting.
and amuses without becoming boisterous.
Miss Allen represents school OF act
ing that calls for the association WIN
her Of strictly legitimate players IKE
Mr. Farnum and MI. ONelll Inc
Count of Monte Cristo has, indeed, re
formed, and clerical garb suits the DIS
tinguished romantic players mature per-
sonalty, though ii cannot wholly sup
press the fire and fervor that MADE MIN
an ideal wielder Of the rapier as an
implement of poetic justice. Miss Al
lens name figures on playful or SO
much significance in the history or the
American stage that some time ago MI.
Taylor of the Belasco had 1t photograph
ed. and presented it to number OF
friends as ali interesting souvenir or the
stage. This playbill, which bears date OF
1894 announces a performance of Spar
taeus. the Gladiator" by John McCul-
Tough and the audience among whom 1t
was distributed witnessed the palmetto
collapse OF that giant OF tragedy which
marked his last appearance on any stage.
In the cast was the name OF Viola Alien
who even then had attained a position
which foreshadowed the brilliant career
she has had as an Interpreter or legtti-
mate roles of classic caliber. or late
years Miss Allen has been peculiarly
successful in appealing to interest In
current literary production, without sac
rificing the scholarly methods which her
earlier associations taught. Her vocaii-
xation is musical without becoming ar
ltificiaL and her reading places accent
with the delicate comprehension which
ibetokens intellectually, as well as emo
tional sympathy The White Sister is
one of the most disnified and impressive
creations that the season has brought
TO attention.
The Honey Boy Minstrels Company
carries its own laughs with it. The per-
formers appear to be enjoying the riot
of nonsense so much that the auditor Is
forced to either join in or go home; and
nobody goes home till the curtain falls.
I'll, entertainment affords peculiarly
hsppy and congenial vehicle for MI.
George Cohan's musical abilities and
sketchy style of comedy. Its success may
be considered due quite as much to his
authorship as to the mirthful efficiency
of the performers.
In spite Of the fact that all the signals
are set for the summer amusement sea-
son, from the base ball announcements
10 the flowers in the park, and the fore
casts of light opera ajnd stock organlza-
tions. the close Of the regular theatric
schedule promises exceptional vitality and
interest THE Midnight Sons is heralded
as a colossal comedy and hilarious
spectacle: show which, not satisfied
With the usual parlor carloads Of actors
and baggage carloads of scenery, prom
ISIS two complete audiences at each per-
Torrance. A new production whose spon-
sorship invites more than ordinary con-
tidecce will be Bobby Burnt. in which
the talents of George Randolph Chester
as novelist of high finance and those
Of Winchell Smith as a dramatist are
combined. Mr.. Smiths Fortune Hunter
was pretty reliable assurance that he
knows what he is about in providing
popular entertainment. Eva Tanguay,
who doesn't care how much Ziegfeld
revue costs so long as she is the feature
OF big show, returns as known guam
t.ty and the Lion and the Mouse makes
: its frat appearance at popular. prices
lThe representations are encouraging.
Let US hope there will be no bareback.
PHILANDER JOHNSON.
A !. Condolences CAREER.-Eva
Tanguay was born in the woods of Can
ada in 1881, her father DIR. Tanguay. hav
ing his practice there. When she was
born she was so small and so delicate
that her father despaired of her life.
,Realizing that her mother could not give
her the proper nourishment he placed her
in a little wooden box and kept her under
the stove for several weeks. fncubators
were not practical in those days, and the
doctor lad TO resort to this unique stove
diet TO keep his little offspring alive
when the conedienne was seven years
old her father died and her mother took
her to Holyohe, Mass. 10 live. The Tan
guays were poor In those days and her
mother found il necessary TO send Eva TO
work She had always Searned for the
stage. and got a position with TIE Red-
ding Stock Company, playing child parts
She remained with this company four
years and her irst role of any p-oni;-
nence was Little Lord Fauntleroy Later
when on tour, she received word tnat her
mother was i'll. After paying her railroad
fare she arrived in Holyoke with just q
few cents in her pocket. Her mother
needed the necessities of life and meol.
cines. and So desperate was the plight o.
Miss Tanguay sine went over TO spring
field Mass. and went on as an amateur
at q local variety house, singing three
songs So hard did she work that she
was awarded the first prize OF 70 That
was the beginning of her vaudeville ca
reer, and up TO the present she has oeen
well satisfied
THE MAYOR OF SQEANTUM.--l;eorge
A. Schiller. actor and mayor Of Squan-
tum. arc the two titles by which one OF
the stages interesting comedians Is
known Actor BY combina ton OF cir
crmstances and mayor by right OF APP
preparation Of the ONCE. is the way MT.
Schiller explains his titles. The comb
ration of circumstances very oddly
brought Schiller and E. H. Sothern into
the same dressing room at the oid Boston
Museum Both men. or rather Boys. nEed
4, Boston and the same week found both
az them Supplying at the stage door Tor
positions as -..supers. They were &C.
certed and were assigned to the same
dressing room. Thus began the stage ca
reer OF the two actors who later were to
tske up totally different lines Of work