The Washington herald., 1910-06-18

The Weather Man relented on yester-
day, and the Washington Playground
Association was able TO offer the Coburn
Players on the White House lawn. After
the disappointment of the evening before
1t was feared that It might be impossible
TO give the performances. but clear skies
and a food OF sunshine materially and
speedily changed the prospect
The outdoor stage was prettily located
on the south lawn, with the noble old
trees and the green shrubbery as a back
ground, offering vista Of greensward
and leafy hooks. wherein the players
wandered after their exits and might
be seen coming in the distance long be-
fore their entrance upon the actual stage
This lent a note OF realism to the effect
that somewhat compensated for the
trihing incongruity OF the indoor scenes,
especially those supposed 10 take place
at night. being enacted in the broad day
light
An Ideal spot.
At the evening performance powerful
calcium lights rendered the sylvan stage
as light as that Of any theater, and at no
time was there any difficulty experienced
in seeing all that was going on The
seats were arranged in huge simicircle
and the Improvised stage was broad, so
that there was nobody who could not
hear.
The two plays selected to introduce the
Coburn Players were popular favorites.
Not even the New Theater Company
could boast Of such a rich setting for
Olivia's garden nor such a pleasant spot
in the Forest of Arden Even the white
shaft OF the monument and the simmer
ing lake at the foot of the knoll seemed
well within the picture, and in the even
ing. at such intervals as the long-lost
moon shed its tranquil but restricted
beams over the trees. making long
shadows and deep. mysterious demenses.
the effect was enchanting.
The President Appears.
Mrs Taft occupied a box near the
stage. but the President did not put In
an appearance until the play OF the after
noon was half over. important engage
ments preventing him from getting there
at the commencement
A great many school children were
in the audience. which was composed of
representative Washington folk. ali of
them on hand to give the Fairgrounds
their hearty moral and financial sup
port and 10 encourage the Coburn
Players. who are strangers in our city
and entitled TO our kind consideration.
In the evening. both the President and
and entertained a large theater party
The scene in the evening was very at
tractlve, although a little shower drove
many persons home during the middle
of the performance. The moon came out
Immediately thereafter, however, and
those who remained until the end were
amply repaid. for the finale. with the
attractive chorus of male and female
voices, was extremely artistic.
Local Singers Take Part.
The chorus of school girls was under
the direction OF Miss Alys Bentley, di-
rector OF music OF the Washington public
schools. and she did wonders when the
short time allowed for preparation is
considered. The Marine Band gave TWO
concerts while the audience was assem-
bling. one at O'Clock and one at 7:3o
There was scarcely a hitch of any kind
during either performance. and consider
ing the disappointments with regard to
the weather and the many obstacles 20
be- surmOunted. the whole occasion is a
cause for congratulations 10 those who
labored so energetically 10 make 1t the
success it turned out TO be.
The COburn Players.
While the performance of As You
Like It. was the more artistic of the
two. twelfth Night being not alto
gether adapted to outdoor surroundings,
the acting in both plays was excellent
Characterization of great merit which
stand out as the best were the Rosalind
OF Mrs Coburn. which was a charming
portrait; the Touchstone and the NAL
volio of Augustin Duncan: the Jacques
of Frank Peters, and the Orlando of Mr..
Coburn
Mrs. Coburn has a voice not unlike
Annie Russelrs, which is TO say, soft
and womanly. and with pleasing infiec-
tons and musical tones. Her Viola.
while not ideal, was interesting. hut
not worthy of comparison with her
Rosalind. which was all spontaneity and
buoyancy. Mr.. Peters read the speech
beginning AN the worlds a stage" adj
mirably
Mr.. Duncans Malvolo. although in
striking comparison with a recent ap-
pearance in that role In this city, made
SO much of the part that he may be set