The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1911-08-09
POL.I'S.

. All records for attendance at stock performances in this city are being broken at Poli's this week where four capacity houses have already greeted the Poli Players in that great produc- tion, '"The White Sister with Alice Fleming in the leading role and with John Ince dividing the honors of the most artistic production of the stock season.
 Manager Poli with his usual keen perception sensed the pulse of his pa irons and not only gave them a re- turn visit of Miss Fleming but select ed for her farewell one of the best '"The White Sister, is a dramatiza- ton of F. Marion Crawfords wonder full novel of the same name and it is the conflict of religion and love that is the pivot around which the plot revolves. Sister Giovanni (Miss Elem ing) enters the convent and takes fin al vows by reason of the fact that she has been led to believe that the man she was betrothed to died On the battle field. The lover returns and claims her. asking her to fulfill her promise but she has made a sacred promise to the church and to her God and she considers that more sacred. The conflict rages through series Of scenes which fairly thrill the audi
 
 worked out.
 Miss Alice Fleming always versatile and always the finished artist is sim ply wonderful in the name part. She is beautiful in the garb of a white sister, she has the poise and the re- pose, her voice is modulated and in the stronger scenes the heart tones are wonderfully reminiscent of Viola Allen who created the role. Particu- larly in the second act does she give a brilliant performance and empha- sizes the true artist that she is. Even the warmest admirers of MT. Ince are agreeab1y surprised at the splendid performance he gives as the soldier lover and the consensus of opinion is that he has never given better per formance in this city despite his many successful roles than the one he gives this week.
 Incidentally he proves the oft-made assertion that Alice Fleming and John Ince as co-stars are not excelled by any other two playing leading roles on the stock stage today. Another brilliant interpretation of difficult role is that given by the superb char acter actor Henry Crosby who this week has the James O'Neil role of the Monsignore. MT. Crosby is gifted with splendid personal appearance we'll fitted for the part of high dignitary of the church, he has a wonderfully mudulated speaking voice with every syllable perfectly uttered and he SCOT ed an individual hit. Still another in the line of hits is Antoinette Rochte, who unfortunately has hitherto been buried so to speak in small parts. Miss Rochte comes into her own this week and as the Countess gives one of the best portrayals of a heavy role ever enacted by a woman in stock here Dear delightful artistic Mrs. Wheat croft is still another who aids largely in the success of the performance as does John Fee and Oscar Eagle "the man behind'' can we'll congratulate himself On the splendid setting and the finished performance given by the Players. This is Miss Flemings fare we'll to the stage and those who want to be present this week had better get into communication with the box office at once as seats for any per- formance are mighty scarce.