Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-08-18
Columbia.


For droll humor that excites the risi-
bilities and pathos that touches the
heart. no play in many years has sur
passed Edward f. Kidder's delightful
comedy. Peaceful Valley" in which
the Columbia Players will open the
twenty third week of the summer
stock season at the Columbia Theater
tomorrow evening. It's story is simple
and its perennial strength lies in the
| deep and kindly insight il discloses
into the frailties of human nature.
With it Sol Smith Russell charmed
his hosts of admirers until he babe
the stage farewell for good. II has not
been seen in Washington since then.
/ Hosea Howe, the role into which the
4 great comedian breathed life born
| of his own genius. is a country youth.
whose fathers death has left him with
| a widowed mother and an interminable
| lawsuit. Under his mothers influence
he aspires TO a collegiate education. and
in the effort 10 raise the money TO de-
fray the necessary expenses he ac-
cepts humble position as waiter
| in a summer hotel There he meets
Virgie Rand. the daughter of a wealthy
city man. and their acquaintance ripens
into love. In defending her from the
advances of scamp. however, Hosea
gets into trouble and loses his posi-
/ ton. To add to his difficulties Virgie's
father. who is more or less vitriolic in
! character. negatives the effort of his
daughter to lend Hosea helping hand.
Many entangling incidents that alter
nately play upon the sympathies and
the sense of humor of an audience fol-
low. but in the end all comes we'll
Manager Fred G. Berger of the Co
i lumbia Theater was closely associated
with Sol Smith Russell during the en-
tire career of the great comedian, and
/, he is familiar with Peaceful Valley"
from the beginning to the end. even
1 rs,b oil q he uha of nd
/ ton that made Mr.. Russelis creation
one never to be forgotten. He has
given his personal supervision TO the
forthcoming production and during the
past week thoroughly rehearsed the
company in ii.
| Mr. Robins. who has played the part
/ before. will assume the role OF Hosea
Howe. and Miss Nelson that OF Virgie
Rand. Other parts will be assumed by
Miss Thatcher, Miss Drofnah, Miss
Oakman, Mr. Matthews, Mr. James. Mr..
Richie, Mr.. Ellis and others
Polls.
/ "a Gentleman From Mississippi,
which the Poll Players will present to-
morrow night for the first time in
stock has plot which revolves around
the attempt of dishonest United States
/ senators-in the play, OF course-to
make money out of deal in land In
1 Mississippi, where 1t Is planned to es-
/ tablish a naval base. The Junior son
ator from Mississippi doesn't know a
lot about practical politics In Wash
ington, and he isn't lin on the land
scheme" but his son and daughter have
been induced To put money into 1t.
/ So, eventually. when the junior SEN
ator ''tumbles" to what Is going on he
\ finds himself in tight place. But he
/ has the assistance of his private secre-
tary. Washington newspaper man,
and between them they decide 10 make
| a fight. Things come To climax at
the junior senator's house. where he is
| entertaining the senior senator from
/ his state. The latter is in the deal
4 with the senator from Pennsylvania,
who is working for certain steel inter-
ests and wants patronage for patron
| age. and there Is some tall blufing all
| around.
/ There are side issues and side plots
| in the comedy, but il is we'll knit
play. with a direct ard interesting
story of a lovable old-school southerner
and a love interest furnished by a ro-
nance which involves the old gentle
mans pet daughter and bis young pri-
yate secretary.
The first scene showing the Interna
| tional Hotel-the senator's best friend
had stayed There thirty years before. SO