Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-07-28


and Tho remaining children in the cast
Julia Blanc as Mrs. Wigs. presented
an ideal character study, artistic In
Its comedy as in its pathos. and there
are those who think her work surpassed
that OF Madge Carr Cook. the Mrs VICES
Of the original production. Violet Hem
Ing as Lovey Mary. was charming ano
her lullaby a gem of beauty.
Miss Nelson deserves special circuit Ioi
her splendid work Miss HAY FOR
saking the roles where finery ana per
sonal attractiveness count. she took VI
the part of the homely spinster and
played II with the fidelity OF the finished
artist. even though hampered with
physique that may be an asset In otner
plays Mr.. Robins. too, gave a fine
character portrayal as Mr.. Stubbins. The
role has none OF the charm of the Romeo
to 1t, but he put II over the footlights IN
way that was not to be denied.
The mounting OF the play was excellent
In its fidelity to details. characteristic
Of the Columbia stock productions
Whether Il is really sincere Judgment.
well advised and warranted. that the
orchestra is a hindrance rather than a
help TO dramatic production. or whether
a
expenses (for the last theatrical season 10
said not to have been a profitable one). is
matter of opinion. The fact remains.
however. that the clash between the mu-
sicians and the managers in New York
has resulted In eleven of the leading
theaters dispensing with the orchestra
entirely. 1t is also a fact that every other
department of the fine arts has heretofore
been utilized by the managers in weaving
a fascination 10 draw audiences. and that
The public at least has not yet registered
a protest against music, even BY an or
rhcstra
Experience has long shown that II Is as
difficult to determine which is the better
OF two rival stock companies that oc-
cuny a high place in local favor as 1t Is
for rival families 10 agree as TO which
has the prettier the smarter baby.
Tne wise woman avoids the issue and
pets them both The average man really
doesn't care.
Yet. for all that, Washington thinks IL
has two very good stock companies. and
the way the managers determine which.
II either, Is the better is by the receipts
at the box office Those same receipts
also are a very important factor in sup
plying the best. both OF players and Of
plays.
Where did The Deep Purple" get its
name. and what is IT'S significance? Paul
Armstrong. the playwright. tells 1t in
directly In the dialogue of the play when
he makes the train robber say to the
high-bred easterner who has lied to save
him, You were bred in the deep purple
Purple has always been symbolic of high
rank. 1t is the color of the emperor, the
badge of his royalty. II has no symbolic
connection with crime. or meanness. or
smallness. In the remark of the train
robber 1t means practically, You are a
Thoroughbred"
JUST ANECDOTES.-Edwar H Cur
ts stage director of the Column
bia Players. has keen sense
Of humor. and II is sometimes well worth
the trouble to draw HIM into a reminis-
cent mood. His stock of stage anecdotes
involving players. press agents. dramatic
editors and critics Is rich one. Caught
In this mood a few afternoons ago he
told some Of them.
"Janauschek. the great actress" he
said. appeared in a New England town
many years ago IN a charming little
one-act sketch. entitled Come Here
Not only was It's title Come Here but
those two words constituted the entire
lines OF the sketch. which was designed
to show how the words should be spoken
under many different conditions, such as
calling a maid. coaxing a dog. appealing
TO a lover and the like.
Her performance was an exhibition of
he FplI
morning a local critic. one who could be
relied upon TO roast to a turn, handed
her this: "A big fat woman with
Dutch accent and no knowledge of Eng
lish whatever. tortured a large audience
an the Theater last night with
repeating for nearly q half hour the
words Come here" Her name IS Jane
scheck Where she got the idea even the
caliboy didn't know.
lone OF the earliest stock companies
with which l was connected as stage
director had a press agent, good-heart-
ed enthusiastic sort of Overwhelmingly
unanimous young fellow. Here's what
he handed the public IN his reader for
our production OF The Raw Recruit a
play sixty years old, which had been re-
vived 10 save royalties during a hard
season:
'.'The Sawhard Stock Company. at the
windstorm Theater. tomorrow evening
successful dramatic inspiration. The
Raw Recruit" which for realistic and
intensely humanitarian heart-gripping in
terest 10 without a parallel on the stage
Of the world II was secured for stock
resentation only after the lavish outlay
OF small fortune in competition with
the untir!ng efforts OF several New York
producing firms whose assets are reck-
oned IN the millions. II is a tragic farce
IN three acts: its lines are biting In their
bitterness and its comedy unequaled In
Its laueh-prcducing complexities and
sentimental consciousness.
That reminds me of story OF frmness
i once heard. young mother who had
received all her instruction in domestic
life and the management of children
from her dear. old mother, repeated a
part OF II TO a rather dull domestic with
whom she left her young hopeful for an
hour one day
Mary she said, Tommy is a dear.
good child At times he seems petuiant
persistent and unruly. but you can al
ways manage him with frmness Let
him you are Arm. that you mean
what you say. and you will have no
trouble
Tommy was kissed goodbye, mother
left the house and the dear good little
bunch of waywardness and petulancy
began to get in his work
When the young mother returned her
first question was: Well. Mary how is
darling little Tommy? Did he misbehaye?
Were you firm with him?'
"'Yessum. replied the domestic He
amt 'sturbed me since Jes' after you
loft