The Washington herald., 1912-06-11
POLLS.
f'The Chorus Lady"

THE Chorus Lady" which is the offer
ing Of the Poll Players this week, is a
comedy Of stage life, which fairly scin-
tillates with humor. It deserves all the
favorable comment given It by the press
during the 5000 performances Of the
piece. when Rose Stahl created the role
OF the Irish girl. Patricia O'Brien, os-
tentatiously called The Chorus Lady
but known to her companions Of the
Longacre Theater and to her family as
Pat"
The story Of The Chorus Lady Is a
Elngularly appealing tale Of the stage,
written by James Forbes, who builded
his FIRST great success as a playwrite on
the lovabIe character Of the Irish girl
with her slangy. aggressive manner. un-
a character which considers no personal
sacrifice too great for the shielding Of
those near and dear to her.
Pat" is the leader OF the chorus, when
her younger sister. Nora, joins the COM
pany. Nora is young. too pretty, too
inexperienced, TO meet tempta tions with
resistance, and falls into the trap Of an
unscrupulous man. from wnOm she ac-
cepts the loan Of more money than she
can ever return, innocently signing her
fathers name 10 a note. When Nora's :
follows the younger girl 10 Crawford $
apartment. where she has gone TO beg
the return OF her note. and there, in
shielding her sister. The Chorus Lady
compromises her own reputation with
astounding courage. since il is at the
sacrifice OF the loss OF her own sweet
heart and her mothers faith.
The story, which is told in four acts,
finally straightens out the tangle into
which The Chorus Lady's big and gen.
erous heart has beguiled her, giving her
into the arms Of her lover. with whom
she promises to settle down in the coun-
try and be happy.
The title role. which Miss Stahl made
famous, is this week in the capable
hands OF Izetta Jewell. who makes the
witty Irish girl. with her quick and bright
repartee, and her fine Undercurrent OF
sentiment, live before the eyes Of her
audience.
Miss Jewell held the center Of the stage
last night during the greater part Of
the performance, as well as the center
Of interest In the third act. where she
tells Crawford just the particular kind
OF insect she thinks him. her emotional
work was remarkably strong and true.
A II. Van Buren gave a satisfactory
performance IN the role Of Dan Mallory,
the sweetheart OF The Chorus Lady"
although IT is not a part commensurate
with his abilities.
Gertrude Bondhin. as the pretty.
thoughtless, selfish sister OF the loyal
Pat fitted we'll into the part, making
Nora just the sort Of girl from whom
one might expect shallowness and in
gratitude.
As the mother OF Pat" Marie Howe
did a most acceptable bit OF character
work. and Mark Kent. in the small part
OF Pat O'Brien, the father Of The
Chorus Lady" met with the favor Of
the patrons Of Polls Theater which Is
weekly accorded him. In former parts
Of greater strength than the role ac-
corded him this week Mr.. Kent has be-
come a great favorite with Washington
theater-goers, as has also Louis Haines,
the comedian Of the company, who this
week plays a minor role.
Mr.. Forbes. who was an actor and a
stage director before he was a play
write, gives a varied conception OF the
chorus girls in the second act OF The
Chorus Lady" which IS laid in the dress
ing room Of the chorus in the LoHEacre
Theater. Helen Marqua. Hazel May,
Edith Creel, Mildred Davenport, and
Louise Kent portray types which vary
from the most ignorant and unsophisti-
Gated TO the most hardened, slanGy and
catfish variety one cares to imagine
But Miss Jewell. as Pat OBrien. the
girl who has to turn her heart inside
out before her auditors know how fine
gem may lay hidden under an un-
polished exterior, is the pivot upon which
the appealing story Of The chorus
Lady turns, and her Interpretation OF
the part Is likely TO live long in the
memory OF her Washington admirers.
J. G. MANI