The Washington herald., 1912-04-21

II there was ever a doubt In anybody {
mind Of the devotion of Washingtonians
to dramatic stock organizations It was
totally dispelled last week. for three
stock companies of widely differing ap-
peal played the entire week TO crowded
houses, routing the pessimist with his
predictions that there Is not room in
washington for so many stock orgsniza-
tions.
There is no question that theatergoers
of this city have a deep-rooted fondness
for stock productions, acquiring very
strong favoritisms and sticking to them.
Certain it is that the two new enter
prises which last week threw their hats
in the ring won approval, each through
its own peculiar characteristics.
The Butterfield Players, who opened
their season with Brown OF Harvard"
in the BelRseo Theater last Monday
night. made their strongest appeal
through the spontaneity Of youth. The
majority Of the members of the Butter
field company are young in years II not
in experience. fact which was given
every advantage of display in their first
production of the season. Each member
Of the aggregation Of players gave to
their respective roles in the college play
the freshness of youth that was so obvi-
ously spontaneous as to have won them
When Henry Woodruff and his asso-
ciates presented Brown of Harvard in
Washington the general expression OF
opinion was that the production lacked
the genuine atmosphere of college life
the irrepressibility Of youthful gladness.
This atmosphere of youth permeated the
performance of the Butterfield Players In
Brown of Harvard" making of it
singularly fortunate first-week selection
for the new organization. Everett But
terfieId was a most fascinating Brown.
and Jessie Glendinning had ample ad-
vantage to charm with her winsome
girlishness, an opportunity which she did
not overlook
OF the Butterfield Players the work Of
Fred Forester stood out strong and
clear. Mr.. Forester, who was last year
a member of the Columbia Players, is
the possessor Of dramatic power that is
sure to win high place for him in the
theatrical world. The virile quality OF
hsi work in a strong role last week created
a marked degree Of comment, tending to
cause deep interest in the role for which
he is cast in THE Spendthrift" this week.
Different, indeed, are the characteristics
which won the approval OF Washington
ians for the Poll Players in their initial
Washington performance.
Even in so effervescent a comedy as
'.Nobody's Widow there was none Of
have been expected. The Poll Players have
none of those frothy qualities that ex-
hiliarate an audience one moment only
TO be forgotten the next. Whether light |
or serious the piece presented by the Poll |
Players, 1t is pretty certain that the pro- |
duction will be that Of finished artists.
A H. Van Buren is earnest His work |
gives the impression of strong purpose, IL |
at times his acting is somewhat forced. |
He has personality that admits no |
maudlin indifference. Either the admira- !
ton for him and his work is extremely |
strong or It does not exist at all. There |
are no half measures where Mr.. Van |
Buren is concerned. His audiences feel /
that he is neither the man nor the actor
to tolerate Indifference. and so all last |
week in Polls Theater he received his
full stint Of applause and a welcome that
seemed as sincere as it was warm.
While A. H. Van Buren, is a favorite
with stock patrons it was very evident
before the close of last week that all 1
future honors must be divided by him
with Izetta Jewel whose purely feminine
loveliness and undeniable ability won her
such speedy recognition and admiration /
in the title role Of ''Nobody's. Widow"
J. C. MANI /