Evening star., 1912-09-08
Columbia Players Close Season.

Last nights enthusia site demonstration
at the Columbia Theater leaves little If
any doubt of the unusual popularity OF
the Columbia Players, and especially of
their talented and accomplished leading
woman, Miss Frances Nelson, and their
gifted leading man. Edward Haas Robins.
While it has always been customary TO
close the stock season with outbursts of
prolonged applause as each player in
turn stepped to the footlights and deliv-
cred his or her farewell address,, the
character, strength and genuine sincerity
of the demonstration last night made 1t
unmi Stakably manifest that the players
have strong and lasting hold upon the
local public, and that despite the attrac-
tions of the regular season they will be
SOrely missed.
Miss Nelson's following in Washington
is city-wide, and includes not only sum-
mer stock fans but the discriminating
theatergoers who judge the player by the
merit of the performance. And she has
to her credit many brilliant successes
during the season just closed. Taxed in
her versatility sometimes. it seemed. fur
ther than she should have been. she has
nevertheless risen to the occasion each
time, and satisfied audiences have stilled
the voice of criticism with enthusiastic
approval.
In no play did Miss Nelson's gifts as
a real actress seem to shine with clearer
brilliancy than in The Dawn of a Tomor-
row." in which she achieved an artistic
triumph. although her ''Zira' was a
strong and effective portrayal And yet
on the other hand, strongly in contrast,
her Miss HaZy in Mrs. Wigs of the
Cabbage Patch" will long be remembered
for its restrained yet laughable comedy.
1t is. however. in her emotional and high
comedy roles that Miss Nelson will be
longest and most pleasantly remembered.
In .'The Lily" she did splendid work.
Gifted with personality that has its
peculiar charm and dignity. Miss Nelson
has dramatic force and delicate subtlety
in her art that cannot be overlooked and
will in the opinion of many who do not
count themselves among her fortunate
friends" ultimately find merited recognl-
ton in higher field and place the pos
SCISSOR in the stellar rank.
Those who most wish to see Miss Nell
son achieve the heights to which she
aspires follow the rapid development or
her art and they feel its perfection Is
only question of time and specialization
Mr.. Robins has won his way into favor
by sheer force of his merits as a talented
and manly player During the season, out
of the twenty-five plays presented, he
has appeared in thirteen of what are
known to the profession as star roles,
roles that have been made memorable by
the work of star players.
OF these, his Marcus Superbus, in The
Sign of the Cross was perhaps his most
brilliant performance, although no less a
critic than David Belasco. 1t is said. COM
mended in splendid terms his work as
Mr.. Stubbins In Mrs. Wigs of the Cab
bage Patch AS Jules Beauben, in THE
Wolf his work was masterful and from
the standpoint of popular favor the four
teen curtain calls accorded him in the
role of Eric Temple, in .'Heartsease."
speak for themselves.
Other roles in which he acquitted him.
self with high credit include Jim Carston.
in THE Squaw Man: Bobby Burnt. in
the play of that name, and Robin Worth
ington, in "A Single Man" These. how
ever. do not cover all, but merely the
more prominent of his successes. In
rugged character roles he seems at his
best, and close observation of his work
the season developed one fact
above others-he can, when he wants to,
create we'll as play roles in way to
command attention.
No tribute to the Columbia Players
would be complete that did not recognize
the sterling worth and artistic versatility
of Miss Carrie Thatcher. Her work
the season is splendid testi-
monial to her ability and her accomplish
ments. And there are more of them.
The names of George W. Barber. John
NJ. Kline, Willard Robertson, Stanley
James, than whom Washington never had
a more popular comedian of real merit;
Godfrey Matthews, the Misses Aline Nc
Dermott, Julia Blanc, Violet Heming,
Laura Oakman, Marie Drofnah and many
others in the galaxy of players that have
CndFHeu 1OluIFDid duuleHCes IeSdiultSS
of the state of the thermometer or the
moisture of the weather all recall splen-
did portrayals that have contributed TO
make the season now closed perhaps the
most successful ever had at the + street
playhouse.
And the success, be it remembered. was
in every sense of the word artistic as
well as financial, and reflects the graft
tude of the Washington public to the
players, to the Messrs. Metzerott and
Berger. to Edwin H. Curtis, one of the
most intelligent stage directors that
Washington ever knew: to his able assist
ant, Arthur Ritchie, and to Ernest Maugh-
lin, the scenic artist, the beauty of whose
stage pictures will long remain pleas
ant memory.