The Washington times., 1913-12-04
Riddles Whole Show,
In The Blue Bird Play
By JULIA MURDOCH.

l-HE little kiddies in The Blue
Bird are really the whole show.
i OF course, there are grown-ups,
mighty good actors and actresses
they are, too. but somehow they seem
only to serve as backgrounds for the
youngsters, for when the little tots
make their appearance. the big people
are forgotten entirely and the double
bakers dozen of children hold not only
the center of the stage, but the entire
attention Of the audience.
1 scrambled my way into the Relasco
Theatdr yesterday afternoon at ex-
actly o'clock. through mass Of little
tots who had come to see this wonder
full play of happiness, and 1 climbed
the winding staircase to the dressing
rooms of some Of the little people who
do so much to make the play the sue
cess that Ii il. There were lots Of cute
little girls on every side Of me. all
painted and curled and powdered. and
almost as many cute little boys. like
wise painted and powdered.
Four little girls with flowing hair, and
floating fairy robes were drying blue
chiffon veil. each holding a corner OF
it while they waved II in the air over
the steam heater. Everywhere I loohSt
there were children, some of them not
any bigger tken a pint Of cider, and
some Of them almost grown-up girls,
according to their own way Of thinking.
Little Man"
Is Really Girl
Little "Ths Little Honest Man Of
The Blue Bird" toddled across the
room, his mother holding him by tho
nand, and every now and then some
body would stop and kiss him or say
Hello" The funny thing about this
little toddling Honest Man" is that he
isn't boy at slL but tiny little girl
named Edna Rough. the smallest stage
child In captivity, l suppose.
In one Of the dressing rooms small
girl with bobbing brown curis stood on
the top of a very high stool SO that
she could look at the reflection Of her
baby face in the electric light outlined
mirror. She was applying makeup to
said face like a veteran thespian. and
she turned to say How de do" to me
while 1 asked questions of her very
youthful looking mother who held the
legs of the stool so that the small child
would not tumble. 1t was little Miss
Harriet Isabel Mendel. the youngest
Myltyl that has ever played in The
Blue Bird" How she came to be an
actress has been a source Of wonder
and surprise to her relatives, as none
of them were ever stage struck.
When Little Miss Mendel was three
years old she posed for moving pic
the first production Of 'Racketty Pack
city House." which was given at the
Little Theater. New York. Then she
went to "The Blue Bird Company, and
has a prominent pafI in this production,
acting as understudy to Editha Kelly,
ard playing Myltyl at special perform
ances. In the same dressing room with
little Miss MendeI found Master John
H. Davis, bster known as Jack" Davis.
forf Hampden, the present Tyltyl of the
play. Jack had just come in from a
bicycle ride, and was enthusiastic over
the Washington streets
His Debut At VIZ.
Seven Years.
When ne was seven years of age
Jack. who is the only American Tyltyl
The Blue Bird has ever had, made his
professional debut. appearing afterward
with Andrew Mack, and having promi-
nent parts in Snow White" and THE
Piper" His grandmother was a we'll
known opera singer, and IL Is from her
that Jack inherits his histrionic talent.
1t seems funny to hear a little girl
with her curls down her back talk
inS of her aspirations and ambitions,
especially when they embody such deep
and ponderous subjects as Shakespeare.
Little Miss Editha Kelly, the Australian
girl who plays Myltyl. wants to play
Shakespeare, and il kind fate will prove
is credited with being, Editha win prob
ably have her wish some of these days.
Now. she is concerned with paper
dolls, her French. and dog which she
hopes Santa Claus is going to give her
for Christmas. Her one hobby is to
tain and watch the audience outside.
and listen to the chatter of the chill
dren in the audience. Her hair is dark
and her eyes are brown, and she is a
dainty fairylike little creature who
hopes to do big things in the theatrical
world some OF these days. If she does,
her friends will not be surprised, for
she inherits from a grandfather, who
was Queens counselor, her determine
tiCn to be somebody and do something
worth while.
Little Miss Kelly made her stage
debut when she vas three years of age
as Trouble in Madame Butterfly" and
since then has had an almost uninter-
ed Tom Wise. Ethel and John Barry
more, and other well-known actors.
and had q seasons stock experience
with the Cecil Spooner company. This
is her second season in The Blue Bird"
Was Student
At Holy Cross.
This little story of the girls and boys
In THE Blue Bird" would be incom-
plete unless mention were made of the
Washington girl, Millicent Maud Millet.
who is Milk in the production. While
Miss Millet has emerged from child
hood. she seemed very young. indeed, as
.,lyad IN ber in bar dreSsip, room,