Evening star., 1914-11-08

business is more or less pre-
carious was reasonably made
manifest in the Washington
theaters the past week. Three
distinct types of play were presented,
none of which served to indicate the
drift of popular preference. There was
the quaint, sweet comedy Kitty Mac
Kay" with it's charming near star,
Irene Haisman: the 'awfully wicked
French play, Americanized after fash
ion. Madam President" with Fanny
Ward as the star. and 'Polygamy,
new drama upon an old subject, with a
galaxy of splendid players to fortify it,
x
kitty MacKay" might possibly have
Jared better with better support for the
splendid little actress who presented
Characterization that with many Will
take it's rank with the immortal
"Buntv." 1t was sweet and enjoyable
entertainment from start to finish. But
the patronage accorded it was not rec
ord breaking.
Madam President" with an incident
here and there which might easily be
eliminated without spelling the farce,
made for laughter on bid of being
risque. The parts that should be elimi-
mated and which had been pushed to
the front by the enterprising press
agent to catch the easy minded. per-
haps. were trite and really seemed to
shock but few. if any, who witnessed
the play. But even they failed to draw.
= =
"Polygamy" is in an experimental
stage. 1t seems to have great deal of
vitality in spots, but failed to deliver
1.-The punch that the expectant looked
for in vain. The topic has long since
lost it's interest, even to the uplifter.
But withal the play is really booked
for the Playhouse, in New York, for
the week of November 80. And 1t is
said there were New York managers on
the scene ready to bid for it, if the
Playhouse management withdrew. But
it did not enrich the managers here.
i * =
The present week will bring
revelry of rouicking chorus girls. the
ring of catchy melodies and the en-
chantment of scenery and costume.
There is little. if any, doubt they will
fill the theaters to which they come
The appeal of the daring doubtless will
not be entirely missing, but no one
will remain away on that account.
Many of the features probably will
lack the merit of novelty; but that will
make no difference. People want to
be amused-that is, the people .:wtao
crowd theaters and make the box office
look like a blue-white diamond in a
rainbow setting.
Naturally the producers who spend
thousands of dollars to present play
want a return of their money and a
little of other peoples money besides.
They keep a close watch upon the
people-and yet they cannot guess
their taste. They are not always to
blame when they guess wrong. 1t
costs them dearly when they do. and
it also cuts off the living allowance Of
the unfortunate players cast in bad
guess.
II only the public, had a way of
letting producers know what they
want, it might help much. II the pub
lie has done so, is 1t to be believed
that the popular taste longs only for
scenery, costumes and dancing girls?
The correct solution Of the question
will be like finding a gold mine to the
lucky solver-and still everybody is
guessing. The failure to guess Is cost
ing thousands of dollars yearly. But
the growl goes on.
AN ACTRESS OF THE OLD SCHOOL,
Mrs. Thomas Whiffen, the last of that
wonderful group of actresses who have
been a source of delight to lovers of
the old school of acting during the last
half century, is making her farewell
appearance to the stage at the Column
bia Theater this week.
Mrs. Whiffen will have just fifty
years of professional service to her
credit when she retires, as she went
on the stage in 1865. While still taking
as keen a pleasure in her work as she
did a score Of years ago. Mrs. Whiften
has decided that she will give II up
after this seasons tour. Many Of her
.-0ad friends are either dead or have re-
tired from the business and while she
ids q great favorite with players the
country over. the gentle old lady
smisses her friends of other days, in.
Guiding such as Mrs. Gilbert, Annie
Yeamans. Mrs. Sol Smith Russell and
Clara Morris.
Mrs. Whiffens career sounds like a
resume Of theatrical history. Born in
1854 in London she came of family OF
singers and her name was Blanche
Oalton. She made her first stage ap.
pearance as a fairy In a musical skit
'Turco the Terrible" in 1865 Soor
afterward she married Thomas Whiffer
and they came to America with the
Galton Opera Company. They made
their American debut ct the old Woods
Museum, which is now Dalys Theatel
in Marriage aux Lanternes." Later
Mrs. Whiffen created the role of But.
tercup in "Pinafore," in New York
Abandoning opera, she became a
member of Daniel Frohman's famous
Lyceum Theater stock, with which
she played for sixteen consecutive
years. Since then Mrs. Whiffen has ap-
peared in so many successes it is al.
most impossible to enumerate them
the latest being with Miss Ethel Barry.
WhiNen intends to celebrate her ff,
tieth anniversary of stage service ant
then she will settle down to spend the
remainder of her life in her quaint
home 18th street, New York. with
many fond memories and knowledge
of having made life more pleasant fol
thousands of playgoers during her hall
century of acting.
WORKED UP FROM A WOODSHED
Down in st. Louis a few years agt
a little maid in pigtails and a calict
dress. with a passion for dancing, wa,
learning to kick. With the aid of {