Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-06-23
Polls.

THE Virginian"-the play, not the hero
as presented by the Poll Players, last
night, provided a large audience with a
dramatic bark back to that period IN
Wyomings evolution when red Indians
had given way to cowboys-good. bad,
but never Indifferent, who supplied the
surrounding atmosphere with all the
thrill the dramatization of Owen Wisters
story portrays.
The Virginian-the hero. not the play
as impersonated by Richard BUTLER, is
of chaps. sombrero, nobility, boyish
pranks and romantic devotion, which
Washington has reckoned among its his
trionic idols for-never mind how many
years. With all Difference to former
visits, however, it does not seem quite
possible that Wister's cowboy could ever
have received SO cordial a welcome as
greeted him last night-a welcome which
reached out and took in individually
every member of the cast
William D. Corbett sustained the stand
ard long ago established by Campeau and
shared equal honors with the hero in his
conception of Trampas, the ultra villain
of the play. From his first stealthy glide
into the harmony of friendly frolic 20
the bullet which, to quote the classics
| saw his fnish," his picturesque villainy
commanded admiration. not, of course.
because of the qualities that made him a
villain. but because of the thoroughness
with which that villainy was depicted.
Judged by last nights performance, If
Trampas was costar with the nameless
hero, why not Steve? For honest inter-
| probation Of the everyday faults of a
good fellow stubbornly set against friend
| ly advice, but childishly easy to be led
| by those who meant him harm-a type
quite familiar without the assistance of
| the drama in the matter of Information
| Frank Shannon's conception of the I'M
| fortunate cowboy dominated. for one act,
| at least, the interest of the story, and left
| an impression of sadness that even the
general happy ending failed to efface.
When Steve's old friends organized
| into a lynching committee-for those
were Wyoming'S days when horse steal
| ing and cattle rustling meant the rope
and the poor chap was encouraging his
scared but loyal companion to take their
medicine graceful the simplicity Of
Mr.. Shannon's acting was SO quietly and
| naturally tense that his passing did not
| in the least suggest IAN exit first en-
| trance" He was going to his death.
| And this impression was helped out by
| an exhibition of realistic terror by
| Joseph j. Mccoy, as Spanish Ed. Stan
| ley James. Theodore Hardy and Henry
Hull were lovably boisterous scamps of
| cowboys, and others equally good, so far
as their parts allowed. as followers of
Trampas, included Alex Summers, Lari-
| more GLADDEN., H. G. Melsoc and George
Weston. John Ellis was properly spirit
ual as the bishop, and Cecil Bowser's
Uncle Hewte was typically good.
Other male characters in the unusually
| large cast were composed of Francis
| Brandon. Paul Dale, Howard A. Treat
| and William Belts. as a group of ranch
! owners; Russell Fillmore, as Frederick
Ogden ''of New York. and E. J. Har-
rington. as the sort of barkeeper that
| Wyoming couldn't do without.
| Izetta Jewel. gir1ishly piquant as Mollie
| Wood. 1.-The school marnn'': Louise Kent,
as the New Workers. wife, inclined to
| supercilious laughter at the ways of Wy
oming; Virginia Hardy. as Mrs. Henry.
| and Helen Tracy, as Mrs. Hewie, gave
feminine lightness to the heavier man $
play, and the mixing of the babies at the
christening was made a matter of fun
| and dire anxiety by the quartet Of young
| mothers. personated by Marie Carroll,
Virginia Hardy. Zelda Devine and Lillian
| McNaugh.