The Washington times., 1914-11-18
POUPLAYERS GIVEN
/ NIGHTLY GREETINGS
Washington Patrons Showing
Warm Regard for Retiring
Stock Company.
Bv GARDNER MACK.

By GARDNER MAX.
Whatever may he in store for the
members of the reorganiZed Poll Com
pany, which makes its bow TO Wash
ington next week. there can be IA"
doubt OF the feelings of . very large
number Of theatergoers toward the
members of the companr which is MAX
ing its final appearance in the big
drama MADAME "" this week. While
the service of some Of the members Of
the company covers but short time,
the company as an organization repre-
sents the basis OF all OF Mr.. Polls suc-
cess in Washington, ana some of the
original members who have appeared
continuously during all that time. are
among those who are leaving. No
visiting star or travelling orG2 nlzatlon
ever gets quite as close to the hearts
of the theatergoeTs as the members OF
permanent stock company.
The people of a city learn to know
each member Of the coinpany-to know
them in almost as familiar way as
they know the members Of their own
family. X is a peculiar iptimacy--'ur
intimacy that is without Personal con-
tact. but is still of such purely per
sonai. nature that the mere fact OF
lack OF speaking acquaintance counts
for nothing. 1t has frequently been the
case that patrons OF the Poh Theater
have fotAd themselves bGwins in the
\ streets to members OF the stock COM
Npany as they would to intimate friends,
and being shocked. for = minute. thst
The actor or actress did not return the
SALVATION. Incidents like this prove
how close the players are to the people.
ana when a company has been engaged
for go long in the production of all
sorts OF plays under all sorts OF condi-
lions. as the retiring players have, the
feeling Of human kinship Is even more
intensified.
Make Unusual Efforts.
company regard the production Of
Madame NJ this week as one OF the
most important events in the historT- OF
the company. and that is why almost
everyone. who has been a patron O. the
company during the past is making il
o special point to attend one Gf this
weeks performances. The same reason
is probably the basis for the unusual
work that is being done by the MEM
bers OF the company in the big drama
The play has a number OF very big mo-
meIlts. and the actors and actresses are
doing their utmost to get everything
out of these moments they possibly can-
Ire principal part in the play is as-
sualeG by Jane Morgan Miss Morgan
came mere only a SHOft time ago u -
sumo the leaCing woInan's roles. STE
came here unknown and has made al
very large number of friends. rs the
misguided, weak and unhappy woman,
recreant wife and mother, almost s Grim
inal, in Madame N" she is called upon
to Display almost every quality Of emo
ton. The part makes heavy demands
upon the actress who plays it, and TO
say that Miss Morgan meets these de
mands and satisfies them completely is
the highest praise that csn be be
slowed ON her work.
A second part of just a shade less in
portsnce than the role assumed by Miss
Morgan is that of the son. played by
Russell Fillmore. There are many pco-
ple among the thousands os Poll patrons
who regard Mr.. Fillmore as one of their
own people. Almost his entire stage Ca
reer Is bounded by the dates or his
service with this company. The patrons
OF the company have watched his ca
pacity to realize on the decided dra-
matte ability he possesses grow as his
service and experience increased. In
number of parts he has justified the
confidence that has been placed in hi m
alike by the public and his employer
Mr.. Fillmore's ability not to do those
mechanical things which even Old actors
sometimes cannot help themselves from
,ioing, and to make his part a throb
Ding. human document is but one Of
the things that has so endeared him to
;be public.
In Madame n" he has a big oppor-
tunity in the part of the son. Ramon.
who pleads for the life and liberty OF
the friendless woman he has been aP-
pointed to defend, not knowing that she
is his own mother.
Given Nightly Greetings.
While the leading woman and Lne lU-
emile have the more important parts
I'm Madame Y" every member Of the
Poll company is presented in the cast
Carl Brickert, Louise Kent, Stanley
James. Ada Sherman. Herbert Dobbins.
Marie Carroll. W. II. Evarts, Hardie
ieakin. Charles Andre. and q large
number of extra people arc al given
= chance TO make their final bow.
The greetings that are nightly accord
II Miss Kent, Mr.. James. and Miss
Carrou on their first appearance on the
stage is eloquent testimony of the pub
les high regard for these people per-
sopaliy as well as in their professional
6apacitr. Because of this, and because
of the feeling that has been manifested
through the week. it is expected that
'eforc the end Of the week an oppor-
unity will be given the friends of the
company TO greet each member per
sonally either on the stage or in the
foyer after a performance. The time
nd place will be announced later.
!r connection with the departure Of
Inc company. il might be stated that
Manager James Thatcher viii return to
resume charge of the theater, after he
Has enjoyed a brief vacation. When Mr..
Poll learned that ii was understood in
Washington that Mr.. Thatcher mad been
Included in the reorga nization Of the
"oTnpaHy, he wrote Mr.. Thatcher a let
rcr stating in specific terms that he
Wished il understood Mr.. Thatcher Eas
sLill his Washington manager. and would
return 10 his duties here as soon as ne
has completed a four WcekS' vacation.
The letter also contained d personal
tribute 70 Mr. Thatcher from his enl-
ployer that left no doubt that Mr.. Poll
has The mot complete confidence in hts