The Washington times., 1914-11-24
POLI'S.

While there may have been some "ofi
with the old and on with the new
feeling here and there in the two big
audiences that attended the opening
pc! formance of the new Poll Players in
The Gamblers" yesterday afternoon
acd evening. it vanished during the
progress of the play and the repeated
curtain calls that followed the second
act on both occasions proved that the
new company has gone a long way to-
ward establishing itself as an un-
usually we'll balanced organization OF
capable actors and actresses. The two
audient - at Polls yesterday were the
greatest the house has sheltered for
many weeks. Sylvester u. Poll came to
the city from New Haven to attend the
with Manager Fosse to greet the
patrons. The house had been newly
dr corated since Saturday. and the ushers
ard attendants were garbed In gorgeous
accoutrements-the gorgeousness being
a bit too glaring. The woman patrons
were all presented with souvenirs as
they entered the theater.
The new company, which was intro
duced ~ Charles Klein's big money
trust play, is entirely different in many
respects from any that has yet been
presented here as a stock organization.
The first impression that Mr.. Poll has
assembled a company Of players of ex-
pcrience and ability was never lost, and
by the time the play was finished the
company had succeeded in winning in
dividually, and as whole, the un-
stinted approval Of the audience. The
play Is of the weIl-known Klein type,
Its only fault In this instance being
that II gave too little for the women
members Of the cast to do.
Lillian Kemble, the eading woman,
probably made the deepest impression
of any member OF the cast in this
weeks production. Miss kemble
showed herself to be an accomplished
ity, an ability to give a strong emo
tional part the delicate shading so
necessary for its artistic presentation
and a thorough understanding Of her
work. Charles Mackay had the hig
part among the men and proved him
self well fitted for the leading mans
roles. He dominated every minute he
was on the stage. except those brief
moments he shared with the leading
woman. Mr.. Mackay is an actor OF
experience and resource and gave am
pie evidence of his high qualifica tions
in this, his first part. He was called
upon TO make a brief speech after tho
second act. in which he acknowledged
the generous reception given the COM
pany and promised for himself and
his associates the very best they
could do.
Robert Lowe appeared to the very
best advantage in the part of the
ambitious district attorney. Mr.. Lowe
showed that he understands fully all
the finer points of his business and
made himself thoroughly satisfactory
by his clean. conscientious work.
Katherine Stanton had very little op-
portunity in the small part that she
played in THE Gamblers" Corbett
Morris. in the Juvenile role. gave an
excellent account of himself Mr..
Morris assumed the part on short no.
tice when 1t was learned that Law
renee Knapp, originally engaged as
Juvenile with the new company, could
not take the place. Despite the short
notice the young man gave thought
full performance.
Helen Tracey, whose work in the
past is we'll understood. was welcom-
ed as an old favorite when she came
on the stage for her single appear
ance Of the evening in the first act.
Helen Marqua, in the part Of the
maid, had but a moment to show her
self capable of filling the ingenue
roles, but she made an excellent i'm
preston The work of Daniel Han
lon and Joseph Cusack in character
parts was entirely in keeping with
the smooth. even work of the other
members OF the cast.
The big impression given by the
new company is that a well-balanced
organization has been provided. whose
performances. judged by the one given
this week, will be more like produc-
tions than the usual stock prcsenta-
tion OF plays. GARDNER MACH.