Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-02-24
Polls.

xOu ).
In The Governors Boss. which re-
ceived its first presentation on any
stage. at Polls yesterday. James S.
Barcus has provided the histronic
muse with some entirely new thrills.
This four-act drama which Mr.. Bar
Gus has constructed is mans play.
just as base ball is mans game. It's
dominating interest centers in the fight
between a state governor and the poll
tician who lifted him to power for his
own nefarious ends.
The clashing contest begins when
Lancelot Shackleton. the newly elected
executive, refuses to appoint candidate
named ny Hiram Tally, the boss" The
man of brides offers two million dollars
and the White House in return for the
appointment. The governors answer is
that he will use his Office Ito fight
fraud" Then the boss" turns tiger and
shows claws that, by fercious inference,
might be the claws of that other political
tiger everybody knows about - and
threatens impeachment. Threats failing
as the brides have failed, the boss" de-
Archibald, and the governors beautiful
daughter As the son is a graceless cad
VINO has deceived and cast off work
ing girl. and Edith Shackleton is in love
with her fathers secretary. who knows
all about Archibald, there is no prospect
of wedding until in final despairing
effort to save her father the girl offers
to become young Tally's wife.
This sacrifice is averted by succession
OF dramatic complication that end in
the senate chamber where impeachment
proceedings are put an end to by the
working girl, who has disguised herself
as an Office boy in the service OF the ooss.
BY means of dictagraph, which she
has concealed along with her identity.
she has reported graft deals with wit
out Of office. and the situation is saved.
The theater was crowded at both per-
formances with many prominent officials
In the boxes and auditorium both at the
matinee and last night.
telegram was read from ex-Gov
Sulzer. regretting his inability to attend
the opening performance. but hoping to
be present later on, and the author in q
short curtain speech, expressed app.ecia-
tton of the cordial reception given his
play.
AS the governor, William D. corbett's
sandy hair. with its front lock falling to
the right eye. his measured voice and
black sombrero obviously reminded the
audience OF some familiar figure a re-
semblance testified to by many outbursts
Of applause. His characterization was
realistically excellent. and served az
ness Of the boss" as played by John M.
Kline. and Richard BUTLER as Fordyce
Manvile. the governors secretary, and
accepted lover Of his daughter, was, as
always. most excellent, and Frances Mel
son. giriishly sweet and sartorially pic
turesque. was all that her father or her
lover-or the audience-could desire. Ger
trude Bondhill. as the telephone girl
whose revenge ran to dictographs was
artistically wistful. and Dudley Hawley's
caddishness made no difference whatever
to the audience; 1t applauded him just the
same. Frank Shannon as the boss-bribed
lawyer portrayed legal rascality with his
usual realism, and Stanley James. Cecil
Bowser and W. Won Boeckman were
dramatically good in their badness as the
boss "'boys." The offices of the gov
ernor'' and Of the boss and the trial
scene Of the senate chamber made up the
environment. and to the heavy cast Of ex-
cellently played characters were added
policemen. grafters and election crowds
from the street