The Washington times., 1915-08-31
POLLS.


decorated that its soft harmony Of color
tones seem to radiate the spirit of well
come, and a stock company SO nicely
balanced with players Of known caliber
and those of unknown character who
arouse the most pleasant anticipation
by pleasing personalities-add to these
an audience that packs the theater al
most to the point where another per-
son would cause the walls to bulge.
and which applauds each actor and
actress and each sentiment expressed
in the play-and a picture Of the inau-
Euration of the new Poll season, with
a new stock company in Olive Porter's
play. The Ringmaster," as It actually
happened last night 10 presented.
In all is thirty-odd years OF service
the big Pennsylvania avenue theater
which bears the Poll mark never looked
thrown open last evening to an audi.
ence that included Postmaster General
and Mrs. Burleson, the Minister to
Sweden and Mrs. Ira Nelson Morris.
Mrs. GorEas. the Minister from SAL
vador and Nine. Zeldisar, and the for.
mer Minister from Costa Rica and
Nine. Calvo. a. well a. hundreds and
na ot Of Just pn fNh' X tn. oSs SGs
elegance Of the big velour curtain. with
It's heavy sold fringe. tho upholstery OF
the seats. the hangtngs of the boxes.
and the floor coverings. Only in the
refreshment room for the patrons Of the
theater, on the right OF the main en-
trance. did this tint give way to green
and white and gold. Owner Poll and
make the name Of Poll known-jeneral
Manager James Thatcher. Resident
Manager Joseph w. Conc. and former
Manager Louis J. Fosse. were on hand
to welcome the patrons. who came In
q constant stream.
1t was only incidently the house
that the big audience had como to see.
however. Popular interest was In the
company-and secondarily in the play.
The Rinsmastsr" In Stef. Thieh tho he. com. c%1
tain rose the audience was prepared
to be wildly enthusiastic about three
members OF the cast-A. H. Van
Buren,. Mark Kent. and Russell FILL
more; Before the curtain had been
larged to a quartet by the addition Of
Florence Rittenhouse. the new lead
ing wopan. And by the time the
curtain Tell on tho third act and the
speech making commenced. Mr.. and
Mrs. Audience and all the little Audi
ences demonstrated their approval Of
the new leading lady In a way that
was unmistakable. at the same time
showing appreciation OF the work OF
all the other members Of the company.
ed in Washington six years ago under
the title Of The Son Of His Father"
with A. H. Van Buren, and Aurette
Taylor in the principal roles. 1t tells
the story of the son Of q big hnancier
who had kept away from his fathers
favorite amusements in the stock
market until spurred to energetic ef-
fort by the love OF girl. She hap
pened to be the daughter OF the man
he must night and the play tells the
eeored . big success in the part at
the hrst performAnoe-his very FIRST
appearance in Washington. by the
way--and he has been scoring sue
cesses with stock company audiences
in Washington with regularity since
that time.
That his work has something moro
than the ordinary requirements for
popularity was demonstrated by Mr..
Van Buren last evening: In the big
lshed performance that would have
dra wn forth as enthusiastic a response
II he had been a complete stranger-and
that Is going about as far toward
Note has already been made that Miss
Rittenhouse proved herself during her
first moments on the stage The way
she did it was by giving a sympathetic.
COlOr1ul performance. fereOndilty
coupled with ability and q very keen
appreciation OF the dramatic proper
tions. forms the sum OF the Rittsn-
house accomplishments as displayed
last evening.
Mark Kent. a. the big nnancier.
proved himself tho real actor his friends
acclaim him. PeBgy Cameron. the new
ingenua with one Of tho most import
ant roles in the piece. made a deep Inn
precision with her charming personality.
Russell Fillmore. played the part Of a
newspaper reporter and showed a real
reporters enthusiasm. Blanche Fred
crici. in a short character part, i'm
pressed herself strongly by the sort Of
work that not only realizes the authors
ideas but adds the deft touch Of the
skillful player.
]. Hammond Daley in 4 character
part. renewed old acquaintance and
substantiated his claims to popularity
| in a character part Florence Pinkney,
| Raymond Walburn. John Kline. Cecil
| Bowser and John Ellis In minor roles
| were heartily welcomed.
The production showed the fne touch
| OF Director Harry Andrews and Scenic
Artist Robbins also impressed his work
| on the audience.
GARDNER Mack.