The Washington times., 1915-10-17
Petrova Makes Her
Wa S h ington
D e but Into
Drama With
"The Revolt. -
wv HEN NINE. OLGA Pc
w TROVA appears in the

w TROVA appears in the
Locke drama, "The Re-
volt" on Monday night at the Be-
lasco, Washington theatergoers, al
though deprived of the usual first
night to which they may justifiably
have become accustomed this sea-
son, will have the opportunity of
passing judgment for the first time
upon the Anglo-P Polish star in Iegit-,
innate stage drama. Petrova comes
to us with the Endorsement of Mod
jeska, the great tragedienne, for it
was she who first discovered" her. ,
Although Nine. Petrova has been
seen here in vaudeville and in pic
lures, this will be her initial Wash
ington performance in a dramatic
Offering. Her vehicle is not new,
having run last year in New York
with Helen Ware in the leading role
Of the wife, Anna Stephens.
Nine. Petrova was born in War
saw, where her father was in the
diplomatic service. Most of her
childhood was spent in Poland, but
she was taught to speak English
fluently along with FIVE other lam
guages. At ten years of age she
was sent to the Sacred Heart Con-
vent in Paris in order that her edu-
cation might be completed, and at
fourteen, she was married, conti-
mental fashion, without ever having
even seen her husband.
Later she went TO the Paris Conser-
vatoire to study music for two years
and It was while there that she made
up her mind. despite the opposition OF
her parents. to become an actress. She
left Warsaw definitely for London and
received her first theatrical engage
ment which gave her an opportunity to
study minor Shakespearean roles. Ill
health. failure. and dependency mark
ed her early efforts. and It was not
until she was bofriended by Nine.
Modteska, who literally piuckcd her out
OF a minor role at a chance attendance
at a performance in which the young
woman. appeared. that she began TO
succeed.
Nine Modjeska met the young
woman after the performance. and
engaged per 10 make Il tour OF Aus
tralia end South America. From that
time her success was assured. both en-
tour and on the continent. Petrovas
nrst appearance In this country was
made in play called "Panthea" pre-
sented at the Booth rheater Iast sea-
son.
ut Is to put on our from silk dress
and so to see Abe and Mawruss
i play to the National theAter this
week Them two boys has certainly
done we'll for all the troubles they have
to their cloak and suit business. In
fact. seriously speaking. most Of the
boys who have been introduced to the
public through the medium Of the Sat-
urday Evening Post. are doing very
we'll. thank you.
Whenever a successful play (and by
that we mean one which pleases the
audience near and far both ordinary
and erudite. ,white-kid-g and wash
able-cotton kinds) comes around there
are so many people who deserve thanks
that II 10 impossible to adequately en-
brace all Of them. There are the pro-
ducers. and the dramatist. and the au-
thor. and the leading man. and the
company, and goodness knows who ali.
But with several plays we have seen
and some which we hope to see this
season, 1t Is deadly easy.
By thanking the wise editor who pre-
sides over the destinies OF the fiction
published In the Saturday Evening
Post. we account for everything and
everybody.
Because II he hadn't have liked the
work Of Montague Glass, Jacques Fu-
trelle. Irwin Cobb. and Harry Leon VIII
son. we probably never would have had
Garter" Back Home" or His Majcs-
ty. Bunker Bean" the last named be-
Ing next weeks attraction at the
Belasco.