Evening star., 1915-05-16
New Prima Donna-Miss Peggy

New Prima D0nna.-Miss Peggy
Wood. celebrated as one of the most
versatile and musical of the young
prima donnas and who starred all sea-
son in George NJ. Cohan and William
Golfers big success. Hello. Broad
way. will tomorrow night assume the
functions of leading soprano in the Co
lumbia Musical Comedy Company.
The sudden change in prima donnas
at the Columbia was due to the fact
that Miss Eleanor Henry was directed
by her physician to retire for at least
one week in order to recover from an
attack of laryngitis. which she con-
tracted two weeks ago. 1t was deter
mined that a complete rest was i'm
perative. as the arduous work of eight
performances and daily rehearsals was
draining Miss Henry $ vitality to Sc
yiouS extent.
Director Frank NJ Ranger accord
ingly has been congratulated on his
good fortune in securing Miss Wood to
sing the role of Nina, the street singer.
in The FREELY this week.
Peggy Wood did her first bit at the
Globe Theater and she did it so well
that when at night the prima donna
had an attack of ennui-aS some OF
those Broadway stars have a habit of
doing-AIiss Wood took her place. and
she did il so we'll that she became a
fixture in the part.
Frank NJ Ranger was the director
Of the company at the time When the
physician decided that Miss Henry must
have a rest, which was Tuesday night.
Director Ranger sent out tracer tele-
grams for Miss Wood to Boston and
New York. The prima donna was
reached over the ng-distance phone
Wednesday morning at o'clock. and
assured Director Rainger she would
come TO Washington at once. There
was a hurried packing OF trunks.
rush 10 catch the 10 o'clock train Tor
the National Capital, and at , o'clock
Peggy Wood was reading her part OF
Nina, the street singer, for this weeks
production of The FREELY at the Co
lumbia. Miss Wood was accompanied
TO Washington by her aunt, Miss WOOD
who is her travelling companion.
Miss Wood is a bright. fascinating
Young woman, with a splendid voice
and love for music. Her father. John
Wood is a well known musical writer.
Before her engagement as the star Of
"Hello. Broadway, Miss Wood played
and sang the leading role in Adele.
rs well as in long list of successful
musical productions.
VIII Keep the Old Name Alive
William Pruette. jr., who is with the
Aborn forces at the New National
Theater. is a son of William Pruette.
the noted Washington baritone and
native OF this city himself.
OF William Pruette. sr.. Washing
tonians generally know that he made
his first appearance on the operate
stage at McVicker's Theater. Chicago
when he sang minor part in an
Italian opera with Adelina Patti At
that time he appeared under the stage
name of Signor Pruetti. and under the
same name he sang in Paris. Return
ing to this country. he Joined the
Emma Abbott Company. singing all
the leading barftones in wide range
of operas. He was Alto in the pic
turesque Casino production of "Caval-
time with the Bostonians. singing the
baritone role in Robin Hood" One
of his famous roles was MaZouk in
"Girof1e Girofia. and he has sung
notably in hundreds of light operas.
William Pruette. jr.. however. says
he realizes he cannot equal his fathers
record in his fathers line. but he Is
determined not to let the old name
die out. il his ability will keep it
alive.
That is one Of the reasons" he
says, why j have taken up dancing
and comedy work Father did not ap-
prove of it at first. because he be-
longs to the old school and is inter-
ested in the more serious phases of
opera.
But I persuaded him that ragtime
was the line of my generation. and
] hope TO make success in Juvenile
rCles- Last summer pldyto Win the
stock company in Portland. and I
rather fancy | shall do so this sum
mer, because IL chap wants to make
good nowadays in musical comedy and
musical plays he must be sort of
Jack of all-trades, and I want to be
well equipped
Young Pruette sings agreeably and
his dancing is not to be discounted,
and all Washington wishes him sue
ces. in the course he has mapped out
for himself