The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1916-12-01
Kate Mayhem Takes a Long
Role, With Arduous
Task Ahead. /.
WAS The ORIGINAL M'Llss
Mrs. Throgmorton Of "oh!
~ Imogen" Cast Is Real
Coincidence.
BY FLORENCE e. YoDER.

How many men can you name or
hand who have "come back" at the
age or sixty7 500,
Very few, but just to make Il hard
err. there IL a woman IN Washington
this week, playing at the Belasco The
alter, In the comedy "Oh! Imogen." who
returned to the stage four years ago
after an absence OF twenty-nine years.
"Wsll, the first thing 1 tried after
my long rest" said Miss Mayhem
smoothing out the, folds OF her dress.
cfiisd '"a The e' Trsito r NANNY III s.ii 20"
was glad to get back behind cork and
paint. Graciousv'
A New Kind Of .sabject.-
Miss Mayhem was being inter.
viewed, but Il was q different inter.
view from any one which he had ever
got before. The subject" sat in a
rocking chair and chatted. and rock ed.
and reminlsced, and didn't look In tho
mirror. or try to impress with a single
word or glance.
And IL was not because she IL sixty.
three. and her triumphs seemingly all
As Mrs. Throgmorton In the new
comedy at the Belasco this week Kate
Mayhem gives a performance that IN
both delightful and remarkable. Do.
rsai eS.raetss. por2rsys1 1n WITH inn nj
pathos and, comedy, and intcresting
because IL IL Technically q VERY excel.
lent and historically correct deiinea.
tion.
Ferner Trisnpks.
Neither In there a lack OF tri.
umphs behind Kate Mayhaw. Just
listen to this. II 10 only q part OF
what she told me yesterday.
She made her first appearance on
the stage when but four years Of ave
and continued on the boards for TWEEN.
ty-nve years, during which time che
appeared In moro than 500 ditforent
roles, she gained her experience In
day considered the best 'nlgger nam.
my In the profession.
She has played with nearly all tho
better known actors and actresses.
S M,;rho,, cushmsn; Latta, Maggie
II. Owens are among some OF the many
with whom Miss Mayhem has appear.
San Frascisce In 1875.
In the early seventies she went to
San Francisco with one ~ tho strong.
est stock companies which u II. pcs
s'SsN W stoFHls Ntafiy All o. whose
members have since becom. stars OF
prominent managers. william a..
Crane and James ONeil. two members
~ that company, are still active In
the profession. Miss Mayhem was the
original M'iiss.
In Pictures. Tee.
Twenty-nine years ago she left the
stage, presumably for good, bat four
years ago she returned and has since
been active In pictures and the spoken
drama.
Miss Mayhew's last engagement In
New York was with Mr.. Flsk's new
star. Lydia Lopokova, the little Rus.
sian dancer. 4.
Her last appearance In Washington
was with Mrs. Fiske In Mrs. Bump
stead Leigh" at the Columbia The.
alter In 1914.
Her EzpIasstiss.
And the explanation OF her remark.
able career?
She retired 20 get married and be-
came an invalid. For years her health
was very poor. Her husband died.
She was almost through with life, not
To even spesk OF n career. Hut at
sixty she came back TO the stage, and
at 'siSty.three, she 10 giving . perform.
ance which ranks with the best OF
what has been given this season.
She has but one explanation for
her achievement. Like many many
others OF her profession she IL q Chris
tian scientist.