Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-04-11
New National.

xvCW 4NotAVAoAs
Just about six years ago there APP
| peared in the cast of play presented
| by the Columbia Players at the Column
bia Theater " a slip of a GIRL who had
been urged by her girl friends to tempt
the delightful experience of playing on
the real stage. She was quite young.
pretty and, it was said, interrupted by
the fame of dramatic career. but she
| lust went on for the fun of it," Be
fore the summer stock season closed.
however. this frail bit of girl had
disclosed real dramatic ability, In spite
of herself and her intentions. and 1t
was but short time thereafter that
an experienced New York actor and
producer saw her possibilities and took
the steps to develop them
1t was this young girl, kutn Chat-
terton, who returned to Washington
last night at the New National Theater
as 1.-The star of Jean WebSter's comedy,
Daddy Long Legs"-though 1t comes
very near to being a child tragedy-in
which she was first featured" a bit
more than two years ago in TINS city,
after having achieved a gratifying sue
cess in a delightful role in The RAIN
bow" And so thoroughly has she earn
ed the right to stardom ana SO lntenss e.,
ly appealing is the Characterization in
which she finally won it. that her orig
inal producer. Henry Miller. has deem
ed it advantageous to co-star win her.
When first produced in Washington IL
was seen that Miss Chattertons rare
INTERPRETATION of the role of Judy Alb
bolt, an orphan charge OF the John
Grier Home, who. by an unknown bene.
factor, was lifted from the depths OF
childish despair into the sunlight at
forded by wealth and culture had
made the play
Its success since then has justified the
original judgment and finally won 1or
Miss Chatterton the recognition que
her, both from the producer and the
public.
The story of the play is familiar to
Washington and to theatergoers wher-
ever it has been presented The Ora :
matte presentation has been somewhat
changed and improved, but the doml-
nant interest is still retained by the
yonng girl of the Columbia Players OF
six years ago. whose gifts and training
have made her characterization one OIL
the most appealing of the stage OF To-
day. Last nights innovations served
to introduce another gift of Miss Chat
terton, sweet and melodious voice in
ia song beautifully and modestiy sung
to her own accompaniment.
Mr.. Miller comes into the cast as Jer-
Wis Pendleton, Daddy Long Legs,
whose claim to interest lies rather in
the fact that he has been the fairy
godfather" who has lifted the little
Judy from the narrowing life of the
John Grier Home and its blue-checked
bingham uniform, rather than as the
ultimate lover of the little orphan. His
scene with Miss Pritchard, when he
learns from Judy's belated letter that
the child loves him. although she had
rejected his proposal, and later with
Judy when she learns for the first time
that he is really Daddy Long Legs. was
touching and effective. Shining almost
with the star in the attention given
her Characterization was Mrs. Jacques
Martin. as Mrs. Semple- the old nurse
of Daddy Long Legs. Ruth Tomlinson
and Gladys Wilson gave bright and re-
freshing portraitures of Judy's two col
lege girl friends. and the remainder of
the cast. well balanced throughout, con-
tributed happy environment for the
little pathetic centerpiece around which
the story revolves. The play is delight
fully staged, and the group of children
forming the John Grier Home contin-
gent. Lillian Ross, Rita Coakley, Vir-
ginia Smith, Maude Erwin and the ro-
bust Dewey Smith, admirably con-
tributed to the atmosphere of the scene
in which they appeared.