Evening star., 1921-08-07
n ANY dear. departed and la
nn mented amateur dramatic
clubs came to mind as these
"rambles" on old theatricals

Mn mented amateur dramatic
clubs came to mind as these
"rambles" on old theatricals
proceed The Lawrence Barrett.
Forrest, Linthicum Institute and Car
roll Institute players have been re-
called, and there have lately come
to the Rambler. clamoring for inclu-
sion in these annals. memories Of the
Thalian, Blackstone. Garrick. Joe JEFF
ferson, Shakespeare and Cosmos ORA
matte clubs. Perhaps the spirits OF
other clubs will rap on the Rambler.s
table, or, reaching for slate. Will
write out something like this: Dear
Rambler: We were actors also
Please put us in the 'rambles.' We
used to like to see our names in the
paper and the spotlight thrills us
still" None of these old organiZa-
tions will be slighted if the Rambler
can help 1t.
Before taking up the late arrivals
the Rambler would like to turn back
to the Barrett Dramatic Club. be-
cause certain pleasant and interest
ing facts relating to it's organization
have been set before him, and they
have been brought to his attention
not for his information and enlight-
eminent, but for yours. Several young
\
amateur theatricals and who had
strong bent toward the stage met at
the franklin School building on the
evening of March 16, 1881. No rec
ord showing the names of all those
at that meeting has been preserved.
but it can be recalled that among
those present were Charlie Hanford.
Clarence Rheem. David Bangs. Simon
Flynn and Harry Robinson. The
chairman Of the meeting appears as
David c. Bangs" and the secretary
as III. C. Robinson" 1t was decided
to form "the Lawrence Barrett Liter
ary and Dramatic Association"
No other meeting can be found In
the records, in the files of the local
papers or in the memory of survivors
of the club. until that meeting which
was held on the evening of Septem--
Miss Annie Cavis. Miss Jennie Thomp-
son, Miss Belle Cavis. Miss Mary X.
Schreiner, d. c. Bangs. c. B. Hanford.
c. h Rheem, G. A. Provost. H. c. Rob
inson. S. r. Flynn. J. T. Hawkins. r.
B. Miller, w. r. She'd. J. A. Mahoney.
Edward s. Rheem and B. G. Lovetoy.
A constitution was adopted. and 1t
| was set forth that the object of the
club was Ito embark upon the literary
| and dramatic field in the city of
Washington for the development OF
our literary and elocutionary powers,
and to provide amateur entertain
ment at the demand of the public OF
this city" AS bearing on the choice
| OF a name. let US quote from the
cfate. moreover. the fact that study
is the one great secret of success
| and therefore regarding Mr.. Law
renee Barrett as one who. by con-
tinued study and practice, has attain
ed those superior elocutionary pow
nd IL ~ IL tfae
that have placed him at the top OF
| the American stage: Therefore this
| organization shall be known at the
Lawrence Barrett Dramatic Club. .
An interesting article in the consti-
tuition was that there should be ian
Evolutionary director to have charge
| Of the elocutionary rendition of the
plays" and that Miss Mary X
Schreiner is hereby elected to fill this
Office. exempt from all dues. so long
as 1t pleases her to continue"
bTHERE is conflict of dates which
the Rambler cannot adjust, and
really adjustment is not necessary
The matter giving the dates Of the
first and second meetings of the club
as March 16. 1881. and September 27
1881. appeared in an article in The
Star in 1914. prepared by a trust.
1 "OTIEy anu OtneTWlet adequate re
porter who tells the Rambler that he
had this information from various
members of the club who consulted
what they called their records. Ir
Talbot Pulizzi's history of the Law
renee Barrett Club he says that the
first performance of the club was
given at the National Theater May
I12, 1881, and that the play was "Ju-
Illus Caesar If the Rambler were
to attempt to harmonize this appar-
ent discrepancy he would say that
at the meeting of March Is. of which
only a fragmentary record has come
down to us, the young and enthusi-
astic people determined to put on .
play and that it should be Julius
Caesar" They set about rehearsing
put on the play and. encouraged by
their success. they organized the clut
at the September meeting.
The second public appearance of the
club was in March. 1882 The date:
were the I'd. Sd and 4th. and three
evening performances were given ant
"a matinee. Julius Caesar and "The
Merchant of Venice" were shown TIL.
Washington public. The cast of 'Ju
Illus Caesar was: Brutus. Clarence
Rheem; Cassius. Charles B. Hanford
Mark Antony, David e. Bangs; Juliu:
Caesar. James c. Mahoney: Publiu:
Casca. Harry c. Robinson; Trebon'us
Simon Flynn: Decius Brutus. John T
Hawkins; Octavius Caesar. Harry {
Robinson; Metellus Climber. w. A
Lackey: CHINA the poet and first cit
izen. Otto G. Eckstein; Lucilius. sec
ond citizen and a Roman soldier
Samuel Burley Milton; a soothsayer
ICharles G. Pearce: Lucius. Belle Caris
Calphurnia, wife Of Caesar, jennie
Thompson; Portia. wife Of Brutus
lAnnie Cavis; senators. citizens, guards
! attendants, etc.
The players and their parts In tn
Merchant of Venice were: Shylock
Charles b. Hanford: Bassanio. Clarenc
Rheem; Ant onio, the Merchant OF Venice
Harry c. Robinson; Gratiano, Simol
Flynn: Lorenzo. in love with Jessica
John T. Hawkins: the Duke of Venice
and Tubal, friend Of Shylock. Jane
Noyes; Old Gobbo, father of Launcelot
Montague Tigg; Salanio, one of tn
friends of Antonio and Bassanio. Sam
uel B. Milton: Leonardo and BalthazaI
Otto G. Eckstein; Portia, a rich heiress
Mary K Schreiner; Nerissa, her waitin
woman, Anne Cavis, and Jessica, tn
daughter of Shylock, Belle Cavfs.
There must have been Washingtonian
as the Princess of Morocco and Arragon
Salarino, Celerio and Stephano, but thei
lnames have not come to the Rambler
ington youths, some of whom are noy
celebrated in less romantic and heroi
parts, who were the magnificoes Q
Venice, officers Of the court Of justice
jailors, servants and other attendants
but their names do not seem to hav
been inscribed on the roll Of fame a
actors. In addition to the names men
toned there appear as members Of tn
club in 1882 and 1883 the following
/ oil %