Omaha daily bee., 1922-05-14
TWo Stars to
Shine on Omaha
During Week

AuIt"8 w SS~
YoHN DREW'S performance -
Al Lord Por,eous in the Selwyns
y production OF "1he Circle"
somerse, Maugham's comedy. eli
MAKES . long career OF splendid
achievement on the part OF the dis
,inguished star. Mr.. Drew has been
frequently referred 10 as IAN aristo-
erat socially and professionally" The
appellaiion ~ applied 10 his art has
grown out OF the love and respect
with which he has always treated II.
One may say that he is socially ito
the manor born aud apply the
phrase with equal propriety to his
place in the theater. Tor Mr.. Drew's
family has been associated with the
playhouse for generations. ~ every
body knows. The present John Drew
was born in Philadelphia and his
parents. Mr. and Mrs. John Drew.
were the popular managers OF the
Arch street theater OF that city. Upon
the death OF her husband, Mrs. Drew
assumed control OF the playhouse
they had managed, and Il was in his
mothers company that John. jr.,
made his professional debut as
Plumper in Cool as Cucumber"
At the end OF a two-years asso-
citation with his mother in Philadel-
phia. Mr.. Drew accepted an engage
ment with Augus,in DAILY a, the Fifth
Avenue theatcr, New York, making
his New York debut as Bob Rug
giles in "The Big Bonanza" This
was the beginning OF the players
fruitful labor in Mr.. Daly's famous
stock organization. He served this
organization for q number OF years,
covering in his experience a great
diversity OF parts, although Shakes
peare was the mainstay OF the COM
pany. 1t was during Mr.. Drew's
association with Augustin DAILY that
he appeared with Frederick Warde
and Maurice Barrymore in "Di-
plomacy," on tour, and was associat-
cd in other Daily productions with
Ada Rehan, Mrs. Gilbert, Clara
Morris. Garrick and Mrs. Sarah Sid
dons.
Concluding his long engagement
at Daly's, New York, Mr.. Drew be-
gan his brilliant career as q star un-
der the management OF the late
Charles Frohman. Already Drew had
learned that comedy was his meter
and it has been in this vein that he
has given his best to the stage. His
first starring vehicle was "The Mask
cd Ball." given at Palmer's, New
York. To chronicle all that has fol-
lowed that notable performance
would be an arduous task, but the
high lights Of Mr.. Drew's career
since he took his place as a star in
the theatrical armament are But.
terflies." at Palmer's; THE Bauble
Shop" At the Empire. Rosemary"
at the Empire; his impersonation
OF Comte de Condale in "A Marriage
Of Convenience" at the same play
house; as Dick Rudyard in "One
Summers Day." at Wallacks; in
The Liars" at the Empire; "The
Tyranny of Tears" at the same play
house; in the title role of Richard
Carvel;" in "The Second in Com
mand;" a. Lord Lumley in "The
Mummy and the Hummingbird;" in
His House in Order" my Wife,"
Jack Straw" Smith," 4 play by
Somerset Vaughan, author Of
The Circle" "The Single Man."
"rhe Preplexed Husband" a revival
OF THE Tyranny Of Tears" "The
Scrap of Paper" with Ethel Barry
more; THE Prodigal Husband" q
revival OF Rosemary" and "The Cat
Bird"
Mr.. Drew made his first bow in
London in 1884, at Toole's theater,
as a member of the Augustin DAILY
company, and has played in that city
so repeatedly because he is as great
favorite in the British metropolis
as he is in his own United States.
This is doubtless one Of the reasons
he is SO happy in "The Circle" and
such an adnlirer OF Mr.. Vaughan,
tor 'tis said that admiration begets
admiration. Certainly the distin-
guished English playwright has fur
nished Mr.. Drew in Lord Porteus.
the crockety sinner in "The Circle"
one of the most delightfully."- human
characters ever portrayed by the
distinguished star.
-
lITHE CIRCLE" which comes
to the Brandeis theater for
three days, commencing with
Thursday night, May Is, IS scoring the
biggest success in the history Of the
American stage, and for reasons hard
ly requiring any explanation.
W. Somerset Maugham's comedy
IS by far the most brilliant dramatic
offering the Selwyns have 50 far
made. In satirical sting it compares
with the most audacious of Oscar
Wilde's plays. but the sting is soft
ened with q romantic touch that pro-