The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1928-02-25
PLAY HUNT IS
UNDER WAY.
HERE
Chief of Little Theater
Group in Provincetown
Seeks Manuscripts

A RE you writing a play?
IN Most people areor
have been, or will BEEN
gagged in this piquant pur-
suit. So the news that the
organizer Of the famous
Wharf Players, of Province
town, Mrs. Mary Biclnell,
of Boston, has been in Wash
ington on play hunting
expedition may be of general
interest.
CHE combined the business of
~ looking over the field here
with the pleasure of visiting
Miss Dorothy Trout at her home
in Georgetown. This gifted art
list, the daughter of the late
Capt. and Mrs. Harry G. Trout,
is also one of the promoters of
this picturesque little theater
group. which is, of course, q
summertime activity. Mrs. Bick-
nell left today for Morristown,
N. j., where she is to be for
some time-at z Wendover Rd.,
in case you have a manuscript
to submit.
TT win be welcome, for the
4 Wharf Players hayeAa tradi-
ton Of producing new plays,
feeling that this is the true prov
ince Of the little theater and their
chief difficulty is to find enough
that are worthy OF presentation,
judged by somewhat rigorous
standards. Last summer, how.
ever, the company produced seven
with gratifying success including
a musical comedy, Gods Own
Country" which stood EN- up
during the entire run. This show
was the work of Dan Walker
and Doc luxembourg, Of radio
fame. The latter also contributed
d drama Of Polish life. THE
House of One and his name APP
peared on Wharf Theater pro-
grams as translator OF ..Servi-
tude." q Spanish drama. Will
liam Favershan. jr.. Is a mem
Der Of the company, the back
bone Of which is professional;
and either he or his distinguished
father must be the William Fav-
ersham" who wrote Improper
Peter" comedy of manners,
which was one Of the most sue.
cessful productions OF last season.
MANY Westinghouse have dis
AVA covered Provincetown and
the Wharf Players. Bobby Bell
and his pretty wife. Josephine
Hutchinson, worked with them
summer before last. before Miss
Hutchinson got her big chance
with Eve LeGallienne' Civic Rep
ertory Theater. The beautiful
things done by the Rams Head
Players" which Mr.. Bell, son of
Mr.. and Mrs. Charles ). Bell of
Washington, organized and direct
ed and in which Miss Hutchinson
played the lead, are still remember.
ed here, although the project event.
uaIly petered out. And Cleon
Throckmorton, a Washington man,
who has had considerable success
as a designer of stage settings,
helped decorate the old wharf
house, which has been done over
into charming little theater, seat
ing 225, and installed the lighting
arrangements, which, with artistic
handling, give effects seldom
achieved short Of the commercial
theater.
Perhaps the chief claim to fame
of the Wharf Players, however, is
their boast that they have put on
plays for five seasons and can
show a balance on the credit side
of the ledger. That, presumably, is
due to the fact that, although they
had small capital to start with.
they had practical knowledge of
the stage as well as abundant en-
thusiasm. Moreover, the Province
town Players had made theatrical
history, the Wharf Players, COM
ing along a few years after they
had disbanded, perhaps took over
their good wilT' and Province.
town, art center and charming Old
World summer colony. provides
appreciative audiences for the little
theater. The company has, more
over, an experienced professional
director.
MRS. BICKNELL is the wife
AVA of w. H. w. Bicknen, an
artist of international reputation,
who specializes in the delicate
craft of the .etcher. She is a
dynamic person and, as she says
laughingly, a "fast worker" when
she gets started. She proved that
the summer the Wharf Theater
was built, for the project only
took shape in June and the thea
ter was ready to open by July
IS, Mrs. Bickneil and the builder
having whipped into shape rather
sketchy plans of Mr.. Throck.
morton's. The Players have been
so successful that out of their
organization has grown the Wharf
Players School, now entering
upon it's second year.
y 4 X
THE Secretary OF State and
Il Mrs Kellogg will be the honor
guests at dinner this evening of
the Minister of Egypt and Nine.
Samy Pasha.
~ Il
The italian Ambassador and