Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-08-05

MANAGER STEVE COCHRANS Ma
4NA tional Theater Players have been
entertaining Washington stay-at-homes
for nearly four Summers noW-that Is
to say. this Is their fourth season, each
one of which has been more or less
memorable in its way.
Always a competent organization, Its
work has attracted attention even In
the great metropolis, where the young
manager is we'll known and admired, but
more by the fact that during its entire
career it has maintained steady and
undiminishing drawing power even
when the weather has been against such
| an achievement.
This has not been due to the fact
! that Washington was suffering for want
of dramatic entertainment when green
| fields, shady roads and the mountains
| and the seashore were most inviting,
| but because the National Players have
| presented some very fine performances
| of we'll known PLAYS marked by an eX-
! cellence that has made them out
| standing.
| There never has been a time when
| the players that constitute the COM
! pany have not been able to fairly meet
| the demands put upon them. Some OF
| them have outshone others in achieve
| ment and nearly. If not quite ALL Of
/ them have a distinct following Of per-
| sonal admirers.
! With the advent Of Miss Lenora Pow
I ers as leading woman last season, q
| new and very perccptible element of
| dramatic talent was introduced. which
/ has had an unmistakable influence upon
! the company, for the performances of
! the individual players have taken on
! higher degree of quality that tells
! strongly in the presentation of the
/ plays.
One would suppose with these Condi-
/ tons, that Manager Cochran had rea-
/ son to be amply satisfied, even delight
| ed. And if he could be contented with
/ a prosperous box office and large
| crowds of happy, smiling, often quite
enthusiastic audiences, night after
night and year after year, doubtless
! Manager Cochran would have no 0cca-
sion for feeling at all blue or unhappy.
But Manager Cochran is just at the
/ beginning of highly promising career.
I He has been tried and found not want
! ing in the essentials of a good manager.
/ But Steve wants TO be more than a
good manager With the union of A. l..
! Erlanger with w. Harryman Rapley in
! the direction Of what is generally con-
/ coded to be Washingtons theater of
/ consequence. their young manager,
/ ever alert, is endeavoring to convince
/ the distinguished New York producer
of what Mr. Rapley has long known
! and appreciated. that his young man
/ of affairs at the National Theater has a
/ full appreciation of the importance of
! his position; that he knows his thea
+ ter, and that he has the courage to
| put his knowledge and skill IN manage
/ ment to the test Of greater accomplish
ment
I Believing that he might further inn
/ prove his company for which he had
/ provided Summer repertoire that
demanded the best in playing achieve
ment, in Midsummer. when usually mat
I tiers theatrical are at their lowest ebb,
/ he dared reorganization of his play
! ing forces from top to bottom
! Last weeks production of Booth Tar
! kingdoms delightful but difficult play is
his challenge as to the result No finer