The Washington times., 1929-03-09
CLEAN INGS'
SCREENINGS.
By ANDREW R. kelley

stranger to the average actor
and misfortune frequently
touches ventures in thf COM
mercial theatcr. Whe these
periods of depression rive it
Is refreshing to obse Re how
the more fortunate and success
full children Of the world Of
amusement rally around to help
their fellow thespians iT dis
tress. A more practical demon-
stration of the brotherlyl love
spirit would be hard to find.
Such an occasion drew a
strictly professional audience to
Keith's Theater early this morn
ing when a hastily arranged
benefit performance was given
for the cast Of the Savoy Mu-
steal Comedy Company. Since
the world knows that business
for the musical stock players
has been improbable it is not
revealing a secret to state that
pay days for the actors has
been irregular and there was
need for helping hand. The
Rev. Francis ]. Hurney, chap
lain of the Catholic Actors
Guild, and Hobart Brooks sound
ed the call.
Margaret Anglin and her CONF
pany from the Belasco marched
up to the box-office and helped
swell the, relief fund. Youl
night have observed ushers,
chorus girls, musicians, stage
hands burlesquers, vaudevillians,
in fact every branch of the
working theater represented in
the line which filed past the
ticket window.
Director Addison Pitt, of the
National Players, escorted his
family to seats of vantage and
then went back stage to serve
as master of ceremonies.
doubt if any ACTORS ever found
q more enthusiastic or noisily
approving audience. 1t began
when Robert Capron and Thelma
Parker won round after round of
applause for the great dancing
they injected into the "Man
From Mutual" the one-act ,skit
which opened the program and
continued through to the con-
densed version of "Little Nellie
Kelly" the Cohan musical which
closed the show.
Joe Cook, star of "Rai11 or
Shine" came over from Polls,
and in addition to giving his
monoIogue, dipped down into
his pocket to pay $100 for a
basket of lollypops offered to
the highest bidder. Mary New
ton, leading woman of the Ma
tional Players, Gonned some of
her choicest wardrobe, stepped
into the spotlight and revealed
a splendid soprano voice, which
she knows how to use effec-
lively in song. She got a great
hand. Jimmy Lake emerged
from the wings to serve as auc-
tioneer for another basket of
candy. Jimmy is a graduate
veteran of the boards, now a
Washington hotel proprietor,
and never missing when benefit
performances are the order of
the day. Jimmy started the
bidding at $40, and with the
assistance Of Wesley Eddy, ran
the proceeds up to $135, which
included yellow-back from
Stephen Erlanger Cochran.
Wesley Eddy's contribution to
the entertainment was :. budget
of songs with the uke, a hand
saw tune and the finest ex-
hibition of ad libbing with an
approving audience as was ever
heard. 1t was Mr. Eddy who
woke 'em up and made 'em for
get it was lnilkman matinee.
Sam Rubin and a bunch from
Loew's Palace gave the F Street
master of ceremonies a hearty
welcome. 1t seemed to me that
Mr.. Eddy enjoyed working as
much as his audience enjoyed
hearing him, for which this
paragrapher is duly grateful,
since it was the editors task
to awaken Wesler from his
forenoon slumbers yesterday to
&pprise him of the benefit call.
Paul Schwarz and his musical
men in the pit contributed their
services and the back-stage boys
ran things behind the curtain
as their contribution to the
cause. Bill Fleming directed
affairs at the front of the house
and Eddie Cassan, the Shubert
auditor, saw that sheriffs and
process servers did no violence
to the receipts.
When this critic departed
shortly after / a, M, the
Players had bounded into the
first act of Little Nellie
Kelly" with light hearts. That's
about all except the amount Of
the count-up. The exact re-
ceipts are not yet available but
the cast will find close to 81 900
distributed through the pay en-
velopes for railroad fares and
hotel bills when the last Satur-
day night performance is over.
Robert Capron expressed the
thanks of the company for the
generosity and the kindly spirit
1-,h;ch animated fh Yanlt;f,Ida