Evening star., 1938-08-26

so many other States that the motor
cavalcade has larger variety Of
license plates than a tourist camp.
Even the District is represented by no
less person than Selma Klein, the
mite with the mighty contralto who
was recruited from the Civic Theater.
Mrs. Klein is the troup's Katisha and
Buttercup in THE Mikado" and Pima
FORE respectively.
No one makes any money, Mr..
Strickland points out, but, on the other
hand, no one misses any meals. More
over. no one would think of doing
anything else because nothing else
could possibly be so much fun Keep
ing the company intact involves far
less difficulty than keeping it small
enough so that even the chorus girls
will not have two understudies each.
Mr.. Strickland's and Mr.. Daltry's
charges do lot of things other than
singing. They stick to the resort
country where swimming, boating,
tennis and other recreations flourish
and midnight in the forest is alive
with conversation that covers other
subjects than show business
The company has played five weeks,
doing a repertoire of three operas.
The trio includes in addition to the
two mentioned, The Gondoliers,"
with the one-act Trial by jury" sort
of double featured with "Pinafore."
The season will have covered six
weeks before it ends. 1t has found
the company booked not only in barns,
village school houses and city theaters
(such as Hartford), but also in resort
hotels, where 1t has been a favorite
attraction.
There is no effort to follow the
formalized presentation OF Gilbert
and Sullivan as done by the D'Oyly
Carte company. On the contrary, a
distinctive effort is made to get away
from the traditional manner of doing
the operas. to take full advantage Of
the enthusiastic spirit of the organi-
zation. Mr.. Strickland, who directs
the acting, and Mr.. Daltry, who
handles the musical side of the organi-
zation, have developed an entertain
ment which is one Of the most vivid
things of its kind.
They believe they have the nucleus
of an organization that can profitably
get around great deal wider area
than the summer seashore, which may
get around to Washington some time.
We believe they have, too, after a
night of "Pinafore" and Trial by
Jury"
CENTERVILLE was the scene Of
practically convention OF WASH
ington drama people. In addition to
Mr.. Strickland and Mrs. Klein, who
stopped the show twice, incidentally,
the lawn of the Mary Young Theater
between the acts produced William
Girvan, Civic Theater: Murray Shee-
an, Tom Stanton and this department
. . Best Strickland anecdote (the
Cape is full of them) picked up on
this trip concerns his graduation from
Wesleyan University. AS the world s
most objecting conscientious objector,
Mr.. Strickland fought the Wesleyan
faculty to a standstill for four years.
They agreed on nothing, but finally
"Strick" got his degree and the school
prepared to settle down to normalcy
again.
On the night of commencement,
with relations finally severed, the dean
and "Strick" met on the campus.
Mr.. Strickland" said the dean.
Yes, sir" said MIR. Strickland.
Mr.. Strickland" the dean contin-
ued. IT you should have a son, would
you send him to Wesleyan"
mo. sir" said Mr.. Strickland.
Il thought not" said the dean.