OCR Text |
Show DRAMATIC COMMENT. " Since Ethel Valentino has achieved such a distinct pursonal success as Lily Wagner in "Today, ' ' now in its seventh : i month at tho Forty-eighth street ihea- ; ! tor, New York, thoro aro many in- f quirics as to who sho is and how sho $ secured the position, so covotcd by lead- ing xvomon of established reputations. ' . I Tho answers to both inquiries are in- j V tercsting. Miss Valentine was given the ' jlf much sought opportunity of playing the P leading lady.'s role iu the biggest dra- It matic success of tho soason because it IK moant the realization of her life's am- IK bition. ll'i In applying for tho position to George , In Broadhurst, one of tho authors of tho i llj play, and Harry Von Tilzer, the pro- j ducer, Miss Valentino was but ono of ' Ifi hundreds of young actresses who made Jlj application when it -was announced thnt 1(1 seven companies, in addition to tho l original organization, would tour tho ' JB country next seasou. Miss Valentino a I 1 r letter was of particular appeal because ! ji she stated that she had aeon the play Jg eight times and felt that sho was born IN. for the part. An interview was granted , In hor and sho made so favorable an im- , - li.i pression upon the management that sho Ik was given the part to study. ' lh This was on a Saturday." On Monday i morning she was given a rehearsal and 'j If found to bo letter perfect. By this time ' l ; Mr. Brondhurst and Mr. "Vou Tilzer IE' were just ns enthusiastic about Miss m . Valentine as tho young actress was r ' about tho part, and it was decided to 1 have her give a performanco beforo an J&. audience. She played a Saturday mati- , K nee performance so skillfully and was k received so well that 'sho was im- ; ? : mediately placed under contract and j (B given the rolo of Lily Wagner ' I permanently. ! , Her success since her first official per- If formance is now a matter of theatrical '. 11. record. IS |