Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1871-01-24

FIRST NIGHT OF THE DRUMMER BoY.-The
audience at the theater last night were greatly
interested in the play, and surprised to see so
many of the citizens who make no pretensions
to ability in that line acting as easy and natural
on the boards as if bred behind the foot-lights,
The piece offers such a variety of scenes and in
cludes so many spirited passages, that the inter
est was not for moment lost 1t opens with a
scene laid in the home of a northern farmer at
the breaking out Of the war. As guests at the
farmhouse, are a family from Kentucky, father,
mother and son, who make disagreeable talk
about the threatening war, and are consequently
compelled to leave by the old farmer and his
three loyal sons, the youngest a lad" Johnny"
who is afterwards the drummer boy. In the
first act, also, are scenes representing recruit
ing, parting from home, drill of the awkward
squad, and beautiful closing tableau, "Union
and Secession" in which appear some twenty
young ladies in white. This, rs well as the
other tableaux, was successfully presented, the
grouping, light, and expression, being admira-
bic. (And for this, of course, handsome faces
were selected).
The second act has six scenes, ending with a
battle, which was thought, by all who saw it,
to be the best battle scene ever given hcre-so
very different from the ridiculous wooden-headed
soldiers brought on by travelling companies.
The City Guards and Light Infantry deserve
praise also for the manner in which their part in
the first act was done. In this act, too, "Joe, d"
the old darkey, character excellently rendered,
makes his appearance, and several affecting
scenes are given, as well as exciting ones-so
startling as to call forth involuntary "ohs" from
the more nervous ladies in the house. The third,
fourth, and fifth acts, consist of scenes on the
b lie field, furlough, Andersonville prison with
CHASTITY horrors, three deaths, release, at home
.gain, and the close of the war, interspersed
with tableaus and affecting scenes.
The characterskseem to be well taken and well
sustained for it is plain that each actor is thor
oughly interested. The following is the cast
Farmer Howard, G f Thompson; Mart Howard,
ban t harry James Mech
lott q Wilson; Maj Rutledge, 7 E Hall; Frank
Rutledge, james S Brown; Fattie Smith, B
Gale; Uncle Joe, Mr smith; Col Robinson, j S
Rogers; Buger, A Sawyer; Captain Co A, w II
kiSgi Captain Co Q, Frank + Hail: Captain Go D,
EfSeo Barton; Major General, A NJ Parker; Chief
2f staff, David Boyden; "A A q, o ? Smiths Com
!hodore j w Hadley Chief of STAFF, Geo Conklin;
III Brig. General, Joseph Il Dennis; CHIEF OF stan,
= VIM King New Prisoner L Markham; Old Mrs
Howard, Mrs Babbitt Mrs Mart Howard Mrs
Walker; Jennie Howard, Mrs Blood; Mrs Eliot,
Miss Bacon; Mrs Rutledge, Mrs Simonds; Goddess
of Liberty, Mrs White
Confederates.-Lieu Gen Johnston, L Mason
Markham; Chief Of STAFF, Charles L Gilbert; Lieut.
and A q to Gen Beauregard, 9 4 Wilson; Cap
tain Go 6, J Calligan; Captain Co H, A Wheeler;
MAY Gen Cheatham, A Titus; Chief Of Staff, Il
Harrington.
There are no doubts as to the success of the
undertaking, even if there were before the salts
factory experience of last evening.
The ORCHESTRAL CoNcERT.-Amusements
ofall kinds have not been patronized with the
old liberality since New Years day. The death
of Mayor Blake cast shadow on the CITY that
is not yet dispelled, and is felt quite as keenly
by those who manage public entertainments
as by any other class. This perhaps, the re.
markable cold weather, and, to crown all, A
snow storm, helped to make Mr.. Thomas audi
ence last evening much smaller one than he
Z he has usually appeared before here.
1t is needless TO say the concert was a supe.
rior one every way-many pronouncing it the
best one ever given here by this magnificent
orchestra, who are always giving "the best con-
certs ever given" Miss Mehlig had a trium.