Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1871-04-18
The Drama in Lancaster.


lately been devotipg O little time
and attention to matters theatrical,
and the two successful entertain
ments already given by them at the
Court House tend to show that they
"know the ropes" of the stage as
well as the requirements of culti-
waited audience.
The performances were given, one
on Wednesday, and the othe1 on
Friday night of last week, and on
both occasions the audience was
larger than the room. Everybody
in the village went, and many peo-
pie came in from the surrounding
country. When the curtain rose for
the first time on Wednesday even-
ing, Capt. A. r. Bushnell came to
the footlights, bowed, and made a
stirring speech. Then, after cheer
fnl interlude by Prof. Joe Barnett's
string band, a living, breathing pic
ture entitled America" was placed
on exhibition. In this unique and
effective representation, Miss Ella
Halbert appeared as the Goddess of
Liberty, supported by the Army and
Nary in the persons of George
Sprague and Will McGonigal. Fol-
lowing this, came the "Courtship Of
Miles Standish," specially dramatic
ed for the occasion by an accomplish
ed lady Of Lancaster. In this wells
adapted piece, George Mills appear
ed as the Puritan captain, and won
golden opinions by his natural,
straightforward acting. Clad IN
doublet and hose, and boots of Cor,
dovau leather, be trod the stage with
martial air, and looked the very per-
sonifcation of Longfellow's doughty
warrior Every speech uttered by
Mr.. Mills evinced the fact that he
had thoroughly mastered its means
ing. When he spoke of poor dead
Rose Standish, -"beautiful rose of
love that had bloomed for him by
the wayside" he did it with a depth
Of emotion and a tenderness Of feel-
ing that made tears rise in the heart
and gather to the eyes of many a
fine-nerved listener. Miss Matte
Barber made capital Priscilla F; and
if the original bore any resemblance
to her at all, Capt. Standish could
hardly be censured for letting her
occupy in his thoughts the place fill
ed by the one that "was first to die
of all who came in the May Flower"
In the tableauX, "Ouconvanient"
and "Rale Convaniont," Hugh
Banding and Nellie Barber were
readily recognized, and in David's
gushing lament over Absalom, Will
McGonigal did the melancholy
mourning Fred Durand and J. S.
drummer played the combat scene
from Scott's Lady of the Lake" the
former as FIt- James and the latter as
R0derich Dhu. "Ginevra" was pre-
sented well enough, and with all the
necessary appliances and accessories;
but to those who were not well up
in McGuffey's old fourth reader the
whole affair was the foggiest and
most incomprehensible thing that
any body ever heard of "Prayers
and Potatoes" was very well per
formed,
On Friday evening las the enter
tainment began with a good opening
address by Mr.. Geo. Mills. This was
we'll received by the audience, and
was succeeded by seven carefully
prepared scenes from the Song of
Hiawatha". In this play some inim-
table scenic effects were produced,
and the mirror held up, as it were,
to genuine Indian nature. The Wig
wan looked perfectly natural and
rye damme savages" had every ap
pearance of actual, tho somewhat
sublmated, children of the prairie,
the forest, and the mountain. Mi IS
Emma Banding as Minnehahd, lowell
est of all the women, etc, performed
her part exceIlently we'll, and deserv-
eth much praise for her successful
rendition of that ideal character. Mr..
j. S. drummer makes fine stage To-
dian as all who saw him in the char
acter Of HidWdtha will readily con-
cede. Every actor in this play did
well enough to escape all just criti-
cism, and is that's not praise suffici-
ent, tell as what is, and well try to
use it. The snowfall in the Famine
scene was passable wintry 'fenonu-
enor" and gave evidence that Mr..
drummer is no novice at the stage
managing business.
Walt Banding in the Brown Study
tableau looked very like sadly
muddled African. The Bridal Wine
Cup" pointed a good moral, and wa6
played with tolerable success. "Par-
adise and the Peri" was a tastefully
gotten up picture, in which Miss Ida
Try looked like one "whom naught
could charm, whose soul was sad,
whose wings were, weary" In the
farcical piece of "Eh? What is IT." f.
Durand displayed first rate skill as a
nicely discriminating comedian; and
Miss Emma Shraders acting in the
same play had the most charming
feminine naturalEess about it that
can possibly be imagined. The group
ing in the oath-taklng tableau was
very good, and the story it told need
ed no word of explanation. "The
Stage-struck Darkcy" was an excru-
ciatingly wretched burlesque. Ifit
made the unskilful laugh, it must a.
so have made the judicious grieve; for
in the playing of such pieces it is the
easiest thing in the world for an act
or to overstep the admirable modes
ty of Nature"
The scenery employed in bringing
out these plays so successfully, was
painted by Miss Emma Blanding and
Miss Matte Barber, several other
parties kindly furnishing the mater
ials wherewith the stage was so
choicely decorated.
In consideration of the reqaest to
repeat the performances of these en-
tertainmepts, the society have con-
cluded to issue the following pro-
gramme for next Friday evening: