Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1878-09-12
"O,,r Boys or 49,"

sszssss .sOnr Boys or '76.''
On last Friday and Saturday nights the
Austin Dramatic Club presented lair au,
diences with the result of several weeks'
application to a drama with the above
title, and to a farce, $50 Minutes for Re.
freshments." Taken as q whols the per.
Torrance was very creditable and evinces
considerable dramatic talent. To one
who saw the last rehearsal, when few
knew their lines and when even the stage
business was undecided upon, it seems
that they brought such order
out Of confusion as they did. twill be
impossible, even did we feel competent,
to speak Of the merits and dement's Of
each participant, and yet a few words IN
particular will be allowed U.s.. And we
ask those whom we fail 10 please by our
criticisms, to remember that we are at
least honest, and that we prefer to please
those whom we think deserving, rather
than, by lndiscriminate praise, to please
those who ought not to expect approval
And let us draw lesson from the criti-
cism on the high school commencement,
when they, who had best right to be of:
Tended, were the ones who had the good
sense to accept the criticisms in the kind
manner Of their intention. Would you
rather people would talk of your failures
behind your back, than have word of
kindly advice given, that you might re-
NEEDY the fault? We have no fears of of.
Tending any by open criticism, for, as
persecution is the seed of the church, so
criticism is the knife that lops off the
faults, and so strengthens the actor, and
any who are foolish enough to take
otfense, need offending, and the sooner
the better. and they who have sense, will
approve of what we say.
And firstly, no one has right to come
before an audience here or elsewhere,
" lthout having his part learned. 1t is
an insult to the intelligence of his audi
ence; it is wrong to his fellow actors,
for unless the proper cue is given, the
best actor must appear at disadvantage.
You may be able to extemporize, but
your partner is not, and you do him
wrong by leaving him without his pro-
per cue: Moreover, we have always no.
ticed that the one whose ready tongue
enabled him to ."put in something" is
never a good man for dramatic. 1t
may be good sign for conversational
ist, but mighty poor one in an actor.
This was the chief fault. We understand
there are extenuating circumstances.
There may have been for one person-the
director-whom sickness in the family
prevented from giving the proper atten-
ton to the play. But we venture to say,
that none Of the others had a good excuse.
The ladies, at least, lad their parts we'll
committed, but some of the gentlemen
failed in their duty.
Never let a clown Getract from the
force of the main play, by any little by
scenes. Keep him to his part. And, by
the way, the perfect law for tue conduct
Of actors, great and small, is found in
Hamlet's instructions to the players Fol.
low that, and when something is being
said to excite or anger you, keep getting
mad every minute. Don't wait until his
speech is throug': md then get mad,
quick as flash. Here Was the CHIEF
fault Of the "Boys Of 76." At times
when the action should have been in
tense and constant, -"suiting the action
TO the word,"-the action limped sadly.
The fault can be remedied by attention
and drill. And consequently we are not
harsh when we condemn it. There is
plenty Of talent IN the club to overcome
every such obstacle
When people rise up and pass before
the stage or go out or disturb the audience
or the people on the stage, they commit
breach of good manners. There are
some in Austin who don't know this.
We would suggest that when change
in the lighting of the stage is needed, the
performance stop for moment until the
necessary change is made.
There were some fine aud commendable
scenes in the drama. One was when
Ginger had his hand "shook by q white
man. and promised his grateful loyalty
for the favor. Young Lambert did we'll
in this place, as he did throughout. He
knew MS lines thoroughly, and was al
ways prompt, and set good example tc
the older members of the club. He de
serves credit.
Another was where Ruth Sterling tolt
her father of her aversion to Bosworth
The lines were nicely spoken and Obet
Sterling does his share of the goot
work when a few moments later he per
emptorily refuses his daughters hand to
Bosworth. ....
As to those who "looked" their part
it may be said that perhaps Miss Hitch
cock looked the part of the Quaker Ma
iron to perfection. .@ ~ IT. s:z.ss
Films was genuine Dutchman, an,
better than all, knew what he ought Il
say. ... -. >....--.. -',ss
Mr.. Greenman was aptly chosen fo
the tatberly Quaker. His naturally slo,
voice and peculiar tone, made him exec
lent timber tor the part. stsfls - +
I OF others, though much can be said i
favor Of special scenes, vet the failure t
I pick up soap when soap is wanted, til
failure to have a letter in the poke
when letter is wanted, the failure t
produce the rhino when King George
money should be forthcoming, are the /,
suits of forgetfulness and are incxcusable
While the lines we're better learned th
last night, the business was much be
ter on Friday night.
The farce was perhaps better enjoye
than the drama. though the same fault
!. were here, ignorance of lines and car,