Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1878-09-12
"Our Boys OF '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 rs a whole the per-
Torrance was very creditablo and evinces
considerable dramatic talent. To one
who sew the last rehearsal, when few
knew their lines and when even the stage
business was undecided upon, it seems
astonishing that they brought such order
out Of confusion as they did. 1t will be
impossible, evon did we feel competent,
to speak OF the merits and dement's Of
each participant, and yet few words IN
particular will be allowed US. 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 a 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 go ii
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's is
never a good man for a dramatic. II
may be a 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-tht
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 good excuse
The ladies, at least, lad their parts well
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 the conduc
of actors, great and small, is found il
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 hi:
speech is lArou@:: md then get mad
quick as fash Here Was the chic
fault Of the "Boys of &C." At times
| when the action shoul,! have been in
| tense and constant, -"suiting the action
TO the word,"---the action limped sadly
The fault can be rcmcdicd by attention
and drill. And consequently we arc moi
harsh when we condemn it. There il
| 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 audienc
or the people on the stage, they commit
breach of good manners. There art
some in Austin who don't know this.
We would suggest that when a chang
in the lighting of the stage is needed, thu
performance stop for moment until thu
necessary change is made.
There were some fine and commcndablt
scenes in the drama. One was whel
Ginger had his hand "shook by white
man, and promised his grateful loyalty
for the favor. Young Lambert did wei
in this place, as he did throughout. FL
knew MS lines thoroughly, and was al
ways prompt, and set good example tt
the older members of the club. He dc
serves credit.
Another was where Ruth Sterling toll
her father of her aversion to Boswortll
The lines were nicely spoken and Obe'
Sterling does his share Of the goo'
work when few moments later he per
cmptorily refuses his daughters hand tt
Bosworth
AS to those who "lookcd" their part
it may be said that perhaps Miss Hitch
cock looked tho part of the Quaker Ma
iron to perfection.
Elms was genuine Dutchman, an
better than all, knew what he ought Il
say.
Mr.. Greenman was APPLY chosen 70
the tatherly Quaker. His naturally slo,
voice and peculiar tone, made him exec
lent timber tor the part
OF others, though much can be said i
favor of special scenes, vet the failure
pick up soap when soap is wanted, I'll
failure to have letter in the pock<
when letter is wanted, the failure t
produce the rhino when King George
money should be forthcoming, are the r
suits of forgetfulncss and are incxcusabl'
While the lines were better learned tt
last night, the business" was much be
ter en- Friday night.
The farce was perhaps better enjoye
than the drama, though the same faul
:: were here, ignorance Of lines and car
lessncss in acting.
The Austin Dramatic Club need
prompter and director who shall Ia,
no other business bu: to attend to ii
whole And in fnt,1rn fl,nv sh0u1d fir