The New York herald., 1879-02-26
SHROvETIDE IN COLLEGE.

THE STUDENTS OF ST. JOHN s, FORDHAM, EN-
TERTAINING THEIR RELATIVES AND FRIENDS
AN EXCELLENT DRAMATIC REPRESENTATION.
The students of st. Johns College, Fordham. gave
shrovetide entertainment last evening in the tho
afro assembly Of the college to the residents
of the village and to their friends and acquantances
in this city and it's neghborhood The performance
was 'Oliver Twist" supplemented by the farce of
the ''Steeplechase." The attendance was large and
responsive, and the students seemed to feel they
were playing to genial and sympathetic audience
for point made by any player escaped
prompt and demonstrative recognition. Among those
present the venerable president Of the college.
Rev. +. w. Gockeln, Mr. Wentworth, Of New Jersey;
Rev. G. B. Kenny. 8. l.; Rev. Charles O'Con-
nor Of st. Peters College, Jersey; Rev. J. McAuley.
St. Francis xavier's College. and Fathers Costin. Ro
maync and Racicot. st. Johns College, Fordham.
NJ j. Scully, s. j., acted theatrical director Mr.
John +. Mcmahon delivered prologue which. in
verse. covered the whole ground of both per-
formances Between the acts Mr.. stephen A. Wall.
graduate of the class of 75 played with telling effect
his .Rosehill Waltz sosehi is the name of the col
lege ball nne). The stage of the theatre being
forty feet deep gave room for adequate scenic
effects. and these were designed. as well as the
dresses of the performers, with view to life-
like fidelity. For amateurs there was singular
of manner and ready acquaintance with the text Of
the play among the majority of the performers. who
were all young students. ranging from fourteen
years to twenty-four. Mr.. James NJ Fletcher as Oil
IW1st was JUST tnc DOy that Oickens nhu IN his
minds eye. but Mr. Edward l.. Cahill Fagin must be
allowed to have carried off the honors Of the
ing. excellent his disguise OF voice. features
and manner. He certainly must have given the part
considerable study. Toby Crackit. by Mr.. William
NJ. McDonough. was almost equal to any professional
impersonation of the character. Mr. Cornelius J.
Clifford the Artful Dodgcr. in makeup and adj
dress came pretty near the ideal of the novelist
Mr. Thomas W. Kelly as Noah Claypolo
both deserve commendation for the evident
careful application they gave to the parts assigned
them. The part of Nancy had to be given to suppos
titious OF Bill's called Bob Sykes and this
made exceedingly ludicrous by Mr.. +. Rodier Brown,
q student standing over six feet in his stockings.
The Fagins den realized the story. but the
climax of the performance the murder in Sykes
garrett and the audience alternately exploded in laugh
ter and tears In the "Steeplechase" Mr.. McDonough
as Tittums. Mr.. Joseph Duffy as Alderman Slow
coach and Mr.. Oliver Tong DR.. Clifford carried off
the suffragcs OF the audience and made themselves
surprisingly funny. The orchestra. led by Mr..
Thomas McManus, was composed entirely of students
and between the acts ratified off various selections
from prominent composers. 1t was eleven o'clock
before the performance closed and 10 made red LETT
ter night In the memories Of tho good citizens of the
ancient village of Fordhsm. to whom tho college is
the be all and end oil of their existence.