The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1881-01-06
Winter An,Usements at EOrt GOeUr
d'AIcne.

On the evening of Dec 9TH the officers and
ladies of Fort Cocur d'Alene gave their first
dramatic entertainment for the benefit of the
Spokane Mission Church, and, notwithstand
ing the inclemency of the weather, they were
greeted by large, apprecative and intelli-
gent audience from the garrison and sur
rounding country. The entertainment was
given in an unoccupied set of barracks which
was very conveniently and tastefully fitted
up for the occasion by Capt $. f. Clark,
Regimental Quartermaster 2nd Infantry, and
the Post Quartermasterat Fort Ceur Il Alene,
and was so densely crowded that standing
room was hardly obtainable. The pro-
gramme of the evening commenced with the
Light Cavalry Overture, beautifully rem
dercd by the 2nd Infantry band, under the
leadership of Prof. Gibson. Then came the
drama "a Change of Base, with the follow
ing d,UmGtis personde: "Nliss Flora Faya-
way" tam heiress), Mrs. Frank Wheaton,
''Aliss Prim' (her companion) Mrs. S. Il.
Clark, capt. EASTWOOD" Lieut.. C. w.
Rowell, al. j. Tarbox,' Lieut.. j. S. NAL
lory. The "Change of Base" concluded,
Prof. Gibson again delighted the audience
by his rendition of selections from III. NJ.
5. Pinaforc" Theprogramme concluded with
the amusing drama "Dr. Moudschein, or, The
German" with the following cast "Mrs.
Backbay,' Mrs. Frank Wheaton, "Aunt
Post, Mrs. S. E. Clark, eur Backby,"
Lieut.. c. W. Rowell, CDR. Moudschein,"
Capt. James Miller.
Mrs. Wheaton as Miss Flora Fayaway and
Mrs. Backbay more than realized the high
expectations of her friends founded upon
her many previous successes in amateur the
atrcals. Her acting throughout was fault
less; her singing, which formed one of the
most enjoyable features Of the evenings per-
Performance, elciting raptuous bursts of APP
made her dt6W on the amateur stage, sur
prised and delighted her audience by the
versatility Of talent displayed in her admira-
able Interpretation of the very opposite char
acters of Miss Prim" and 'Aunt Post"
The dresses of the ladies We've rich and ele
CANT, displaying perfect taste and striking
ingenuity in devising the various costumes
appropriate to the romantic and fashionable
Flora, the gay and dashing Mrs. Back
bay" the artful "Miss Prim, and the aged
but sprightly "Aunt Post" whose practical
-; l.. ga II
ing ''as deaf as a post" repeatedly brought
down the house. Lieut. Mallory as Tar
box" created part which would bear COM
parison with the typical Yankee of the most
finished actor. The gait, the usual twang
every expression was as faithfully repro
duced rs if he had spent his life among the
classical shades Of Sko~hegan, Maine, in
stead Of having been brought up on the
sunny shore of the Chesapeake. Roars OF
laughter greeted his every sally, and all saw
the curtain descend with regret after his f.
nal invitation to his friends if.any of them
came 'within mile Of Skowhegan to stop"
This is Lieut.. Mallory's first appearance on
any stage. and his grand success gives prom
Use Of many delightful evenings still in store
for his friends who all Join in saying, zen
core" Lieut.. Rowell was most admirable
in his rendition of his two very diverse
characters Capt. Eastwood and Mr. Back
bay. In the former he wildly brought back
to Us the many dashing young heroes who
left all at their country's call, ready to
lay down their lives for the dear old flag in
tact, and more our pulses beat to the
TRAMP. tramp. tramp of the boys in
Blue as they filed past to victory Or death;''
and when Lieut.. Rowcll gave us, in grand
style, the "Red, White and Blue, we felt
our patriotism rising to the boiling point
His charming baritone voice showed to even
more advantage in the tender little love song
Irene he sang TO ''Flora," who would in
decd have been hard hearted fair one not
to surrender at discretion to so handsome
and gallant a besieger. As Mr.. Backba
Lieut. Rowell presented an entirely differ
ent ehsemtie appearing as midde-aged,
crusty and jealous husband, perpetualy sus-
pecting his young wife OF i!irtations, of which
she is quite innocent The scene with
Aunt Post where he contides his troubles to
l... . J.,