Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1882-02-24
The Domestic Drama The Comus

| Courthouse on Monday night last to a
large and appreciative audience. The beau
tiful domestic drama, entitled sour Nelly"
was placed upon the stage with degree of
taste and accuracy which ELECTED warm en-
comiums from the audience. The charac-
tiers were sustained with degree of conf
| dence that was natural, an exhibition of the
that was graceful, captivating and life-like.
Indeed, it may be truthfully said that sour
! Nelly" so crowded with those incidents that
meet us in everyday life, simple and inno-
cent, was decided hit, and although but a
very short time has elapsed since it was pro-
duced by the same caste, and to almost the
same audience, it did not fail to awaken
throughout the most intense interest and de-
light 1t is but an evidence of the fact that
we have in our midst a very fine order Of
dramatic talent, and properly managed, cul-
tivated and directed, will, when under more
advantageous circumstances, add to the pleas
ure, amusement and instruction of our citi-
zens and the community at large.
The drama, as now constituted, has three
clements music, scenery and action, COM
binaton of all that is beautiiulin life, which
has been sent out star-like from time 10 time
by the gifted men of the world. That it
should have found in our midst spot on
which to erect one of its affairs, and votaries
who are enthusiastic in their appreciation
: a tnct NVprthu of npp tul of no II 10 Al
evidence of the progress of our people in the
direction of high order Of intellectual and
moral improvement
Whilst we would not dampen the enthu-
siasm which has all along characterized the
members Of the Comus in their delicate and
arduous task by anything like severe and
unjust criticism, approaching, as we do, the
many almost insurmountabe obstacles with
which they have had to contend, yet whilst
awarding praise where praise is due, it is
but right and proper, as journalist, that
we should point out any weakness that may
from time to time be exhibited.
This leads us to tie assertion that the
after-piece, entitled "Pipkins Rustic Re
treat" though by no means failure, was
somewhat of drag. 1t was evidently IL
character of comedy for which the talent of
our young and gifted amateurs was as yet
hardly prepared
Mr. Fletcher, as Brittle Pipkin," was
not up to his usual happy standard; in
deed it may be said that he suffered some be-
cause OF the want of proper support.
Mr. Beall, who certainly possesses II very
fine order Of dramatic talent, AS "Salvator
Rosa Robinson" seemed to wander between
his character and the audience, lost his text,
and was thus far from realization of the
character he protested to give.
Mr.. Kiger, as SANDY Gaff," was too i'm
petuous, noisy and boisterous, and was very
short of the really fine personficatons he
has heretofore given US.
Miss Mttie Hodges, the prima donna, as
MARY Maria" c'Pipkin's" wife, was GER
tainly good in her style and costume, but she
did not give us a natural rendition of the
character assigned. There was too much
continual violence, that neither the spirit
nor the circumstances Of the play warranted
or suggested Her passion, as aroused by
old "Pipkins," because of his rustic retreat
absorbed all reason, submerged every affec-
ton of the heart and clouded every faculty
of the mind, until it would appear that re-
venge was the only object of which pip
kins" wife was in search
Miss Lucy Torney, as Betsy Perks"
grasped in her usual easy and winning
manner some parts Of her character, and
whilst she was evidently outside of the audi
ence in her acting, there was too much con-
fdence, which caused her to carry the char
acter too far; there was too much independ-
ence, too much Indifference that is not usual
to such house-maids. There was careless
neyytge in her dress and style which, whilst
good and characteristic, was hardly appro-
pirate To that style and sphere of house
maids which it was anticipated she would
represent,
The acting of Miss Eulalie Bouc, as "Fio-
rinda," when it is considered that it was
her first appearance on the stage, was highly
creditable, indeed. There was rather too
much of stiffness, but gradually this will
disappear as she becomes accustomed to
meet the public.
We have thus briefly said what we think
of the acting in the aiter-pieee, and with no
desire to be harsh or 10 detract from the lau-
refs which have been gathered in the past
Indeed, we say with truth, there has been
no period in our writing when we would
rather gather flowers to offer as an humble
tribute TO merit than now and to those whom
we have mildly criticised And we express
the wish, which we feel satisfied is shared in
by the public, that when they appear upon
the dedication OF the Town Hall, that whilst
there will necessarily be stars of different
mngnitudes, they may be equal in brilliancy'
and that none will be dimmed by reason of
a single word we have uttered.
The music of the Brookeyile and Sandy
| Spring Amateurs was simply splendid, the
solos by Mr.. Scott being several times en-
cOred. The oyster-supper, furnished by Mr..
Kelchner, was in good taste and much en-
ioycd.
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