The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1882-06-02
For The &gis and Iatelioenee
The Darlington Dramatic and Minstrel
Troupe.

Mr.. EDITOR: The concert by the Darlington
amateur minstrel troupe, advertised in the col
umns OF last weeks Egis, to be given at Gorrell's
30 has just been concluded and in oruer that your
readers may have some intelligence of it In your
next issue, we will endeavor to give you a sketch
Of its leading points tonight.
The troupe is composed of about fifteen young
gentlemen of the neighborhood, with Mr.. D. F.
Shure, Jr.. rs Musical Director, and Mr.. w s.
Croft, as Stage Manager. The admission fee
charged to adults was twenty cents; and the
OF the Ladies' Aid Society" of Grace Memorial
Episcopal church,
A stage and seats for the audience were i'm
provised at Mr.. Gorrelrs Hall, so as to transform
what was formerly carriage shop into very
good concert room. The chief difficulty being
its lack of size 1t not being large enough to con-
tain more than about two hundred persons
On this occasion, while not being crowded to
its fullest capacity. yet the hall was comforta-
bly, hlled-there being greater number present
and the families of our very best citizens-than
we had reason to expect at the first performance
Of an inexperienced troupe. The greater part Of
the troupe were burnt corked and bewigged to
represent the gentleman from Africa
The performance opened, rs usual, with u
grand overture by the troupe. and as the greater
part of them are good musicians, the introduce
ton was Il COOL one. and put the audience in a
state OF rooi humor which was maintained
| throughout the evening. This overture was in
| torsperscd by the usual conundruns between
".bnnes and "tamborine. and Others Of the per-
| formers. 10y which a number of local hits" and
| highly amusing questions and answers We're
brought out. An Interesting feature, in the early
LIlIt vi ne cHiUlnH. WAS RulIPF SOLO Dy Dr. j..
Ward Scott, who appeared undisgulsed. Later
IN the evening pr Scott again appeared with
guitar in duet with the violin of Mr. Robt. E.
| PrigR. The music was charming indeed. and was
ronudly cncnrcd by the delighted audience
The Jig dance" was well done. and would have
been creditabln tn professionals OF more pretcn-
| tions. "Holiday Among the Slaves'-n plantation
scene. was true Ia nature. and highly amusing.
The Recruiting Officer" by Mr.. Croft padded
| to an immense size. proved TO be one of the most
| laughable characters Imaginable The concep-
ton and acting in this scene were really marve-
l9ns for ;, one rL not In daily practice upon the
rendered as we have witnessed it in the large
cities. About the only serious aspect of the eve
| nings performance was in the singing of "0ld
Black joe" by Mr.. Croft. He appenred OF
course. in character with the gray hair. the high
crowned weather. beaten old white hat and tot
tering steps. This character was rendered with
perfect truth TO nature. and with all the finish of
art The echoing of the chorus of "Old Black
Joe" from the dstancc-from behind the scenes
| las the voices calling to him from the other
shore, came with beautiful pathos. The inter-
brief. were filled by the Orchestra, in which Mir.
! Jos. Andrew presided at the organ. and Mr. T.
Ross and others performed beautifully upon vio-
| Inns. The finale consisted in a Grand Railroad
Smash In which was quite realistic. and with
some hits upon our county stations on the p
At the instance of some of the ladies' during
| the performance the following request was
hastily signed, handed on the stage. and after
dience by Dr. j. Ward Scott 'S''N w '''e ~
The undersigned respectfully request the
| harrington Minstrel Troupe TO repeat the high.
| ly entertaining performances of this-rueslay
evening-at the same place on next Friday June
2. evening.
| w. Stump FOrwood, Henry r. Waters
| David F.. Thomas, A. r. Galbreath
John II. Price, ]. r. Fly
| &. Wilson, d. +. Shure Sr
| B.J. Williams, and others.
| j. 8. Gorrell.
| Doubtless every one in the house would have
signed the request" had opportunity offered L.
Every one appeared delighted with the evening 8
| entertainment, and all we heard speak of 1t said
they would return on Friday evening to get the
| variations promised nv the troupe. The musi-
cal director. Mr. D. F. shure, Jr.. succeeded adj
mirably in his management. and the stage mana
ger. Mr. Croft, surprised every one with his well
cultivated theatrical talent. All of the troupe,
IN their respective parts acquitted themselves
very creditably; and we can assure our friends
| that they may confidently expect still better
performance on next Friday night.
| w.S.F.
| darlington, Tuesday Wight, May 30, 1882.
! P.S. We learn that about 1913 was realized from
| the concert.