The Durham recorder. [volume] (Durham, N.C.) 1879-19??, 1883-06-27
Above the Clouds.


The d. A. d. Club presented us
with the above play at Stokes hall on
Monday night the 25th inst. Owing
to the inclemency of the weather the
hall was not as crowded as we hoped
it would be-still there was sufficient
number in the audiance to make a
very respectable show and to give
such tone to the whole affair as is al.
ways essential to the development of
a full measure of effort on the part of
the actors. Too much cannot be said
of the elegance and proficiency with
which the whole piece was rendered,
and we do not hesitate to say that the
performance in its entirety, would do
credit to many troupes Of far more ex-
perience upon the stage. As amature
performers, the d. A. d. Club of
Durham bids fair to rank as second
to no other in the State. The play
rendered by them on Monday night,
simple, is beautifully conceived, and
in many parts, there is a degree of
pathos, calculated TO stir the deepest
emotions of an audiance, and those
present on this occasion, evinced a
full measure of appreciation of the
efforts of each individual upon the
stage.
Time and space forbid any lengthy
description, or more than a cursory
glance at the rendering of each feat.
ure in the play. The characters could
not have been more judiciously select
ed nor better sustained by other than
regular professionals. The perform
ances was opened by the appearance
ofHoward Gaylord and Grace ingalls,,
Respectfully E. A. Heart and Miss
Minnie Moore. 1t was easy Of dis
covery, from the first blush, what the
young country gentleman was after,
and the GRACEFUL manner in which
he was received foreshadowed the cul.
mination of affairs between the two!
Alfred Thorpe, CD McIver the city ma
bob, ah Alfred, one would havethought
that under the influence of so many
gray hairs your heart of steel would
have melted at sight of the ruin you
had wrought, buttrue to the character,
you had assumed no appeal to your
sense of justice seemed to awaken the
slightest spark of pity in your obever-
ate heart nor turn one whit from your
relentless purpose. Phillip Ringold,
w. W. Avery-This character could
scarcely have been improved upon.
and was sustained all through with
admirable effect. Titus Turtle
the Gourmond-Chas. McGary, was
calculated to breed famine in any
community, whose misfortune it might
be, to be forced to maintain him for
two days consecutively. The Lord
only knows where he found room to
storcaway the green apples and tarts
and "cold shoulders" so bounteously
provided under the hospitable roof of
Amos Gaylord, the courteous country
gentleman. G. w. Watts, who for
dignity of manner and courageous
sympathy for the misfortunes of his
housekeeper-Mrs. Hester Thorp,
miss Bessie Fanning) stood as peer
to the most accomplished Knight Of
old.
Curtis Chapman, and Nat Naylor,
(W. II: Muse, W. ]. Pogue) Thorp's
protege, seemed in real dead earnest
on the score Of love making. Pretty
little, Susy Gaylord, Miss Dora
Fanning) handled the two chaps to
perfection. Lucretia Gerrish Miss
Jessie Smith $50 romantic" made O
felicitous "NIiss" in escaping the de.
! pradations that would undoubtly have
\ followed ain alliance with hungry
T Titus.
Hester Thorpe, miss Bessie Fan
ning) crowned herself with laurels a.
usual and held the audiancc spell
bound at times in her earnest appeals
to Thorpe for justice. We have sci
dom seen an audiancc more appreci
alive, and the whole entertainment
!. may justly be pronounced a CRANE
i. success.