Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1885-12-03
FsHidden Hand"

Is the title of dramatic play pre-
sented by the young people of Grand
Rapids and Centralia. at the Opera
Rink, Wednesday evening Nov 25th,
to large, appreciative audience The
evenings entertainment was opened
with an overture by the Lynn and
| Lyon orchestra, followed by a vocal
piece of music entitled, "List the
evening Breezes Stealing" by Messrs
Slocum and Wood and Misses Irwin
and Reeves, both instrumental and
vocal were admirably rendered.
In the first act appeared two of the
principal characters, Miss Grace Briggs
as heiress and newsboy; Ellis Kroner
as Major Ira Varfeld; and Arthur
Demarais in his popular newsboy song,
Extra-Extra. - These three fairly
took the audience by storm and outdid
themselves beyond recognition. They
exhibited marked dramatic ability and
might shame many actors of maturer
years.
In the second act appeared Jos
Corriveau as 'Wool," hurricanes ser
want Arthur Reeves as ''Black
Donald" the principal rufian in the
play; Dolph Bezailon, Will Scott and
Ellis Rogers, as Black Donalds pals;
and Fred Breasted as Colonel Len oir'
who pays Black Donald literally for
the evidence of Capitola's death. In
the first scene of this act the plot in
the play was finely presented In the
second scene of this act appeared Miss
Nina Briggs as ''Mariah Rocke," who
is Hurricanes discarded wife, and
mother of DR.. Traverse and Herbert
Grayson. Miss Nina executed her
part with such nicety that it would
impress one with the belief that she
was woman of age and experience.
In the second scene of the third act
appears Black Donald in Capitola's
private chamber with intent of murder.
Here Capitola precipitates him through
a trap door just in time to save her
own life. This she did after an elo-
quent plea to him, to leave her cham
Der and save the shedding of blood
During the intermission between the
third and fourth acts, Miss Lottie
Lynn appeared robed in white tarla-
tan, decorated with flowers, holding
in one hand a bouquet and in the
other basket of flowers, and sang a
piece entitled ''The Flower Girl She
appeared the emblem Of innocence and
purity and sang with that sweetness
of voice thgt is excelled by few Of
her age.
In the first scene of act four Capito-
la rides across the stage on one of Ell.
Fl. Compton's small Indian ponies
which he kindly loaned them for that
occasion, in the midst of heavy
storm, thunder and lightning. This
is one of the prettiest scenes in the
play. In this as we'll as other scenes
in the play "Woop' the negro servant
appears with his comical expressions of
wit
In the third scene of act four, Miss
Beulah Cochran as ''Clara Day. was
released from the Haunted House,
where she had been placed by Colonel
LeNoir closely guarded by servants, by
Capitola who takes her place in the
Haunted House and foiles Col. and
Craven LeNoir in their little scheme
The fifth act presents the interior Of
Major Warfeld's residence in which
Mr.. Warfeld and Miss Cora Bellant,
as "Mrs. Condiment' are In private
conversation as how to control Capitola
whom the Major has adopted.
Scene second of this act represents
the interior Of a cell in which Bla OK
Donald is incarcerated, schackled and
chained, awaiting his execution. Here
Capitola enters and leaves with the
prisoner files and picks with which he
liberates himself and escapes.
In the last scene of the play they
all find retribution, Major Warfeld
reclaims his discarded wife Traverse,
his son. is given 10 marriage to Clara
Day; Capitola and Herbert join issues
together, and Wool and Pit-a-Pat get
the fever and they too are made happy.
Throughout the entire play, which
is a long one, each and every one OF
the young people acquitted themselves,
with such accuracy and freedom, that
one would have thought they were ac-
: tors of experience.
The drilling and supervision during
the rehearsals was conducted By Mr.
Ellis KRONER. Miss Nellie Kroner
and Mrs A. L. Fontaine, to whom the
r principal credit is due. The receipts
for two evenings was $113.45, out oI
which the young folks presented $50
to the Good TemplarS Lodge in thi:
city. They think some of going to
, Wausau and Merrill, and if SO they
ought to have crowded houses, as they
are far superior to half Of the travelling
| troupes.
Shooting Match.