The Opelousas courier. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1852-1910, 1886-08-14
Dramatic Performance of opelou.
sas Social Club.

on Thursday evening, July 90, the
Opelousas Social Club gave one of the
most interesting and delightful theatri-
Gals that has been placed on tile boards
I'D Opeiousas for years. Everything
was propltlous to make this event the
grandest triumph of the season. The
night was clear and beautiful, Perro-
ans Hall was crowded with an attentive
and appreclative audience, and the tall
ented amateurs who had mastered their
roles SO well, seemed to catch new in
spiration from this happy combination
OF circumstances and fairly eclipsed
their most sangnine expectations i'm
carrying out the programme Of the
evening The Club was even felicitous
III IFS selection of piece, and in tile
cast of characters the sequel proved that
line histrionic Judgment was exer cised
in the difficult task of assigning parts
so as to develop smooth and harmo-
NOUS rendition of that unity of action
and genius of conception which would
viVldly interpret the soul of the drama.
The piece presented was "Naval En-
gagements"-a farce in two acts, which
was brimful of humorous incidents,
tuAtciouo oibuntlONS, d0EtpaDIG
disagreements,n and was played with
such striking individuality and dramatic
| effect as to make it realistic in every
feature. The dramatis persona in this
play are Admiral KingstoA and his son
Lieut.. Kingston who have not met for
the lapse of two years. AT parting
they had mutually agreed not to object
/ to each others choice i'm marriage.
During their separation the navy,
/ however. it seems that the old Admiral
| had Wooed and won Miss MARY Mortimer
who had been the playmate and sweet
: heart of his sou iii years gone by, bnt
was captivated hy the high rank Of the
father and The prominence II weuia gis 4
her il society. The snn, Lieut. King
stan, i'll the meantime had become en-
gagged 10 a Mrs. Pontifex who was IF
teen years his senior. The father and
son met at all inn in Portsmouth, and
/ by strange concurrence of cifcum-
stances the two ladies in question visit
the inn during the day but Miss Nor
timer happens to be ushered IN while
Lieut.. Kingston is i'll the parlor, and
recognizes her childhood lover, but CON
ceals the fact from him. After pleas
ant chat they part with a mutual admi-
ration for each other, both on account
of their youth and their good looks.
Soon after Mrs. Pontifex is admitted,
expecting to see her betrothed, Lieut..
Kingston, but finds herself il the pres
ence of the old Admiral They have a
pleasant tete-d-fete and become smitten
with each other. Subsequently, the son
,,.,,.f M, Ehf oat,,f rs,arn and
after the embraciDgs and rejoielngs over
their reunion, broach the subjects OF
their prospective marriages. The IA
ther objects to his son wedding lady
cold enough to be his MOTHER and the
son objects fo his father marrying ~
girl Young enough to be his daughter
They call eacil other fools. quarrel, aud
ssdisagref4 tu agree y AT this janctnie
the ladies teappear, the word. Wiirfare
in 4sthe naval engagement" continues
for awhile, when Miss Mortimer and
Mrs. Pontifex ints.rposa aud by woman
III tact aud shrewd concilialisn calm
tile teinpers OF the two naval officers, 4
mutual transfer of affections take place,
fhe old Admiral takIng Mrs. Pontifex
and tile Lieut.. gladly returning to hi
early love.
Miss Pauline Isaac sustained the role
Of Mrs. Pontifex with charming effect
and although ii was apparent that shs
was somewhat embarrassed ut first, yei
this very diffidence gave greater empha
. sia to hei uttefances and made her mp
pearance more bewitehmg. Miss Paullin
ID one of our most accomplished artists
in n1sic. bnt il we are not mistaken
this was her fist appearance IN dfaIs'i'
III this effort SHE displayed fine iiisft1
i onic talents aud wen high comMenda
tions from the audience Miss Gabrielle
Hebrard made an exqisite Mary Morl
mer. and it is not surprising that he
sweet coqnetry and bird like yoic
+ should have conquered even an Admi
ral but then, when her heart q ptesse
its love for the young Lieutenant, an
sIle declares the passion Of helssoisi, lit.l
, the acting was stfikingly natural an'
the Interpretation was q real Mar,
Mortimer standing bsfsfe the andienct
Miss Gabrielle possesses unusual eloeu
tionary powers, and the flute like note
!. uf her voice, inodulating AMI saiy1n
will, tile pitch of .her theme, eonld y
I,parsl with silvery distinetness to z
ramofest part Of the hall. Mr.. JOS.
Cain was the living embodiment s'f I.
Admiral Kingston. His tout easeino
was perfecI-tlse naval uniform, iron
7 = gray side-Hhiskers and nustaclle 81
j. & nerfecf, lateral stride Of an old sialf (
] ! and even tie voice and quick utteraHe
= of 4 seafaring man. Really, We f,rg'
= an,selvps and looked around to sec i y
could GET u glimpse of lis flag. ship
!. noff. Mr.. Cain's acting was 10 full ~
= st,n with flle character Ils was eiiaetin
$ As lpng is lie was On the stage his I'r.
so.,al individuality was merged, aud
= stood before tile audience y vetlfaD
!. ! Admiral Kingston. Our friend 20, llos
= ever. III born actor, has fine perez!
tion of lsistrionic effects, and is az fainl
& iar with Shakespeare as lawyer ~ M
8 l,is code of Practice. Robert Flrllbe
made happy biz IN bis impefsoniasi'
III Lieut.. Kingston. He looked eye
;nel, of him an officer OF the navy, q
Y with his bright uniform, graceful "a
y siage. clear and resonant voice ana cil
g gestures. was well calculated e ma
y 5is father the old Admiral very ns'
s Gus and fidgety 10 adjusting their ,nls
N rimoniai antagonisnls. Mr Isaac ho'
ef IS Short. the inn keeper, and most
ap Admiral and Lieut.. Kingston, play
" nYs pare iii very clever lllssra ns'f.
ae sesvl,ihited ID very striking mani
lN ~ IL. essys slat44stsN AftH HaS B