Springfield globe-republic. (Springfield, Ohio) 1884-1887, 1886-02-27

Landlord,
captain captain Dupont. ,......-..- N"IP'' h'F'h"'"'"'"
captain "tr\alA' ~ - Frank Johnson
Notary,
Major prsmOulinS ..----.-...-...-.. Joseph >harp
Page. ....... - ........ ............ GrnrEr FuoS
paIIIn,. Mrs \rttir Van Sickle
Madame. p,.Srhar prllr> Mrs Y. p Latlmrr
Widow Mrlnottr .-.- ..... Mr>. " ;. HUFFMAN
Janet ....... ................ Miss Ellen Wilson
Marian ........... Miss Alice f"I'S
Mrs. Van Sickle sustained the title role
in manner absolutely above criticism. In
addition to possessing attractive manner
and fine personal presence, enhanced by
numerous elegant and appropriate costumes,
she had the advantage OF considerable pro
feSsional dramatic experience. The charac-
ter Of the beautiful ambitions. wayward.
but withal true-hearted Pauline, was pre-
scented in manner which called forth the
most enthusiastic applause of the audience.
In her dramatic work. of whatever charac-
ter. Mrs Van Sickle evinceS good taste, en-
erlyv. and a thorough identification with the
character She pcrtrayS. Her participation
in the play last evening did much To con-
tribute to its great success.
The character of Madame Deschappelles.
the ambitious mother Of Pauline, was well
taken by Mrs. V. p. Latimer, who has re-
Gently devoted considerable attention to the
dramatic art the Widow Menotte was
persUnated by Mrs. W. 5. Huffman. who
assumed this subdued and matrunly charaC
ter in a most satisfactory and agreeable
manner Miss Ellen Wilson. a> Janet and
Miss Alice Foley, as Marian. dressed their
characters most taStcfully, and performed
these subordinate parts very neatly.
The character of .'Claud Mrlnott." the
unfortunate. n0hle-hearted. but finally ti-
umphamt peasant artist. was eXrrllrutly
done BY \. H. Griffith. who is not a ,trang-
e To Springfield audiences. and who may
be- depended upon to make a cTedltahle pre-
>entation of anything he undertakes. Not
only did Mr.. Griffith maintain himself well
in a character which had nearly nve hun
dred lines to repeat and which required
most eNacting work from first to last.
but to him is also due, in a
large measure the dramatic success of the
entire entertainment. Upon him depended
the stage management. instructions at re-
hearsalS, suggestions a. to costumes. and
personal >uperN ision in design and arrange
ment OF the scenery. The la>t-named was
certainly the finest ever presented in this
city. Particularly notable was the exterior
of the Golden Lion Inn. the interior Of
Widow Melnotte'S cottage, the garden scene
and the drawiHS-ruOm scene i'll the last act
For the decoration of these scenes requisi-
tion> were made upon local drawing-roOm>
private collections of pictures and oma-
mentS. and upon the several greenhouses
Of the city. The character of Claude could
not have been placed in better hands than
Mr.. Griiith'S.
Ed b. Hurd'> Colonel Damas" was one
of the most naturally enacted male persona
tions of the evening, and Mr.. Hurd'S sue
cess was appreciated by all. Russell Seeds
as ''BeauSeant" had a difficult character 10
maintain, being the part of the gemteel vii
lain, but Mr.. Seeds arose to its require
mentS. His costumes were numerous. elr-
giant and appropriate. Ben Buxton a.
''Glayi>" had light, merry character to de
pict. and he did his part in manner to
draw applause. He had one of the most
delicate and pleasing costumes of the
evening. Carl Mower in the double role
Of ''DeschappelleS" and ''l.andlord." had
characters well adapted to his manners and
make up. Mr.: Ralph Bartholomew did par
ticularly we'll a. the peasant, ''Gaspar,"
and also assumed the minor role of Cap
tain Dupont" The costuming. stage pres
the double role of Captain GervaiN" and
the Notary" were all that could be de
sired. being given with appropriate ease and
SeIf-possession. Mr.. Joseph Sharp took
the part of Major Desmoulins," which,
though a minor one, was properly rendered,
while Master George FoO> did eXcellently as
the page"
1t would be- SupertuouS Ia offer any ad
verse criticism upon a home talent enter
t4inment possessing such excellent qualities
as this. High as the public hopes had been
raised by the announcements made lCng in
advance of the special preparations which
were being made for it. the production of
the Lady of Lyons" last evening exceeded
even these high anticipationS As to its mer-
its. All through the performance, which
went forward without hitch from first tO
last, there was evidence of hard study upon
the part OF the performers. and a
conscientious determination To give the
public an entertainment which should
be worthy of patronage, and not unworthy
of the noble object for the benefit of which
it was given. II at times the audience
seemed rather jolly over parts intended Ia
be paethiC OF tragic. il was not through any
lack of appreciation of the spirit and
earneStncS> of performers, but il was
owing wholly to the fact that all of them
were 50 well know in private and social
life that occasional amusement at the more
highly wrought dramatic parts could not br
restrained. This is no discrcdit Ia the per
formers, but iN all evidence that the audience
not only appreciated the beauties of the
scenery. costumes and acting. but that il
also felt that il was getting the full worth
of its money in real. downright. good
natured fun and merrlment. No amateur
dramatic entertainment ever given in this
city has given more general satisfaction
that the production of The Lady of
Lyons last evening. and all concerned in
the entertainment are entitled to great
credit for their Self-demying efforts 10
furnish few hours of innocent amusement
Ia the people. and al the same time CON
tribute about five hundred dollars towards
the erection of an edhce for the relief of
the injured and the alleviation of the sick.
The following relative to the play i from
the Columbus journal OF this morning
The much-talked-of performance of the .
Lady of Lyons by amateurs of this city for
the benefit of the hospital fund came of
this evening at the Grand opera house in
the presence of large and fashionable au-
iieuce The Stage settings We're beautiful.
- many artistic and beautiful objects for
he embrliNhment of the stage were loaned
Tor the purpose by prominent citizens. The
eading role of Pauline, Lady of Lyons.
Mas sustained by Mrs. Nrttie Van Sickle. a
springfield lady who starred this season in
connection with the dramatic company or