Daily Honolulu press. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1886, 1886-02-16
esnsvIsve Ward in Honolulu.


knowing Some time ago we gave
"The Widow Hunt and rehearsed
several weeks beforehand There was
no stage manager, or at least the gen
tleman who undertook that office had
also part in the play. He once un-
dertook to make modest suggestion,
and brought down such a storm Of argu-
ment remonstrance, aud criticism that
he gave up in despair. Even the
prompter was sat upon. He was a
mild, obliging gentleman, who kindly
took the part to help us along One
of US would begin
"Why do you treat me so coldly }"
"No, no" from the prompter; "Why
so cold to me ?"
SWELL" impstiently, ''the meaning is
the same. So long as l give the idea,
is all right"
Or
81 WIS young, innocent and-er
--er"-
Prom msfey-"Confding
Amafeur-@For goodness sake,
don't interrupt me all the time; you
put me out"
The result was that we ambled
through our respective parts according
to our own sweet wills, and when the
performance went off without hitch
our friends told us that we were "won-
derful, charming" or "real nice" as
the case might be.
The advent of Miss Genevieye Ward
and Mr.. Vernon caused great excite
ment That lady, who is suffering
from ill-health, put off at Honolulu for
a month to rest We went to her and
begged for just one performance OF
''Forget-me-not" She finally con
sented, if the amateurs would take UP
the rest of the cast. And then we had
rehearsals in earnest. Mr.. Vernon,
who is a magnificent stage manager,
put US through our parts, going over
and over again, seventy times seven,
and never losing his temper for an in
slant. Miss Ward was too i'll to re-
hearse in earnest and simply mumbled
through her lines She takes, in "For-
get-me Not" the part of dangerous,
fascinating adventures, and we anna
teurs watched her at rehearsal with all
the thrilling interest attached to a
"real live actress" She would come
on the stage in a h0loku and loose wrap
per, with her bonnet-strings hanging
down her back, her little dog tucked
under her arm, knitting on red sock,
and munching large piece ofmolasses
candy. She looks as kind and beneyo-
leni as though butter wouldn't melt in
her mouth, when, with lump of candy
in ner cheek, she would humble:
"fum-I am dangerous woman
yum, yum-is it peace or war-ynn y
In the last scene, when the horrible
scream comes in, she would give a
funny little squawk and amble serenely
off, patting her dog. Sometimes, though,
she would let off her forty-horse-power
scream, and scare the amateurs half out
of their wits Once, when two ladies
Of the company we're sitting on the edge
of the stage-box, taking it all in with
their mouths open and their eyes cog
Cling with interest, she gave a Shrek
that sent them both over backward into
the box.
The performance Of "Fcrget-me- Not
was given to crowded house, and was
a great success. His majesty the King
md Colonel Judd, his chamberlain, oc.
cupied the royal box, and the Attorney
General Paul Neumann and family
were in the left-hand one. Among the
audience were the Premier Mr.. Gibson
Fl. r. H. Princess Likelike, his ex
cellency Mr.. Merrill, the American
minister, and Mrs. Merrill, and in fact,
al the elite Of Honolulu sciety
q Miss Wards acting was superb, and
the rest Of us watched admiringly from
the wings during the terrific scene be-
tween her and Mr.. Vernon, as Sir Hor-
ace Welby. She looked so thoroughly
the character Of beautiful fiend that
we utterly forgot the red sock, the dog,
and the molasses candy in the thrilling
interest Of the piece.
After the performance Miss Ward
and Mr.. Vernon gave champagne
supper at the hotel to the amateurs who
assisted in the play. Miss Ward was
too i'll to do more than preside at the
head of the table, beautiful and charm
ing hostess, but Mr. Vernon delighted
and entertained the company with
several recitations, and Mr. L. Mont
gomery Mather read an original poem
commemorative Of the occasion.
The amateurs were puffed up with
pride and importance by the kind com
pliments Of the professionals and the
fact that they had successfully played
their part Of tail to the kite and prop
to the star. BELLE OsBoURNE
IN S. r. Ayg0naHf
The Yaqui Indian War.