The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1889-12-06
FOR 81. FRANCIS HOSPITAL.
An Enjoyable Entertainment by
Mary's Holy Name Society.

An Enjoyable Entertainment by st.
Mary's Holy Name Society.
An audience numbering over one thou
sand filled the hall of the Catholic Insti-
tute again last evening to witness a
repetition Of the literary and dramatic
entertainment to help the worthy sisters
pay for the extensive additions they are
having built 60 st. Francis Hospital on
Hamilton Park. As an entertainment
arranged and performed by amateurs
it deserves high commentator. The
chief credit for its brilliant success
is due to the Rev; 9. j. Kelly, the presl-
dent and spiritual director OF st. Nsry s
Holy Name Society, under whose auspices
it was given. This society, by the way,
numbers over 700 men, and is the largest
society connected with any single church
in the State. Father Kelly not only ar
ranged the parts and selected the actors
to fill them. but he gave the young men
the benefit of his advice during fehear-
sails, and acted as stage manager both
evenings, 80 that everything went off
without q hitch or break. The following
was the complete programme
PART l.
Overture ....... .orchestra
olesSl the Old ADMINISTRATION scene IN
Ireisnd -Myles O'Neil, reduced to poverty
duu aDOub Y uO ms hvhet
NJ. Murphy
Martin o'Neil, his son ...........J F. Purcell
Crumbs, the Agent ..........J . Marion
Chorus 80. .......-.......H N. Choral Glass
Music......... orchestra
Vocal Quartette.. Messrs. Fitzstmmons, Dixon,
Donovan and Hicks.
Interlnde, waiting for the Train,
Messrs. J. II. F. O'Connell and I. Leonard
Chorus N. Choral Glass
Music .,............... Orchestra
PART II.
Vocal Olarette.
MERCHANT OF VENICE.
ACT I-scESE m--Streets in Venice;
ACT Iv--Court of Justice.
Cast of Characters:
Duk of Venice ......... J. Swan
Antonio. the Merchant of Venice. W. MARA
Bassanio his friends. 90. d. fTanMr aSe,
Portia, wife Of B~assanio, disguised asa
Doctor OF Law. : hsonard
Shylock, the Jew. ..t..........J y. L. +. OConnell
| Vocal solo ......... ..............-Mr Hicks
Vocal quartette.
Finale. : 80. OFclestra
The first part was well performed,
| notably the touching s~oliloqueys OF Mr..
| Murphy as Myles O'Neil in the eviction
scene; and if the make up and manner of
| an Irish land agent is but one-lalf as
| ferocious as the one presented by ).
| Marion in this scene, then lreland's
| troubles are more than accounted for.
| The quartettes rendered by Messrs. FitZ-
| simmons, Donovan, Dixon and Hicks
| during the evening were of course excel
| lent. The Holy Name Choral Glass
| showed a marked Improvement in their
| choruses: thanks to their conductor.
But it was the acting of Messrs. j.. L.
F. O'Connell and Il. Leonard that was the
great hit of the evening. Their versatility
| could hardly have been more severely
tried. 1t Is a long step from the rolickino
and iaughable sketch, "Waiting for the
train" to 1.-THE Merchant of Venice
Mr.. O'Connell assumed the trying part OF
Shylock and Mr.. Leonard the digniied
role of Portia. in which they were both
perfect. Cunning, a~varice, apparent sue
cess. rage and despair were depicted, as
demanded, in the face and every move
ment Of Shylock. While the grace and
sweet intonations of voice necessary in
Portia were admirably assumed by
Mr.. Leonard. Mr.. j. Swan, as the
Duke of Venice gave a dignity
to that Office which could scarcely have
been excelled by the Doges themselves,
j. Dunnigan and T. Maher as Bassanie
and Gratiano. respectively, We're worthy
of their PARTS, while Walter O'Mara as
Antonio, the embarrassed Merchant Of
Venice, entered with much spirit into his
part.
The audience, too, was an appreciativt
one, and showed that they understood i
was one of S~hakespeare's most delightful
comedies that was being enacted before
them. Their feeling was shown IN tn
sounds of applause with which the.
greeted the Rev. L.. Q. Carroll when h'
walked to his seat In the hall. The audi
ences for both evenings must nave mum
bered 1900, and it is expected the per
formances will net $ 1000 for the hospita
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