Brenham weekly banner. [volume] (Brenham, Tex.) 1877-1907, 1890-04-17
AMONG THE BREAKERS.
Presented by Amateur Talent to a Delight.
ed A udience on Saturday evening.

short notice with but little time for
practice OF rehearsal, it is drawing
it exceedingly mild to say that the
play of Among the Breakers" which
was presented at the opera house on
last Saturday evening for the bene,
fit of the Confederate Home at Aus
tin, was a most brilliant and COM
mendable success. There wasn't an
unpleasantly disappointed spectator
in the audience, but on the contrary
everybody was most agreeably sur
prised, and it was common remark
among those who ha9 been accus-
toned to patronize the theatre dur
ing the season just closed, that the
play presented Saturday evening, or
rather the members of the cast pre-
senting it, were far superior to most
of the professionals whom they had
seen during the season at the Opera
house. Following was the cast of
the play: David Murray, keeper of
Fairpoint Light, Mr.. Ed Blackburn;
Larry Divine, his assistant, Beaure-
gard Bryan; Hon. Bruce Hunter,
Mr.. W. 81. Smell; Clarence Hunter,
his ward, Mr.. Tom Holland; Peter
Paragraph, newspaper. reporter,
Mr.. John Hoffman,; Scud, Hunters
servant, Mr.. Ben S. Rogers; Miss
Minnie Daze, Hunters niece, Miss
W. B. Traynham; Biddy Lane, an
Irish girl, Miss Lizzie Dwyer; Bess
Starbright, "Cast up by the Waves,
Miss Hally Bryan; Mother Carey, a
reputed fortune teller, Mrs. L. j.
Lockett. It can be truthfully said,
without the indulgence usually al
lowed to amateurs, that the COM
pany as a whole acquitted them
selves with entire credit, while of
some of them judged by the strict
standard required of professionals it
can with equally as much truth be
said that their acting was almost
above criticism. The acting of
Mrs. L. j. Lockett and MIR. Ed
Blackburn can net be prais-
ed too highly. In the scene
where she, as Mother Carey, read
his past history in the grounds of
teacup and he as the heavy villain,
quaillng and writhing at his own in
fanny, finally aroused to the proper
height of rage and slapped the cup
from her hand, and in subsequent
scenes, they were superb. About
the only fault that can be found
with either of them is applicable to
both. They were both lacking in
gesture. A few simple ones would
have greatly relieved the monotony
and enhanced their acting to a
marked degree. Miss Hally Bryan
was complete success in every re-
spect. It might possibly be urged
against her by some-and the same
might be applicable to Mr.. John
Hoffmann-that they slightly over
did their parts. But this because
they were only amateurs. Had they
been professionals and not taken
everybody SO completely by surprise
the objection would never have been
thought of. Miss Bryan possesses
splendid soubrette talent, and in the
opinion of many surpassed two
thirds of the profession
al soubrettes who appeared
here last season. Besides acquitting
herself so charmingly, the credit of
getting up the play and the arrang
ing of all the details is due to her.
Ben S. Rogers as Scud, the colored
servant, was whole show by him
self and was pesrectly at home on
the stage, which very fact made him
holy terror and sent dismay to the
others, some of whom did not know
their parts. Scud didn't have his
lines down very fine himself and
made up about half as he went along.
His interpretations threw the others
off the track once in a while by not
giving them their cue. John Hoff-
mann displayed startling talent of
the Sol Smith Russell and Roland
Reed order and his friends did not
hesitate to say he ought to go East
and study for the stage. Miss vii
lie Traynham presented pretty
stage presence, and while she acted
only subordinate part she extract
ed all there was in it and won great
deal of admiration. Beauregard
Bryan made his strong hit in a per-
sonal clash with Scud. Miss Lizzie
Dryer did not appear at her best,
as she is known to be one of the
finest amateurs in the city, but her
acting was well received. Mr.. Smell
presents a handsome and portly
stage presence and a better selection
for the part could not have been
made, while Mr.. Tom Holland, the
remaining member of the cast, did
fairly we'll also. The play was ia
two acts, and between the falls of
the curtain Mrs. George England,
whose husband is the popular travel
ing auditor of the Santa Fe road,
made her 6rst appearance before a
Brennan audience and sang ''Bless
vo,,r 1ittla haorf 7 love Won on5 ~