Jamestown weekly alert. [volume] (Jamestown, Stutsman County, D.T. [N.D.]) 1882-1925, 1891-04-23
ESMERAlDA PRODUCED.
The jamestown Dramatic Club
Scored II Great Triumph In
it's Presentation.
One OF the Best Amateur Per.
fOrnlances Ever Given in
Jamestown.
Directors and Officers of LlOyd'S
National Bank Elected
Saturday.


National Bank Elected
Saturday.
''Esmeralila."
The presentation of "Esmeralda" at
Opera rink Friday night by the James
town Dramatic club scores another
triumph for local talent. Not only were
the lines spoken with spirit and fervor,
but the stage settings showed a pains
taking care and thought and the costum-
ing of the parts was surprising IN it's
elaborate completeness. Every member
of the cast made from two to four
changes of costume. The good effect of
the acting was thus greatly heightened
by the appearance of the actors in Co.'S
tunes appropriate to their varying con-
ditions. Any home entertainment is sure
of good house. but few awake so keen
an interest or draw so large an audience
as did "Esmeralda." The seating capac-
ity of the rink was taxed to the utmost,
TO accommodate the large audience, which
is estimated to have numbered above 500.
"Esmeralda" is one Of Mrs. Frances
,Hodgson Burnett's most popular plays.
When put on dozen or so years ago by
professionals it's success was phenomenal.
It is happy intermingling OF humor, love
and pathos. 1t ls recital of the zigzag
course OF true love-which did not run
smooth-and the happy and proper de-
nouement thereof. The play is too we'll
known and was seen by too large an au-
dience to necessltate the giving Of a
synopsis in this report. The leading
part was taken by w. H. Coggeshall who
personated ''Old Man. Rogers, typical
Nor Car'liny farmer. Mr.. Coggeshall's
makeup, either as the farmer in adver-
city or as the pleasure seeker in Paris,
was great. His lines were spoken nat
urally and their humor and pathos we're
forcibly expressed His acting was equal
to bis make up. He was easily the star
OF tho performance. Miss Eva Klaus ap-
pearel in the title role and sustained her
trying lmpersouation with natural ease
that made her great fsvorite with the
audience. She was equally successful
as the meek and modest girl or as the
more self-assertlve woman who finally
resented maternal interference in her love
affair. In the climax in the third act
her elocution was the most impassioned
and her acting the most fervld of any
seen during the evening. Esmeralda's
mother, Mrs. Rodgers, was we'll done by
Miss Cornelia Smith. The part is difficult,
but not popular. The old lady is designing,
meddling and ecold who wants to run
it all" Miss Smiths make up was good
and her part was one of the heaviest.
She did the Jezebel act quite
naturally and sustained her part
in highly creditable manner. H. 8.
Helm, as Dave Hardy, the lover, was an
other of the leading characters. He is
persistent wooer and after many tribula.
tions wins the reward of his faithfulness
in the hand of "Esmeralda." Mr.. Helm
has good stage presence and created
the favorable impression on the audience
which the faithful lover is always design.
ed to create. His difficult work was we'll
and naturally done.
E. w. Camp appeared IN double role.
As the American speculator. George
Drew, he had little to do, but in his
character Of the Marquis De Montessin
the French adventurer, there was ample
scope for his dramatic talent to display
itself. His makeup as the Marquis was
excellent. His name was on the bill as
9. E. Wamp and there were probably
many inTthe audience who did not dis
cover who Mr.. "Wamp' was. The Mar
quls was the bad man Of the play and
Mr.. Camps cool dellberation in speech
and movement admirably comported with
the part he assumed. His French dia-
lect would have done credit to profess
sional. Frank Casey represent ted Jack
Desmond, the artist. in whose studio two
of the acts are laid He does not have
very much to do or say, but he did and
SAID that little we'll. Mr.. Casey evidenced
ability to sustain creditably much more
difficult part. His artists costumes were
true to the original. Mrs. s. L. Glaspell
Huu V4I6. 1s M Oud60 W0r0 GQ0 D0SmO0Q
girls, Nora and Kate. They figured quite
extensively in the last half of the play
and kept the audience guessing by their
numerous changes of costumes. They
we're warm friends of Esmeralda and
were material IN efecting the happy de-
nouement of the last act. o. H. Holt, as
Estabrook, the man of leisure, did not
have opportunity to show his talent until
the last act. Then the love scence
with Nora Desmond (Mrs. GlaspelD was
a very clever piece of acting on the part
Of both participants. Mrs. Glaspell and
Mrs. Chase would have been successes in
leading roles and the continual improve
ment of Mr.. Hollis work as it grew
heavier was evidence that he would have
done likewise.
The play moved along smoothly. There
we're no bitches. nor falterings nor
promptings. The success of the presenta.