Smyrna times., 1892-02-10
The Comedy Drama of Joshua Whit
nOmh

Presented at the Opera House on
Thursday evening last was, with the
exception of he."Deestrict SkUle," the
most largely attended of any enter
tainment of the winter, and if we may
Judge by the expressions of the audi
euce, heartily enjoyed by most every
one present. This is accounted for
specifically because it was local talent
on the boards,-with one exception
Mr.. W. d. jefferson, who was with us
accidentally from stranded show,
and it was this circumstance that gave
us Joshua WhitcOmb," in the Interest
of the Arion orchestra.
Mr.. Jefferson had formerly played
with Denman Thompson, and being
put to his stumps" in the condition
he found himself in here, wrote out
the play from memory, assigned, with
the aid of the manager of the Orcnes
ira, the parts, himself taking the cnlel
role, Uncle JOSH" and excepting
some delays in the makeup" OF CHAR
acters for presentation that were un'
avoidable in the newness OF every
thing, was brought out with decidedly
good stage effect. Mr.. Jefferson as
| thoroughly assimilated the character
of Uncle JOSH" the plain, honest, un-
conventional old farmer as it seemed
possible to do, and being alive and roll
licking himself, be made everything
alive about him, and often times abso-
| lutely grOtesque.
We will not attempt full deinea-
ton of the play, but must not pass un
noticed the parts so effectively enacted
by the other persons who went to
make up the cast of characters
Uncle Josh...................... .................
Walter d. Jefferson, Of New York city
Gy 6glby bT'me ....................... G. b Taylor
John Edwards. Hervey p. Hall.
Rabe Rili whitcomb ~............. VIM. Carter.
Teddy }.............................W c. Warren.
Fakir
Policeman, Sheriff, etc. John r. Robinson.
Mrs. Edwards ......... Miss Marion Stevens
Tidy '''''''''' vi 'Ss mary heIIShu
Tot.............. Miss Alice Spruance
The role which came next in promi-
necence to Uncle Josh was Tot, which
was splendidly conceived and as well
presented as by professional, by Miss
|
as the mother of Tot, and as Tidy
had a chance to show her 6ne elocu.
tionary powers, and in the grand
transformation scene where she dies
in garrett bewailed by Tot, aud BY
stage trappings is made to appear tC
arise above the curtains while angels
thinly veiled fill up the background
was thrilling in its effect aud unlike
anything ever attempted before on the
stage. Miss Marion Stevens, as Mrs
Edwards, was cleverly presented anC
f we'll sustained throughout. G. B
: Taylor, though not in the character
naturally adapted to him, made "a gooC
, Cy Prime as might by expected o
him, and Will Carter in the doubl,
8 characters of Bill and Rube, showed ,
decided talent for the stage. The thre,
who had less to do than the Others
Hervey p. Hall. as John Edwards th,
city man, John r. Robinson, as police
). man and sheriff, ard W. c. Warren, a
Fakir, Jim and Teddy, filled thei
5 places naturally and we'll.
. The scene presented when the cur
f trim rose on the third act--of the oil
homestead Tots new home of com
fort, with the we'll and its sweep, Will
/, rich voices sang the odd QAke
s Bucket" ," as they had sung other popu
lar airs, was picture such as is rarel
s presented
\ The music was by the AriOn Orche
4 ira, which has shown marked improve
.r ment since it first organized. Th
gross receipts were over 800, the o
chestra promising as with the aid the
received to bring out light opera
the SDrinU