The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1892-02-13
CHURCH AND THEATRE.
Neutral Ground Upon Which
They Can Meet With
Profit.
GOOD WORK AMONG CATHOLICS.
Dramatic Associations Which Are
Making Their Influence Felt
In the Various Par.
ishes.

The theatre and the church have never
been on the best of terms. There used
to be good churchmen VINO made all sorts
of pleasant Dreaic tions as to the ultimate
fate of theatregoers. and firmly believed
that "play acting" was 'perdition"
spelled another way. Perhaps they are
still among us; certainly not SO vigorous
rs Of yore. But at any rate. the average
man likes to go to the theatre. and takes
delight in that same ''play acting" and
it is average men of whom congregations
are composed. People will go to theatres
and all the more if they are told not to.
There should be some way In which the
church's enemy should be made it's ally.
There are powerful religious d enomina-
tions In Jersey City who believe that they
have found the way. Chief among these
is the Roman Catholic Church. 1t be-
lieves that the church should cultivate a
taste for healthy drama. and to that end
have been organized large number of
dramatic associations under the direct
supervision of the church authorities, or
at least with their complete encourage
ment and appreciation. Some are of cUm-
paratively recent formation, others are
old timers with a long record of successes
in histrionics. but every one is ambitious,
and every one is certainly determined to
do better next time, no matter how sue
cessful each performance may be.
SOME OF THE SOCIETIES.
Perhaps glance at some of the better
known societies might be of interest.
There is the Catholic Young Mems
Literary Association, composed CHIEFLY Of
residents of northern Jersey City, wnere
everybody knows all about 1t, and has
only words of praise for it's work. The
dramatic corps of the club is not large,
Iur ri In hs m ht1t re MI hfinf, ia oil
out of proportion to its size. Its last
production was in the latter part of
January when four act drama was pre-
Sented, by name ''Ehe Shamrock
and the Rose.n The extent to which
Kessler's New Hall pac ked. proved the
popularity of the club, and the previous
record Of its artists. OF these Mr.. John
Keenan, deserves special mention, not less
for his ability as an elocutionist but for
his thorough knowledge OF the details
which make or mar performance. His
most marked successes have been achieved
in humorous roles.
Another star on this armament signs
himself NJ. Doran, and is widely known
as delineater of Irish character. There
is dash and fervor in his acting which
distinguishes it at 6rst glance. Mr.. John
Mcintyre appears to good advantage IN
old mems parts, and shines In "biess-
you-my children" character. Other anna
teurs Of note are Messrs. Joseph Hopkins,
z. Graham, +. Mcbride and p. Foley.
Among the young ladies who assist in
the production of these dramas are the
Misses Cahill, Nugent and Annie Allen.
The first Of the trio made decided hit
by her piquant rendition of the 'Sham-
rockn last month, while Miss Nugent's
Rose" added fresh laurels TO that Young
lady's already extensive conservatory.
ANOTHER VALUABLE AID.
The Young Mems Catholic Asso citation
| is oupd to distinguish itself or die one
week from next Monday, and it's odds
| that it doesn't die. 1.-The Colleen Bawn"
| will be presented in St. Bridget's Hall
| for three consecutive nights, and If the
public performance can be judged from
| the stage rehearsals, 1T will be an event
| in amateur theatrical circles. st. Brid-
| gets Church, by the way, has habit OF
| being interested in all sorts OF interesting
| departures, from temperance societies
| and reading rooms and children's clubs
| to debating societies and the drama. IL
| will be time enough to talk about the
| Young Mems Catholic Association after
| colleen Bawn" makes its bow to bhe
| public, for dramatic association must
always be judged by its last WORK.
| ON THE HEIGHTS.
| st. Joseph's Lyceum richly deserves
| the high position it occupies among or
| ganizations of it's class. For careful
! staging, attention to detail, and the de-
| lightful absence of first-night bitches. its
| performances are remarkable. The dra-
| matte corps is unusually large, the stand
| ard of excellence unusually high The
average road company might have taken
lessons from the association at their
! presentation of "The Shaughraun" in
| Pavonia Hall recently. 1t would have
| pleased Boucicault himself. Mr.. Henry
| j. Hanley is member of this coterle ana
noteworthy one; so is Mr.. Stephen
| Mcbride. than whom few better
actors ever trod the amateur boards:
| Mr.. Mcbride has host OIL
| firm supporters and admirers. whose
| enthusiasm he fully deserves. Close
| upon him on the lists comes Mr.. john j..
| Cone. Everyone who has passed the
| chain of guards and penetrated to re-
| hearsal of the club, remembers Mr.. Crone.
He comes to the front at rehearsals for
| he has ideas of his own, and that is just
where ideas are at premium Ihen
| there are Mr.. John J. Walsh, MI. John
| Mckiernan. Mr. Robert smith, MI. Jonn
j. McAndrews, Mr.. w. P. Whelan, the
| painstaking William II. Boyle, Mr.. Peter
Donovan and Mr.. Peter Nolan.
Miss Martha Gildea is noted as an
| amateur actress of marked ability, and
| possesses clear soprano voice OF great
| sweetness and purity. She appeared IN
the Lyceum Company with marked sue
cess at their last presentation. MISS
Gildea's engagement TO Mr. James
Houghton has recently been announced.
Miss Mamie Lanes success as ingenue IS
upouestioned. Her manner is artless
and winning. her enunciation clear, her
gestures natural, and her appreciation OF
her lines remarkable. Misses kittie and
Nellie Walsh have also appeared in this
company with great success, as nave
Miss Nellie johnson and Miss Annie
Kelly.
ST. PETERS LYCEUM.
The Young Meu's Lyceum OF st Peters s
has made for itself an enviable reputation
in this direction and seems inclined to
rest upon it. There have been many hints
of coming performance, and the writer
had it upon good authority that the cluo
was preparing play to surpass even lts
oldtime efforts, but that Is as far as IL mas
| gone, it seems.
1t must be understood that the societies
mentioned above do not contine their at
teption solely to histrionics; eich organI-
zation has work in other lines fully us I'M
nortant. but for the purposes OF this
Sketch, only the dramatic side has been
selected.
VnNGV NQTIRrH N0VES