Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1893-03-16
POOR PATRONAGE OF PLAYS.

Good Companies Draw Small Hous 9 in
Bellows Falls, and Won er Why.
1t is a question whether Bellows Falls will
have any high grade attractions at the Opera
House next season. A short time ago there
was favorable outlook, and negotiations
were in progress with number of the popu-
lar companies to play here. But there has
been IA hange of feeling among the managers
of the companies owing to report from
those who have been here that the business
of the town is not sufficient to pay expenses.
There have been Il large number Of attrac-
tons at the Opera House this season; more
than any winter for years. Some have been
good, and some bad, with the majority midi
way between those eXtremites. aud as good
as are found in any hut the largest city the
aters. Up to this date the number of com
panes during the season numbers about %,
or one a week, Including the lecture course.
Not more than four or five of these compa-
MES have played to paving business, aud
come of them took in hardly enough money
to pay local expenses, to say nothing of The
fixed expenses of the company.
I'VE considtr the two best plays of the Win
ter to be Gland, Across the Sea-" and Helen
Barry. The plays are OF different kinds, but
both require strong acting and are calculated
to please every class Of people. "Hands
Across the Sea" played to the largest house
and at neighboring towns, and everyone
knew what it was. Helen Barry. on the
other hand, although she has played in every
large city in the country, has not played the
smaller to sns till this season, when IA long
jump from the west to the east neces>itated
putting in few nights to fill open dates.
That is how it happened she came here, and
PLAYED other places in this state. In every
other town she has had crowded houses, and
In some places standing room brought 10
cents. But here everyone was asking who
she was, aud what the play was about, aud
the bail was barely One-third filed. The
company gave the best of satisfaction, and
produced the play with as good effects as at
the city theatres. Some who attended the
play here saw her at the Park theatre, Bos-
ton, last season, and say the company was as
strong and the play as well produced here.
Although the audience were satisfied, Miss
Barry aud her manager were not, aud in
quirel the reason of the slim attendance. 1t
was not so much the small receipts in this
case as the idea of company of such promi-
hence playing to empty benches. She is con-
tempiating a return date just to see if the
town really appreciat good thi &, and if
she does come it Is hoped she will be greeted
with full house.
There are some other attractions, that have
been among the leading attractions at The
city theatres this season, already booked for
this season. but unless the patronage i'm
proves the dates will be cancelled. Among
the coming companies are "A County FAIR
s'Od Homestead" "Fair Rebel" and "a
Rovai Pass" If you have never heard of
thu m. just glance at the amusement columns
of your daily papers from time to time aud
you will see what the dramatic critics of the
large cities think of them. The town can
afford to patrOnize such plays. We can't af-
ford to let the Opera House lie idle, but
that's what it looks like in the near future.