The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1894-04-21
The BAND Entertainment.

There are two reasons why Westminster
always turns out en- masse when benefit is
given to its highly esteemed band: First, the
laudable purpose of helping so worthy an
enterprise, and secondly, the very natural in
terest manifested in the local talent brought
out on such occasions. Band entertainments
are strictly home productions. And SO Odd
Fellows Hall held all and more than it could
comfortably accommodate on the evening of
April 18th, when the curtain rose, showing
the band ''diked OUT in their natty regi-
mentals of blue, white and gold-ready at
their leaders signal to begin the sweet strains
of the overture, "Zampa," with which the
program was introduced. 'Nigger in de
Barnyard," was very successful attempt at
the humorous in music, and as a descriptive
piece was q happy hit. Sandwiched with
familiar airs could be heard, hens cackling,
ROSTERS growing, pigs squealing, horses
neighing, corn shelter rumbling and all other
imaginable barnyard noises.
Misses Mollie Shriver and Maggie Stem,
Messrs. B. F. Grouse and II. o. Keen sang
"Come Join in the Dance" the accompani-
ment being played by Mrs. DIR. White. E.
b. Manning recited very tragically, "The
Tell-tale Heart" one of Edgar Allen Poe's
blood curdling stories. In response to an
encore he gave in costume German dialect
selection. After 81. A. Depfer had sung
solo, which was well received, the band ap-
peared with another descriptive piece entitled
''The Night Alarm" quite as realistic as the
previous one had been. There was the dread
cry of ''6re," the rushing engine, the flying
water and all. The next selection by the
band, Position Waltz was very good in
deed, and the applause it met proved the
audience to be very proud of Westminster
Correct Bank. Miss BERTHE Keen, now quite
popular as soloist, won hearty encore, in
response to which she sang 'tAll in Garden
Fair" But perhaps ne number ofthe concert
part of the program attracted so much in
terest as the next piece, "Hayland Waltz,
heard for the first time in public and played
by the composer, Miss Anna E. Shriver.
1t is one of those sweet dreamy airs so well
adapted to the gliding measures of the waltz,
and Miss Shriver has given it an accompa-
niment Of rich chords worked out with very
pleasing effect. Miss Shriver's playing is
always done with great deal of expression,
and of course her skillful playing showed off
her own composition to its best advantage.
She gracefully acknowledged the very COM
plimentary applause bestowed upon her with
a very modest bow. Part of the entertain.
ment closed with trio, "Row Us Boatman,"
sung by Misses Mollie Shriver, Maggie Stem
and Bessie Herr, Miss Anna Shriver playing
the accompaniment. The comedy drama,
"Hick'r y Farm" made up Part III. B. f.
Grouse, as Ezekiel Fortune, a New England
farmer, was inimitable, and his acting showed
The was by no means a new hand on the
stage. But the play wonld have lost its best
part had it lost Mrs. Priscilla Dodge, the
susceptible widow, and had not this part
fallen to so capable an actress as Miss Mary
B. Shellman. In the annals of Westminster
theatricals no name occurs ofteuer than that
of Miss Shellman's, and no one has been
more complimented and deservedly so than
she. But this last appearance was without
doubt her very best performance. She
always does her part well, be it what it may,
but as "a susceptible widow" she was a
most unmitigated success. 1t is due to all
in the drama, and we add cast of the
characters, to say they did well, and afforded
very fine entainment:
CAST OF CHARACTERS.
Ezekiel Fortune New England Farmer cror:c
Gilbert Darkwood. II. Manning
Uriah Skinner y. GalDreatn
lawrence McKeegan, an Alderman from the city
Detective Reese
'es''' fO''ue Miss Annie E shrYer
Mrs. Priscilla Dodge, susceptible widow
Miss Mary B. Shellman
Constables &c.
stage d. Manning
Prompter.--..... " heen
All the scenery used in the play was paint
ed by J. W. Smith, of Western Maryland
College, the Alderman from the City,"
Miss Anna Shriver entertained those taking
part in the play on Wednesday evening pre-
eeding, and Miss Mary B. Shellman enter
tanned them on Saturday evening.