Alpena argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1893-1909, 1894-01-31
Delsarte and Dramatic Entertainment

One or the best entertainments
given in this city the present winter
was the delsarte and dramatic one
given by Mrs. P. G. Knapp, assisted
by nearly one hundred ladies and
girls, at the Opera House last Mon
day evening. 1t was for the bene-
hit of the Baptist church.
The entertainment commenced
by an interesting exhibition called
the "Blackbird's Carnival" in which
20 little girls took part. The little
girls were attractively dressed, and
did their intricate and beautiful
marching like veterans, using sort
of ballet step throughout the long
march. The next was entitled
"Gypsyland," and was one of the
prettiest scenes we have witnessed
on the stage in this city. The lead
ing characters were taken by Mrs.
E. A. Tullian and Miss A. Mather,
as the fortune tellers; A. B. Potter,
as the Count; Miss L. Beebe, as the
gypsy queen, and Mrs. Knapp as
Zingarella, the flower girl. The
song, "Gypsy's Warning" was
beautifully sung and acted, and the
work of the gayly dressed gypsy at
tendants was most admirable for
it's attractiveness. The third on
the program was a representation
of Greek fantasies by 20 ladies
dressed in the Grecian fashion, each
one of whom had a large fan. The
movements, and marchings were ex-
ceedingly well done, and they were
recalled. A laughable reading by
Mrs. Knapp, was the next on the
program, and Jerry and Me" was
given in such an enjoyable manner
that the lady was recalled.
A number of ladies in white then
gave the delsarte attitudes and
poses, representing resigned appeal,
accusation, imprecation, remorse,
shame, grief, reproach, repulsion,
appeal, benediction, earnest prayer,
defiance, fear, expectation, thinking,
listening, waiting, and many other
attitudes, ending with a beautiful
representation of the death of Vir-
ginia. When the tableau lights
were at times thrown on the group
of ladies, the effect was wonderfully
beautiful, making the group appear
as if marble statues had been placed
on the stage.
The garden scene from Mary
Stuart was the sixth number of the
program and was acted in man
ner that made it appear a real scene,
so well did the two queens do their
parts. The characters were taken
by the following: Mary Stuart, by
Mrs. Knapp; Queen Elizabeth, by
Miss Della Kelly; Earl of Leicester,
by J. L. Currier; Talbot, by A. B.
Potter and the nurse by Mrs. G. A.
Shannon. The last on the program
was called the marble Dream"
and the parts were represented by
Mrs. Knapp, and the Misses M.
Richardson. E. Potter, N. Johnson,
E. Nixon, K. Mcleod, L. Monaghan,
A. Giroux and E. Warner. Mrs.
Knapp represented a woman whose
love dreams had vanished and, at
her own request, to escape detest-
able marriage, she was turned into
a marble statue. At midnight she
became living being, remaining
so for short time, and then again
resumed her marble shape. When
she became animated, she appeared
SO glad at being able to speak, that
she related to the audience her story
about her troubles. 1t was so ar
ranged that if during her animated
period, she should hear her lover
call her name, she would be free
from the marble spell. AS she was |
about to become statue again her
lover called her name, and the
pretty and we'll acted scene ended.