Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1894-03-30
THE OCTOROON.
The Histrionic Ability of Brat
tleborO Amateurs

As shown by the Estey Guard Dramat-
ic club i'm their Presentation Last
Fvening---Another Performance To-
night.
That the amateur actors of Brattleboro
who comprise the organization known as
the Estey Guard dramatic club possess his
trionic ability of high order was again shown
last evening" when they presented Dion
Boucicault's fve-act drama. 1.-THE Octo-
room" at the town hall. The play will be
repeated this evening. There was a pre-
lminary presentation at the Retreat Tues
day evening
The Octoroon is a heavy piece for anna
teurs. Its scene is laid in louisiana
and its pathetic interests turns on cond-
lions which arise from slavery. In brief
the story is this George Peyton returns
from Paris to the old plantation which had
been owned by his uncle, now dead. On
the plantation live his aunt, and his uncle's
daughter by quadroon slave. This daugh-
ter is Zoe, "The Octoroon." The uncle's
estate is involved in debt, and is sold
under foreclosure, NJ Closkey, the william,
having stolen papers which would clear the
estate of debt. To secure these papers
NJ Closkey slew the negro messenger boy.
father but it is found that at that time a
| Judgment stood recorded against him,
making the papers illegal. She is there
fore sold with other slaves, being bought
| for S25, 600 by M'Closkey, who is madly in
| love with her. Zoe and George Peyton are
| lovers, but the latter is powerless to help
her, and M'Closkey outbids those who at
tempt to rescue Zoe. In the hour of
NJ Closkey's triumph his crime is revealed,
| his photograph having been taken by a
camera in front of which the young ne
! gro was sitting at the time of the murder.
| On NJ Closkey's person are found the
stolen papers. NJ Closkey escapes, but is
pursued and killed by the Indian who was
the boon companion of the slain negro. In
the meantime Zoe, having heard Peyton
declare that he would rather see her dead
than with NJ Closkey takes poison, and the
closing scene ends with her death There
are many characters introduced, among
the principal ones aside from those already
mentioned being the Yankee overseer and
Dora Sunnyside, an heiress.
Mrs. James Pullen was well fitted for
the trying ordeal in the title role. and her
Interpretation throughout was admirable,
showing as it did the light-hearted winsome
girl, who through no fault of her own was
compelled to drain to the dregs the cup of
humiliation and sorrow, ending with the
taking of her own life rather than enter
into an alliance which she loathed.
Fred Cressy, as Salem Scudder, the
Yankee overseer, who was always to the
fore in times of necessity, was star of the
first magnitude, filing his part to perfec-
ton, and winning repeated rounds of APP
plause.
Little credit is usually given to the vii
liam of play, but it was generally agreed
that Leslie Brasor's Jacob M'Closkey was
a strong portrayal of great merit.
Captain J. G. Estey made a fine
appearing George Peyton, Charles Bra
sor as Old Pete, the negro house ser
want: and Christie McCourt as Paul, boy
slave, were capital. Three of the minor
parts in which the actors made all that
their opportunities offered were d. A.
Cavanaugh as Judge Gallon; Claude Ere
ligh as Col. PoindeXter, the .auctioneer,
and +. J. Henkel as Wahnotee, the In
dian.
The other parts included Miss Amy
Hines as Mrs. Peyton; Bessie Van Doom
as Dora Sunnyside; Miss Lillian Woodland,
Miss Nora Cavanaugh and Mrs. J. G.
Estey as negro slaves; Geo. d. Reed as
Col. Sunnyside d. f. Curtin as Capt.
Rats: Will Perry as Maj. ThibodeauX !;
Walter Walker as Lafouche; Frank Field
as Scion, a slave.
Boys from the Episcopal choir appeared
as the pickaninnies, and their songs with
those of Mr.. Brasor, lent pleasing variety
to the play. To Mr. Brasor is due in
large part the credit for training the com
pany, and the new special scenery which
added so much to the general effect, was
] al, f,,,-
nished music, and their work was approx
ingly commented upon by all.
The Brattleboro public will look forward
to other presentations next season by the
Estey Guard dramatic club.