Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1895-02-21
''pRIS(III
RECEIVED BY AN AP-
PRECIATINE AUDIENCE.
PRoNOUNCEp THE BEST ENIERTALN-
MENT ENER GIVEN IN ELLSWORTH
A FINANCrAL SUCCESS.

nouneemaut WAS unde that tHiS i4ne
and ptea-ing operetta Wosto he gireu in +
this city, and the attendance at Hancock 7
hall last evening, showed that the man
agement had struck the right chord in
selecting ''Priscilla" from the repert oire I
of leading comic operas of to-day.
The plot is founded upon LongfelloW's $ I
we'll known episode OF the conrtship OF
Myles Standish. Semi historic novels /
have been based on this pretty legend,
but not until recently did ii occur to any |
one that the Puritan life at Plymouth
and its traditions were capable of good
natured and humorous operate treat
ment. Yet. when once it was suggested,
it dawned upon all lovers of operatic
music W hat an exquisite travesty might
be made of this dainty tale.
Messrs Coolidge and Surette of Concord
Mass, are the joint composers of the
opera and their efforts have been amply
rewarded. The play has been given,
always with unbounded success, III
several parts of New England. II was
with some misgivings As to the pracliea-
bility of giving it here, but the matter
was presented in such glowing light by
Mr.. +. L. Parker, that It's undertaking
WAS finally determined upon; and 1t Is to
Mr.. Parker's persistence, perseverance
and pat ience that the public Is indebted
for the performance. As Prudence says
in the play: Dear Master Alden! what
,coltld we do Wit thout him?'
The company mas been at the work of
preparation for nearly three months.
Follow ing is the
CAST OF CHARACTERS.
Priscilla, the pretty Pilgrim,
Mis- Mabel Monag nan
MyIe- >tandi-h, the doughty captain,
+ ". Rollins
John lden the friend in need. Z. +. Parker
William Bradford, Governor OF New
Pymouth. .................J. \. Cunningham
IIatcbad Higgins Agent of the good
Ship May flower. 7..............E. F Redman
Squanto a reformed red man.......h f. Davis
Resignation II middle aged spinster
Miss Georgia r. Hastings
Barbara 3 "May- Mrs. }. \. Cunningham
Faith flower" Mrs. j. \. Peters, ir.
Prudence. buds, Miss 5. Alice Moor
Chorus of Pilgrim fathers, mothers, sons and
daughters.
Drummey, Mrs. a. f. Austin, Miss Maud +.
Phillips, Miss Grace joy, Miss LiZHle Z.
Mulan, Miss Grace +, Smith.
Altos; Mrs Edmon Emo Mrs. Dora Hopkins,
Mrs. Flora Lewis, Mrs. +, l.. Kent, Miss
Georgia Trip.
Ten0rs: E. Walsh, [. H. Drummcy o. w.
Tapley f. +. Robinson.
Basses: ". ;. Kane, {. \. Allen, \. +.
Austin, \. W. Grcely.
Mis- Mary Frances hopkins, accompani-t.
At the rise OF the curtain in Act !
group of Puritan maidens IS discovered
and the conversation runs upon John
/ Alden, with " hom all the young women,
and even the elderly maiden, Resignation,
are in love, and it is unanimously decided
that since they cannot all get him, he
must he induced to wed the fair Priscilla,
W no in her turn is a stumbling block to
the OF her girls, because she is so attrac-
tive to the young men that they have no
eyes for any one else.
The entrance of Priscilla, followed by
Alden, interrupts the conversation.
| Alden, wholly unaware OF the presence
of any one, is about to ask Priscilla's
| hand in marriage, when they are inter
rupted by Hatebad Higgins, sanctimon-
ious, money getting parsonage, who re-
proves Alden for his presumptuousness,
! and sends him about his business much
| disconnected.
Governor Bradford next appears, fol-
lowed by the male population OF the col
ony, Is greeted by the eXpectant maldens,
and replies in song addressed to his fe-
male constituency. To him enters Hig-
| gins, who endeavors to interest him in
| his Ancestral Reflex and Anticipated
Heirloom Company, Limited" the pur
pose of which remarkable enterprise
is to send the "Mayhower" back to
! England and freight her with cargo
of high back chairs, clocks, spinning
| wheels, etc, all of which are to be
brought over to the colony and sold
as heirlooms, ''at a slight advance-or
more, ," to be handed down to posterity.
Alden is distracted. He gets no oppor-
tunity of seeing Priscilla alone, and,
after a vocal soliloquy, he departs in an
altogether miserable mood.
Myles Standish next appears, fresh
from bloodless expedition against the
Indians. He admits to Higgins that he
is in love, and the latter through a mis-
understanding imagines Resignation to
be the object of the captains affections,
and immediately endeavors to sell him It
MAY yAoWer" cradle, or some other useful
article of furniture, suitable for an heir
loom, Standish, much ineensed, orders
-,.o.>,,r,,,r,,5,, ~ ,,t,,tt4t, pAcE4