The Yale expositor., 1896-03-20
THE DEACON!
Scores of People Greet the
Yale Dramatic Company.
EACH PART WELL EXECUTED AND A
NEAT SUM Melted FOR THE
EASTERN STARS.


The Eastern Star entertainment has
been awaited with great expectancy
by our townspeople and Wednesday
night the opera house was crowded to
listen to the rendition of the drama
"The Deacon" by home talent. The
piece is full to overflowlng with mirth,
villainy and heart rending scenes and
every character was very apprOpri-
ately placed. Wallace Ballentine as
the Deacon was perfect. 1t was a
difficult role but Wallace can perform
the part of drunkard and silly
lovesick old man as naturally as life
although we can vOuch for it that
stage experience is his only exper-
fence in that line. Harvey Drake as
| George Darrah alias Matt. Wheeler is
a double-dyed villain and took his
part wonderfully we'll. He is the
affianced husband of Widow Thorn
toms daughter, although haying II
wife and child. He steals the widows
diamonds and throws the blame on
her nephew, but he is foiled at the
last as villains always are and receives
his just deserts. George tiraef, Mrs.
Thornton's nephew, the part taken by
j. Nj. Palmer. Is no coward but stays
and lives down the stigma attached to
his name and comes out at the end
triumphantly. Mr.. Palmer took his
part we'll. Three parts were given to
Will Zayits, that of Jas. Reed friend
of Darrah, Pedro an organ grinder,
and a policeman, each one of which
he filled admirably. A. w. Ferguson,
as Parson Brownlaw, was performing
his part nobly in the marriage service
when it was interrupted by the arrest
of the villain bridegroom. We didn't
imagine that Parsons were naturally
timid but this one seemed rather to
avoid the proximity of Black Pete
and his murderous looking knife.
Pete, Mrs. ThOrnton's servant, none
other than Bert Jardine was the star
of the evening, (the eastern star, you
might say. Pete was everywhere
present, having finger in every
body's pie, an incorrigiole, but II heroe
for all that, being the means of ex-
posing the villain and re-instating the
nephew. No one could have taken
this character better than Bert. Billy
the Deacon's boy, (Will Palmer had
a get-up which took the cake. Billy
was simply immense and convulsed
the audience at every appearance.
7, Mrs. Thornton was presented by Mrs.
III. E. Beard who took the part beauti-
fully as did also her daughter Helen,
by Myrtle Kelley, rs almost wife of
the villain, Darrah. But the old
maid sister, Miss Amelia Faucet,
created intense admiration III the
audience. Bertha Beecher filled this
trying position exceedingly well and
her love affair with the Deacon was
watched with the greatest interest.
Enough to make ones eyes misty was
the street scene where the deserted
wife and child were watching for the
coming of husband and father, the
villain Darrah-and the meeting be-
tween them, This role was taken by
Mrs. Bert Jardine and Nellie, the
child, by Ina Palmer. Mrs. Jardine
might have been professional, so well
did she succeed in this character.
The tones, gestures and actions were
perfectly modulated. Lura McKenna
as Daisy, Mrs. Thornton's servant,
was another good character and filled
her part exceedingly well. Taken as
a whole, we know of no troupe that has
played our town for years to do as
well rs bur own amatuers. We rather
think our people are better satisfied
with home talent. The members of
OES were to great pains and trouble
to get up this entertainment and are
greatly pleased at the appreciation &C
corded them. Satisfaction reigns, so
far rs we know, on both sides. Mr..
Parkinson, having charge of the hall,
has had it greatly improved and bright
ened with paint and decorations so
that it was more of pleasure than
formerly to sit there. The Yale Or
chestra filed the moments between
acts with sweet music and everything
went well. Receipts of the evening
amounted to 5000 tor the benefit of
tha q r. -