The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-02-15
PRISCILLA ANN JOHN ALDEN.
BRIGHT COMIC OPERA SUNG by
SAVANNAH AMATEURS.

4 Well Chosen Cast of Characters
With Good Voices, and Fine
ChOrus-The Performers Greeted
by a Crowded HOuse-GIven for st.
Johns Rectory SOciety's Organ
Fund-The Performance to Be Re
pented at the Matinee To-day.
Every year Savannahs amateur oper-
attic talent branches out on new lines, and
it's presentations are invariably success
full The Pilgrim fathers. could they have
appeared in spirit or in life, at the Sa-
vannah theater last night would have
been carried back to we olden time" by
the excellent scenes, situations and cos
TUNES in the production of Collidge &
Sunet.e's comic opera, Priscilla.
The opera was produced under the direc-
ton and management of Mr.. c. e. Ma
comber of Boston. whose services for the
purpose were secured by the ladies of the
Rectory Society Of st. Johns church. 1t
was given for the benefit of the organ
fund. and financially it was quite as much
a success as from a bright and artistic
standpoint. The orchestra was filled all
the way to the back seats and the gallery
accommodated its full quota The audience
to finish, and the players deserved every
commentator given them.
Mrs. T. p. Wickenbergs voice was an
ideal one for the part of Priscilla, and
she had evidently given the character
much study. She was exceptionally good
one, and in her solo. the Spinning
song in act two. Mr.. w f. Blois, who
took the part of Miles Standish, the love-
maker by proxy, added much to the
strength of the cast. His baritone voice
was used to much advantage in his solo
and duet work The original John Alden
attractive hero that he has done on SO
many former occasions. He had a good
tenor voice and sang in an admirable
the second act, as well as his entire part.
Resignation, represented by Miss Beat
rice Launey and Hatebad Higgins, alias
Mr.. c. d. Melton, added much to the life
and snap Of the performance. Both had
good voices and both made good actors
as they demonstrated in their bright duet
IN the second act They were greeted
with such applause as necessitated a re-
production of that feature. Miss Rosa
leen A. Connor. as Barbara, captivated
her audience when she sang her solo,
HAPPY the Maiden Whom Fate Ordains.'
The parts of Faith and Prudence were
well sustained by Miss Lillian Hamilton
and Miss Laurenie Stephens Baker. The
song of the Puritan Madens, by Barbara
Faith, Prudence and Priscilla, with the
chorus, was one of the gems of the opera
Mr.. Albert Meyer, as William Bradford
had an excellent character part, which
was well sustained His splendid bass
voice added much to the chorus. Squan-
to, the Indian, was represented by Mr.
Larry Doyle, and quite an active lively
savage he made of him.
Considerable attention was paid to de-
TAIL which added strength to the cast
and the production as a whole The rnu-
sic and the chorus were excellent through
out. The Puritan maidens' chorus was
composed of Misses Dale, Pritchard, Rich
ardson, Gazelle Launey, Matte Charlton,
Nannie Charlton, Alice Delannoy Virgie
White, Alice, Julie and Lille Bates Virgie
and Lillian Hamilton, Phoebe A Baker,
Nellie Jones, Kathleen Wilson, Hannah
Schwarz, Mrs. White and Mrs Alderman.
In the gentlemen's chorus We're Messrs.
w. H. Leahy, e. ]. Putzel, George w.
| Melton, Il. Moncrief, c. H. Richardson,
Edward r. Wood, w. r. Fearon, c. b.
| Walworth, S. r. Theus, W. J. Lindsay,
J. s. Caruthers, II. b. Beatty, c. H. Wake
man and Rufus Claghorn. Mr.. Macomber
| led the music and Mr.. Edward r. Wood
acted as stage manager.
Those who saw the opera were well
| pleased with the care with which, to all
| appearances, the cast and chorus were
! chosen, and the attention to detail was
| commendable. 1t was, of course, a pro-
duction by amateurs, but professionals
are not the only people who always do
| good work
The opera will, no doubt, be greeted by
| a crowded house at the matinee this af-
| ternoon, which will be the last perform
| ance. The theater doors will be opened at
| 2 o'clock, and the performance win begin
| at 2;30 o'clock.