Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1896-02-14
SOWING THE WIND.
The First Play I'm the Auditorium Was
nv an Exceptionally Good Company.

nv an Exceptionally 5000 company,
The first theatrical performance in
tho new auditorium came Monday even.
inc. when the great English success, "Sow.
inc the wind" was presented by one Of
he Frobman companies. The audience
went away with full sense of the com.
nleteness and artistic arrangement Of the
NAV house, for few presentations are seen
anywhere with better stage settings or more
charming surroundings. The company
was one of the best and most evenly bal
anced that has ever trod the boards in
Rrattleboro, and their costumes were rich
and handsome. Simply as a picture "Sow-
inc the wind is not pleasant to contem-
Mate. because of the sorrow which is
brought to view. but IL gives an opportuui-
Nv for a high standard of character define
alton. and in this direction the actors met
all requirements.
Briefly the story turns on the love affair
of Ned Annesley and Rosamond, profes-
sional singer. The singers birth is OBJ.
scure. but in time it appears that she was
horn out of wedlock, her mother being de-
serted by the man who wished to make her
his wife, but who, through intrigue, was
led to believe that she was false, and who
knew nothing of the birth of his own child
after his desertion. The child is Rosa
mond. the father is Mr.. Brabazon, the
wealthy foster father of Annesley. Bra.
bacon opposes the marriage because of the
GIRLS doubtful origin, but In the end the
| truth becomes known, the daughter is joy
| fully received, and all obstacles TO the I'M
ion of Annesley and Rosamond are re-
moved. 1t is Brabazon who sows the wind
and reaps the whirlwiEd. The play abounds
| in deep emotional situations, perhaps one
of the most striking being that between
Rosamond and Brabazon, before their re-
| lationship is known, the girl stirred by the
indgnities to her sex, and Brabazon reply
ing for his own sex.
The theme of the play is not. better or
worse than tina. of many other society
dramas, but it is to be regretted that so
much Of smirched lives and Of unwhole-
some sentiment and suggestion finds its
place on the stage.
Meta Maynard was well fitted for the
trying ordeal of the role of Rosamond,
depicting the intense feeling which charac-
terizes the part with rare skill. Marshall
Stedman in looks and action was the grace
full and winning Ned Annesley to perfec-
ton. Percy S. Sharpe, as Mr.. Brabazon,
gave fine representation of a certain type
of the retired old gentleman. J. Edwin
Brown, as Mr.. Watkin, showed a crusty
and caustic old bachelor that was true tc
life. One of the strongest parts was that
of Walter Green as Lord Pepworth, the
cynical, blas6 man of the world, whose
villainy brought about the whole trouble.
James Eddy (Sir Richard CuIsitor) was a
dashy young man whose sporting proclivi.
ties were displayed in nearly every sen
tence that he uttered. Althea Luse, in
the part of Hon" Mrs. Fretwell, was a
type of woman who may be found il
any community, decidedly narrow, but
pulled with a sense of self-importance
while Mary Churchill as Maud Fretwel
her daughter, was pretty girl particularly
distinguished for gush. Mrs. Casey intro
duced bit of humor and made the mos
of the role of Bridget, the housekeeper.