The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1897-05-05
Charming Zephra.

Charming Zephra.
The Youth and Beauty of the Capital
Appear in Chorus, Dances, Marches and
cry ro with Calcium. Light Effsets-Large
and Enthusiastic Andienoes Witness ITS
Production-Gratifylng Net Proceeds Tor
Heaton Hospital.
During recent years several entertain
ments have been given in Montpelier by To-
cal talent which have demonstrated that no
town or city in the state is better equipped
with efficient home talent, either singers,
dancers or amateur actors. The success
that attended the minstrel entertainment
under the auspices of the Apollo Club, and
later, of Living Whist under the practiced
instruction of Prof. and Mrs. George III. FL
more is proof of this, and those events are
yet pleasantly remembered. Without draw
ing odious comparisons it is pleasure TO
record the brilliant success that attended
the four presentations of Beautiful Zeph-
ra," which was written and arranged by X.
w. Averill of Chicago, and was presented
under his management and direction, with
the assistance OF Emma Maria Foster and
William j. Frawley.
Ever since the first rehearsals took place
about four weeks ago, the one hundred and
fifty young people in the cast caught the
spirit that such a competent leader as MIR.
Averill inspires, and they have worked
early and late to make the affair the bril-
liant success that it proved to be. In a 1T
tie speech before the footlights on Saturday
evening Mr.. Averill gladly paid tribute to
the intelligent work those under him have
put into the affair, and acknowledged that
without such talented and enthusiastic ma
terial the gratifying success that crowned
his efforts could not have been achieved.
And in this connection the fact should not
be overlooked that in giving so freely of
their time, their talents and their nervous
force, these young people have as surely con-
tributed in large measure to the Heaton
Hospital fund as they would had they paid
generous sums OF money. Not alone Mr..
Averill, but the hospital trustees owe these
young ladies and gentlemen debt OF graft.
tude.
In attempting to describe the production
of Zephra, words of extravaganza praise
would readily drop from the reporters pen
Gil, and a column could easily be filled in
speaking of different members of the cast.
But with one hundred fifty performers,
all 80 perfect in their parts as to disarm
the most captious critic, the inclination to
refer particularly to individual performers
must be curbed and the affair must be
treated as a harmonious and brilliant
whole.
The story OF the charming musical spec
tace has already been told in these col
umns and in the souvenir programmes
that were distributed over the city, but
only those who witnessed its production
can appreciate the catchy songs in the cho-
ruses, the graceful, twinkling dances, the
rhythmic marches and the spectacular Incl
dents, all framed in elaborate special
scenery and enhanced. by mechanical and
calcium light effects. 1t was picture that
will live in the memories of hundreds who
witnessed it in Montpelier long after more
pretentious productions by professional
companies are forgotten.
The cast of characters was as follows:
Zephra, Queen of Norseand. Mrs, +. L. winslow
NHypra. l.,
Flora Friend of Ssyera No1.; Mrs Se Geo Morse Morse
Autha Attendant of Zephra Sallie Z: oyiatt
6eSiu R 2h ef sEg
JSns Prince Of Mythand' y. AvsTiiIl
alexis Minister Of STATE Harold A Fsk
Thoras, Knight. Ralph II. Wyle
66s af Attendants of VIM H. s sSMa
CLARENCE o'roole McFadden, Sergeant nu...o
Boofoo king e t Of tie Mikes Arthur Dewey
Nts waif. Jennie Clay
The story opens in the royal gardens of
the queens palace, and among the most
taking features of the first act are the antics
Of the Mixes and the newsboys, the solos OF
King Decius and Prince Juna, and the
grand chorus and tableaux, Hail to the
Queen" During the second act comes the
grand dance advertisement at the queens
fete, in which songs and choruses are inter-
spersed with the "Danse Petite"; the
"Dsnse Violente, the Blackbirds =" the
"Danse Patriotique, the Graces u" the
"Danse Grotesque, the New Woman -;
the "Danse Eccosaise, Pas De Trios" the
Round" the "Danse Exquisite, The
Maids -; and the "Danse Espanta, Tam
bourines and Castanets," closing with
medley OF popular songs, and beautiful
tableaux vivant.
AS the curtain rises on the third act the
frozen palace OF diamonds and the tribunal
chamber are disclosed. Public opinion is
divided as to which of the four acts OF
"Zephra contains the most pleasing and
attractive features Sure 1t is that the third
act with its combat between Decius and
Scion, the assembling of the tribunal, Nc
Fadden and his squad, the medley Of pop
ular and operate airs, closing with the grand
march Of the Royal Guards. was received
each time with continued applause, and
with a cordially that could not belexceeded.
The grand transformation scene in the
last act, after Juna has rescued the Prin-
cess Neyera from her captors, and has re-
vealed to the Queen the perfidy of Decius,
revealed five beautiful tableaux, namely,
"Cupid's Retreat" "The Elves Arch"
THE Mystic Bower" 1.-THE Golden
Streets" and "The Home of the Fairy
Queen"
Between acts one and two Master Fred
Whittier, dressed as girl sang my
Dolly and l." He was repeatedly encored,
as was Miss II. Julia Cross, who rendered
solos between acts two and three. Prof.
w. III s. Jones OF Manchester, N. H., led
the orchestra, in which George III. Wilder,
with flute and piano, rendered valuable as
sistance.
In general and in detail, and from an ar
tistic and financial standpoint, "Zephra"
was even more success than its most san
guine friends had anticipated. During the
| rehearsals and the evenings OF the presen-
tation Mrs. II. Roger Blxby, Mrs John
Miller, Mrs. f. M. CORY, Mrs. G. p Pitkin,
Mrs. j. W. Brock. Mrs. O. Fl. Heaton, Mrs.
Q. s. Whittier, Mrs. George Wheeler, Mrs.
Collins Blakely and Mrs. A. G. Blanchard
Averill. and the trustees OF the Heaton
Hospital, for the benefit OF which " Zephra"
was given, are to be congratulated on the
| unqualified success which crowned their
labors. May this first visit Of Mr.. Averill
to Montpelier not be his last.