Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1899-12-21
Bellows Falls News.
BOBBY SHAFTOE.
Not a Marked Success -Adverse Com.
ment Heard-All Parties Lose Money.

Bobby Shaitoe as presented in Below.
Fail, might ittingly be characterized as an
opera without singers. 1t was not much
of a success either from an artistic or fl
nancia point OF view, and it is really toe
bad too. A months conscientious rehears.
ing ought to have produced different re-
suits. Somebody Numbered. Who wa.
ftp
The several perform ances were given
under the auspices Of the senior class of the
high school. Some rs people, most Of
tn m young people connected with the high
school, were kept at rehea rsals until late
hour tor nearly every night tor month
Studies we're neglected, and, for some,
school duties practically suspended during
that time. All for whatP A stage per-
torrance in which the class loses both
prestige and money. We are informed by
member of the school board that this and
other class affairs in the high school have
been arranged without the consent or
knowledge of the board, and that notice
has been served on all the classes that here
after all entertainments given in which the
name of the high school is used must be
arranged with the consent of the board if
the class lending the auspices expects as
sistance from the board at graduation.
The board do not presume to control the
time of pupils when out of school. but they
do propose that nothing inconsistent with
high school duties shall be given under high
school auspices.
We believe that the class went into this
with the best intentions and with commend
able motives Graduation comes next
June aud large bill of expense must be
met Naturally this class wants just as
good graduation as its predecessors and
perhaps a little better. The question of
how to raise 5000 or more is puzzling
one. Preceding classes have done it by
entertainments and the class Of 90 hope
to raise their money in the same way.
The proprietors of Bobby Shaftoe came to
sation with them developed dreams OF sud-
den wealth. The class remembered the
great success of Zephra two years ago and
SO readily consented to 60 ahead. But
Zephra and Bobby are cats Of differ
ent color. 1t is true that Zephra was
largely compilation and that much OF
Bobby is original, but frequently q shrewd.
compiler pleases the popular taste better
than an originator. Zsphra had magni6-
cent scenery and costumes, some of the
finest ever seen in Bellows Falls. Bobby
has pretty scenes in the prologue and Act
one. But what OF Act twop No scenery
except what the honse affords; and what
shall we say of throne for the richly
alfred King Cole made from boxes and
cheap fur robes! Zephra c.o,ed with the
magnificent transformation scene; Bobby
closes with a very commonplace tableau.
We are aware, however, that Bobby
given under different conditions is very
different entertainment. The opera is two
years old and has been given in Is or 20
different places and in most OF them, we
are informed, with great success. The
opera cannot be given successfully without
good singers, and that is what the senior
class of the high school cannot boast OF.
Zephra was given here by the Oldest and
best singers in town with soprano i'm
ported for the occasion. Bobby had only
young and inexperienced singers, and just
here, it seem, to us, is where the managers
are open to criticism. They knew they
hadn't the material to work with and why
they persisted in going ahead, spending
FIVE or six weeks in rehearsing, and then
attempting to delu1e the public into the be-
lief that seats were worth ST. each, the
same as paid for "The Christian, "'Way
Down East" and that class OF shows, is
past comprehension. Why did they not
tell the class frankly at first that they did
not bavs the material to make the perform
arce Success, and gracefully withdraw
The error in holding seats at 81 was seen
the first night, only tmall house being
present The junior dance in Union hall
kept some away. Prices we're reduced to
35, so and Is cents tor Friday night, 25
cents for the matinee Saturday afternoon,
and %, 35 and so cents for Saturday even
ing, where the prices ought to have been
al first, considering the merits of the enter
tsinment.
THE FOUR PERFORMANCES.
The several presentations OF the opera,
however. can boast OF many features Of de-
cided merit. The error was ia aiming too
high, and claiming too much. ~
CAST.
The cast was as follows:
Bobby Shaftoe, who went to sea,
George Broderick
Old King Cole, that merry old soul,