Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1899-02-28
FARM THEATRICALS.
The Tragic Rendering Of TACK the
Giant Killer"
"Reminiscences Of 4 Lady Who was Ones On
Amateur Actress.

Those comic coiored illustrations
amateur theatricals in recent pub
LEGATION, remind me greatly Of my
early experiences down on the farm, .
remarked a lady who is not ashamed
to say that she has not always lived N
the city. the other day.
ITO effectively stage comedy or
tragedy and supply the proper cos
tunes and accessories. may be deemed
by certain playwrights a difficult task.
But among the people most active in
the country sociables, this was re-
garded as simplicity itself All plays.
regardless of their character. We're
given much the same treatment.
Costume was costume. and more
over appropriate and fitting so long as
it differed from ordinary dress.
"A pair of rubber boots, an abbrevi-
ated dressing gown with a gay sash
about the waist. through which re-
volver or dirk might be thrust. the
whole completed by a broad-brimmei
hat. made correct costume for an
Italian brigand and as an Italian he
was recognized at once in spite Of
naxen hair and down East accent.
But to successfully create an Italian
count out of material at hand. was not
so easy. The man to whom this task
fell, relied upon courtly bow and
much gesturing to establish his iden-
tity beyond question.
''As the particular play in which this
gentleman appeared was on somewhat
classic lines. its proper production
necessitated many rehearsals at the
various farmhouses. So he might have
been often seen at night crossing the
dark fields and behaving in a manner
truly surprising: talking earnestly and
making free use of his newly-acquired
gesture. Then he would suddenly stop,
bow low and. with one sweeping
movement of the hand say: Right
this way. Signor--the door at your left
So He said 'Siggner.' but was I'M
mistakably Italian for all that.
Most of the plays. however. did not
require the same amount of rehearsing
and preparation. They were usually
learned from the Dime Dialogue a
book that reigned supreme in our
neighborhood and it was quite an easy
matter to put any one of them upon
the boards. Y
The audience. all players at one
time or another themselves, appre-
cated all the difficulties of the dra-
matte art. and. with a kindness born Of
much experience and many failures.
offered no criticism. Thus the assur-
ance of sympathetic audience gave
each player confidence in his own
efforts.
The ideal location for the stage was
pantry opening from one side and
bedroom from the other. made suitable
exits and entrances. and furnished
convenient dressing
There were great possibilities in a
pantry. 1t served equally well as
balcony, from which the villain might
enter. as drawing room or death cham
her: in fact it did figure as all of these
and more. always meeting the require
ments of the play, even though it
might be brightly lighted. throwing in
to stern relief the teapots. pickle jars.
and other necessities of life; if a rose
covered balcony were required. bal
cony it became in the minds of the
audience who resolutely closed their
eyes to everything that might mar the
artistic effect.
THE character of the plays differed