The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-12-26
"WAY DOWN EAST"
1t Draws Largest Audiences in
History of Worcester Theatre

The Worcester theatre has never held
larger audiences than those which
greeted Way Down East" yesterday
Afternoon and evening. The orchestra
was stationed on the stage, and in their
room chairs had been placed, which
were sold out without any difficulty.
While the company which is playing
here this week lacks 0dell Williams
and Phoebe Davis, it is up to the stan
dard of the first performance, and to
one who did not see the first company,
the roles are played we'll nigh perfectly.
The stage settings are all the same, and
nothing in the way of detail has been
left out to make the play one of merit.
The story has been told and retold,
but it will bear repetition even once
more. Anna Moore, a homeless woman,
seeks shelter and work of Squire Am
asa Bartlett, a good man, but rather
suspicious of strangers. He refuses
to take her in at first, but is finally per-
suaded, and she becomes one of the
household. David Bartlett, the squire's
son, falls in love with her, and when
his father discovers that Anna has
committed what he considers an I'M
pardonable sin and drives her out into
the storm, David follows. The squire
learns that he has been wrong, and
takes her back again. The characters
which make up the chief part of the
story are not overdrawn, though in
some of the minor parts there is ev-
idence of caricature. The quartet TAX
ing the part of the village choir seems
to be an improvement over that of the
first company, though the same songs
are rendered.
IN the leading roles, BARLEY McCullum
has that of Squire Bartlett. He lacks
something of Odell Williams spirit, but
makes a typical New Hampshire far
mer, and in some bits of byplay is very
good indeed. Miss Irma LaPierre, as
Anna Moore, is also good. She has
not the control of her facial expression
that charaeterizes Phoebe Davis work
in the same role, but she is a pleasing
actress and deserves the applause she
gets. Walter M. Hodges, as David
Bartlett, does not impress one favor
ably when he first appears, but makes
up for it in the later parts of the play,
and is especially strong at the conclu-
sion of the second act, when Anna re-
fuses to be his wife. The part of Kate
Brewster is taken by Miss Ruby
Bridges, and one cannot blame the pro-
fessor and Lenox Sanderson for falling
in love with her. She is bright and
full of life and altogether lovable. H.
H. Forsman is Professor Sterling, the
SunlIueE DOdTueTp ana is near
ly an exact counterpart of his
predecessor, both in looks and
manner. George Mack, as Hi Holler,
the chore boy. is good, too, and does
not incline to so much horse play as
the other of the same name. Earle
Ryer is Lenox Sanderson, the city man,
and he doesn't look nearly the villain
he tries to make himself out to be-
He isn't bad, though, and does his part
well. Martha Perkins, the town gos-
sip, is played by Miss Loyolo O'Connor
with a great deal of care, and so well
did she do when telling her suspicious
of Anna that she received the applause
usually given to the villain of the play
Ed Crissie, as Seth Halcomb, in love
with Martha, and inclined to take
rheumatism cure, is pretty good, as are
ell the other smaller characters.
The play is one of the best of its
kind seen at the theatre this season,
and is presented by a company strong
In all points. There is no reason why
It should not prove a drawing card
this week. Matinees will be given
Wednesday and Saturday as usual.