The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-01-11
Fight Their Battles
Anew.
THE DRUMMER BOY.
Another Brilliant Revival of
a Long Lived Success.

For something like the SOth time in
this city, the Towards and the Rut-
lodges met around Farmer Howard s
breakfast table last night, quickly to
part with hot words and to make
things uncomfortable for each others
relatives throughout the play. Eighty
times THE Drummer Boy" has been
given in Worcester, yet it's popularity
never seems to wane, and the house
last night was just as large and as en-
thusiastic as at the first performance
in 1871.
The long life of 1.-THE Drummer Boy"
Is an anomaly. 1t disregards every
single rule of dramatic composition: its
Language is stilted and unnatural
where 1T is not commonplace; it has
no cillnaXes, no coherent action, while
whole scenes are introduced in which
nothing is done except to march on
ana march off again, as for instance
FRANK Rutiedge's first entrance in the
second act. Yet, it has a longevity
that for play produced exclusively by
amateurs is miraculous, and why?
Inc chief reason is that it perfectly
trahscrlbes actual events in the most
neartrending experience Of our nation.
Women and men by thousands endured
the same panSS as Mother and Father
howard, and the anguish of those days
lnctufed as 1t was with glory, becomes
a pride and delight to recall when the
danger is over. The play is filed with
tne essence or common, plain humanity
anu us homely scenes bring a vision
OF remembrance to every one who was
alive at the period it portrays. To the
younger generation the piece appeals
Tor Old associations sake The writer
mas theatrical recollection of some
80 years, of which the first quarter is
confined entirely to 1.-THE Drummer
coy" How he would cringe in min
sled rear and delight at the mighty
crashes OF the battle scene! How noble
was Mart Howard and hew beautiful
| appeared Jenniel No other comedians
ever could be half so funny as Uncle
Joe and Fatty Smith, and he traces
a depraYed sympathy for the villain in
nleioarama WHICH clings to him even
10 TINS DAY, to the fact that the Frank
fnutIeSse OF OLD was an intimate
TREND of his, and really a first rate
IeIloW-When you knew him.
| Inc performance last night will COM
pare IaVofably with any previous one
rms mas become a hackneyed state
Iheht, Dut 1t is true. c. w Wilson. who
mas played the same role at every pro-
ouctlon, was in his place as Farmer Ell
Liberty, has nearly if not quite as good
a record. Both were given cordial re-
ceptions. The leading dramatic roles,
Mart Howard and Frank Rutledge,
were played by A. M. Van Dusen and
Lieut.. W. Fl. Plummer who each scor-
| ed striking success that was the more
notable because both were out of their
usual lines, Van having the best of
! regulations as a comedian, while Lieut..
| RUNNER generally heads a cast as its
leading man and hero. That he can be
a Villain on occasion was evidenced by
his forceful acting of last night, and
It's reward of copious Kisses from a
vengeful gallery. Mr. Van Dusen
| showed himself to be an Intelligent ac-
tor, and astonished tradition by intro
ducing new bit of business into Marts
role-th2t OF showing emotion when un-
| eHpectedly reprieved from execution
where the former custom had been for
the hero to emulate the proverbial
'Steughton BEETLE"
A. M. Parkep's long experience as
Farmer Howard has enabled him to
make the part a second nature, and L.
j. Goodell was dignified and stately as
Maj. Rutleage A. Frank NAH, the only
| professional in the cast, created loads
of fun with his Uncle Joe comicaIities,
| which were allowed somewhat too
| lengthy swing in the camp scene.
Master Henry Leland was a pleasing,
| though rather mature Johnny, and H.
| ]. Baribault did Harry as we'll as if
| he were veteran in the part, though
| in truth it was his first appearance.
Harry Foley was capital as Fatty
Smith, and had more professional
style" than any of his confreres. r.
F. O'Gara played his late fathers part
of VIII Smith finely, and F, L. Fuller
was good as his companion, Tom Ell
lott. Fl. IT. Buck was as cool and i'm
perturbable a Gen. Grant as even the
original Of the part.
| The ladies fully divided honors with
the gentlemen. Toe much praise cannot
be given to Miss Hf1l for her natural
and sympathetic portrayal of Mother
| Howard. Many moist eye and CULVER
ling lip in the audience testified to the
quality of her skill. Miss Rice added
| fresh laurels to her already bright
wreath by her thoroughly satisfactory
work as Jennie, which she enhanced
| during the flag presentation by singing
THE Star Spangled Banner" with ex-
cellent effect Nope of her predecessors
ever attempted this. but rellnquished
the song to supply S0leist. Miss Rice's
costuming of her parts is always a
matter for admiration and note. Miss
Danielson played Mrs. Mart Howard
perhaps with a view to rehearsal for
the future. She made fascinating pic
ture and will be a welcome addition to-
the local amateur ranks Mrs. Walker
and Mrs. Burbank as Mrs. Elliott and
Mrs. Rutledge respectively, were fully
equal to all demands
The most inspiring event of the even
ing was the appearance of the Light
Infantry, most Of them heroes of the
Cuban war, in a military drill The APP
plause was hearty when Sergt Barton,
who was color bearer during the Santi-
ago campaign, received the flag from
the hands of his commander and
marched away in the midst of his COM
pany, 1t was the Infantry's first appear
ance since their reorganization and
| they were cordially welcomed though
their ranks showed many unified gaps.