The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1900-05-17
A GREAT SUCCESS.
"Chimes of Normandy" Draws Large
Crowd Thursday Night.


'sThe Chimes of Normandy was
presented by local talent at the Rhode
opera house Thursday evening for the
benefit of the Kenosha Country Club
and seldom if ever was SO successful
an amateur production ever given in
this city.
The opera house was well filled when
M. B. Compton, who directed the pro-
duction, gave the first tap for the or
chestra to prepare for the overture and
from first to last there was no hitch in
the performance. The staging of the
play was very elaborate and there was
a sense of life and action in every
scene.
Details had received close attention
in the preparation Of the production
and every little point and side play
was we'll brought out by the perform
ers. The chorus work was especially
good, the singers coming in promptly,
and there was conspicuous absence
of drag that so often destroys the eff
feet of good chorus singing. The
| ''Ding Dong'' refrain by Miss Head
and the chorus was probably the pref
test and most effective scene of the
entire performance.
To the work of the so1oists nothing
but praise is due. Mr.. Patchen, who
took the role of the Marquis, was the
prime favorite of the evening. He has
beautiful tenor voice and his rendi-
ton of the ballad, go Fairest Maiden"
was one of the prettiest things ever
heard on the local stage. His acting
was also worthy of note and on his
first appearance before a Kenosha
audience he made a most favorable
impression.
The Serpo1ette of Mrs. Tanner was
splendid Interpretation of the role,
and her rendition of the old familiar
Gust Look at This, Just Look at
That" was certainly charming. Her
acting and singing was well done and
she was an ideal soubrette.
Miss Head as Germaine, the lost
Warehouses, sang beautifully and
made one of the greatest hits of the
evening. In her ducts with Mr..
Patchen Miss Head was at her best
and the two were forced to respond to
a double encore. Miss Head also
showed up sp1endid1y in the solo parts
and deserved all the applause which
was showered upon her.
Mr.. Wheeler as Jean Grenicheaux
sang his part well and took a splendid
comedy role. His Interpretation of
the part of the fisherman was always
funny and called for prolonged ap-
p1ause.
Gaspard, the miser, was we'll rem
dered by F. L. Ellsworth, who sang in
splendid tone. His song over the gold
in the second act was one of the best
solos of the evening.
The funny man of the play was
Johnson Jackson, who took the part of
the Ball. Of course Jackson couldn't
sing, but then he wore his clothes we'll
and made several loud resounding
hits.
All the con1mendab1e points of the
performance cannot be mentioned for
lack of space, but it is well put when
we say that the performance was a
great financial and artistic success.
We regret to say that the success of
the entertainment was greatly marred
by the addition Of some ofthat doggere1
which Johnson Jackson has formed
habit of writing and foisting upon the
public as songs and poetry. Some one
ought to go to Jackson and in all
kindness, but in frmness, tell him that
he wasn't cut out for poet. His muse
is one which inspires only typewriter
ribbons and his topical songs are the
worst that ever happened, to use the
common vernacu1ar SO popular with
the bard of Ashland avenue. For
heavens sake Jack, cut it out. For the
sake of home and loved ones and for
the sake of yonr friends and relatives,
cut it out. Stick to politics and goat
raising, but never again attempt to
tempt the muse of poesy, for in the
immortal words of Otis Skinner, ''It
won't work; it won't work..