The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1900-11-01

lie musical spectacle LepHfa was pre-
sented in tie Belfast Opera House three
evenings last week-Thursday, Friday and
Saturday-and at Saturday matinee, by
local talent. 1t is difficult to decide just
what to say of this production. To speak
of it as it was would perhaps SAVIOR of exag-
geration and of undue partially to our
own people; yet no words we can command
would be stronger than the concentrations
heard on the streets the morning after the
first performance. Many declared it to be
the best entertainment ever given in Bel
fast by local talent and when we recall, of
recent events, the successful manner in
which Pinafore was presented here under
the auspices of the Belfast Band, to say
nothing of the minstrel shows, dramas
and musicaes of "1rlier date, this is Ger
tainly high praise. Many said that had
they been told beforehand exactly what
the spectacle was, how beautiful the scenery,
the costumes, the calcium light effects, and
of the ease, precision and grace with which
the various movements and dances were
executed, they would not have believed
their best friend. A few saw something of
Zephra at the rehearsals and were enthus-
iaStic in their comments, but even these
intimations did not prepare the public, and
the great majority of the audience were
surprised as well as pleased. That so much
was accomplished in the comparatively
short time given to rehearsals speaks well
for our people, young and old, in the cast,
dances and drills, and it also speaks well
for Their instructors and for the managers
of Zephra In other places, we learn, they
have had trouble from failures to attend
rehearsals and from having to make changes
in the cast; but here all were prompt at
rehearsals and in many ways manifested
their interest in the play. Indeed, it was
great fun for the younger ones. and though
it interfered somewhat with their school
work the drill they have received will be
helpful in other ways.
The different dances, and there were
| many of them, all different in character and
costumes, and succeeding each other with d
promptneSs equal to that of a professional
company, made a charming but almost be-
widerng variety, while the Brownies, the
IIoboes and the NewsboyS furnished the
comic element that appeals to almost every
one. The merry-gO-round was one of the
most difficult dances \ single slip would
have made confusion; but neither in that
figure, nor in any of the others, was slip
made The drill of the Royal Guards per-
haps attracted the most attention and re-
ceived the warmest commendation. Espec-
| tally loud in their praise were members Of
our secret societies, who could better ap-
preciate the precision of the movements, as
| they "know how it is themselves" The
| Flower Dance and the Black kbirds, both by
the younger ones, came in for their full
| share of the applause which was almost
continuous throughout the performance,
and the Graces were charming. OF the cast
| it may be said that the Queen was Queenly
in her regal robes Decus was every inch a
| william, and he has a good many inches in
his make up Neyera, daughter of Decus,
sang and acted her part to perfection !;
| Flora, her companion, delivered her charge
against the King with fine effect; Unis,
the fairy godmother, was charming; Juna,
Prince of Thorwald, was excellent in make
up and bearing and his fine tenor voice was
! heard to good advantage; Solon, the captain
of Decius' Guard, filled we'll his part :;
| Alexis, the Minister of State, left nothing
to be desired in his rendition of the charac-
ter, and Miss Liberty was pleasing and tun" =
| full The dance of Nita, dancing girl at
| the close of the first scene, first act, was one
| OF the hits of the entertainment and she was
| heartily applauded at each performance
few new specialties were introduced
during the second evening. Samuel W.
(Tom) Davis appeared as tramp and gave
dance which brought down the house !;
Daniel w. Gould made decided hit as a
negro stump speaker, and the hobos added
some funny business in response to encores,
take-otfs on some of the other features of
| the entertainment. Davis gave his dance
at the Saturday matinee and Saturday even
| ing, and the Newsboys and the Hoboes
made changes in their costumes and acts
| At the close of the Royal Guards drill Sat
| urday evening their leader, Mrs. George
Osborne Lord, advanced to their foot lights
and presented Mr.. r. w. Averill, the man
ager and director, with handsome pocket
| recipient had nothing to say-then. Later,
going behind the scenes, he exclaimed, sob,
you lovely girls!'' Then he went on to say
that no one had enjoyed the performances
more than he had. He enjoyed the way
they worked and he enjoyed their success.
| CAST OF PRINCIPALS
| Zephra Queen of NOrthland,
Mrs VIM. j. Havner
Decius, King of Njord, f. S. Pitcher
Neyera, Daughter OF DeciuS, Mrs. Z. p Frost
Flora, Companion of Neyera,
Miss Georgia 7. Burroughs
Unis, Fairy Godmother to Neyera,
Miss Helen U. Batchelder
Juna, Prince of Thorwad, Emery F. White
| SOlOn, Capt. of Decius Guard, Fred G. Spinney
| Alexis, Minister of State, Frank p. Wilson
Brownie King, Arthur r. Murch
Nita, a dancing girl, Mrs; SEQ. A. Matthews
Antha, Miss Alma F. Colby
Miss Liberty Mrs. Z. S. Pitcher
IhOras, Knight j. Lee Patterson
Hen, Hendricks. Attendants to Decius,
Austin E. WhitmOre,
Frank P. Colby.
Pages to zephra, Aei%a A{beal 5. h'1ls; Mit;chell.
BRowNIEs.-Miss Hazeltine, chaperone ::
Warren A. Gentner, Herbert 0. Brier, Lew
ellyn NJ. Wood, Charlie r. Decrow, Lin
wood B. Thompson, Richard Foster Crocker,
! Mark Dolloff, Rice R. Black, Luville B.