Akron daily Democrat. [volume] (Akron, Ohio) 1892-1902, 1900-02-16
WAR DRAMA
Stirred the Hearts
Of Large Audience at
Grand Opera House.
Distinct Success Scored
by Home Talent.
S. of v. Rifles Presented Drum
mer Boy of Shiloh.
Proceeds viii be Used For Benefit Of
BuchteI College.

That sterling, military drama, The
Drummer Boy of Shiloh" was put up
on the boards at the Grand Opera
house, Thursday evening, before an
audience that filled the house.
The play was given by an unusually
strong cast Of local performers, and
many of the scenes, incident TO camp
life, were depicted in realistic man
ner
The play was given under the nul-
spices OF the Sons of Veterans Rifles,
and many OF the members of that or.
ganizatlon carried prominent parts.
Mr.. Fred B. Wiglc, of Cleveland, OF.
ganized the cast aud directed tile
production Of the play. The perform.
ancc will be repeated on Friday and
Saturday evenings, and matinee
given Saturday afternoon. The pro.
ceeds will be turned over to the re-
building fund OF Buchtel college
With a crowded house at every per.
formance, as the play warrants, "a
large amount should be realized for
such a worthy cause.
One OF the most pleasing features
Of the entertainment is n series Of
patriotic tableaux concluding each
act of the play. Miss Erna HabIcht
represented the Goddess or Liberty
Others taking part in the tablcnuN
were Misses Bessie Wright, Emmn
Wolf. Etfie Haynes, Lulu Sonnan.
stinc, Gertrude Rodenbuugn, Martina
Harris, Julia Cook, Bertha Granam
Maud Irwin, Maud Immler, Alice ran.
neyhill, Irene Rodcnbaugh, Maggie
Harris, Melvina Melville.
The play itself Is calculated 70 arouse
great swells of emotion In the hearts
of the hearers, and as staged by tho
local cast, such proves to be the case.
Tho battle of Shiloh is actually
fought upon the stage and the field is
left strewn with the dead anu dying;
some wearing the blue, others dressed
In gray. The horrors of Andersonvillo
arc graphically portrayed and the re.
turn home seems the swceter, after
the bloody campaign Is over.
In the title role, Elmer Benson, as
Johnny Howard, the Drummer Boy
OF Shiloh, carries n heavy part. with
exceptional ability for hoy OF MI
years. James Duffy as Martin How
ard, Is deserving Of especial mention
IIc puts into his character an earn
cstness that impresscs the audience
with the solemnlty of war. His worl
as q starving man, In andersonvill,
prison was tirst-class, ana pathetic
indeed, was the scene which followed
when Mart learned that johnny haC
been killed, Harry S, Rhodes, In tn,
part OF Harry Howard, displays
strength aud determination, While tb,
Kisses which greeted Gicnwood White
as Sergeant Frank RuticGge, OF tn,
Confederate army, We're tue best cvi
dence of his work as n heart,css vii
lain,
The play IL not without its vein o
humor, and Fred u. Wislc aud w. Ii
Kittinger prove themselves TO he high
grade comedians. The former is Uncl
1oe the darkey, made a continuou
hit and the latter as "rattie Schmidt,
the Dutchman, who later becomes
corporal is genuine laugh provoke,
u, W. Bruner and Mlss Della Hoskins
as Farmer Elliott and his wifc pla
their respective parts capitnlly an
add materially to tho amusement q
The audience.
Miss Catherine Norris, Mrs. Ketchel
Miss Cora Iauhe and Miss Jcnnl
Cook all give strength To the pia!
Thc minor parts AFRO In good hanus.
CAST OF CHARACTERS,
The cast follows;
Martin Howard, tho spy, Jane
Duffy.
Uncle Joe, the darkey, Fred I
Wigle
Johnny Howard, the Drummer 30,
Elmer Bopson,
Harry Howard, afterwards OF G.
D, Harry s. Hhodes.
Farmer Howard, a veteran of ISL
ii. IT, Kidder,
Frank Rutledgc, afterwards Sc
gcant in confcdcrato army, Glenwo,
White.
!. Major Rutledge, resident OF Re