St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1901-06-19
Neighbor lakewood.
A Successful Dramatic Production.

large and enthusiastic audience at
tended the production of "Neighbo
lakewood" at Howe Opera House Fri
day night. The play is difficult one tc
produce, but the manner in which it wa
presented showed that a great amount
of hard work had been put in at the re
hearsals. 1t would be difficult to speal
in praise of any of the actors without
mentioning all, for every part was ad
mirably assigned and every one having
a part, from the smallest to the most i'm
portant, performed it in a manner that
made the whole one of the very best
amateur performances ever given in St.
Johnsbury.
Mrs. E. H. Ross in the difficult role Of
Camille did conspicuously good work
and added to her already envable repu-
tation as an amateur actress of unusual
ability. Mrs. E. N. Randall is another
great favorite with local audiences and
in the character of Grandmother Riggle-
sty, the hateful and unhappy old
woman, she was at her best. There is
but one word to apply to the work of
Mrs. A. ]. Corriveau as lovesick Phoebe,
and that is complete" and it was COM
plete, for better Interpretation of the
part could hardly be imagined; with her
lines she worked in some locals that
were very effective. Miss M. Florence
Hyde as Matilda was splendid and her
interviews with her very unsatisfactory
lover, Enos, kept the audience in a roar
OF laughter. Miss Anna A. Batchelder
as Mrs. lakewood, Miss Marion Moore
as Mrs. Greenwich, Miss Ethel Aldrch
as Bertha Ruckley, and Miss Pauline
Randall as Eta Greenwich all acted
their parts in a manner which deserves
the highest praise. 1t was Miss Ran
dall's first appearance on the stage and
although her part was small she per-
formed it in a manner that entities her
to share praise with the best.
Whether to place "Bim" with the la
dies or gentlemen in the play is prob
lem as great as Grandmother Rigglesty
had when she attempted to get the fun
loving boy to do something useful. 1t
would have been difficult to have found
boy who could have taken the part so
admirably as did Miss Martha L. Clark.
From the first to the last BIN" was in
nearly every important scene and the
part was carried by Miss Clark in a
manner that showed distinct dramatic
ability and her work may be mentioned
as among the best of the evening.
John Fl. Moore as Enos Crumlett was,
as always, 6rst-class, and his presenta-
ton of the unreliable, money-loving
Spectator is deserving of high praise.
Ernest F. Tinker is possessed of great
deal of natural dramatic ability and his
work in the part of Hector Dunbury was
one of the best features of the play. The
title part of Neighbor lakewood was
taken by George Burnham and he per.
formed it in manner that elected much
praise. Ibrey 6. Role performed the
part of the slave-hunter, Dixon, in a
manner that left nothing to be desired.
Rolfe Cobleigh as Squire Greenwich, W.
w. Husband as Robert Greenwich, Harry
M. Nelson as Oliver Dole, Carl J. Greene
as Rev. Mr. Ruckley, rnest L. Morrill,
as the landlord and W. b. Atwood as the
sheriff performed their parts in the same
credtable manner that characterized the
work of all. Frank o. French did credi.
table work between the acts.
The play is long one but the waits
between scenes and acts that usually
characterize amateur programs were
conspicuously absent and the interest in
the piece was maintained throughout
To DR.. c. F. 0. Tinker, who had entire
charge OF drilling the actors and staging
the production, the greater part of the
credit is due. 1t was an exceedingly diff
fcult piece to play, and the smooth man.
ner in which it went off showed that a
master hand directed it. The play was
presented under the auspices of Apollo
Lodge, K. p, and with one exception
the gentlemen were all members of the
lodge. 1t was financial success.