The daily morning journal and courier., 1902-03-25
Grand Opera House

One of the most interesting of the many successful plays that have been presented at the Grand this season is the picturesque New England play, "The Village Postmaster" which is the attraction the first three nights this week, opening last night to very large audience. The play opens in village store and poStoffice, which changes to the village green on gen eral training day a day when all the law abiding citizens were compelled to to turn out and drill. This constituted the militia of the village when Frank lin Pierce was president, back in the fifties. The Village band appears and enlivens the festivities. speech making, a dance by the village girls and general 1ollifica ton. which ends with a sudden shower of rain, driving all to shelter, The rain is real and the act ends with some amusing situations. The second act shows country minister's sitting room with q big fire in the fireplace and the now and sleighbells outside the window This Is the scene of the minis ter's donation. and everyone comes to give the minister something and have
 
 there are some old fashioned tunes sung by members of the village choir, and q general ld-fashioned country gathering which vii awaken old mem ories. The third act is the farm yard and threshing day on the farm-an old fashioned threshing machine at work The fourth act Is the interior of the village church.
 The company is competent one and includes many people well known in this city Seth Higgins. the village postmaster was in the competent hands of Eugene Powers, and he made much of the part. Brnsley Shaw was good as the minister's som Robert Kelley was most acceptable as the village law yer; Sam Michaels WIS excellent in the comedy role; Miss Florence Farr made charming Miranda; Grace Leith was excellent as Samantha. The remaind- CT of the company were excellent in their respective roles. The piece will be repeated this and tomorrow nights. and at the matinee tomorrow. All those who enjoy an excellent old New England play should not fail to go to the Grand. Already there has been very large sale Of tickets.
 Charles Frohman's original and only authorized version of ''The Little Min ister," the comedy success of the cen tury, will be the attraction at the Grand Opera House next Thursday Friday and Saturday for the first time at pop ular prices. The play has made mar vicious impression on the theater going public, not only attracting people in crowds to the houses in which it has been presented, but making them feel hat there is more heart and sentiment in it's scenes and lines than anything that there has ever been seen before. 'The Little Minister is a comedy writ ten by J. M. Barrie and founded on his popular novel of the same name. The love story of Lady Babbie and the quaintly humorous characters of the village of Thrums-the twin charms of che book-are delightfully."- represented in the play The play exhales the same exquisite. 1eart-winning atmosphere that pervG des MT BHrre's pages. The comedy ran for BOO nights in New York, turning people away from every per formance This is no idle statement--it is remarkable fact; not single night during the entire season's run of the piece in the metropolis did the curtain go up on the play that every inch of standing room in the house was not taken The New York triumph has been duplicated everywhere and it would seem that "The Little Minister is destined to crowd theaters as long as it lives There will be holiday 1nati- nee Good Friday and the regular mati- nee Saturday. Secure seats at once Regular prices.