Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-02-04
The Private Secretary"

ed III the l1tN iIali, last evening py the
Colby Dramatic Club. The boys have
been hard at work on the piece for
many weeks under the direction of Mr..
Edgecomb of Lewiston, and the result
was apparent. The piece is "A light
comedy, full of ludricrous situations.
1t is built on a similar plan to MY
Friend From India" and is a very pref
tily written piece.
1t seems that two young fellows Law
renee Gary) Mcdonald and Harry
Marsland had been having considerable
trouble with their tailor over his bill.
The tailor has been very persistent and
has pushed the boys to the limit Nc
Donald expects AN uncle home from In
dia to help him out Of his difficulties
and about the some time Marsland re-
ceives an invitation from an uncle in
the country.
On one OF his bill collecting trips the
tailor interferes in a game of cards and
worst of it and Tor revenge purchases
another bill of $500 against one of the
boys and swears to make it hot for
them with that and his own. While he
| is after the sheriff the boys skip the
town. Marsland then conceives the
| idea of having his chum Mcdonald i'm
personate private secretary which he
had procured for his uncle in the coun-
| try whom he is about to visit the real
secretary meanwhile being left behind
| to meet the irate tailor and his sher-
| if as best he can.
| The plans of the boys work well for
n time and Mcdonald is received into
| the family as the secretary without any
| suspicion being aroused. He is even
recognized by an eccentric old maid
with Spiritulistic Tenderness asrthe son
of friend Of her girlhood.
Meanwhile McDonalds uncle arrives
from India and discovers the real secre-
tary in his nephew's apartments. The
rea. secretary is veritable book worm,
sacrificing everything for his studies.
This does not please the old uncle and
is not at all the style of a nephew that
he likes. He believes that a young man
must SOW his wild oats when young or
become an old fool. He is an old. friend
of the old man Marsland and decides to
take his nephew down into the country
where Marsland's nephew can make a
man of him. When the real secretary
arrives several people attempt to keep
him out of the way and some very in
teresting complications arise. There is
a bit of love making between whites to
enliven things while the persistent
tailor is present with corps of officers
to enforce his demands.
There are more complications over |
the uncle from India being arrested in |
cident:ally for the young Mcdonald his |
nephew. The whole piece, in fact, is |
full of all sorts Of funny combina tons, |
so the audience was in the best of hu- |
NOR all the evening.
Everything comes out all right in the |
end of course. The uncle from India |
discovers his real nephew and is de-
lighted with him while the girls are
happy ever after.
The City hall was crowded when the |
curtain went up and the audience was an
enthusiastic one. The applause was met
ed out in generous quantities all through
the evening. All the parts were very well
taken. John s. Tapley as the real secre-
tary was especially good. having a COM
edy part. The female parts were all ex-
cellent. Some stunning costumes were |
worn very gracefully and only the voices
were out Of harmony with the make-ups.
/
one who was presented was delighted
with it. The following is the cast:
Chas. Roberts. the private secretary.
John S. Tapley
John .Marsland, a land owner,
Carroll n. Perkins
Edith. his daughter, Herbert l.. Gray
Harry Marsland, his nephew.
Elwood L. Dudley l..
from India, Lewis G. Lord
Lawrence Macdonald. Larry" his |
nephew. Frank ii. Leighton
Eva Webster, Ediths chum.
John Partridge |
Sarah Gildern. governess. Carl II. Bryant |
Leon Armandale, country gentleman.
Stephen G. Bean
Patrick woodford. country gentleman. Ii
Gulford ID. Coy
Gibson, a fashionable tailor,
Edward B. Winslov
Mrs. Dickson. Lawrences landlady,
Allen Clark j
Peter Marslands butler: porter, :
Arthur A. Thompson ,
"trip a bill collector; lackey,
George r. Sweet
Knox. sheriff's officer.
Carleton W. Steward c
friff. sheriff. officer. Allen Clark .
/