The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1903-06-20
House Pleased
By Amateurs
Clever Performance OF Opera
Priscilla By Local Singers De.
lights Big Audience.

/
composed OF amateurs. There was q
| full house. and the frequent and con-
tInued applause showed that the ex-
cellent performance was fully appre.
| ciated The costumes were striking.
and II the Plymouth maidcns were
half as bewltchIng as those that mas
quefaded IN their garb last night, then
IL IL no wonder that Captain standish
found the fire OF love hotter than that
of the Indians.
| Both singers and audience were on
| the best OF terms with themselves last
night. and when Miles standish re-
ceived bouquet. and Hatebad Hlg-
gins a turnip, there was grinDing on
| two sides Of the footlights. Topical
hits were warmly received. and when
Mr.. Gratkc, an Governor Bradford.
referred TO the convenient political sup
| pcrt OF the solid thirty-three' there
were cheers TO show that the hit
had gone hone.
The principal performers were in fine
voice. and the chorus showed the re-
suits OF careful training. n most unus-
ual thing, by the way with amateurs.
so that the performance passed off in
| the most successful manner. and great
| ~ 10 the delight Of the big audience.
Tonight. when the operatta Is repeat
cd. the house win be without doubt
even more crowded than II was last
night.
Mrs, J. r. Ross met with pronounced
success as Priscilla. She sang her so
los with unusual brilliancy and looked
the part OF bewitchlng Puritan maid
en- No charmIngly that the entire au-
dience fell under her spell. while Miss
Kate shively waG excellent as Resignn-
ton. and obtained the praise that Is al
ways desefyediy meted out TO her.
Governor Bradford. ''uncorked the vial
OF her wrath" In the first act and her
assurances at that time OF her many
| opportunities 10 wed was aptiy borne
out later by the devoted Mr.. Higgins.
Miss shisely always sings well and last
night she was up to her usual excellent
standard.
The three Mayflower buds" Misses
Nellie and May U,zinger and Margaret
Busey. were particularly charming in
their quaint costumes and with their
natural acting. They sang sweetly and
drew much Of the attention OF the au-
dlence during the performance,
Frank Carnahan won large hand
and luxurIant boquet the moment he
advanced on the stage and his magni-
iicent voice and remarkably good act
ing in every way retained for him the
favorable reputation he had already
won. He made a valiant Miles STAN
dish, and his superb baritone |
won many a round OF applause.
r. y. Ferguson. as John Alden. be-
gan as the dlsconsolate lover. and ev-
erybody was glad he won out, because |
the excellent way In which he enter
tained really deserved some such COM
pensatlon. Mr., Fergusons lyric tenor
is peculiarly adapted to the too con-
siderate friend OF StandIsh, and his Sc
lection for the part was eminently fit-
ting.
j, c. McCue played the part of Hate
bad Higgins In manner that lacked
nothing. He did good comedy work all
the way through, as was shown by the
constant laughter In which the audi
ence unrestrainedly indulged whenev-
or he came to the front,
w. F. Gratke was certainly hetter
,as Governor Bradford than the origi-
nal William could have possibly been.
His mellow basso was at its best and
made decided hit
George Ohler looked very savage as
Squanto but as the program announced
he was u reformed Indian, no one fled
front the house, though blood-curdling
tales of the scalping Knife and festive
tomahawk were vlvidly recalled.
The able chorus were composed of
the following ladies' and gentlemen:
Misses Madge Sovey, Nellie Brooks.
Clara Marion. Emma Shad, Mamie
Coffey, Nanette Adams, Inez Mcintosh.
Messrs, James johnson, Reeves Emer-
son, Clarence White, G. c. Watkins,
Bert Griffith, Sidney Snow w, A.
Bourne. Carl Ross
Great credit is due Mrs, Ross for the
capable manner In which she arranged
and conducted the whole affair and to
j. G, Swope, who assisted the perform
ers as stage manager,
PRICE OF SEATS REDUCED.