The Republican journal., 1904-08-25
AFTER THE OPERA.

The Changers Daughter a Financial as We'll
as an Artistic Success. The Composer, the
Orchestra. the Soloists and the Chorus
Win Congratulations and Applause.
Last week The journal gave the cast and
the story of Mr.. Chase's opera, "The Grang-
er's Daughter" after witnessing the initial
performance. Necessarily much was left
unsaid. A pleasing feature of the first night
was the presentation of flowers from the
Belfast Improvement Society to Mrs. C. W.
Wescott, Mrs. E. P. Frost, Mrs. E. S.
Pitcher and Miss Katherine BickfOrd, Mr..
Chase was also presented with bunch of
pine. The opera was presented Wednesday
and Thursday evenings before large and
enthusiastic audiences, party of twenty
coming from Searsport to attend the closing
performance.
The cast was spoken of generally last
week as all entitled to praise, and this is
the popular verdict; but as this was an un-
usual event, one that may never be repeat
ed in our time, individual mention would
| seem called for as a matter of local record
Taking the characters as they appear in
| VA L
| Whitmore, Trial Justice and Worthy Mas
ter of Sunrise Grange, as represented by
Mr.. Frank W. Twombly His makeup was
| not only an excellent one for the part, but
| was so deceptive that he could hardly have
been recognized by his most intimate friends
had they not had the printed program be-
fore them. In speaking and singing his
iati al L:
well rendered. AS Squire Haskell, Worthy
Overseer of the Grange and inventor of the
New Electric Scarecrow, Mr.. E. S. Pitcher
added to his former laurels, and perhaps
that is all that it is necessary to say of one
who has so often appeared on the local
stage in drama, opera and concert The
part of Rev. Amaziah Brown was taken by
the author and composer of the opera, Mr..
X. p. Chase,.whose dramatic ability was
first demonstrated in the presentation here
by local talent of the Gilbert and Sullivan
opera Pinafore. Mr.. Chase then took the
part of Dick Deadeye, and rendered it in a
manner that won him high praise. In as
suming the very different role of a country
parson he was no less successful Mr., Wal
ter j. Clifford, who took the part of Com
modore German of the New York Yacht
Club. had also appeared in the very success
full local presentation of Pinafore, and with
other stage experience was well qualified
for his prominent part. Mr.. B. L. Davis,
one of our clever amateurs, as Lieut.. John
De Bunyan of the Royal Navy, made de-
cided hit. Theodore Stanley, a farm hand,
etc, was represented by MIR. E. F. White,
whose fine voice was heard to good effect in
solos and duets. Paoli Herrick, as portray
ed by Mr.. J. F. Daily of Pittsfield, was all
that could be desired. The acting and sing
ing of Mrs. f. P. Prost as Azubah Haskell.
the Squire's daughter, were alike pleasing
and effective Last but by no means least.
comes Mrs. E. S. Pitcher as Salomi Spar
hawk, whose voice is so often heard with
pleasure and who enters into the spirit of
her parts in manner that never fails to
arouse the enthusiasm of an audience
In the second act Miss Katherine Bick-
ford gave two solos, the first, "The Little
Maid from Ncobar," in Japanese costume
and the second, "Peggy Brady and in both
aroused the enthusiasm of the audience,
which was manifested in long continued ap-
plause. Mrs. c. w. Wescott, who appeared
in the Pansy Faces by five young ladies',
which many pronounced the prettiest feat
ure of the Kirmes, in the second act sang
solo and captivated the audience by her
graceful movements and sweet voice. The
vocal gavotte and march by country madens
and sailors received complimentary mention
last week, and the sailor dance by Ii young
ladies and the Spanish dance by 16 ladies
and gentlemen also merit commendation