The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1904-05-03
A HIGHLY PLEASING EVENT
Scenes from "Macbeth" and "As You
Like 1t" CharmingIy Present
ed Under Difficulties.

IooAAS vi LIZ OSSl hl4oNA wv uOo1SS
characters created by the Bard o
Avon issued forth from between thei1
covers and briefly stalked the boards
Macbeth cruelty murdered good King
Duncan and Lady Macbeth tried il
vain to remoye the CORY evidence
from her dainty white hands, as with
an ~imprecation she babe the spot be
out that her remorseful soul beheld
even in her sleep. Beautiful and
inviting was the forest Of Arden and
cynical Jaques rallied at love, while
Orlando sighed and sighed and Rosa
lind bravely tried to be the capricious
youth it was her fancy to be for the
time.
1t was the fourth of the Billings
Woman's clubs ANNALS" and a
right good and entertaining one it
proved to be, a fitting close to the
club year Of study and hard work.
Of course, all the characters portrayed
were assumed by ladies', which gave
them added charm and interest and
A14pd1 ISo q 1oNol VI uONCllS anu p1s
Quancy not otherwise obtainable.
A brief greeting by me president,
Mrs. J.. G. Sherman, opened the en-
tertainment, after which the curtain
vas drawn and the famous letter
scene from Macbeth was given, with
Mrs. James Mccormick as Lady Mac
beth and Mrs. Lorin 7. Jones as Thane
of Cawder. Following were the MUIR
der and sleep walking scenes. All
three were given with a force and
from any but professionals. The Lady
Macbeth of Mrs. Mccormick was the
equal of many of that of famous
tragediennes, at least so thought lot
a few of those who had witnessed
portrayals Of the character by women
whose names are high up on the scroll
OF stage celebrities. AS Macbeth Mrs.
Jones was a splendid foil and she
carried herself through the trying
part in a manner that commended her
as a careful student and a remark
ably talented actress. The generous
applause given to both was deserved.
AS a happy relief to the minds OF
the audience depressed by the grue-
some sights of the opening came the
selections from LAS You Like It,"
with its story of love and its cheerful
scenes and pleasing ending. Hamper
ed by a lack Of stage room and with
nOne OF the accessories usually ac-
cepted as indispensable to a proper
essayed a ask that many feared
would prove beyond them, talented
and accomplished though they might
be. But such fears were groundless
and with the exception of the lacking
Of settings and receptions Of a fully
equipped stage, it is only fair to say
but few better presentations of the
delightful comedy have ever been
given anywhere.
The scene selected cover about
every \ of the acts Of the play and
were marked by a happy selection OF
the most pleasing bits. Mrs. Hall
Clement vas Rosalind, Mrs. Sherd
Soule. Celia, Mrs. E. H. HOLSTER,
Phoebe and Miss Edith Everett, Aud
rey. The male characters were taken
by Mrs. Mccormick, Frederick and
Jaques, Mrs. A. NJ. Crawford, Duke
of France, Mrs. Jones, Orlando, Mrs.
Z. H. Becker, Sylvius, Mrs. o. E
Railsback, CORN, Mrs. S. r. Salisbury
William, Miss Hetty Crawford. Touch
stone ard petite Janet Clark, Hymen
To single out any n for special
comment would be manifestly unfair
to the others, 50 well did all do. In
her acting and conception Of the char
acter assigned to her, each was the
equal of the other, the only difference
being in the relative Importance of the
various parts. There was no haltine
or hesitancy in the reading and the
usual stiffness and want of natural
ness which often mars the acting Of
amateurs were all absent. 1t was
finished, clever performance through
out and a delight to those fortunate
enough to witness it.
In a few minutes after the last act
had been given the members of the
r~efreshment committee began their
duty and carnal man came in for at.
tention after the feast of mental food,
Sandwiches, coffee, cake and frappe
We're passed among the guests by
young misses, daughters of members
OF the club. When this part of the
entertainment had received ample jus.
tice, Mrs. Crawford, as POSTMASTER,
introduced Mrs. Railsback, who re
sponded to the toast Our Guests
In behalf OF the guests Jean Decker
made response to "Our Hostesses;"
Miss Panton, Our Active Members
Mrs. Moule, Our Associate Mem
bers;" Mrs. Rixon, "Our Annual"
Mrs. Goddard, "Shakespeare's Men,
/. D. O'Donnell, "Shakespeare's Wo-
men," Judge J.. D. Matheson, "Club