Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1905-03-08
SOCIETY ON THE STAGE.
THREE PLAYS ARE GIVEN BY
AMATEURS.
Town People Cover Themselves
With Glory Before The
Footlights-For
Charity.

That part of society that was not
on the stage at the Colonial Theatre
last night was in the audience, for
everybody who was anybody went to
see the three plays given for sweet
charity's sake. -
The three plays were "Petticoat
Pertidy," comedietta in one act, by
Sir Charles Young. the author OF
''Jim The Penman; "Sunset, play
in one act, by Jerome X. jerome, aud
''The Rehearsal, a little bit of every
thing in one act. The players We're
it was difficult to tell which was
which. The plays were principally
coached by Mrs. Redgrave, who has
had some experience along histrionic
lines and was herself cast in two of
the plays.
Professor Gilbert p. Coleman and
others assisted Mrs. Redgrave and all
have reason to be proud of the success
of their efforts. Unlike most amateur
performances the curtain rose on
time, almost to the minute and did
not keep the audience waiting. The
audience was q most distinguished
gathering. It numbered distinguished
officers of the Army and Navy. states
men, scholars and men who have won
distinction in the literary world as well
as prominent politicians. Nearly
everybody was in evening dress and the
spectacle was q handsome one. One
box was occupied by Superintendent
Brownson, of the Naval Academy,
Mrs. and Miss Brownson, Miss Bad
ger, Professor Larned and Lieutenant
Jensen. Another was occupied by Pro-
fessor Cusachs, Mrs. Cusachs, Miss
Woodward and Lieutenant Bispham.
Mrs. Warfield, the wife of the Gov
ernor of Maryland. with house party
from the Executive Mansion, were
present and almost the entire naval
contingent patronized the performance
as well as prominent people from
town. Everybody knew someone in
the cast of one of the three plays and
this made the performance more in
teresting.
In the first play Petticoat Perfidy,
there were but three characters.
Mrs. Montrevor," impersonated by
Mrs. John Russell, of the Naval
Academy; MRS. Norwood JONES'" a
widow, Mrs. Redgrave, an Juliet.
a lady's maid, Madame Marion. The
scene was a drawing room. where af-
ternoon tea was being served. The
stage setting was well arranged and
very attractive. The play was true
to real life inasmuch as il strikingly
depicted the perfidiousness of two So
ciety women who called each other
dear, and all sorts of sweet names,
and did not mean it, but were each
full of deceit and duplicity. In this
play Madame Marion carried off the
palm. She was extremely clever as
the lady's maid and also as the Rus
sian princess whom her mistress
dressed in her clothes in order to de-
ceive the widow and get even with
Mrs Norwood Jones for being instru-
mental in having a lady's tailor oc-
cupy box with Mrs. Montrevor at
the opera. At the close of this play
there was a curtain call and Mrs.
Russell and Mrs. Redgrave received
handsome punches of American Beauty
roses.
Mrs. Russell deserves great credit
for her work in this play. She proved
herself an actress Of intelligence, and
played with much grace and anima-
tion. Her makeup was very becom-
ing, aud her voice distinct, rich and
pleasing. She is decided acquisition
to the local amateur ranks.
There were six characters in the Sec
ond play, "Sunset. :" Some people
are still puzzling to know why the
play is. so called. However. this did
not interfere with the cast, each of
whom was exceptionally good in his
own particular part The story is that
of q young man who has been making
love to two sisters, Lois" Mrs.
Redgrave, and JOAN" Mrs. Gilbert
Coleman. The sisters tell each other
about their sweetheart, but fail to re-
veal his identity. Finally he appears
on the scene and the elder sister sac
Iifices her love for the younger sister.
who knows nothing of the sacrifice.
1t is not difficult to pick out the pro-
fessionals in this play, although all
did we'll Mrs. Redgrave was a very
strong character and did effective
work, especially at the close of the
play. Mrs. Coleman was at all times
easy and natural and forgot her own
identity for the time being for that Of
the character assumed. She spoke
distinctly, every word she said could
be heard all over the house, and she
was one of the few who did this.
Too much praise cannot be given
Miss Mary Randall, who impersonated
Aunt Drusilla. 1t is not often even
among professionals that one can be
found to assume a character so unat-
tractive as the old maiden aunt Dru-
silIa. Miss Randall, who is very at
tractive and quite handsome, made
herself up to look like an ugly old
woman, and she never once relaxed
during the play. Indeed, many could
not believe that the dainty, winsome
young lady who appeared in the third
play was the old maiden aunt of the
second play. Miss Randall was great
in her part.
Professor w. o. Stevens. as Azariah
Stodd, . the bashfuls young agricul-
turalist, shared the honOrs with Miss
Randall. He was a typical country
beau and his speech and manner were
suggestive of the farm. He was far
better than many professionals. and it
may be possible he has mistaken his
vocation-that of instructor at the
Naval Academy, for the stage. Any
way. If Professor Stevens gets out of
a lob he is sure of another before the
footlights. Mr.. f. E. McMiIlen and
Mr.. o. j. Campbell were also well
cast.
In the third play 1.-The Rehearsal, !"
Lieutenant T. L. johnson. the man
who has conceptions, = covered him
self with glory. He was very clever