Daily Kennebec journal., 1905-06-17
IA elFl|T WORK
Plans for Production v 1 4. d
/ First Crusade. .
NJ. ceehfaae Busy With 9e
hsas,ls nj Preparations.
Ilekois Soon % Sil0---juas 29 alt 50
Are thO Dates.

About the busiest man in this part OF
Maine at the present time is Harry
|Cochrane Of Monmouth, who is IN
charge Of the details connected with
the presentation Of The First Cru
sade." at the Augusta Opera House.
Thursday and Friday evenings. June
18th and 30th. Few men possess Mr..
ECochrane's ability to Turn off work and
attend to a thousand things at the
same time. He works under a high
pressure and Is overf1Owing with an en-
|thusiasm which is felt by all who
come in contact with him, and he
Keeps everlastingly ut mis- business all
the time. 1t hardly seems as though
he could possibly find time to eat and
sleep SO busy has re been during the
past two or three weeks, and SO busy
will he continue during the two weeks
to come. Few people can get any con-
Iception OF the enormous amount of
twork connected with the production of
this remarkable play. Two or three
evenings each week are spent here i'm
Augusta drilling local principals and
groups participating in the production:
the other evenings are spent in Gardi .
ner, Winthrop and Monmouth in the
same work, while mis- days are devoted
to the preparation Of scenery and cos
tunes. to replace those lost in the
Coliseum fire; to the preparation and
distribution Of advertising matter: to
arrangements for the sale Of tickets
and procuring special railroad rates;
and to arranging for the great mass of
paraphernalia and properties needed in
the production.
Half a dozen Of the principals who
took part in the presentation Of "The
First Crusade" in Lewiston, a year ago,
will also take part here and will
be here to participate in the
last rehearsal. Many CT the lead
ing roles, however, are filled by
Augusta and Gardiner people and some
Of the best singers and amateur actors
i'm these cities will be found in the cast.
The first scene is laid in the Canter-
bury cathedral. with a large number of
operative masons engaged In the re-
pairs upon that historic structure.
The parts of these nlasons will be
taken by % members Os the Masonic
lpdge Of Monmouth. In Monmouth,
winthrop and Gardiner. squads Of
Knights, mobiles. retafners, Saracens.
etc. are being drilled, as we'll as
similar squads and groups here in Au-
gusta. Those rehearsing for the pro-
duction agree in the opinion that the
splendor and magnificence Of the play
grows upon them with each rehearsal
and they find II easy TO understand the
great enthusiasm OF those who were
fortunate enough to witness the pro-
duction of the piece at Lewiston last
year.
THE First Crusade" is in seven acts.
with a complete change of scenery for
each act, each of which has been espe-
cially arranged for this production.
cathedral; the second the dungeon
cathedral: the third, the Harbor Of st.
Mchaels by moonlight; the fourth, tho
plains of Bethlehem: the fifth. the
grotto Of the Ismaelians; the sixth.
Jerusalem. and the seventh. the
Mosque Of omar, the headquarters Of
the knights OF the temple. The time
of the whole production is about two
and one-half hours, and over 200 people
take part in IT. The principals, or
those having speaking roles, number
about 20. Artisucaily and musically it
will undoubtedly be the finest amateur
production ever staged in this city. and
doubtless 1t will be the last time,it will
be presented here In Maine. as 1t Is not
at all unlikely that the production will
be taken up by some theatrical man
ager. In which case it Is certain to BE-
come one Of the greatest theatrica!
hits of our times. Those who have
seen both do not hesit ate TO say that It
surpasses Ben Hur, both IN conception
and execution, IN Ms Dialogue. spec-
taculaf effects and the lofty tone which
is maintained throughout. Moreover.
its musical features are among its best
features.
ARRANGEMENTS will be made at once
FOR the sale Of tickets in this city and
elsewhere. The tickets themselves will
ijbt at once be put upon sale. but GER
tificates will be sold which may be
exchaEged Cor. reserved seat tickets
any simae after Saturday, June 24
The regular sale Of tickets will begin
Af0nday. Tune -. 50 that buyers OF
will haye days advantage
over others in Recurring theft seats.
There is nothing Else x the Opera
House, this Month, soSMr. Cochrane.is
la ble to-, yhosds alt Ms local rehearsats
there and Nave aHnple :!ins to prepare
Hall scenic effectsF and al stage acces-
sorics. Stalls are, being buHt for the
horses, which. BY the way. VIII be the
same splendidly trained animals which
made such hit in the Lewiston pro-
!duction. Make no engagements for the
last two EVENING" of Tune which will
prevent your presence at the produc-
|tion of The First Crusade" In this
|city. =