The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1906-04-27
"THE MOCKING BIRD.
GRAYS PRESENT THEIR COMIC
OPERA 10 LARGE AUDIENCE.

1 =
Performance an Unqualified Success
/ Frank d. Nelson, Coach, Deserving OF
Great Credit-Interesting Plot
Grays Not Amateurs at Love Making
The first performance of 1.-THE Mock
ing Bird" by the New Haven Grays
and their friends, was greeted by
crowded house at the Hyperion last
evening, and everybody from the star
down to the "supers" deserve the high
est commentator and praise for the
work that no professional would be
loathe to call his own. Frank D, Nell
son, who staged the performance, may
rest assured that his efforts were not
in vain Taking into consideration that
the actors were amateurs and that it
was a first night it is really remark
able how well they did.
The play is built about the eession of
/ 4
objection of the natives thereto, the
brilliant costumes worn by Frenchmen
Of that period, the close of the eigh-
tenth century made a very beautiful
effect Several love affairs are as usual
incident to the plot and 1t is noticeable
that the lovers" entered into their
parts with a gusto that proved that
they were no amateurs in that art at
least.
Miss' Pearl Young. as Manor de
Lange, an emigree, scored decided hit.
Her singing captivated the audience
entirely and she was obliged to respond
to repeated encores.
Miss Rebecca Harris, who played the
Marquise de Villabois, also has very
sweet voice. Her triumph being in the
third act, when she was cheered to the
echo and again and again responded to
the hearty encores Of the delighted au-
dienee.
Miss Esther Barton as Yvette Millet
kept the audience in smiles every mo-
ment she was on the stage. She has a
sort Of vivaciously contagious manner
which makes everyone in the audience
her friend, Her best effort Of the ev-
ening was a coon song entitled whats
the Matter With the Moon Tonight, J"
which she sings, together with ]. u.
Southerton, who plays the part Of Bob
Finchley, Virginian. During the pro-
gress of the song some scenic effects
are introduced which are without doubt
original and worth seeing. Mr. South
erton is a comedian who could grace
the professional stage with credit His
topical songs with verses containing To-
cal knocks were the funniest part of
. the evenings performance. Chief
Wrinn, the Rev. Mr.. Mossman and the
Kimberly avenue bridge are few Of
. the victims Of Mr.. Southerton's wit.
f. S. Hamilton, a Spanish envoy, was
another who was credit to the Grays.
!: \ He also made a special hit In one part
!. Of the performance, but he seemed to
enjoy it even more than the audience.
The part referred to is where Yvette
!: Millet attempts by her winsome ways
to detain de Mandez, otherwise Herr
Hamilton, from rejoining his ship. The
Irritation thus carried on seems almost
too good to be merely acting
S, G. Grabb as the governor OF Louis
Z lana, a. A. Lawton as Eugene deLo-
rine, the governors secretary, and J.
T.. ellison, as Maxine Grandpre, all
maintained the high standard set by
the rest Of the company The other
members of the company, all of whom
! played their parts very creditably, were
: F. D. Adams, H. II. Townshend Miss
~,
! Miss Lillian Benoit, A. " Phillips and
I j M. Minor. The chorus consisted OF
the following:
Pompadour dance, Miss Sadie Smith
Miss Lillian Benoit, Miss None Sperry
Miss Mao Boyce, Miss Alice Frisbie
Miss Alice Kober, Miss Louise Heit-
man, Miss Louise Everhardt, and Mrs.
Herbert Hodgson.
Immigrant, musette and plantation
; dances-Miss Rae Royce, Miss Mabel
Clark, Miss Gertrude stowell, Miss
Hazel Ritter, Miss Veati RaWson, Miss
Adele Hillman, Miss Norma Andrews,
Miss Lillian Fox, Miss Louise Hoffman,
Miss Lucy MacMahon, Miss A. Edith
Campbell, Miss Marie Hooghkirk, UNI
|. der direction If Miss Jennie Mae Beers.
French peasant girls-Miss Mildred
Boyce, Mrs. r.. l., Davis, Miss Bessie D.
Stuart, Miss Antoinette Brett, Miss e.
G. Booth, Mrs. r. M. Stowell, Miss l..
w. Allen, Mrs. =. B. Etheridge, Miss
Gertrude Seman, Miss Lucille Hine,
Miss e. G. Glaessner, Miss S. o. Pierce.
French peasant men-Corporals Ham
ilton, Baker, Musician Jones, Privates
Booth, Dyer, Hoffman, Perkins, Jente,
Somerset, Hodges, Smith, Cory, Dodds.
French soldiers-Privates Russell,
Burton, Alling, Everts, Macdonald,
!, Shutter, Bruins.
Spanish soldiers-Sergeant Williams,
Privates Weibel Kirby, Terrell, Allen,
. Holt, Leslie.
Soldiers of the colony-First Ser
geant Crabb, sergeants Ward, Welton.
Corporal Bollman, Privates Alden,
Andrews, Beers Blatchley, Bowman,
Brethauer Harrison HARRY, Hedges,
Bobron, Hopkins, Hunt, Julin, Nc