The Somerset reporter., 1908-12-17
Close of Skowhegan Grange Fair.

Close OF Skowhegan Grange Fair.
The annual Fair of Skowhepan
Grange came to a thoroughly SUCCESS
ful close on Thursday and Friday Of
last week. All departments were
literally patronized. The attendance
at the plays, Wednesday and Thurs
day evenings, was very gratifying, the
hall being crowded to the doors on the
latter night. About the usual number
sat down to the chicken pie supper,
Friday evening, and the attendance
at the dance was all the hall would
accommodate. The patronage at the
various tables and booths in the
banquet hall was such that every
article was disposed Of
"Willowdale," the drama given
Thursday evening, is by the same
author and of much the same eharac-
ter as "Valley Farm" one of the plays
given byiSkowhegan Grange at its,fair
in 1906 and repeated at the fair of 1907.
Its plot is of the old fashioned
dramatic sort, with hero, a heroine
and william, and with two romances
carried along through it, both coming
to happy conclusion at the end of
the play. Most of the twelve parts
were taken by people who have ap-
peared before Skowhegan audience in
amateur theatricals on previous
occasions, but several of the amateur
actors have been brought out by the
work of the SkoWhegan Grange
Dramatic Club, organized during the
past year. Each part seemed to be
happily assigned, and the several
players acquitted themselves very
creditably. The audience was in a
most friendly mood They were
ready to enjoy the humorous situa-
tions to the fullest extent, applauded
literally, seemed to follow with deep
interest the story of the play. The
following is list of characters with
the names of those by whom the roles
were assumed.
Joel Bassett, Postmaster and store
Keeper II. Francis Park er
Tom Skerrett. Theta ccused George II. Burns
Joseph Godfrey, 4 Lawyer, Am
bilious and Inscriptions Albert Green
Clarence Dinsmore, The School
Teacher Harold Larry
Rev. Mir. Prosser The Minister K. I. Patton
! Lem l1ackett, Leader of the choir
and impromptu detective l.. l.. SANFORD
Simon Primer Who Would Rather
Whittle Than Work Eugene {. IarboX
Mile Bassett, A Child OF Fate
Mrs. Basset, Joers Wife, inclined to
have her own way Miss Dorothy Elliott
Rosetta Gates A bit tighty, but a
true friend Mrs. Albert Green
Miss HAY, who imagines things
Mrs. David W. Lewis
Oleander, The "help,' Who thinks
life Is a Joke Miss Elizabeth Parker
Mr.. c. K. Charming, of the Charming
Entertainment Bureau of Boston, was
dramatic instructor for "Willowdale"
and offic1ated as stage manager at the
| final performance. He was also
instructor for portion of the
rehearsals of "The Kleptomaniac,' u
given on Wednesday evening of last
week, and reported in our last issue.
Both plays benefited greatly by his
coaching. He knows just how to
bring out the important points of the
story, can answer the many questions
that arise as to positions, entrances
and exits, which so battle the amateur
and can furnish just the needed
knowledge as to costumes. make ups
and stage settings.
The gross revenues of the fair were
about $500. OF this sum S135 came
from the admissions to the two plays
and the balance from the yariou,
departments in the banquet hal
including the chicken pie supper
The net profit will not he far from
$500.
The grange proposes to repeat the
play, " Willow dale.n some time il
March.