The Brattleboro reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1907-1912, 1909-05-14
ARRIVAL OF H. M. S. PINAFORE
Famous Opera Finely Given by Local Talent For Benefit
of First Regiment Band-Many Good Features.

1t wasn't nearly so good as-tut, none
of that! We come to praise the Pinafort
production, not to bury it under odious
DAYS. All the same little kindly criti
cism will do no harm; Brattleboros anna,
teur operate productions have reached a
degree of excellence which places them
beyond the pale of blind, oft-soapy adu-
lation 1t might as well be understood at
the outset that the production was far
and away ahead of the common or town
hall variety of amateur entertainment.
In fact it was so much above the ordi-
nary local show as to give rise to the
wish that it might have been better yet.
The nearer the approach to dramatic ex-
cellence the more noticeable become the
shortcomings which prevent the attain
ment.
nesday evening by local talent for the
benefit of the First Regiment band was
remarkably successful under the circum
stances. The opera is considered by many
Gilbert and Sullivans masterpiece, but it
is an opera which is easy to give Just
fairly well and extremely difficult to put
on with sufficient finish to make it com
pare favorably with such pieces as the
Mikado for example, in which there is
much more opportunity for adaptable
comedy work. Then again Pinafore is so
familiar that audiences are inclined to
become hypercritica by reason of their
knowledge of the book and score. Under
the circumstances, therefore. we say that
the performance was remarkably success
full. To begin with the cast was a strong
one. E. H. Crane as Sir Joseph Porter
X. C. B., had part which fitted him add
mirably and he made the most of it, the
superlative in this case being used ad-
visedly Fred C. Adams as Capt. Cor
coran sang splendidly, acted well and
looked almost too young and handsome to
be father of grown-up daughter. My
ron p. Davis made all that he could of
the straight tenor role of Ralph Rack
straw, singing his numbers with good
effect and maintaining graceful pres
ence, but to speak candidly Mr.. Davis is
about as suited for such role as Frank
Daniels or James T. Powers. 1t is I'M
fair to his ability as comedian to make
him play what in professional slang is
known as punk part. Alison J. Du
gan was all that he could be in the
thankless part of Dick Deadeye. He did
the character work well, and sang ac-
ceptably in all his numbers, but there
were many in the audience who regret
ted that he didn't have more opportunity.
ing Josephine and it is doubtful if she
ever sang better in public, her solo, The
Hours Creep on Apace, in the first of
the second act being a gem. Miss Ger
trude Matthews did exceptionally well in
the part of Little Buttercup. Not the
slightest fault could be found with her
singing and her acting on the whole was
good. Many of her jokes, however, lost
some some of their force because of her
untrue makeup. When very pretty
young woman sings "Not many years ago
when l was young and charming and
The chorus laughs scornfully, one may be
pardoned for wondering whether said
chorus lacks discernment or the makeup 1,
nan is deficient. Miss Margaret Martin
Is Hebe. first cousin of Sir Joseph con-
,rlbuted more than any one person to the I,
beauty of the stage picture; stunning de-
cribes her better than any other word /
Her song and dialogue with Sir Joseph
lear the end of the second act were ex- /
eedingly well DONE
The other minor characters were in +
God hands. Alfred Thompson made G
rotesque boatswain and his fine baritone t
dice was heard to advantage in the song, \
lie Is an Englishman. Philip Putnam a
made cute midshipmite, while d. Frank a
shea filled the specially interpolated a
'art of Jack Binns, wireless operator.
\. H. Brasor was the boatswains mate {
nd Harry Plummer and Burdett Wild {
Zen special marines. {
The chorus at the outset lacked that '
rompt attack which is so difficult to a
yring from amateurs yet so important to V
uccess in ensemble numbers, and it seem h
d to us that this slowness slightly low /
red the temperature of the conductors
ether extremeties. However that may a
e, the opening numbers were not brought a