The Mankato free press., 1909-01-29
Play Presented BY the Normal
School Dramatic Club.
WELL RECEIVED, LARGE CROWD
Everyone n ehe Cest s G.ver Oes8rs-
ed Praise, HistFionic Talent -
Well Dsveiopsd,

To those who have seen the plays
previously put ON by the Dramatic
club, and who know the high stand
ard which Miss Woodbury. continually
holds before it's members, the all
round excellence of last evenings per-
formance came as no surprise. But
even to them there was general
fnish-the ensemble was so good
that surpassed their expectations. The
charming stage setting, the youth, the
beauty, the vivacity of those taking
part, all combined with the whole
someness and charm of the pretty
story to make an evening of unalloyed
pleasure. Not even the unfortunate
confusion in seating could quite ruff
file the good humor of the insistently
"grouchy."
One is tempted to rest ones case
just here and be content with being
thought discriminating. After all,
when you have youth, beauty,
pretty stage, good music, and charm
ing picture of simple homely affec-
tions before you, what more pray,
would you have. He must indeed
be hypercrlCical who, in addition to
this, would demand professional act,
ing at every point. What does It
matter then that the actors could
not always lose themselves in their
parts; that John Perrybingle could
be funny, vivacious, even angry, but
not convincingly sad in view of sud-
den trajedy in his married life; thai
not at all times, especially not until
toward the end of his part. could
Caleb Plummer make us feel the
beautifully pathetic relations be-
tween him and his blind Bertha; that
with almost all the actors at tiiaes
lines were declaimed, not lived
This is not an easy play for youth
a fair degree of success here augurs
well for the actors, and deserve high
praise. Miss ttoodriel's ;gbih;s al,
always winning on account OF spon
taneity and general snap. even If lieg
words did often fail, TO carry posi-
bly, hall the fault of the room, yet
we felt that her voice still left some
thing 70 be desired In the latter re.
spect, Miss RinaIdo easily bore off The
honors. The former, however, by ier
grace and winsomeness gave the i'm
preston Of really living the part
High praise must be accorded 10
Miss Rinaldo and Mr.. Door in their
parts, the former for the general
evenness of her good acting, and for
impressing us with the full, awful
meaning of what it is to be blind
the latter for even part of tAe
time making live his-to him, yea.
to any bOy-difficult role. The work
of Miss Poole, was, at almost all
points satisfying, the audience show
ing all along its appreciation of her.
1t may be remarked here that the
people never wearied of the perform
ance; that there was not dull
moment from the opening beautiful
scene-good enough to drink in with
the eyes, without any acting-to the
spirited land here fully Adequately
closing of "Chirp the Third"
Tackleton's work did become more
sure as he advanced through his part;
for he read himself to creditable
degree, of his opening, poor enuncia-
tion. Had young Plummer only had
more time to breathe-had he had a
longer part-after his rather brilliant
bursting in on us from South Ameri-
ca, he too might have managed mis-
lines better, and SO have impaired
more vigor to the rather fiat tone
of the dialogues Immediately follow
ing his entrance. But to make all
the "hit" one has an opportunity to
make, just at the end of play, when
so many other things are to be done
is test of both the breath and the
articulation of even experienced actors.
One speaks without modification of
the closing minutes. Here was the
opportunity for youth to let itself
loose and engage in what youth de-
lights-in physical activity. This they
did with such fervor as was good to
see. The audience too, showed its
satisfaction in asking for a lifted
curtain and second plimpse of the
same.
The accessories were generally
speaking, good, and all we'll managed
unless perchance we might have had
a bit more light on the part of
Little Bobbie Brown" in order to
enjoy more fully his gay tinsel and
happy hopping.
Those doing minor parts, did them
honestly, and with degree of PAINS
taking that bode we'll for them should
they in future be given heavier roles.
What these plays mean to the
actors in culture-value and in the
Interpretation of life, and what these
performances mean to the school
and to the town, all felt on last
evening and many remarked
Here's to the Dramatic club, anu
may it live long and prosper!-X