The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-05-04
Pretty Compliment To
The East Lake Orphdndee
Mrs Frank Harms Produce Her Attractive Play This Even
ng-Has Achieved Notable Success AS a Writer OF
Short Stories and Dramas-Story Of How She
Became Interested In the Orphanage
NV DOLLY DALRYMPLE.

has been the life ard light of our
home ever since. You see why | am
so interested in the orphanage, do you
not?'
Certainly" l replied. ut is quite
natural and 1 think you have chosen
to pay very fitting tribute of your
appreciation by giving your effort and
time in behalf of the institution IN
presenting your play this evening for
it's benefit"
The club was anxious to give a benefit
performance" was the reply, land | sug-
gested that we give it for the orphanage
because my heart always turns to it when
such things are suggested. We gave one
of my plays four years ago for the
orphanage and were quite successful
Have you written many plays?' l
asked.
"Oh, yes" said Mrs. Harms, my time
is spent largely in doing such things. |
am greatly interested in play writing and
besides l have written a number of short
stories. The play we gave four years
ago was April and is bright society
drama, which appeals to the average the
atre-goer who demands above all things
to be amused"
"Tell me something about the play that
you are giving this evening" | requested.
ut Is strictly melo- dramatic" said Mrs.
Harms, land calls for some very clever
acting. 1t is the story of a maynard boy
who leaves home, gets into a lot of
trouble and then returns His sister,
whose devotion to him all through his
trying, eventful life while he Is away
from home Is nothing short of pathetic
and prompts her to give her promise of
marriage to a man who is wealthy In or
der TO help her brother out of his trouble
while her heart belongs to another. The
denouement of the play in the fourth
act is highly dramatic. and each of the
characters Is cleverly portrayed. as we
have paid especial attention to selecting
each actor and actress to suit the part
in The Plot That Failed We have all
given our best efforts to make the oc-
casion a success, and our rehearsals have
been frequent and the enthusiasm of the
members of the club, as we'll as their will
ingness. no matter what demands have
been made, have helped me largely in
giving a successful presentation of the
play"
do you prefer playwriting to story
writing?" | asked.
ut Is hard to answer that question"
was the reply. IT have been greatly In
terested in the short stories, A Woman's
Way I have written. There are nine of
them under the same head Each Is differ
ent in Its way yet each bears upon the
same line Of thought. ! enjoy the produce
ton of my plays as much as the writing
of them. 1t is all so interesting to know
how they are going to look on the stage,
and how they are going to turn out"
Have you gotten up any other bene-
fit performances besides the one mem
tioned?" I asked.
"Oh. yes" replied Mrs. Harms. "An-
other OF the most successful was the one
we gave for the Third Presbyterian
church. which resulted in a sufficient sum
for beautiful memorial window to be
built. Then we gave a performance for
the benefit of the Mercy Home at another
time, so you see that I have been right
busy woman with such things
In conclusion, Mrs. Harms said:
IT hope everybody will feel the same
interest that our club does In our benefit
tonight for the orphanage. for am sure
that no worthier cause could be the in
spiration, and no institution would appre-
ciate the effort niore.''