Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1910-02-11
Amateur Comedy at Rockville.

The Millionaire Business" is the title
OF the amateur performance of Rockville
young people which was given at the Town
Hall last Friday evening, in the presence
OF large and appreciative audience.
Rockville has long been noted for sue
cessful amateur plays, but this is the first
that has been given which was composed
as well as rendered by towns people.
The author is Mr. Robert E. L. Smith,
who was aided by Mr.. William F. Pretty
man, manager in adapting the compost
ton to the stage, Miss Mary Almoney
was the pianist and also aided Mr.. Pref
lyman in setting the songs to music. One
or more of the tunes were also composed
by Mr.. Prettyman.
The gentlemen who took part in the play
we're: Mr.. William c. Beck, as Mr. Allies
ley, who aspired to be millionaire his
cabinet was composed of Mr.. Edward L.
Greene, as "Buftus," chief counsellor; Mr.
William F. Prettyman, as "Duces Tecum,"
legal advisor; Mr.. B. F. Albert, as Saw
bones" medical advisor; Mr.. S. H. Quig-
ley, as "Adderup," the statistician; Mr.
A. B. Coe, as a tramp (and philosopher !;
Mr.. George H. Lamar, as Private Secretary
to Sirloin John Porterhouse; Mr.. H. H.
Buck, as "Followgirl," the lover; Mr.. Grit
Eth Warield. as drunken man. also as
an lrishman and also as a patent medi-
cine man; Mr.. Jessie Higgins. as Daniel, ="
colored servant to Allesley; Mr.. B. F.
Albert. as a grocer clerk; Mr.. Edgar Reed
as first workman; Mr.. Roy Davis, as sec
ond workman; Master Willie Humphrey.
as messenger.
The ladies' were: Miss Daisy Magruder,
as "Clarinda." wife of Allesley; Misses
Mary R. Humphrey and Marie Talbot, as
the daughters of Mr. and Mrs. Allesley;
Mrs. o. NJ Linthicum, as "Florinda," a
widowed sister of Allesley; Miss Laura
Higgins, as Janet" the daughter of Flor
india, the fiancee of Followgirl; Mrs. George
H. Lamar, as "Jemima," cook to Allesley,
and Miss Rebecca Lamar, as the stem
ographer.
This comedy well illustrated the striv-
ings of spectators for monopoly, the fic-
titious basis of their claims, the personal
extravaganza in which they and their
families indulge pending the fruition or
blasting of their hopes, the laudabe pur-
poses with which they clothe their ambi-
tons, the deceptive means they unhesi-
tatingly employ, the failures which usually
attend the efforts of those not really backed
by abundant capital, and the speediness
with which the "hangers-on" desert the
controlling character when the bubble
bursts"
The more serious phases of the play
were enlivened by artistic touches of hu-
NOR, besides servant scenes and vocal
music of most excellent character.
Some of the actors had parts which ena-
bled them to demonstrate exceptional abil-
ity in the art. and the balance Of the par
Elephants rendered the parts assigned to
them so well that it could not be said that
they were less capable had similar Oppor-
tunities been afforded to demonstrate the
extent of their capacity
To bring the play within the limits of
time appropriate it was necessary to elimi-
nate many stanzas in the songs, and it is
understood that there is a plan on foot to
give a concert. at which these songs will
be sung in full.
The play was a decided success and it
is believed that the concert to follow will
also be enjoyed.
Metaphorically speaking. the SENTINEL
doffs its cap to Mr. Robert E. Lee Smith.
as the poet laureate and playwright of
Rockville